IoT4SRGK - Improving heavy rain hazard maps with real-time data

research project

The project "IoT4SRGK - Improving Heavy Rain Hazard Maps with Real-Time Data" aims to investigate the extent to which the informative value of heavy rain hazard maps can be improved through the use of small-scale real-world data. For this purpose, an IoT-based sensor system will be set up in the city of Gütersloh. This system will measure real-time data in the urban area, which is required as input data or modeling parameters for the heavy rain hazard maps. These include measurements of precipitation, temperature, evaporation, and/or soil moisture. The goal is to determine which sensors are needed at which locations to assess heavy rain hazards. The findings from the measurements will reveal, for the first time, small-scale interactions on site that were previously only considered through blanket assumptions in the modeling and potentially distort reality. The result will be an optimized heavy rain hazard map using IoT data. This will make a significant contribution to improving the existing process for creating heavy rain hazard maps. At the same time, a sensor equipment concept for assessing heavy rain hazards is being developed to create a uniform approach for municipalities to deploy sensors in urban areas, which currently does not exist. This is intended to prevent the creation of too many isolated solutions, especially within the framework of smart city strategies.

The project is funded by the European Union and the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.