No. 139: High-precision flood forecast for flexible response to a cataract (August 21, 2010)

A research team led by Toshio Koike, a Tokyo University professor, developed the system to manage a dam adequately by dint of flood forecast that combines a model to predict the water condition on land and precipitation data. This new system makes it possible to discharge water before cataract and collect water during cataract. Flexible management of a dam in cataract is expected to reduce damage by a flood. The team is running simulations in a dam on the upper reaches of Tone River in alliance with the government agency. It will be put into practical use in 2012 at the earliest. The system forecasts precipitation 12 hours later using the difference between prediction data and observation data of precipitation. It employs the numerical estimate data released by the Meteorological Agency as prediction data and the real-time data released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as observation data. The precipitation prediction model was combined with the model to predict the water condition on land developed by the professor.