New technologies for capturing geospatial information to support the modeling of flood processes. Application to the district of La Guajira, Colombia - Project AL15-PID-29 |
The project aims to characterize and identify the most appropriate sources of cartographic information for flood modeling in areas of special sensitivity. The project will analyze new usable information capture technologies, such as LIDAR, remote sensing, GPS, as well as new usable platforms, such as UAVs or MMS.
Traditionally, human settlements have been located in areas with easy access for commerce and transportation, usually coastal areas. These locations make them especially vulnerable to certain natural risks such as hurricanes, winds, coastal risks or floods. For some time now, different organizations such as the IPCC have been warning of the possibility that increased storms and torrential rains could cause flooding, which in turn could lead to the destruction of infrastructure and buildings, pollution and deterioration of natural resources. , as well as the loss in commercial activities and the livelihoods of certain populations.
The meteorological phenomenon called El Niño Southern Oscillation is a recurring climate pattern that involves changes in water temperature in areas of the Tropical Pacific and that significantly affects precipitation in South America. This phenomenon strongly influences many natural risks (hurricanes and droughts) and its impacts, both socioeconomic and loss of life, are important (Ward, et al., 2014). This phenomenon has an important impact in Colombia, where during the 2010-2011 La Niña process, the National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD) of Colombia, established that the floods constituted the greatest tragedy experienced, due to the number of inhabitants affected. and victims, and for the value of the damages suffered. Among the affected areas in Colombia during this period was the Department of La Guajira, a Department located in the northeast of the country and belonging to the Colombian Caribbean Region.
UNGRD, in 2012, called the "First National Competition for the recognition of risk reduction projects, through adaptation measures to climate variability and change", being a beneficiary of one of the three winning projects. The CREACUA Foundation, in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of the Municipality of Riohacha, the University of Guajira and the COPPETEC Foundation of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, for the project entitled “'Green' urban adaptation to floods with the support of mathematical modeling and MODCEL software in Riohacha - La Guajira (Colombia)”, which is being executed with financing from the UNGRD and minority co-financing from the municipality.
Among the planned activities of the aforementioned project is the “Characterization of the Area”. Among other elements, it is required to obtain detailed mapping of the topography of the natural and artificial drainage network, both surface and underground, of the hydrological network. In order to acquire this information, it is necessary to have adequate sources and methodology, such as classic topographic methods, GNSS global positioning systems, remote sensing from both satellite and airplane, using optical, radar or LIDAR sensors. The emergence of new information acquisition systems such as Mobile Mapping Systems (MMS) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones.
Financing
This project is financed by the Vice-Rectorate of International Relations of the Polytechnic University of Madrid.
Expected results
The project aims to establish criteria that allow establishing the adequacy of the use of new techniques for recording spatial information for carrying out modeling studies of flood processes, as well as for urban-hydraulic design that reduces the risk of flooding.
Among the planned results is strengthening academic ties between the University of La Guajira and UPM with a view to formulating joint projects in the field of using new technologies for capturing geospatial information to support the modeling of flood processes, susceptible to be used in urban-hydraulic design in inhabited areas.
research team
Luis Iglesias Martínez
Professor Luis Iglesias Martínez is a Dr. Agronomist from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and Full Professor of the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering of the Polytechnic University of Madrid, having previously belonged to the Departments of Exploitation of Mineral Resources and Underground Works and to the Department of Cartographic Engineering, Geodesy and Cartography – Graphic Expression of said University. His research activity falls within the knowledge area of Cartographic Engineering. Within it he has carried out various research on the application of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing to different aspects of engineering, such as noise, climate change and the geometric design of roads. He has published around twenty articles in magazines, and is the author/co-author of several books or book chapters.
Maria Castro Malpica
Professor María Castro Malpica is a Dr. Engineer in Roads, Canals and Ports from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and a Full University Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering: Transport and Territory of the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Her research activity falls within the knowledge area of Transportation Engineering and Infrastructure. She has published around thirty articles in magazines and several books or book chapters. She has been principal investigator on several research projects related to the geometric design of roads (speeds, consistency, visibility). She has belonged to several national and international working groups and committees related to her area of knowledge.
Rogelio de la Vega Panizo
Professor Rogelio de la Vega Panizo is a Dr. Mining Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and a Full University Professor in the Department of Geological and Mining Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. He has developed his research activity in the area of Remote Sensing, participating in different projects in the following lines of research: use of radar images for the detection of changes in the use of agricultural land and identification of crops, detection of natural CO2 emissions and in the application to the study of danger in coastal cliffs.
Contact at the University of La Guajira:
Jhonny Isaac Pérez Montiel
Professor Jhonny Isaac Perez Montiel has a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Zulia (Venezuela) and Associate Professor of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of La Guajira. He has extensive professional experience in issues related to environmental studies and water use. His current research activity focuses on wastewater treatment. He has published a dozen articles in magazines, and is the author/co-author of several books or book chapters. Currently he is the director of the Environmental Systems Research Group “GISA”.
Jairo Escobar Villanueva
Jairo Escobar Villanueva is currently developing his doctorate within the Doctorate program in Research, Modeling and Analysis of Risk in the Environment (DIMARMA). He has a Master's degree in Environmental Science and Technology from the Rey Juan Carlos University and an Environmental Engineer from the University of La Guajira. He has been an undergraduate professor at the University of La Guajira. His current research activity focuses on the sustainable development of marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems, sustainable urban drainage and climate change.
