Our key research advances, 1992-2021
Modelling floodplain flows using a two-dimensional finite element model
Professor Paul Bates’ first paper describing a 2D flood model.
A simple raster-based model for flood inundation simulation
Seminal paper describing the first grid-based flood model.
Reach scale floodplain inundation dynamics observed using airborne synthetic aperture radar imagery: Data analysis and modelling
First description of remotely-sensed imagery in model validation.
A simple inertial formulation of the shallow water equations for efficient two-dimensional flood inundation modelling
Hugely influential paper describing new formulation of shallow water equations.
A subgrid channel model for simulating river hydraulics and floodplain inundation over large and data sparse areas
Presentation of sub-grid hydraulic model structures.
A high-resolution global flood hazard model
First description of a high-resolution global flood model.
Validation of a 30 m resolution flood hazard model of the conterminous United States
First validation of a large-scale flood model.
Estimates of present and future flood risk in the conterminous United States
Presentation of current and future flood risk in the US.
The Spatial Dependence of Flood Hazard and Risk in the United States
Methodology for Fathom-US CAT model.
Combined Modeling of US Fluvial, Pluvial, and Coastal Flood Hazard Under Current and Future Climates
Validation of the methodologies underpinning Fathom-US 2.0
A 30m global map of elevation with forests and buildings removed
Influential paper exploring the development of FABDEM – our global digital elevation model
Modelling floodplain flows using a two-dimensional finite element model
Professor Paul Bates’ first paper describing a 2D flood model.
A simple raster-based model for flood inundation simulation
Seminal paper describing the first grid-based flood model.
Reach scale floodplain inundation dynamics observed using airborne synthetic aperture radar imagery: Data analysis and modelling
First description of remotely-sensed imagery in model validation.
A simple inertial formulation of the shallow water equations for efficient two-dimensional flood inundation modelling
Hugely influential paper describing new formulation of shallow water equations.
A subgrid channel model for simulating river hydraulics and floodplain inundation over large and data sparse areas
Presentation of sub-grid hydraulic model structures.
A high-resolution global flood hazard model
First description of a high-resolution global flood model.
Validation of a 30 m resolution flood hazard model of the conterminous United States
First validation of a large-scale flood model.
Estimates of present and future flood risk in the conterminous United States
Presentation of current and future flood risk in the US.
The Spatial Dependence of Flood Hazard and Risk in the United States
Methodology for Fathom-US CAT model.
Combined Modeling of US Fluvial, Pluvial, and Coastal Flood Hazard Under Current and Future Climates
Validation of the methodologies underpinning Fathom-US 2.0
A 30m global map of elevation with forests and buildings removed
Influential paper exploring the development of FABDEM – our global digital elevation model
Ambitious partnership needed for reliable climate prediction
In this paper, researchers state that an improved climate model with higher detail and more precise information is needed urgently to enable us to make reliable decisions around climate adaptation.
Assessing flooding impact to riverine bridges: an integrated analysis
This paper establishes new modelling approaches for the design and assessment of transportation and water systems with the aim to understand the consequences of flooding on urban networks.
Increased population exposure to Amphan-scale cyclones under future climates
In 2020 Cyclone Amphan made landfall in the Bay of Bengal and was the first super tropical cyclonic storm to occur in the area in over 20 years. This paper explores what would happen if this event were to occur in the future, asking: would the risks associated with it change?
A 30 m global map of elevation with forests and buildings removed
This work signifies one of the biggest step-changes in global flood modelling capabilities since the advent of the field.
Inequitable patterns of US flood risk in the Anthropocene
Climate change will have major impact on cost of flooding, according to pioneering research led by Dr Oliver Wing, Chief Research Officer at Fathom
Flood Inundation Prediction
This review surveys recent progress made to address fundamental issues surrounding globally consistent mapping of flood hazard in underdeveloped countries. This is achieved through a novel combination of appropriate physics, efficient numerical algorithms, high-performance computing, new sources of big data, and model automation frameworks.
Voluntary purchases and adverse selection in the market for flood insurance
In a wide-ranging analysis in collaboration with Jacob Bradt (Harvard) and Carolyn Kousky (Wharton), we find voluntary insurance purchases are preferentially taking place in areas where Fathom’s model deviates from FEMA flood maps.
An assessment of large-scale flood modelling based on LiDAR data
In this paper we collaborated with colleagues at the University of Concordia to demonstrate the value of bathymetry estimation in large scale model frameworks by testing across four watersheds in Quebec, Canada.
Causes, impacts and patterns of disastrous river floods
Paul Bates contributes to a significant review in Nature of the causes and impacts of disastrous river flooding, and their past and projected trends.
Environmental Impact Bonds: a common framework and looking ahead
Environment Impact Bonds (EIBs) are in their infancy, yet are increasingly recognised as a funding solution to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Our contribution, alongside colleagues at The Nature Conservancy, discusses how recent developments to flood models at scale can help to inform both the principal and the repayment interest rate for flood mitigation projects, such as floodplain conservation.
Attributable human-induced changes in the magnitude of flooding in the Houston, Texas region during Hurricane Harvey
Using Fathom’s US flood model to examine how climate change exacerbated the impact of Hurricane Harvey, which devastated Houston in 2017.
Estimating River Channel Bathymetry in Large Scale Flood Inundation Models
In this technical paper, we discuss the importance of estimating channel bathymetry in data-sparse areas. We demonstrate that the application of gradually varied flow theory to estimate bathymetry in a global flood model reduced model error compared to a target water surface profile by 66%.
