Scotland
Sustainable Flood Management |
Integrated Urban Drainage |
Erosion Control
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems |
Scour Assessment
With its distinct geography, unique and long-standing legal system, and devolved government,
Scotland is distinct from the rest of the UK. JBA recognises this and since 2002 has had an office in
South Queensferry just outside of Edinburgh.
In South Queensferry, we offer our clients professional advice and assistance in the interpretation of
and compliance with water management and environmental planning policy and legislation, including the new
Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR). Our highly qualified team of engineers, hydrologists and flood management
and GIS specialists provides innovative thinking to achieve down-to-earth, pragmatic solutions in the complex field of drainage,
water and environmental management. Our consultancy services include:
- Sustainable flood management
- Integrated urban drainage
- Design of sustainable urban drainage
- Flood risk assessment and drainage impact assessment
- Scour assessment
- Environmental assessment
- Economic sppraisals
- Database and GIS development
- Flood and erosion protection
- Reservoir engineering
- Coastal exposure assessment (winds, waves, tides, surges, sediment transport)
- Geomorphological survey and river restoration
- Topographic survey
- Emergency planning advice
- River habitat surveying
Recent projects have included providing technical assistance to Renfrewshire Council with the Interreg IIIB NWE Project
'Urban Water' and the design of the
North Renfrew Flood Prevention Scheme. We have assisted SEPA in the provision of tidal data for the
Scottish Tidal Flood Risk Maps
and also in designing and supervising the construction of several new gauging stations.
For the Scottish Executive, we have completed a comprehensive asset survey and condition assessment of all flood protection schemes built
in Scotland since the 1961 Flood Prevention Act. For Aberdeenshire, Angus, Clackmannanshire, Scottish Borders, Fife and
Dumfries and Galloway Councils, we have also provided services in strategic flood risk assessment, drainage and flood protection.
Example Past Clients in Scotland
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Sustainable Flood Management
Flood Prevention Schemes
JBA Consulting is working in partnership with Renfrewshire Council to promote the North Renfrew Flood Prevention Scheme.
North Renfrew is situated on the south bank of the River Clyde 8.5km downstream of Glasgow.
The town straddles Mill Burn, a heavily culverted watercourse that discharges to the River Clyde at Renfrew Dock.
The town is subject to frequent tidal and fluvial flooding and suffered extreme flooding in 1994 and 2001.
Tidal flooding is caused by high astronomical tide levels in the River Clyde, enhanced by storm surges and westerly winds.
Fluvial flooding occurs due to tidelocking and surcharging of the culverted Mill Burn.
A number of flood risk management options were appraised for technical, economic and environmental viability.
The preferred option comprised of embankments, demountable barriers and a pumping station.
The scheme provides a 0.5% (1 in 200 year) standard of protection against tidal flooding from the River Clyde and
fluvial flooding from the lower reaches of Mill Burn. Residual risks will still exist due to sewer flooding and
surcharging of Mill Burn upstream of the scheme.
JBA’s contribution to the project has comprised the following:
- Determination of design flood levels, including the assessment of freeboard
- Determination of flows in Mill Burn, including joint probability analysis and interaction between sewer, river and overland flows
- Detailed modelling of pumping station
- Environmental assessment of impacts
- Full economic assessment to determine annual average damages and benefit cost ratio
- Detailed design of Flood Prevention Scheme
Feasibility studies
JBA have undertaken a number of studies for local authorities to assess the feasibility of promoting flood prevention schemes.
In particular, we have assessed schemes in the following areas:
- Ellon
- Galashiels
- Jedburgh
- Peebles
- Newburgh
- Arbroath
Options considered range from embankments and flood walls, to the utilisation of catchment storage upstream of settlements and properties at risk.
These studies were carried out using a range of software packages, including HEC-RAS, ISIS, InfoWorks RS and JFLOW.
The studies at Ellon and Newburgh were located in tidal regions, and therefore extreme sea level and joint probability analysis were undertaken
to determine the boundary conditions used with the hydraulic models. The viability of a range of options for each location were assessed using
an economic appraisal undertaken using the Scottish Executive guidance together with the
Flood Hazard Research Council’s (FHRC) Manual of Assessment Techniques (the Multicoloured Manual)
to provide flood damages for a range of modelled return periods, as determined during the SFDAD project for the Scottish Government
(for further information see Economic Analysis).
Galashiels is now in the medium term plan for Scottish Borders Council and will involve the raising of the existing defences.
Arbroath and Peebles South Park may involve storage elements.
Floodplain Mapping
At a national scale, JBA has modelled flood risk across the whole of Scotland for Norwich Union and the coastal flood risk for the
SEPA River & Coastal Flood Map (Scotland),
and is currently producing a flash flood map that covers all of mainland Britain.
At a smaller scale, flood mapping is undertaken for a variety of projects using in-house flood mapping tools and raster-based 2-D
overland flow modelling (JFLOW). The following are example projects where flood mapping is routinely used:
- Flood risk assessments
- Flood feasibility studies
- Flood prevention scheme design
- Strategic flood risk assessments
- Economic appraisals
- Integrated urban drainage
- Drainage impact assessments
Flood Risk Assessment and Drainage Impact Assessments
We have undertaken flood risk assessments (FRAs) for developers and for councils.
These have included assessments that allow key PFI schools in Angus and Clackmannanshire to be developed within the school catchment.
Assessments have included breach analysis behind existing defences and overland flow routing.
A number of our FRAs have involved careful negotiation between developers,
SEPA and local authorities to achieve a sustainable development.
We have extensive experience of Scottish legislation and of flood risk assessments to NPPG7 and SPP7,
and provide training in Flood Risk Management in Scotland and Planning and Flooding in Scotland.
We have carried out the first Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for a council in Scotland for Dumfries and Galloway Council
reviewing a range of potential impacts of flooding and providing a tool to allow economic, social and environmental factors to be
assessed and used to prioritise future flood management. Producing a matrix which identifies the critical locations for further study,
or areas where proposed future development need revising.
Natural Flood Storage and Extreme Flood Events
JBA Consulting was commissioned by The Scottish Government in 2005 to investigate and quantify the potential of natural flood storage
within Scottish river systems to cater for extreme rainfall events and increased river flow. Current climate change predictions suggest
that substantial areas of Scotland will in the future experience a greater frequency of flooding, due to greater and more intense rainfall.
Natural flood storage is now being considered as an environmentally sustainable method of flood risk management, which could be a useful
complement to conventional flood defences in certain catchments.
This project has developed a generic method for broad-scale assessment of the potential to use natural floodplain areas to provide attenuation
during large events. The full report is available here: Natural Flood Storage and Extreme Flood Events Final Report
Asset Management
Since 2004 JBA has undertaken a review of all Scottish Flood Prevention Schemes constructed under the 1961 Flood Prevention Act (Scotland).
This study constructed a web-based database forming a register of fluvial and coastal defence assets.
The Flood Defence Asset Database allows planners to determine the areas benefiting from defences,
the standard of protection, the condition of the defence assets and the number of properties benefiting from flood protection.
As part of the project a detailed report and
user manual
were generated to assist users, and the data has been incorporated into the River and Coastal Flood Map (Scotland).
Various presentations were given at the regional (SFCDD Live
and SNIFFER Seminar) and national level. JBA currently hosts the web database and is in the process of updating the site with recently constructed flood prevention schemes.
Economic Analysis
JBA Scotland offers a range of economic appraisal services.
Economic appraisal is the process of identifying and evaluating options for flood prevention in order to select the one that best satisfies the defined project objectives. JBA has experience in the economic assessment of the costs and benefits of flooding and flood defences,
which is a key consideration when a project is funded by public expenditure.
JBA has recently undertaken two full economic appraisals to support the promotion of two new flood prevention schemes at:
These appraisals have been undertaken using the current best practice for the promotion of prevention schemes in Scotland
and also include recent developments in indirect and intangible flood losses to consider the social aspects of flood protection measures.
JBA utilises standard approaches and tools available within this area to ensure consistency and an audit trail.
Our experienced staff are familiar with existing procedures to assess direct and indirect flood losses using standard approaches,
the relevant policy context and existing analysis tools (FCDPAG).
In addition, JBA has developed specific tools to automate the economic appraisal process.
In addition to this detailed approach to economic appraisal, JBA has also undertaken a number of economic analyses for feasibility studies
and strategic assessments and to assess existing flood prevention schemes. Recent studies include:
- Cost of Flooding – a review of the economic impact of the 2004 floods in Scotland
- Dumfries and Galloway Strategic Flood Risk Assessment – the assessment and prioritisation of flood risk areas in order to determine areas requiring future study. The study collated data on existing flood risk, flood management infrastructure and flood occurrences to determine the economic, environmental and social impacts of flooding
- Several flood feasibility studies – economic appraisals have been undertaken at a range of scales to support options for flood alleviation studies
- A review of flood prevention schemes for the Scottish Flood Defence Asset Database.
This latter study reviewed the economic effectiveness of flood prevention schemes constructed since the Flood Prevention (Scotland) Act 1961.
This was undertaken using the Modelling and Decision Support Framework (MDSF) as a tool to derive flood damages for a range of scheme types and ensured a consistent approach and replicable outputs.
This use of the MDSF and the scale of approach were presented at the 2007 MDSF conference.
For further information, please email david.bassett@jbaconsulting.co.uk
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Integrated Urban Drainage
Urban flooding in 2007 and various strategic reviews have identified the strong need for a holistic, joined up,
and integrated approach to deal with the problems of flooding in the urban environment.
This is particularly difficult as urban areas have a complex interaction of drainage systems
and a widespread difficulty in identifying ownership of the problem.
The Integrated Urban Drainage Team of JBA has been established to provide cost effective,
high quality integrated urban drainage services to government agencies, local authorities, utility companies and private businesses.
JBA has developed a range of tools which allow efficient and appropriate modelling of the interactions between sewer, groundwater,
river and tidal flooding at various scales. JBA's national flash flood map can provide a cost effective and fast way of identifying
the areas that warrant detailed modelling of sewer and watercourse networks.
Urban Flood Mapping
Understanding how our traditional approach to surface water and drainage systems will stand up to potentially more extreme rainfall events
is an important part of our preparedness for climate change. JBA has developed ‘quick screening’ tools which can be efficiently applied to
identify pluvial flooding of large geographical areas. This uses our rapid 2-D raster-based routing model JFLOW to identify key areas where
water may pond in urban areas.
The output can be presented in a clear way using maps and aerial photography to ensure a clear understanding by a range of stakeholders.
Flood depth information can be combined with vulnerability maps and social data to identify key infrastructure and high risk areas,
which can then be used to develop emergency plans and in the assessment of the potential cost of flooding
Integrated Urban Modelling
Integrated 1-D and 2-D modelling of sewers, watercourses and overland flow enables analysis of flooding from many sources in the urban environment.
This allows the assessment of overland flow routes from new sewer systems during extreme flooding as well as the analysis of flooding from existing
systems and their interaction with the watercourse system. We have InfoWorks CS and Win-Des modellers and can carry out design of drainage systems,
including sustainable urban drainage elements.
Urban Flood Mitigation Option Appraisals
JBA have carried out many studies to establish the best catchment management approach to addressing flooding within the urban environment.
Solutions include upstream storage, culvert upgrades and retrofit SUD systems.
Urban DEM Generation
There are filtering and ground-truthing issues with any sort of remotely sensed data,
and the resulting ground models are not always detailed enough for urban flood modelling.
At JBA we build ground models in urban areas using survey data from various sources, which allows accurate 2-D modelling.
We also provide training in urban drainage particularly on the following courses:
Urban Flooding: one day overview of all relevant techniques aimed to highlight flood risk within urban areas.
Urban Hydrology: provides an introduction to urban hydrology and is aimed at those involved with the design and study of urban drainage systems.
Intergrated Urban Drainage Papers
- Interreg IIIB NWE project 'Urban Water' – Case Study of Integrated Urban Flood Modelling in Renfrewshire
- 2-D modelling of sewer flooding, Fiona Dow
- Wapug papers – available from www.wapug.org.uk – past papers
- Spring 2007 – Urban flood modelling – a hierarchy of modelling and data collection methodologies, Dr Barry Hankin, Simon Waller, Fiona Dow, Richard Kellagher
- Autumn 2006 – 2-D Modelling of sewer flooding in the urban environment – a case study, Fiona Dow
For further information, please email fiona.dow@jbaconsulting.co.uk
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Erosion and Sediment Control
From the 1st April 2006, the introduction of the Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 (CAR) made it an offence for construction sites
discharging to the water environment to operate without a sustainable urban drainage system or equivalent treatment system.
JBA Consulting can offer tailored construction phase surface water management solutions to assist clients and contractors
meet their statutory obligations.
JBA have developed, in consultation with SEPA and Clients, cost effective erosion and sediment control plans.
The plan assesses site-specific conditions and provides a system that has the flexibility and robustness required in the construction environment.
The plan is presented in an easy to read format that can be displayed on-site and details contractors’ obligations,
easily installed best-practice techniques and emergency procedures.
This service can be augmented with on-going monitoring and maintenance inspections where required.
For further information, please email rene.dobson@jbaconsulting.co.uk
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Drainage Design and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs)
JBA progress drainage and SUD systems from feasibility to detailed design and construction. Our experience covers wetland ponds, maturation ponds, reed beds, swales and soakaways.
Full hydrogeological assessment is carried out in-house.
JBA can provide assessment of geomorphology and provide river restoration design services.
We are a member of the River Restoration Centre
For further information, please email david.bassett@jbaconsulting.co.uk
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Scour Assessment
As part of a nationwide survey of railway bridges and culverts which cross watercourses or are likely to be affected by flood waters,
Network Rail have implemented a rolling programme of inspections and assessments of all railway structures.
As part of this programme, Network Rail Scotland has contracted the Scotland office of JBA Consulting to inspect and
assess structures for potential scour and flood risk. The following projects have been undertaken:
- 2003 – 27 structures inspected
- 2004 – 22 structures inspected
- 2005 – 220 structures inspected
- 2006 – 186 structures inspected
- 2007 – 100 structures inspected
- Achnasheen - assistance in assessing improvements to bridge management following closure of the Kyle of Lochalsh line due to damage caused by high flows.
Gravel deposits post flooding
Reconstruction of embankment and repairs to line after flood damage to culverts
For further information, please email david.bassett@jbaconsulting.co.uk
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List of Example Projects
- Sustainable Flood Management
- Flood Prevention Scheme
- North Renfrew Flood Prevention Scheme
- Feasibility Studies
- Arbroath Flood Storage Feasibility Study
- Ellon Flood Study
- Galashiels Flood Study
- Jedburgh Flood Study
- Tillicoultry Burn Flood Study
- Hydrometry and Hydrology
- Hydrometric improvements for new flood warning
- SEPA High Tide data collection
- Floodplain Mapping
- JFLOW runs of Tarland Burn
- Flood Risk Assessment
- Dumfries and Galloway SFRA
- Ladhope Mill FRA
- Flood study Eildon Housing Dovecot Road Peebles
- Alva School Site Flood Risk Assessment
- Alva Investments Ltd Flood Risk Assessment
- BBC Queen Margaret Drive Flood Risk Assessment
- Asset Management
- Scottish Flood Defence Asset Database
- Economic Analysis
- Brechin Investment Appraisal
- Integrated Urban Drainage and SUDs
- Urban Flood Mapping
- Interreg IIIB NWE Urban Water Project
- Integrated Urban Modelling
- Interreg IIIB NWE Urban Water Project
- Assessment of Camlachie Burn
- Assessment of Strath Burn
- Urban Flood Mitigation Option Appraisals
- Urban DEM Generation
- Erosion and Sediment Control
- Greenburn Watercourse Reinstatement
- Drainage Design and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDs)
- Swale and wetland design for Great Bustard visitor centre in Alton Barnes
- Cart Corridor Drainage Design
- Scour Assessment
- Network Rail Scour Assessments 2006-07
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