HowisErft aims at the extension of the existing flood alert system of the 1800 km2 catchment of the River Erft, Germany, to an integrated flood prediction and information system. HowisErft is based on real-time acquisition and processing of high resolution precipitation data from the X-band radar of the Meteorological Institute of the University of Bonn, the raingauge network of the Erftverband, as well as radar and forecasting data of the German Weather Service (DWD). This data is used as input for an online operated rainfall-runoff model. The results of the hydrological simulations, in conjunction with offline geographic data such as flood risk maps, provide fundamental information for an early warning system and flood management. This information will be made available by user oriented web-pages and additional information channels.
Erft, Flood prediction, Parameter estimation, Radar hydrology
