Following on from our last newsletter we've received quite a few enquiries on composite layers.
Composite layers are a means of dynamically working with multiple flood surfaces at once, as if they were a single surface.
Running from a simple list with overlay management tags, composite layers create a virtual surface from any number of individual flood layers, that is displayed, interrogated and processed as if it were a seamless, single layer.
Used extensively in automated flood certificates systems, composite layers provide a near-instant means of incorporating new studies into an existing framework by simply adding a new study to the list.
Composite Layer Covering Six Overlapping Flood Studies (shown in waterRIDE LITE)
Their use provides flexibility in managing overlap in a completely non-destructive way, leaving the source layers unchanged, thereby maintaining their original quality.
Composite layers support surfaces with varying frameworks, which means you could have a layer that consists of three grid surfaces with different cell sizes, a flexible mesh model and a 1D model, all being treated as single results set.
Also, as projections are managed seamlessly and automatically, the individual layers do not even need their projections changed.
Overlap can be managed in a number of ways, with the broad three approaches being:
- Maximums: Use the maximum value of each hydraulic parameter in any area of overlap. This may, for example, include a maximum flood level from the mainstream backwater in a tributary but include the tributary maximum hazard given swift flowing tributary flows could be more hazardous than static mainstream backwater.
- Standard: the order of the layers in the list defines how surfaces overlay each other (eg the last layer in the list will overlay any previous layers)
- Override: discussed in the last newsletter, this approach is often used for integrating post-development subset-models with the full catchment model, this approach enforces complete override of flood information from one surface over another/others.
There are further refinements and options available that offer finer scale control on the above.
To start using composite layers, head to the Composite Layer section of the Setup panel in FLOOD Manager.
Whilst waterRIDE LITE is an ideal tool for building your community flood portal, with interactive access to flood information, GIS datasets and even your flood certificate system (if desired), many organisations are now running direct access to their flood information via a private waterRIDE LITE configuration.
Under this configuration, you have simplified, live access to your flooding datasets from any device, protected by a secure logon.
This is proving invaluable for field officers needing to access flood information when onsite and, particularly, for emergency responders looking to access forecast flood information when out and about.
Linking seamlessly to waterRIDE CLOUD, datasets are fast and easy to access providing a dynamic means of visualising and interrogating flooding information, whilst avoiding duplication of datasets.
waterRIDE LITE - Your Flood Data In Your Pocket
Information that organisations are incorporating into their private LITE configurations include:
- Design flood surfaces
- Broadscale flood mapping
- LiDAR and Digital Elevation Models
- Rain and river gauge data, including flood cameras
- Forecast rainfall grids from the BoM/MetService
- Property photos or Google Street View imagery
- Land parcels and other GIS datasets
- Automated flood certificates
Many users are also finding waterRIDE LITE is proving a great way to access flood information when in the office too, with a simple browser link providing instant access to data.
With a deliberately simplified interface, it compliments the more detailed levels of access from waterRIDE CLOUD, particularly when only basic flooding information is needed.
waterRIDE LITE - Your Flood Data In Your Pocket
waterRIDE 11.0.5 (November 2025) will be hitting your inboxes shortly for those with valid maintenance plans.
waterRIDE CLOUD users are already running the latest release.
Release notes are available here.