WC145 NovDec 2025 - Magazine - Page 21
Challenges and funding gaps
Despite growing interest in predictive flood mapping, Canadian
municipalities face significant hurdles in implementation.
1. High costs: “Local maps require hydrologic and hydraulic information,” explains Simonovic. “This information is costly, and
when responsibility is transferred to lower levels of government,
they often don’t have the funds to do it.”
2. Fragmented data and standards: In Canada, floodplain maps are
often developed using different methodologies across provinces
and municipalities, making it difficult to create standardized
national planning tools. Simonovic notes Canada lacks the unified approach seen in the U.S., where a single national standard
applies.
3. Political and intergovernmental barriers: While federal programs
provide guidance and partial funding, municipalities bear the
bulk of implementation costs and must balance competing
priorities. This creates gaps in coverage, consistency, and access
to technology, particularly for smaller municipalities lacking
resources.
Future outlook
Looking forward, predictive flood mapping in Canada is poised for a
technological leap. AI, IoT sensors and digital twins could revolutionize resilience planning by integrating real-time data, historical patterns
and infrastructure models.
Toronto Water’s Jian Lei explains that the city’s real-time control
project “uses sensor data to direct flow where there is space in the
system… helping us manage water more effectively.” Experts envision
expanding such systems to optimize stormwater management and
even anticipate flood events before they occur.
Simonovic adds, while AI applications in hydrological modelling
are still emerging, “the main innovation will come from the availability or ability to use global models at the regional or local level,”
allowing municipalities to plan proactively rather than reactively.
As Canadian cities adopt these technologies, the goal is not only to
improve immediate flood response but also to strengthen long-term
resilience. By combining predictive tools with strategic infrastructure
investments, municipalities can reduce economic losses, protect communities, and shift from disaster response to disaster prevention.
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WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
WATER C AN ADA • NOV EMBER/ DECEMBER 2025
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