Introduction
Damage Calculator requires a set of depth damage curve data files to undertake calculations.
These files must have column headers as specified in this manual. Damage calculator will not accept datasets with incorrectly defined column headers, missing columns or extra columns. If damage calculator encounters an invalid file, it will report this and automatically close.
Files must be set up in a single folder, ideally with no additional files or sub-folders present in the folder.
Files must be text files with a comma separated (csv) format.
An example dataset is included with Flood Modeller. This is held in a zip file in the installation folder (usually “C:\Program Files\Flood Modeller\gui”). This can be copied elsewhere prior to unzipping.
The example dataset is a combination of sample files provided by FHRC and a series of additional files based on other guidance. Details on data sources are provided in the relevant section for each file.
The example files can be edited if required. Alternatively, if the user has an FHRC MCM license, full versions of the depth damage curves provided by MCM online (www.mcm-online.co.uk) can be used.
Specify output folder location
Specify an output folder where results are to be written. Results are generated as .csv files that can be loaded directly into MS Excel.
Select depth damage data curve set
To select a curve set, go to the Depth/Damage Curves tab of the interface. Curves can be selected from the two dropdown menus (for residential and non-residential properties) at the top of the tab. Options are available for various attributes of flooding, including:
• Flood duration – curves are available for a range of flood durations
• Flood warning - curves are available for ‘no flood warning’ and a range of flood warning lead times
• Flood water type – curves are available for a range of water types including storm water, saline (salt) water, sewage and contaminated water.
• With / without cellars – damages can vary if cellars are considered for certain property types
The selected curve sets are listed in the left-hand Panel in a tree view. The underlying depth/damage data associated with the selected (highlighted) row is plotted on the adjacent chart and listed in the adjacent table.
The following examples are to reflect how the data may look in each dataset. Headings from Damage Calculator results may not be in the same numbered columns as shown here
DefaultFloorArea
This file provides a default floor area for each property type (residential and non-residential). This can be used to calculate damages for properties with no floor area specified in the property file.
Data Source
This file is based on data available from:
https://www.mcm-online.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ch4-Ground-Floor-Plans.pdf
Required Format
Column headers must be as specified. Damage calculator will not accept datasets with incorrectly defined column headers, missing columns or extra columns.
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
strMCMCode | A numeric entry that defines the residential or non-residential property type the data entry applies to. This code is cross referenced to property descriptions in “MCMCode.csv”. |
dblMeanArea | A numeric entry that represents the area value to be used by Damage Calculator for properties that have no total floor area specified (in the property data file used in the analysis). Damage Calculator will use the appropriate area value with the calculated damage per square metre for a property to calculate the total damage figure for the property. |
Example Dataset
EvacuationCosts
This file provides depth verses evacuation cost relationships for different residential property types. It should be noted that unlike property damage, damage calculator does not interpolate costs between the specified depths, i.e. the cost is assumed constant for any flood depth occurring within a “from” – “to” range.
Data Source
An example of this file is provided with Flood Modeller to demonstrate the required format. However, this contains example values that must be changed before being used in an analysis. Detailed data suitable for use in the UK can be obtained from FHRC as part of MCM.
Required Format
Column headers must be as specified. Damage calculator will not accept datasets with incorrectly defined column headers, missing columns or extra columns.
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
MaxDepthFrom / MaxDepthTo | Numeric entries specifying a depth range |
Property types | Abbreviated names of typical UK property data types:
|
Example Dataset
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Intangibles
This file provides probability verses intangible health cost relationships for different residential property types.
Data Source
An example of this file is provided with Flood Modeller to demonstrate the required format. The values in the example provided are from the DeFRA document ‘The Appraisal of Human related Intangible Impacts of Flooding’ (R&D Technical Report FD2005/TR). Specifically, values are calculated from the second equation on p83 of the document. Values have been updated to 2023 using ONS GDP deflators. It is recommended that the DeFRA and ONS websites are checked for updates before undertaking an analysis.
Required Format
Column headers must be as specified. Damage calculator will not accept datasets with incorrectly defined column headers, missing columns or extra columns.
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
HINT_MaxDepthFrom / HINT_MaxDepthTo | Numeric entries specifying a probability range. (It must be noted that although column titles refer to ‘depth’, the contents reflect probabilities, in line with ‘The Appraisal of Human related Intangible Impacts of Flooding’ (R&D Technical Report FD2005/TR). |
Property types | Abbreviated names of typical UK property data types:
|
Example Dataset
MCM Depth Damage Curve Scenario
This file lists the scenarios for which depth damage data are provided, e.g. Short_NoW_storm, which represents a short duration storm event (<12hrs) with no warning. Various other options are available for other storm durations, floor water types and flood warning lead times.
Data Source
An example of this file (with one property type included) is provided in the Flood Modeller Damage Calculator example data. A file containing all property types is available with an MCM licence from FHRC.
Required Format
Required columns are:
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
CurveID | Numeric index for listed scenarios, i.e. 1, 2, 3, etc. These are used within the analysis process to look up the associated depth damage values within the other files within the data folder. |
CurveName | Text describing the storm scenario. Note: FHRC use abbreviated terms, e.g. “Short_NoW_storm” represents a short duration storm event (<12hrs) with no warning. |
Version | Year the data is valid for (i.e. numeric entry). |
Duration_hours_indicative | Flood duration in hours. MCM flood durations are >12, <24 or <72 hours long. |
Duration_comments | Text describing specified duration. |
Warning | Flag signifying if a warning is provided (flag = 1) or not provided (flag = 0). |
Warning Lead Time | Text describing lead time before warning issued, MCM storm data can be defined with no lead time, less than 8 hours (“<8h”) greater than 4 hours (“>4h”) or greater than 8 hours (“>8h”). |
Storm | Flag set to 0 or 1. If set to 1 then data represents standard fluvial flooding. |
Sewage | Flag set to 0 or 1. If set to 1 then data represents flooding containing sewage. |
Contaminated | Flag set to 0 or 1. If set to 1 then data represents flooding containing contaminated water. |
Saline | Flag set to 0 or 1. If set to 1 then data represents flooding of saline water. |
Waves | Flag set to 0 or 1. If set to 1 then data represents flooding including effect of waves (overtopping). |
RP | Flag set to 0 or 1. If set to 1 then curve is available for RP (Residential Properties). |
NRP | Flag set to 0 or 1. If set to 1 then curve is available for NRP (Non-Residential Properties). |
The columns representing properties of flooding are used together with the curve name field in the Damage Calculator interface to help select the appropriate data for analysis.
Example Dataset
MCM Code
This file lists the possible property types that may be in the MCM depth damage curve files, with a cross reference to MCM code.
Data Source
This file is based on data available from https://www.mcm-online.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Ch3-Land-Use-Classification.pdf
Required Format
Required columns are:
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
MCMCode | Numeric entry that lists MCM code values for all possible residential and non-residential property types. This code is cross referenced to residential and non-residential depth damage curve data in “RP_DD_curves.csv” and “NRP_DD_curves.csv”. |
LandUse | Text description of property type corresponding to each MCM code specified. |
Both of these datasets will be displayed in the Damage Calculator tool on the Depth/Damage Curves tab, enabling depth damage data for a property type to be selected and reviewed.
MentalHealthCosts
This file provides depth verses mental health cost relationships for different residential property types. It should be noted that, unlike property damage, damage calculator does not interpolate costs between the specified depths, i.e. the cost is assumed constant for any flood depth occurring within a “from” – “to” range.
Data Source
The values in the example provided are from the UK environment agency document ‘Advice for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Authorities – Mental Health Costs of Flooding and Erosion’ (published 17/04/2020). It is recommended that the Environment Agency website is checked for updates before undertaking an analysis.
Required Format
Column headers must be as specified. Damage calculator will not accept datasets with incorrectly defined column headers, missing columns or extra columns.
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
MH_MaxDepthFrom / MH_MaxDepthTo | Numeric entries specifying a depth range |
Property types | Abbreviated names of typical UK property data types, prefixed by ‘MH’ to denote Mental Health costs:
|
Example Dataset
NRP_DDcurves
This file lists the depth damage relationships for different types of non-residential properties.
Data Source
An example of this file (with one property type included) is provided in the Flood Modeller Damage Calculator example data. A file containing all property types is available with an MCM licence from FHRC.
Required Format
Required columns are:
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
CurveID | Numeric index cross referencing to scenarios listed in “MCM Depth Damage Curve Scenario.csv”, i.e. 1, 2, 3, etc. |
Scenario | Text describing the storm scenario. The same text appears in “MCM Depth Damage Curve Scenario.csv” for the selected “CurveID”. Note: FHRC use abbreviated terms for their scenarios, e.g. "Short_NoW_storm" represents a short duration storm event (<12hrs) with no warning. |
Year | Year the data is valid for (i.e. numeric entry). This references to the “Version” field in “MCM Depth Damage Curve Scenario.csv”. |
Cellar | Text entry signifying whether cellar damages are included within data. Entry can be “Cellar” or “NoCellar”. |
Band | Text entry set to “Indicative” by default. |
MCM_code | Numeric entry that defines the non-residential property type the data entry applies to. This code is cross referenced to non-residential property descriptions in “MCMCode.csv”. |
DeptH | Numeric entry. Assumed to be in same units as the depth grids used in the Damage Calculator analyses, i.e. no conversions performed in tool (for MCM, depths specified in metres). |
Total_Damage_Square_Metre | Numeric entry specifying overall damage at specified flood depth as a per square metre value (could equally be a per unit area value). This field will be utilised by Damage Calculator, combining with property areas (or default areas – specified in another file, see below) to calculate total damages for each flooded property. |
Example Dataset
Occupancy
This file provides average occupancy figures for each property type. These data are utilised in the optional risk to life calculation within Damage Calculator.
Data Source
The occupancy file was created by Jacobs using a number of publicly available sources, including: the "Employment Density Guide', 3rd edition, Homes & Communities Agency, November 2015; and "Review and Update of Occupancy Factors for UK homes", Public Health England, 2018. It is recommended that users check for updates before undertaking an analysis.
Required Format
Required columns are:
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
strMCMCode | Numeric entry that defines the residential or non-residential property type the data entry applies to. This code is cross referenced to property descriptions in “MCMCode.csv”. |
blnPerBuilding | This is a TRUE / FALSE entry. It signifies whether the associated occupancy rate for the building type represents a total number of people (entry = “TRUE”) or an area per person value (entry = “FALSE”). For the latter, the number of people in a property is then calculated by dividing the specified property floor area by the occupancy rate. |
dblOccupancyRate | This is a numeric entry that represents either the discrete number of people assumed in the associated building type or an area per person value (depends on blnPerBuilding value above). If the value is the latter, then the number of people expected in a property is calculated by dividing the specified property floor area by the occupancy rate. Note the area units assumed here should be the same as those used for property floor area data, which might not always be m2 (i.e. no unit conversions are performed in the tool). |
dblOccupancyFactor | The occupancy factor is a numeric entry representing a percentage value. This factors the calculated people per property values. Accounts for not all occupants being in all properties at the time of flooding. |
Example Dataset
PLPFactor
This file defines adjustment factors to be applied to depth damage data for one or multiple property level protection measures. It should be noted that factors have no currency data specified, and that damage Calculator has no function to carry out currency conversions. The damages calculated will assume the same currency as the specified depth damage datasets.
Data Source
This dataset is based on information contained in the DeFRA report ‘R&D Summary Report FD2607/TR1’
Required Format
Required columns are:
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
numPLPMeasure | Numeric entry specifying the measure index each data entry is part of, as listed in “PLPMeasures.csv”. |
numDepth | Numeric entry. Assumed to be in same units as the depth grids used in Damage Calculator analyses, i.e. no conversions performed in tool (for MCM, depths specified in metres). |
numFactor | Numeric entry. This is the factor to be applied at the associated depth to adjust the damage to account for the selected property protection measure. The impact of this factor can be seen in the Damage Calculator tool prior to starting a calculation. After switching on property level protection (by ticking check box on Calculation Information tab), two curves will be shown for each highlighted property type on the Depth / Damage Curves tab. One will be the original depth damage dataset and one will be the adjusted curve to account for the selected property level protection measure (selected in the Property Level Protection tab). |
Example Dataset
PLPMeasures
This file defines one or multiple property level protection measures. The description of the measure is listed here and the associated adjustment factors (in the PLPfactors file) are referenced.
Data Source
This dataset is based on information contained in the DeFRA report ‘R&D Summary Report FD2607/TR1’
Required Format
Required columns are:
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
numPLPMeasure | Numeric entry providing an index for each measure defined. This is used to cross reference to property level protection factors listed in the “PLPFactors.csv” file. |
strPLPMeasure | Text entry providing a (descriptive) name for each specified property level protection measure listed. The entries in this field will be listed in the Property Level Protection tab of the Damage Calculator interface, enabling a measure to be selected for use in the analysis |
Comments | Text entry for user to optional provide additional descriptions of each specified measure. Field is required in csv file but entries can be left blank. |
Example Dataset
RP_DDcurves
This file lists the depth damage relationships for different types of residential properties.
Data Source
An example of this file (with one property type included) is provided in the Flood Modeller Damage Calculator example data. A file containing all property types is available with an MCM licence from FHRC.
Required Format
Required columns are:
Name | Explanation |
|---|---|
CurveID | Numeric index cross referencing to scenarios listed in “MCM Depth Damage Curve Scenario.csv”, i.e. 1, 2, 3, etc. |
Scenario | Text describing the storm scenario. The same text appears in “MCM Depth Damage Curve Scenario.csv” for the selected “CurveID”. Note: FHRC use abbreviated terms for their scenarios, e.g. "Short_NoW_storm" represents a short duration storm event (<12hrs) with no warning. |
Year | Year the data is valid for (i.e. numeric entry). This references to the “Version” field in “MCM Depth Damage Curve Scenario.csv”. |
MCM_code | Numeric entry that defines the residential property type the data entry applies to. This code is cross referenced to residential property descriptions in “MCMCode.csv”. |
Depth | Numeric entry. This is assumed to be in same units as the depth grids used in the analysis. If the MCM is used, depths are specified in metres. |
Domestic_CleanUp | Numeric entry specifying domestic clean-up cost at specified flood depth. This value is provided for information only and is not used by the Damage Calculator tool. |
Household_Inventory_Damage | Numeric entry specifying household inventory damage value at specified flood depth. This value is provided for information only and is not used by the Damage Calculator tool. |
Building_Fabric_Damage | Numeric entry specifying building fabric damage value at specified flood depth. This value is provided for information only and is not used by the Damage Calculator tool. |
Total_Damage | Numeric entry specifying overall damage at specified flood depth. |
Total_Damage_Square_Metre | Numeric entry specifying overall damage at specified flood depth converted to a per square metre value (could equally be a per unit area value). This field will be utilised by Damage Calculator, combining with property areas (or default areas – specified in another file, see below) to calculate total damages for each flooded property. |
Example Dataset
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