SMEC Improves Flood Estimations in Papua New Guinea

SMEC will revise and update Papua New Guinea’s Flood Estimation Manual to incorporate modern international standards, best practice and climate change impacts.

SMEC has been engaged by the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Department of Works (DoW) to provide consultancy services for the review and revision of the current PNG Flood Estimation Manual (PNGFEM). The original manual was initially prepared by SMEC in 1990 and has been in use for more than 25 years.

The objective of the project is to revise and update the PNGFEM to reflect international standards and best practice, and provide a standard guideline for estimating rainfall runoff and floods in PNG. The revised PNGFEM will improve the accuracy of flood estimation by incorporating the latest in runoff and flood modelling software, as well as addressing the potential impacts of climate change on flood estimation.

Project works include: data gathering; stakeholder consultation; review of historical rainfall data; research into climate change; preparation of the updated PNGFEM; and presentation of the manual to DoW.