Real-Time Flood Warning Web Platform for East Sussex | BeFloodWarned Project
BeFloodWarned is a real-time flood warning web platform that brings together live data from rivers, groundwater sensors, rainfall, and drainage systems into a single, easy-to-understand dashboard. It helps the community in East Sussex to anticipate risk and take informed action to stay safe.
)
TL;DR
Flooding isn’t just about rivers bursting their banks. In East Sussex, it can come from anywhere: heavy rain, rising groundwater, overwhelmed drains. The trouble is, communities don’t always know when or where it’s coming.
That’s why East Sussex County Council (ESCC) asked us to create BeFloodWarned, a new platform that turns multiple sources of flood data into clear, real-time alerts. This tool is giving people the insight they need to prepare, act, and stay safe.
Impact: From invisible groundwater to sudden flash floods, the platform helps people see risk clearly and take action before it’s too late.
Tech Stack: Web platform, map-based dashboards, API integrations, telemetry data (gauges, weather feeds, boreholes), notifications.
Services: Product Discovery, UX/UI Design, Web Platform Development, Mapping & Data Visualisation, Continuous Support.)
What was the problem to solve?
Flood warnings in the UK are often fragmented. National systems don’t always capture local nuance, and communities can be left in the dark about the real risks in their area.
ESCC wanted to change that. Building on the success of Project Groundwater, the council needed a solution that could:
Bring together multiple flood data sources (river, groundwater, rainfall, drains).
Make sense of technical telemetry data in a way residents could actually use.
In the eyes of the user: People weren’t just asking “will it flood?” They wanted to know “will it flood here, today, and what should I do about it?"
How did we approach this?
Discovery & Define: We started with user workshops, testing what communities actually needed to see on-screen. Accessibility, clarity, and trust were the key drivers.
Phased Delivery: The project evolved through two key phases of development:
Phase 1: Built the site’s architecture, integrated core data visualisations, and established the foundations for alerting functionality.
Phase 2: Added historical data context, live sensor mapping, and the ability for ESCC to trial customisable email and SMS alerts before public rollout.
)
Collaboration: This project is part of Blue Heart, a forward-thinking partnership led by East Sussex County Council, bringing together brilliant minds from the University of Exeter, Southern Water, JBA Consulting, the Pevensey and Cuckmere Water Level Management Board, Eastbourne Borough Council, and Wealden District Council.
Blue Heart is backed by Defra through the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme, managed by the Environment Agency, all with one shared goal: helping communities build long-term flood resilience 🩵
At 3 Sided Cube, our role was to take the lead on product design and development, turning the consortium’s research, data, and ambition into a digital platform that brings it all to life 💚
What was our solution?
We built a map-based web platform designed to cut through the noise and show flood risk at a glance. Key features include:
)
Life Forecast Data
Delivered region-specific forecast data within the platform, helping residents clearly understand flood risk as it evolves.
)
Customisable Alerts
Built functionality that allows ESCC to trial and refine SMS and email alerts, enabling them to test wording and delivery before a full public rollout.
)
A Flood Action Plan
Step-by-step checklists that help households and businesses know exactly what to do. Check, prepare, act, recover
)
Sensors
Integrated live sensor mapping using telemetry data such as gauges, weather feeds, and boreholes to give communities real-time visibility of changing flood conditions.
)
Multi-Source Alerts
SMS and email notifications combining weather warnings, flood telemetry, and local data.
What's the Impact?
Flooding will only get more unpredictable with climate change. BeFloodWarned is helping East Sussex move from reactive recovery to proactive resilience.
This isn’t just about maps and data. It’s about helping people feel prepared, empowered, and safer in the face of rising flood risk 🚨 🌊
)
)
Want to turn complex data into tools that help people prepare, act, and stay safe?
Lets Talk