Lorna Kingsbury-Smith

Senior Flood Risk Modelling Consultant | MSc (Res) BSc (Hons) MCIWEM

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Lorna Kingsbury-Smith Aegaea

I am a Member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and a Senior Flood Risk Modelling Consultant at Aegaea, with over nine years of experience in the flood risk sector. Using a pragmatic and collaborative approach, I specialise in hydraulic modelling, taking complex technical data and transforming it into practical, effective solutions for sites at risk of flooding. I relish a technical challenge, from developing hydraulic models in data-poor environments to overcoming complex flood risk constraints for new developments. I have a broad range of experience working for a diverse range of clients from large water companies, developers, charitable organisations and risk management authorities. This has given me a breadth of experience working across a wide range of projects, each with its own unique set of challenges. My goal is to build robust hydraulic models that meet the technical standards expected whilst achieving the aims of each project.

How I Can Help You

  • Advanced Hydraulic Modeling: I am experienced in 1D, 2D, and linked 1D-2D model builds for both pluvial and fluvial scenarios using industry-standard tools like InfoWorks ICM, Flood Modeller, and ESTRY-TUFLOW.
  • Natural Flood Management (NFM): I have a deep interest in the application of NFM interventions, a focus of my Research Masters at the University of Leeds. I have worked on various river restoration projects, using hydraulic modelling to support the application of NFM within catchments.
  • Flood Risk Mitigation: Working collaboratively with clients, I develop flood mitigation schemes to help unlock development opportunities.
  • Network Strategy & Verification: I have led technical modelling for major water companies, including model verification using flow survey data, and catchment-wide network improvements and SOAF investigations.

 

Expertise in Action

  1. Maximising Sparse Survey Data: I successfully developed a complex 1D-2D hydraulic model using limited data to support a planning application for proposed holiday accommodation in Callander. The site is located within a rural area of Scotland where there is no LiDAR data available. This meant that there was limited elevation data available to inform the floodplain elevations, with a reliance on coarse OS Terrain 5 data (5m resolution). A channel survey was commissioned for the watercourses in the vicinity of the Site, namely the Caistal Burn and the Leny Fues. However, the extent of the survey was severely limited due to landowner permission not being available for the Leny Feus and the upstream extent of the Caisteal Burn. As a result of the limited data, the hydraulic modelling exercise required extensive sensitivity analysis to demonstrate that the model was robustly constructed and the modelling assumptions were appropriate. This included testing structure dimensions, blockage assessments, roughness values, and boundary conditions. The model successfully demonstrated that the proposed development would be located outside of the fluvial flood extents, and with SEPA removing their holding objection on flood risk grounds.
  2. Investigating Changing Flood Risk Over Time: I developed a pluvial hydraulic model to investigate the impact of changing land use and elevations on flood risk at a Site in West Lancashire. The Site has experienced increased frequency of surface water flooding since the construction of new development adjacent to the Site. To investigate this, a series of design scenarios was developed representing distinct periods in time. These were grouped into Pre-Development and Post-Development. Various data sources, including old and new topographic surveys, planning documents, and satellite imagery, were used to develop the model scenarios. Each scenario was simulated independently, enabling a comparative analysis of each scenario against the current baseline conditions. The analysis indicated that flow pathways had been altered due to changing elevations around the Site. However, further sensitivity testing on the surface water drainage identified that drainage has a key influence on flood risk around the Site.
  3. Assessing Flood Risk from Multiple Sources: I developed a dynamically linked 1D-2D ESTRY-TUFLOW model to assess both fluvial and pluvial flood risk to support a planning application for a large residential development in Slough. The model utilised an extensive channel survey to inform the 1D domain and incorporated a site-specific topographic survey. The model was constructed to enable both sources of flood risk to be simulated, providing a holistic view of the flood risk constraints. The model results were used to inform the site layout and assess the impact of the proposed development on flood risk.
  4. Greening the Grey, Implementing Natural Flood Management: I undertook a hydraulic modelling exercise using an existing Environment Agency model of the River Ravensbourne to assess the impact of a proposed river restoration project in South London. A targeted model review was undertaken to assess the suitability of the model before constructing a new design model incorporating the design proposals. The restoration intends to transform a concrete channel into a more naturalised watercourse by introducing a gravel bed, planted gravel berms and re-profiled banks, as well as introducing swales and scrapes within the floodplain. The design model successfully demonstrated that there is no increase in flood risk as a result of the restoration proposals, with water remaining within the channel through the Site.

A Bit About Me

In my spare time, you’ll usually find my wife and I, along with our dog Emily, traveling around Scotland in our campervan. We love exploring new places and going for long walks along beaches, through forests, and occasionally up the odd hill!

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