The digital solution for addressing flood challenges is already here
- Urban flooding
The UK government is investing over £2.6 billion in the coming years in flood defences, including tidal barriers, flood walls, and nature-based solutions. This significant increase in funding is both highly important and timely, providing much needed help for local authorities to enhance their flood risk management.
Coupled with advancements in flood and surface water analysis, technology such as Scalgo Live, authorities can now create informed, proactive plans that lead communities to a more resilient future.
A flooded street in the UK.
Flooding in the UK
The UK has faced severe flooding events, including Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis in 2020, which overwhelmed drainage systems and caused widespread damage. Earlier, in 2013, Storm Xaver triggered coastal flooding, leading to significant property losses and costly repairs. These disasters highlight the need for proactive flood risk management and improved defences.
In England, approximately 6 million properties are today at risk from flooding, a number that is expected to increase to eight million by 2050.
"Talking to local authorities I hear about the massive work they are doing to repair damage from past floods as well as preparing communities for future extreme events", says Peder Bøcher, Market Manager at Scalgo. "Momentum is building to accelerate this work, as we know that there is still much to do to bring flood protection to a good level across the country".
"Advancing these efforts for us means empowering flood officers and planners with the best tools to plan and manage flood risks effectively. This is where Scalgo Live comes into play".
Peder Bøcher, Scalgo
A design from Scalgo Live of a cascading sustainable drainage system in the UK.
In response to all these challenges, the UK government is now investing heavily in flood defences, including funding for close to 1000 flood risk management projects.
Investments are expected to improve tidal barriers and bolster flood resilience in communities. In addition to large-scale infrastructure projects, nature-based solutions that slow down and retain surface water are also becoming an essential part of local flood management strategies.
Peder continues: "Advancing these efforts for us means empowering flood officers and planners with the best tools to plan and manage flood risks effectively. This is where Scalgo Live comes into play."
A proactive approach to addressing flood challenges
Scalgo Live is an interactive platform for terrain and surface water planning that enables planners to make data-driven decisions for flood risk assessment and mitigation. With detailed flash flood maps, authorities can explore key areas and experiment with terrain-based solutions before implementation.
"We have combined a lot of important data in Scalgo Live", explains Peder, "A key component is the high-resolution land cover map, created using AI. The map is available as a standalone layer and is also integrated into different analyses."
Land cover maps are handy for assessing suitable locations for SuDS and analyzing water infiltration.
How Scalgo Live supports flood defence projects (video example)
Integrating Scalgo Live with local flood prevention projects
With almost 1000 flood prevention projects set to receive funding the next two years, Scalgo Live can help prioritise areas that need the most attention. Further, the platform is an excellent starting point to identify nature-based solutions and other opportunities that can help mitigate flooding in the future.
"It is very quick to identify communities that are at risk from flooding" Peder says. "This can be used to allocate funding to those areas and ensure that resources are directed where they are most needed."
“Additionally, the ease of use makes it a perfect tool for in-house design, for everyone from planning to maintenance.”
Flooding will remain a growing challenge in the coming decades. With tools like Scalgo Live, flood officers and planners can continue building on their efforts for protect local communities.
"Momentum is building to accelerate this work, as we know that there is still much to do to bring flood protection to a good level across the country".
Peder Bøcher, Scalgo
As investments in flood defences increase, so does the opportunity to rethink approaches, explore new solutions, and ensure that every pound spent delivers maximum impact. By combining government funding with innovative technologies like Scalgo Live, we can shape a more flood-resilient future for the UK.
Want to see how Scalgo Live can help your local government tackle flood risks more effectively? Book demo today.
