The PLOTO project considers developing a sophisticated information management framework, wherein the IWAT is an essential assessment module. This module is seamlessly interconnected via advanced middleware with other operational systems, including the Incident Management System (IMS), the Decision Support System (DSS), and the Common Operational Picture (COP) interface. This integration facilitates a comprehensive approach to monitor and assess climate change-driven risks and their management for inland waterways (IWW). The DSS and COP components synergistically process and visualize data, enabling a nuanced assessment of meteorological and hydrological hazards. By aggregating and analyzing data from several sources, such as climate prediction models and remote sensing via satellite imagery, the platform customizes information dissemination to meet specific regional demands. This holistic system not only enhances situational awareness but also significantly augments decision-making capabilities in response to evolving environmental challenges.
A key aspect of PLOTO’s architecture is its capability to facilitate interoperability among various components. This ensures seamless data flow and effective information exchange. Thus, the middleware’s role is pivotal, enabling the integration of different data formats into a coherent framework. This integration is crucial for visualizing results and accessing a common operational picture, which is essential for effective decision-making by operators and authorities at the project’s pilot sites in Belgium, Hungary, and Romania.
These pilots are testing grounds for the platform’s efficiency in real-world scenarios, ranging from flood protection to water level monitoring and navigation aid systems in foggy conditions. The IWAT environment, with its advanced data processing and analysis capabilities, plays a vital role in supporting these pilot scenarios. It provides decision-makers comprehensive tools such as risk maps, early warning systems, impact assessment models, and tailored response plans. These tools are indispensable for informed decision-making in disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Furthermore, additional components like data aggregation, drone missions for post-disaster scenarios, business continuity assessments, and post-disaster damage evaluations augment the system’s robustness. Through the PLOTO platform, these components work together to ensure a holistic approach to disaster management.
The relevant expected results of the PLOTO platform shall include:
Enhanced Decision-Making Tools: Development of advanced decision-support systems integrating data and information from diverse sources. This aims to provide authorities with actionable insights for proactive hydrological disaster management, particularly in inland waterway scenarios.
Improved Risk Assessment Accuracy: Implementation of a comprehensive risk assessment framework, leveraging processed data from climate models and satellite imagery. This is expected to yield more precise predictions of weather and hydrological hazards at a regional level.
Operational Efficiency demonstrated in the Pilot Sites: Effective demonstration of the platform components through a modeling and simulation environment in pilot sites across Belgium, Hungary, and Romania, potentially leading to optimized management and mitigation strategies for inland waterways under varied climatic conditions.
The integrated platform underscores the project’s commitment to mitigating the impacts of climate change on IWW, thus safeguarding businesses, activities, and communities reliant on critical waterways.
Written by Ilias Gkotsis, A. Aggelis and A. Pagkozidis, Satways Ltd
