Coastal Inundation Forecasting Demonstration Project Fiji (CIFDP-F) : Development of an Integrated Coastal Inundation Forecasting System in Fiji

Donors: Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA)

Project Partners: Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), Fiji Meteorological Service, Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), World Meteorological Organization

Contact:

The CIFDP- F is facilitating the development of efficient forecasting and warning systems for coastal inundation based on robust science and observations, along vulnerable coastal areas in Fiji. In doing so, the CIFDP-F will integrate cross-cutting scientific models into an open forecasting environment for the purpose of improving/ expanding/ developing the forecasting and warning systems for storm surges, hydrological response to heavy rainfall and Tropical Cyclone landfall on coastal areas, and other phenomena causing coastal inundation.

In order to operate and maintain a reliable forecasting system that helps the national decision-making for coastal management, the proposed project will:

  • Develop and implement an open-source coastal inundation end-to-end operational forecasting and warning system;
  • Develop cross-cutting cooperation among different scientific disciplines and user communities; and
  • Provide specialized training for operators / forecasters and disaster managers.

Beneficiary groups are mainly coastal communities in Fiji in the immediate term, through the improved performance of national institutions responsible for coastal disaster forecasting, warning, and climate adaptation planning. Every year, populations in coastal zones are impacted by coastal inundation caused by waves, including long period swell, storm surges and hydrological inundation, resulting in loss of life and damage to property. The results of this project will provide critical information to improve forecasting, warning, and evacuation planning in coastal zones.           

The beneficiary sectors will include the coastal residents (end users) in agriculture, fishery, tourism and other industries, disaster managers in central and regional governments (intermediary users). In particular, improved forecasting services will serve greatly to ensure safe operation of tourism business, which is a major source of Fiji’s income.

The project is divided into phases to be implemented within the period 2016 to 2019 and a total budget of USD 1.2 million.

The Korean Meteorological Administration has generously provided USD 400,000 for the first year (2016-2017).

The funds cover carrying out the coastal and oceanographic modelling. Subsequent years of funding will support the finalizing of the coastal modelling, commencement of the hydrological aspects, testing of the early warning system and training for the forecasters in the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS). 

WMO Strategic Priority: Disaster Risk Reduction

Status: Ongoing

Funding 391,000.00 CHF (400,000.00 USD)

Implementation in: Fiji

Regions: Region V: South-West Pacific

 

Country
Fiji