Flood protection in the Bergisches Land: Funding approved for an innovative early warning system in the KIRa-Berg project Cooperation for flood prevention on the Agger and Wupper rivers (ÜVAW) is supported

Bergisches Land. The Oberbergischer Kreis receives funding from the Cologne District Government for the "Cooperation for Flood Prevention at Agger and Wupper (ÜVAW)" for the KIRa-Berg Project. The technical core of the project is the installation of two X-band radar devices, which are intended to complement the existing radar system of the German Weather Service for the Bergisches Land. During the project period, it will also be examined whether the innovative X-band radar data can be processed in a way that allows their integration into the existing German Weather Service warning systems for short-term forecasts, thereby serving as a legal basis for weather warnings.

The joint project is being supported academically by the University of Bonn and TH Köln, which have also each received approval for funding applications for the project.

The additional planned radar systems are capable of providing detailed radar data for precipitation forecast models even at lower altitudes and with significantly more frequent measurements. It is planned to combine these radar data with an AI model that incorporates both flood calculations from precipitation and existing river floods. Furthermore, rapid simulations of flooding scenarios can be conducted within seconds to shorten warning times.

Following the approval of funding, the necessary procurement of radar devices and the AI model is now being prepared, and suitable locations for the radar devices are being sought. The installation of the radar devices is planned to be completed by mid-next year. The planned project period extends from September 2026 to February 2029. The total costs amount to approximately 1.91 million euros.

The project is part of the REGIONALE 2025 Bergisches RheinLand under the funding call "The Best of Both Worlds – Climate Adaptation at Local and Regional Levels" and contributes to the early detection of flood risks and the coordinated implementation of effective measures both in acute events and within the framework of long-term planning processes. 

Information on flood protection in the Bergisches Land:

ÜVAW: The "Cooperation for Flood Prevention at Agger and Wupper (ÜVAW)" was established in January 2023 as a collaboration between the districts of Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, Oberbergischer Kreis, Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, and Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, the cities of Leverkusen, Remscheid, Solingen, and Wuppertal, as well as the water associations Aggerverband and Wupperverband. The cooperation area encompasses the catchment areas of Agger and Wupper. The ÜVAW cooperation, whose office is located in the environmental department of the Oberbergischer Kreis, aims primarily to improve public information and enhance collaboration among local authorities and water associations. One goal, to be implemented through the KIRa-Berg project, is the development of an integrated flood management system that supports specialized agencies, control centers, fire brigade command centers, and crisis teams in the early detection of flood risks and promotes the planning and implementation of effective protective measures. The Oberbergischer Kreis coordinates the collaboration between the project partners as well as the involved municipalities and associations. 

KIRa-Berg: The KIRa-Berg project (AI- and radar-supported integrated flood management system in the Bergisches Land) is a joint initiative of the Oberbergischer Kreis, representing the ÜVAW cooperation, the University of Bonn, and TH Köln. The project has a total budget of around 1.91 million euros. Following a successful application, a funding decision was issued for this project from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The funding covers 80% and is provided by the European Union and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Further information available at www.obk.de/kira-berg.