The Client
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is the lead state agency for Flood Risk Management in the Republic of Ireland, helping to minimise the impact of flooding through sustainable planning. As the lead agency for Flood Risk Management, the OPW is responsible for the implementation of the EU Floods Directive and the National Flood Risk Management Policy.
The Problem
A core component of the state’s requirement under the EU Floods Directive is to produce flood hazard and flood risk data and maps. The OPW Flood Risk Management Data Management (FRM Data Management) Section was established to manage and publish data and maps for the state under the Floods Directive. Due to the the large volume of spatial data required for processing, analysis and publication, a full–time on–site GIS Specialist was required to assist the OPW.
What We Did
Mallon provided the OPW with one of our expert GIS Specialists on a full–time, on–site basis.
Using a robust and automated process, Mallon was able to process and analyse EU Floods Directive data, such as HECRAS flood modelling outputs, current LiDAR data, GeoDirectory and OSi building data in one seamless string of processes, using QGIS Graphical Modeler.
Once the data has been produced using the modeler, it was imported into QGIS Atlas Composer to automate map production. This resulted in the production of high quality PDF A3 flood hazard and risk maps. Examples of the published maps which were produced for the OPW can be accessed and downloaded from the OPW website.
Further to data processing, analysis and map production, our on–site GIS Specialist was on hand to OPW engineering staff, providing general GIS training and support as well as assisting in various other geospatial queries and solutions, as required, on a daily basis.
The Benefits
- The capacity of the FRM Data Management Section was increased, enabling them to deliver work to a high standard, in the shortest possible time
- EU Flood Directive objectives were met
- Data captured at source helped to improve internal data management, enabling staff access to data with minimum overhead
- Quality of data captured by the OPW has improved through better management of the data life cycle
- Skill levels of OPW staff has been increased as a result of continual GIS training and support