Simonovic Seeks Flooding Solutions

Western’s Slobodan Simonovic, Research Chair in Civil and Environmental Engineering, is helping to design a new international mechanism for coping with the ever-increasing damage and loss of life caused by flooding.

One of six members working on the design, Simonovic, who also works through Western’s Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, says their work still needs approval from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and World Meteorological Organization. Both are expected to give approval this fall.

Formal launch of the new flood agency will likely take place at a December workshop on Water and Disasters organized by Western’s Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction under the leadership of Simonovic.

The International Flood Initiative is expected to contribute to flood damage mitigation by integrating scientific, operational, formal and public educational aspects of flood management.