Flood prevention and monitoring ◄ back to applications A survey of flood-vulnerable areas will help to simulate all possible scenarios before the real water is coming. Digital elevation models predict the path flood-water will take after a river overflows its banks or after a dam-burst. Decisions could be simulated and analysed to open a dam intentionally for overflowing uninhabited areas to prevent others from being devasted by a flood wave. Laser-scanning is an adequate option to collect data to compute an elevation model. STEMMEs system-partner TerraImaging B.V. from the Netherlands is an expert in collecting data with airborne sensors and provides special software as an analytical tool. When flooding of large areas realy happens, permanent monitoring is essential for desaster response. The picture to the left shows a STEMME S15 monitoring a german village in danger of being flooded in early 2011. Real looking models Digital models can be converted to look like a real landscape (above) or combined with aerial photographs (right) for quick visual  sum up of the situation. (TerraImaging B.V. illustrations) Simulating a flood Laser-scanning data computed to a digital 3D model of a river and the embankment on both sides. Different flood-scenarios can be simulated to optimize water-management and preparation of civil defence forces. Laser scanning ►