Challenge
In recent years, the City of Kielce has been increasingly affected by problems caused by intense rainfall. The heavily burdened municipal drainage system discharges into a relatively small receiving watercourse, the Silnica River, which flows through the city centre. During torrential rainfall, the system operates at the limit of its safety capacity, causing local surcharging and overflows. Areas particularly exposed include locations near the Planty district (in close proximity to the City Hall and the market square), as well as along other urban watercourses.
Solution
To monitor phenomena related to rising water levels in the Silnica River and as part of preparations for further measures aimed at improving flood safety, two OTT FMS (Flood Monitoring System) hydrological monitoring stations were installed, among other elements. The devices were placed at strategic locations vulnerable to flooding. The collected data is transmitted to the RainBrain application, which correlates it with data from three rain gauges installed in different catchments across Kielce. This system provides a basic overview of the city’s hydrological and meteorological situation and enables access to measurements for all relevant stakeholders, including the Crisis Management Centre, the Department of Climate, Environment and Municipal Economy, and the Municipal Roads Authority.
Benefits
Thanks to the installation of a total of five monitoring stations, the city has gained access to precise and up-to-date information on river conditions and rainfall intensity, enabling real-time response to emergency situations. The hydrological stations are capable of sending alarm notifications in order to quickly inform decision-makers when warning levels are exceeded. By collecting all of these measurements in the RainBrain application, the city is building a data base that can be used in the future to develop local rainfall patterns or calibrate the hydrodynamic model of the drainage network, which will undoubtedly contribute to improving safety in the city.