The new “CINES” gauge allows for better monitoring of precipitations over the upstream part of the Verdanson catchment. It is located in the neighbourhood of the Avenue des Moulins stage sensor managed by the Montpellier Metropolitan Authority.
Network development (26 April 2023): new rainfall gauge for the Verdanson network
The new “RueBrives” gauge allows for an increased coverage of the downstream part of the Verdanson network.
Rainfall events (6-7 Sept. 2021): a few shots
ON 6 and 7 September 2022, a sequence of heavy rainfall events occurred over the Montpellier urban area. A few pictures taken on 7 Sept. around noon can be visualized from the following map : https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/fr/map/omsev-site-du-verdanson-episodes-des-06-et-07-sept_805685#15/43.6293/3.8535
Rainfall event (16 August 2022): a few shots
On 16 August in the evening, a rainfall event occurred over the urban area of Montpellier. As a consequence, the local authorities decided to close the Voie Domitienne avenue near the crossing of the Verdanson river.
Videos available here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR-S-6BQ2UrJPOSxFiAjUOOOqsdCOXyfR
Map & georeferenced media: https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/fr/map/evenement-du-16082022_799060#15/43.6246/3.8496
YouTube channel now available
A YouTube channel is now available. It hosts videos by the members of the Ubran Observatory: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNlBSh83oQ7eSz8c6LAKJfg
Network development (29 June 2021): installing additional rainfall gauges at CHU Montpellier
On Tuesday 29 June 2021, two additional rainfall gauges were deployed on the premices of the Lapeyronie University Medical Centre. This makes a total 4 gauges implemented within the Medical Centre. 3 additional gauges will be implemented on 20 July.
Internal Seminar of the Observil NOS (25 June 2021) – Presentation by the HSM Urban Observatory
On 25 June 2021, the 2nd internal seminar of the Observil National Observation System provided HSM the opportunity to present their treatment of the 10 May storm event over the Verdanson catchment. Presentation to be downloaded here: Séminaire SNO Observil (25 juin 2021) – Présentation de l’Observatoire urbain d’HSM (in French)
Publication (2021) : modelling the effects of urban stormwater control measures
Marlène Rio, Christian Salles, Marie-George Tournoud (2021). Modelling the effects of stormwater control measures on runoff volume and particulate load in urban catchments. Urban Water Journal, 18 (2), 79-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2020.1860236, Link to HAL: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-03117171
Abstract. Today, urban stormwater management is moving towards Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) that encourage water storage and infiltration to reduce urban runoff and contaminant transfer. Modelling tools are required to quantify SCMs benefits at catchment scale. Based on an original method of land cover representation in a rainfall-runoff model, this paper aims at assessing the impacts of permeable pavements and rooftop disconnection on runoff generation and Suspended Solids (SS) wash-off over urban surfaces. Six application catchments are delineated in a densely urbanised area of southern France as representatives of typical urban land uses. The results highlight significant reductions in runoff volume and SS loads, especially for the lowest return periods of the design storm. The scenarios’ benefits are variable among the catchments, emphasising the importance of considering urban space specificities for prioritizing the implementation of SCMs. The proposed method can easily be transposed elsewhere and extended to large urban catchments.
Forthcoming event (4 May 2021): visiting the CHU site
A new step in the development of the high resolution rainfall gauge network. On 20 April 2021, a distance meeting was held with the University hospital centre (CHU). The implementation of new rainfall gauges on the CHU site was granted.
The Urban observatory team will visit the CHU site on 4 May with the purpose of identifying possible locations for the rainfall gauges.
Report (7 April 2021): report calibration of 10 rainfall gauges
Robin, R. 2021. Calibration du réseau de pluviographes de
l’observatoire HSM « Eau dans la ville ». Rapport de Projet de Fin d’Etudes, Polytech Montpellier (STE). 62 pages. Available here (in French).