Computer Modelling of Flood Alleviation Benefits

New data and techniques have been developed in the United Kingdom to simplify economic evaluations of flood alleviation schemes. Data banks have been developed containing standardized flood damage data applicable to any British flood situation for any type of property. The research responds to recommendations by the British Institution of Civil Engineers in 1967 that flood damage information should be systematically collected. The computer model is explored that was developed to use this flood damage data when calculating the discounted annual benefits for urban alleviation schemes. The model and associated data banks are used by regional water authorities in appraising capital expenditure. Although developed for application in UK, with a change of data base the model could be used in any flood context.