Project Proposal
Title of project: Strengthening the capacity of research center for the flood mitigation of
the river Taedong
Implementing Organization: The Branch of Hydraulic and Marine Engineering (BHNE),
State Academy of Science (SOAS)
1. Background
For the integrated use of water resources, national strategy for the development of hydropower
resources and the basic scheme of water resources development had been drawn up in the 1950s
and 1960s, according to which hundreds of different size dams and reservoirs have been built in
past several decades in DPR of Korea.
Especially, along the River Taedong and the River Amnok, the main rivers in DPR of Korea, more
than 20 large sized hydropower plants, barrages and reservoirs for irrigation have been constructed,
supplying water for industry, agriculture, urban and domestic use.
The River Taedong with 450km of length and 20,000 sq. km of catchment’s area ranks fifth among
the large rivers in DPR of Korea.
Along the river 3 large size dams built in the upper reach and 5 barrages and some irrigation
reservoirs constructed in the middle and lower reaches serve the flood mitigation to protect the
Pyongyang city situated in the basin from flood damage.
The research project on the rational operation of barrage in being carried on to minimize the crop
loss due to standing water during flood season in the low elevation paddy fields located in the
downstream of the river bordering the west sea with the barrage.
In spite of the possible efforts, however in recent years the Taedong river basin suffers from floods
almost every year caused by the changeable climatic and hydrological conditions due to global
warming and economic development.
In 2007, for example, flood had brought about a great loss of lives and property damages in the
middle regions of the basin.
According to the final survey at that time, thousands of dwelling houses and public buildings were
demolished and ten thousands hectares of cropland were inundated or washed away, resulted in
dramatic decrease in crop yield.
To reduce the frequent flood damage in the Taedong river basin more hydraulic structures for the
flood mitigation should be constructed while scientific flood management system should be
established to quickly predict the flood with high accuracy in different areas such as mountainous
region, urban and pay field as to smoothly control the flood throughout the whole basin and
comprehensively estimate the possible flood damage.
At resent, the riverbed, reservoir’s topography, vegetation cover an forest conditions are changing
on due to the construction of hydraulic structures and riverbed dredging, but regular survey of the
behavior and information management system related with these changes has not been established.
This is one of the important reasons of low performance of the present flood management system.
Water management is not treated in integrated way in view of different water demands, water
pollution as well as flood protection.
The crop fields in lower regions of the basin are affected by the water level of the west sea barrage
reservoir during the flood season.
When the water level of the reservoir is relatively high, the standing water can not drain in proper
time, greatly affecting the crop yield, but electric power for rain system is often in shortage.
To overcome such situation, national drain technique by water level control of the west sea barrage
reservoir is being investigated.
To raise the flood management level of the Taedong River Basin, it is necessary to improve the
technical capacity of the experts and management officials, widely introduce the advanced
technology such as 3S, and strengthen the social awareness.
2. Objectives
General objective of this project is to create a model base of Basin-level flood management by
raising the technical standard of the flood management system of the Taedong River.
Detailed objectives are:
Firstly; to establish database for the flood management of the Taedong River
Secondly; to develop the numerical simulation models for the prediction of flood runoff and
generation of effective control options of barrages and reservoirs
Thirdly; to provide a scientific and technical support for the state’s activities to upgrade/amend the
national regulations and technical terms for flood management, improve the environment of the
river basin, and adjust the balance of different water demands.
3. Actions
This project involves the following activities.
Action 1: Supplement of equipments for study and survey
Action 2: Field survey/observation and database building
- Survey and measurement of the bed elevations and other physical parameters of the rivers,
barrages and reservoirs in the Taedong River Basin.
- Survey of soil and vegetation cover condition in the Basin.
- Establishment of GIS database for the flood management of the Taeong River.
Action 3: Development and calibration of numerical models
- Flood runoff prediction model
- Barrage/reservoir control model
- Flood wave propagation model
- Flood damage prediction model
Action 4: Arrangement of seminar and workshop on flood management and preparation of
guidelines
4. Expected outcome
The following results are to be achieved through the project implementation.
① Prepared and submitted “Technical Instructions for the flood management of the Taedong
River” and other references.
② Prepared and published literatures, study papers and investigation reports for the propagation of
professional knowledge and skills.
③ Enhanced research capacity for flood management.
- Trained scientists and experts in the field of flood management and organized research center
leading the flood management works in DPR of Korea.
- Refurnished and enriched the equipments and instruments necessary for the operation of the
research center and established network for the communication between the center and water
management bodies.
5. Institutional arrangement
The research center mentioned above shall be named “Research Center for Flood Management of
the Taedong River” which shall be organized and operated in the Hydraulic Research Institute,
Branch of Hydraulic and Marine Engineering, State Academy of Science.
For this, following procedures are needed.
The Hydraulic Research Institute, BHME submits necessary for the organization and operation of
the research center through BHME.
The State Academy of Sciences notifies a legal approval to the BHME through agreement on the
establishment of the research center with the Cabinet and the Ministry of foreign Affairs of D.P.R.of
Korea.
Remark: Brief Introduction of the Hydraulic Research Institute.
The Hydraulic Research Institute was founded with a view to making a general plan for the
integrated use of water resources of the rivers including hydropower development, irrigation, river
management, navigation and landscape, etc. in 1959.
At present, the institute has 10 research rooms in the fields of water resources development, use and
management of water resources, water environment, hydraulic structures and hydro dynamics and
employs over 120 experts including high level researchers.
The institute is organizing promoting the research works with an emphasis on the issues of
integrated management of water resources such as development and management of water resources
directly related to the vitality of human today, scientifically and technically guaranteeing and
successful implementation of the state policy.
6. Budget
- Budget on each actions
№
Activities
UNESCO
(US$)
1
Action 1: Supplement of equipments for study
and survey
20,000
2
Action 2: Field survey/observation and
database building
5,000
5,000
3
Action 3: Development and calibration of
numerical models
4,000
4,000
4
Action 4: Arrangement of seminar and
2,000
2,000
11,000
31,000
Government
(US$)
Subtotal
(US$)
20,000
workshop on flood management and
preparation of guidelines
Total
20,000
List of equipments and auxiliaries
№
Item
Specification
Unit
Quantity
Unit price
(US$)
Amount
(US$)
1
Sounder
PU-500
Batch
2
500
1,000
2
Flow meter
Batch
2
500
1,000
3
GPS receiver
Batch
2
1,500
3,000
4
Articles for field
Tent, sleeping bag,
Batch
2
1,000
2,000
survey
compass, etc.
5
Desktop
Intel Core 2 Duo
3GHz/3G/350G/19”
LCD/VD+R
Batch
7
500
3,500
6
Laptop
Intel Core 2 Duo
3GHz/3G/350G/19”
LCD/VD+R
2
1,000
2,000
7
LAN facilities
(Sever included)
Batch
1
2,200
2,200
8
Wide scanner
Batch
1
2,000
2,000
9
Digital video
recorder
1
300
300
10
File cabinet
4
100
400
11
Office equipment
Printer, USB data transfer
etc.
200
12
Articles for office
Paper, cartridge, etc.
200
13
Gasoline
Total
A1
Batch
Ton
2
1,100
2,200
20,000