Page 539 - Shaping smarter and more sustainable cities - Striving for sustainable development goals

Figure 17 – Screenshot of the INFUX interface

RainGain

The RainGain project is a transnational project aimed at improving urban flood prediction. Since
radars have the advantage of being light, manageable, and more affordable to local water
authorities, they were chosen as the medium of data collection. By collecting detailed rainfall data
at an urban scale from weather radars, the project seeks to provide reliable information to city water
managers to develop reliable urban water strategies, thus contributing to make cities more resilient
to local rainfall‐induced floods.

Source: DLFT Urban Water (2014).

Figure 18 – RainGain project location

The project investigates four different types of radar techniques in four pilot European cities (i.e.
Leuven, London, Paris and Rotterdam) (Figure 18). The project involves the installation of new
polarimetric X‐band radars in Rotterdam and Paris, enhancing previously acquired X‐band radar, as
well as the acquisition of four additional rain gauges in Leuven, and upgraded C‐band radar for
testing and implementation of super resolution protocol in Greater London. The following areas will
be investigated:
 Early warning systems based on fine‐scale flood prediction, based on London's project
experience.
 Real‐time operational strategies of storage basins and pumping stations to maximize rainwater
storage, based on the project's experience in Paris and Leuven's.
 Upgrading the capacity of urban water systems, based on Rotterdam's experience.
It is envisioned that, through the implementation of this initiative, city water managers will be better
equipped to manage urban flooding by being able to make flood forecasts at the street level, in real
time. For more information please visit: http://www.raingain.eu/en/four‐cities‐gain‐rain

ITU‐T's Technical Reports and Specifications 529