Construction BUSINESS

The UCD Engineering Graduates Association (EGA) will host a spring panel discussion on the issue of flooding in Ireland on April 21 at 6pm in the UCD Clinton Auditorium.

Even at this stage in mid-April there has been recent flooding in Cork city centre and the winter flooding that impacted so severely on the River Shannon catchment is only now subsiding.

The UCD EGA will have a panel discussion based on tackling the flooding challenge in Ireland with a panel of national and international experts.

Leading the discussion will be the UCD’s Micheal Bruen, professor of environmental hydrology and director of the Dooge Centre for Water Resources Research, who will give an overview on the issue and outline the influence of the changing pattern of our climate. His presentation is entitled ‘Living with rivers and risks – flooding and a sustainable future’.

Bruen will be followed by Dr Jan Verkade of Deltares and Technical University of Delft on ‘Flood management and real time forecasting in the Netherlands’.

Attenddes will then hear the national Government response from Tony Smyth, director of engineering services in the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the national flood risk assessment on vulnerable urban areas in Ireland where Catchment Flood Risk Management Mapping and Plans (CFRAMS) have been drawn up to protect the towns where flood protection had not yet been provided.

Finally, well-known TV weather personality Evelyn Cusack, deputy head of forecasting at Met Éireann, will present on the current advanced modelling of forecasting weather events. Her presentation is titled ‘The highs and lows of Ireland’s weather’.

These four presentations will be followed by a question and answer session moderated by Dr Amanda Gibney, UCD College of Engineering vice principal for teaching and learning. Dr Gibney is a lecturer in civil engineering who has won a UCD College Teaching Award for her significant contribution to curriculum and programme development.

“So we are all in for a real expose of the complexities of flooding which can have serious human and commercial impacts on people, properties, farms and businesses” said UCD EGA president PJ Rudden. “With this line up of expert speakers we will not have solved the flooding challenge, but we will appreciate more fully the national plans to deal with the flooding problem and the experience in The Netherlands which is very flat and much of the country below sea level” he added.

All are welcome, admission is free but attendees must register in advance with ega@ucd.ie. A brief reception will follow the event for attendees.