RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF A FRAMEWORK FOR FLOOD MANAGEMENT

The proposed framework of the International Flood Initiative for flood management is based on monitoring and observation of flood generation, occurrence and post recovery, data archiving and analysis, modelling, and systems for the support of decision-making. Guiding principles for the Initiative include living with floods, inter-disciplinarity bringing different skills together at the river basin level, empowered participation of all stakeholders, international and regional cooperation that is especially needed for trans-boundary catchments and rivers, and transsectorality that brings together the diverse knowledge generated in other sectors concerning floods. New research results are accumulated on a theoretical analysis of flood propagation including treatment of lateral inflows and modelling error, on the reliability of flood prediction and forecasting for improved risk assessment and reduction, on integrated flood management involving modelling support, and on the use of distributed decision support systems for transparent and empowering participation of stakeholders and the public. These results contribute to a range of different initiatives.