Three Nicosia municipalities are planning a real-time flood warning system along the Pedieos river, aimed at preventing loss of life and property damage when the river overflows during heavy rain.
The system, outlined in a study commissioned as part of the urban linear park regeneration project along the Pedieos, will cover the municipalities of Nicosia, Strovolos, and Lakatamia. Automatic SMS and email alerts will be sent to park users and municipal authorities when water levels or flow rates exceed set thresholds.
The Pedieos is known to overflow at certain points during intense rainfall. The bridge on Alexandroupoleos Street in Strovolos and several points in Lakatamia are among the most flood-prone locations.
A colour-coded risk map, updated in real time and showing danger levels at specific locations along the river, will be made publicly available. Flood probability assessments will cover time windows of up to 24 hours ahead. A dedicated platform will be fully accessible from a municipal Control Centre, with selected information made public for transparency and preventive awareness.
How it works
Sensors installed at points along the river will feed real-time data into the system, monitoring water levels in the river and adjacent streams, flow volume and speed, rainfall quantities, and overflow from conduits and drainage points. Algorithms will then process the data to predict flood risk, drawing on historical patterns, meteorological forecasts, and hydrological simulation models.
The system will also integrate with Interactive Information Points in the park to alert visitors on the ground, and will connect via API with other smart city platforms including weather stations and visitor data systems. Reports and forecasts will be generated for the municipal authority and Civil Protection.