Applying Agile Process Management to Flood Hazard Modelling

Fast model builds are essential if Auckland Council is to keep pace with rapidly developing greenfield areas and adequately plan stormwater infrastructure in catchments like the Hingaia Stream. With no detailed catchment model available for the Hingaia Stream catchment, Auckland Council applied Agile Process Management techniques to develop a Flood Hazard Model (FHM) that would service both the needs of the developer and Council planners for this Plan Change Variation in just seven weeks. Council’s Flood Planning Team leveraged off their Modelling Project Office to use multiple consultants and Council modellers to develop a fast and detailed 1D-2D coupled catchment model, utilising the latest LiDAR data. The FHM is suitable for Plan Change purposes and testing gross landform changes. The FHM model also provides the platform for subsequent model refinement for flood hazard mapping.

The Agile Management approach demonstrates that fit for purpose model builds can be achieved within significantly shorter timeframes and in a manner that provides better value to Auckland ratepayers, whilst maintaining quality. These achievements help to meet the city’s objectives relating to enabling growth and helping making Auckland the world’s most liveable City. In summary, by using Agile, Auckland Council achieved:

• A fit for purpose model in short time frame.
• New model build and review tools that will be usable on other model builds.
• An outcome-focused collaborative working environment.