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Flood Resilience

Managing flood risk to protect people, infrastructure and communities

river

Flooding is one of the world’s most persistent and costly hazards. Jacobs combines global expertise in flood risk management, digital tools and infrastructure design and delivery to reduce exposure and build long-term resilience.

From flood modeling, mapping and planning to disaster recovery, our full lifecycle solutions protect communities from flooding while adapting to a changing climate.

Flood resilience solutions

Delivering full lifecycle solutions, from infrastructure design and implementation to flood risk assessment, mitigation, disaster response and recovery

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Flood IQ

Flood modeling, mapping & planning

Understanding flood risk starts with understanding how water moves through natural and built environments. Jacobs combines advanced hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, flood mapping, climate-informed analysis and master planning to identify vulnerabilities, evaluate mitigation options and make evidence-based decisions. We support projects ranging from local flood studies and property flood reduction to national flood maps and flood risk assessments, providing the insights needed to plan resilient communities and infrastructure.

river

Flood infrastructure

Jacobs designs and delivers infrastructure that mitigates flooding and protects people, property and critical assets from flood risk. We support the full project lifecycle, from strategic planning and concept development through detailed design and implementation. Our experience spans levees, floodwalls, relief channels, pump stations, gates and barriers, urban flood mitigation, stormwater systems and integrated resilience programs that adapt to changing conditions.

NatureIntegratedAcrosstheLifecycle

Nature-based solutions

Working with natural systems can often provide more sustainable and adaptable flood resilience outcomes. Jacobs works with clients to integrate wetlands, floodplains, green infrastructure, river restoration and other natural and hybrid infrastructure into broader flood risk management strategies. These nature-based solutions reduce flood impacts while delivering additional environmental, social and economic benefits for communities.

a flooded town

Disaster recovery & emergency response

When flooding occurs, rapid and effective response is critical. Jacobs provides technical expertise, engineering support and program management services that enable governments and agencies to assess damage, restore essential infrastructure and accelerate recovery. We’ve supported emergency response and long-term recovery programs following major flood events, rebuilding stronger and delivering resilience.

Digital & AI for Water

Digital flood intelligence

Jacobs develops innovative digital tools that enable organizations to better understand, manage and communicate flood risk. Through tools such as Flood IQ, Flood Platform and Flood Modeller, we bring together models, data, visualization and AI-powered analytics that improve planning, decision-making and emergency response.

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Explore how we reduce exposure to flooding and build long-term resilience.

Jacobs provides full lifecycle flood resilience services, including flood risk assessment, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, flood mapping, master planning, infrastructure assessments, design, program delivery, emergency response and disaster recovery support. We work across riverine, coastal, urban and stormwater systems.

We use advanced modeling, flood mapping and analytics to evaluate flood hazards from multiple sources, including rivers, coastlines, stormwater systems and cloudburst events. These insights enable clients to identify vulnerabilities, test mitigation options, optimize existing assets and prioritize investments.

Jacobs has developed a suite of flood intelligence solutions including Flood IQ, Flood Platform and Flood Modeller. These tools empower clients to manage models and data, visualize results, accelerate analysis, improve flood forecasting and support more informed decision-making and emergency response.

Jacobs supports the planning, design and delivery of flood resilience infrastructure, including levees, floodwalls, drainage improvements, pump stations, detention facilities and nature-based solutions that protect people, properties and critical infrastructure. We support clients to move from strategy and concept development through implementation and long-term program management.

Jacobs has extensive experience supporting emergency response and recovery programs following flood events and other natural disasters. We provide technical expertise, program management, damage assessment and infrastructure recovery services, working with clients and communities to restore critical services and accelerate flood recovery.

As urban populations grow and rainfall becomes more intense, many cities are experiencing more frequent flooding caused by overwhelmed drainage and stormwater infrastructure, including combined sewer systems. Jacobs works with municipalities to reduce urban flood risk through integrated planning, hydraulic modeling, flood master planning, drainage improvements, green infrastructure and flood mitigation projects that increase resilience while supporting more livable communities.

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Flood intelligence

Digital solutions that strengthen system resilience 

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Supporting the development of the New Zealand Flood Map
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Supporting the development of the New Zealand Flood Map

Jacobs, together with JBA Consulting, is developing the methodology to inform the first generation of the New Zealand Flood Map to improve resilience and long-term adaptation. See how integrated data and digital solutions are shaping safer communities and future-ready infrastructure.
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Jacobs introduces Flood IQ to help utilities and cities anticipate and manage flood risk

Jacobs introduces Flood IQ, an artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled solution to help cities, utilities and government agencies anticipate, manage and recover from flooding events. The solution brings together Jacobs’ decades of flood engineering expertise with advanced AI to transform fragmented water and drainage system data into actionable intelligence for preparedness, response and long-term resilience planning.
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Protecting the Thames Estuary: Modeling to provide a reliable evidence base to safeguard millions of residents and billions in assets

The Thames Estuary is home to 1.51 million people and more than £400 ($546) billion-worth of assets that are at risk from tidal flooding. To address this challenge, Jacobs and JBA Consulting are leading the Thames Estuary 2100 Modelling Project for the Environment Agency — a key pillar of the Thames Estuary 2100 strategy. The project strengthens understanding of flood risk and provides the robust evidence base needed to guide smarter decisions that protect homes, safeguard critical infrastructure and support sustainable growth. By delivering trusted and unified insights for climate resilience, it’s helping to build a safer future for one of the principal development areas in southern England.
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Jacobs appointed to deliver transformative regeneration project in New Zealand

Jacobs, in collaboration with GHD and Boffa Miskell, has been appointed to deliver the scheme design for the Ōtākaro Avon River Corridor in Christchurch, New Zealand. The project supports the regeneration of land affected by increased flood risk as a result of the Canterbury earthquakes, while restoring the river environment and supporting surrounding communities.

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