Our key research advances, 1992-2023
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
A new climate-conditioned catastrophe flood model for the UK
Read paperModelling 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
A climate conditioned catastrophe risk model for UK flooding
New research from Bates et al. describes the creation of a transparent flood model for the UK that simulates pluvial, fluvial and coastal flood risks for 10 different return periods.
Comparison of estimated flood exposure and consequences generated by different event-based inland flood inundation maps
New research from Gutenson, J. L. and others, including Fathom’s Chief Research Officer Dr Oliver Wing, compares the estimated impact and exposure to flooding generated by different event-based flood inundation maps.
Use of hydrological models in global stochastic flood modeling
An investigation into the effectiveness of using synthetic gauge data from global hydrological models as input data for global stochastic modeling.
Uneven burden of urban flooding
Who floods? A commentary on the uneven burden of urban flooding in Nature Sustainability.
Urbanizing the floodplain: global changes of imperviousness in flood-prone areas
Are floodplains becoming more built on over time? Using new global satellite data, Kostas Andreadis in this paper shows floodplain urbanization has almost doubled since 1985.
Social inequalities in climate change-attributed impacts of Hurricane Harvey
This research uses attribution science to examine the influence that climate change had on the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
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.
