10th International Conference on Flood Management

This session will focus on the application of global flood hazard models for assessing flood hazard and risk, and economic impacts across multiple scales. Given growing climate variability, extreme precipitation and increasing flood damages, the importance of robust and implementable models capable of estimating flood depths and extents over large areas is of critical importance. The session encourages submissions highlighting improvements into the way global flood models represent local conditions, including climate change impacts on flooding, and with methodologies for incorporating economic and social impacts. Presentations may address model development, data integration, risk mapping, and evaluation of uncertainty.

This session explores and advances data-driven approaches for hydrological monitoring and AI-based or physical modelling that enhance flood forecasting to support effective risk management and decision-making. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how AI-based and physically based hydrological models, combined with earth observation and in-situ monitoring data, can improve flood forecasting performance for effective risk management and decision making.

To strengthen the development and use of impact-based hydrological forecasts into timely and actionable warning services, enabling effective preparedness, response, and decision-making to protect lives and livelihoods from flood-related hazards. Best practices, innovative tools, and technologies for incorporating hydrological impact-based forecast information into local and national risk-informed decision-making processes will be highlighted to safeguard lives and livelihoods.

This panel discussion examines how new and emerging technologies are transforming the understanding, mapping, and management of flood hazard and flood risk in a changing climate. The session highlights how traditional flood models are being updated with advanced components such as remote sensing, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and high-resolution climate and terrain data. Panelists will discuss how satellite imagery, drone data, and digital elevation models are improving our ability to assess flood dynamics, and how AI and machine learning can help optimize model calibration, enable early event detection, and support more accurate long-term risk forecasting.

In light of recent urban flooding experienced across Canada, causing significant damages to homes and infrastructure and increasing public safety risks, this session explores new developments in flood modelling and risk assessment techniques, including methodologies and innovations to make models more accurate, accessible, and practical. Several case studies showcase a wide range of applications of these advancements in planning and implementation of flood mitigation strategies as well as emergency response.

This session explores how changes in precipitation extremes driven by climate change are influencing urban flood hazard and risk. Cities are increasingly exposed to intense rainfall events that exceed the capacity of existing drainage and infrastructure systems, leading to more frequent and severe pluvial flooding. The session invites contributions that quantify the impacts of shifting precipitation patterns on urban flooding using observational data, climate model projections, or hydrological and hydraulic simulations. Topics may include downscaling of extreme rainfall, model validation, assessment of exposure and vulnerability, and evaluation of adaptation or mitigation measures.

Canada is a challenging country to undertake flood mapping in, with several factors contributing to this including varied climatographic regions and vast expanses of land. Case studies in flood mapping in northern communities and special techniques for design storms are presented here. The session also covers the validation and testing of novel flood mapping techniques developed in Canada for real-time and large-scale flood mapping.

Natural Resources Canada established the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program (FHIMP) in November 2021 to deliver on a commitment to complete flood mapping for higher-risk areas in Canada. In June 2023, the program was significantly expanded under the National Adaptation Strategy to advance nation-wide flood mapping coverage. This panel session will reflect on the program’s progress and explore key themes including major successes, lessons learned, ongoing challenges, integration of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in flood mapping practices, the role of scientific innovation, and the future of national flood mapping efforts.

This session explores the role of artificial intelligence and remote sensing data in the flood mapping process. Presentations from government and academia highlight how these tools can create or streamline the development of crucial flood information and explore their application in a Canadian context.

On this flood insurance discussion panel, you will learn about the financial management of flooding in Canada and the challenges ahead. Experts from the University of Waterloo, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction will discuss the best course of action for the Federal government, the provinces, and the insurance industry to improve Canadian homeowners’ resilience to floods.

Conservation Authorities (CAs) are unique to Ontario and formed on a watershed basis. Their mandate is the protection of people and property from flooding and natural hazards through delivery of watershed-based programs. This 90-minute panel session, led by Conservation Ontario and its member CAs, will address flood management activities including floodplain mapping, modelling, and streamflow monitoring; regulation of development in flood-prone areas in cooperation with municipalities and the Province; provision of planning support to minimize flood impacts; and operation of over 900 dams, dykes, channels, and erosion control structures.