Deltares, CEMADEN Collaborate on Natural Disaster Prevention in Brazil

Deltares and CEMADEN are teaming up to improve predictions of natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

There were severe floods in Brazil in early 2013, causing enormous flows of mud and debris in the cities. In recent years, flash floods like this have claimed hundreds of casualties.

The collaboration agreement that has just been signed will initially be for a period of four years.

Joint efforts will focus initially on sharing knowledge about software models, and data management for early flood and landslide warnings.

CEMADEN and Deltares will also be sharing their experience in the fields of flood risk management, governance, and participation and communications issues.

CEMADEN is the national centre in Brazil for warnings and monitoring natural disasters, and it answers to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

As the Dutch research institute for water, subsurface and infrastructure, Deltares has now acquired extensive experience in more than 30 countries with flood modelling and prevention using Flood Early Warning systems (FEWS).

Other parties may join

The partners will making each other stronger by defining and implementing joint projects. Other parties may also join, both in Brazil and the Netherlands.

Second alliance with Brazilian meteorological office

Deltares has also signed a Letter of Intent in Brazil with INPE/CPTEC – Weather Forecast and Climate Studies Center, which answers to the same Ministry as CEMADEN.

The agreement is that the parties will share knowledge by working together on the production of numerical models for waves along the coast, sediment transport, coastal erosion and water quality.

Signing during visit by Minister Ploumen

The agreements were signed in Brazil during the visit of the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Mrs Lilianne Ploumen.

[mappress]

Press Release, October 30, 2013