An overview of the applications for early warning and mapping of the flood events in New Brunswick

This paper gives an overview of the on-line flood warning implementation in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. The on-line flood warning applications are available via the “River Watch” website provided by the New Brunswick Department of Environment. Advanced GIS technology combined with hydrological modelling, provide a mapping and visualization tool that can be used by emergency managers and the general public to predict possible flood zones. The applications developed for “River Watch” support the processing of large amounts of digital terrain and hydrological data, which are then, quantified and displayed on digital maps allowing decision makers and the general population to comprehend and visualize the possible area and impact of the flooding. The WebGIS applications that are available from the “River Watch” web site provide snow reports and maps, flood warnings and interactive maps. The searchable historical database containing reports about the impact of past floods and estimated damages provides a valuable insight into the past of the province of New Brunswick and the motivation for development of the system for flood prediction and management.