Building Resilience Against Flood Risk
Choosing the right flood warning system starts with understanding your site, the conditions you need to monitor and how warnings should reach the people who need them.
AEM Flood Warning System Buying Guide · PDF
A flood warning system built around your needs
Effective flood monitoring brings together accurate measurements, reliable communications and suitable warning equipment. The right combination depends on the location, the risks and the response required.
Measure water levels, rainfall and other environmental conditions relevant to the site.
Get monitoring information back to the people and platforms responsible for responding.
Use monitoring information and appropriate warning equipment to help inform decisions.
The components of a flood warning system
From sensors in the field to monitoring software and warning stations, each part has a role in the wider system.
Measure
Capture water-level, rainfall and weather data at the monitoring site.
Transmit
Send field measurements using the communications available for the selected configuration.
Alert
Use compatible warning equipment, such as flashing beacons or signs, where required.
Understand
View monitoring information and support decisions through a monitoring platform.
Connected through AEM Elements 360
Bring monitoring information together
AEM Elements 360 is identified in the buying guide across the Vantage, Ascend and Apex station options. It forms part of a monitoring solution that can be configured around the needs of a deployment.
Compare the station capabilities below to understand which option best fits your requirements.
Three approaches to flood monitoring
The AEM range covers essential, enhanced and advanced monitoring requirements. Compare the options by communications, data handling and warning capabilities.
AEM Vantage
A packaged, cost-effective option for essential flood monitoring requirements.
- Water-level or multi-weather sensors
- Cellular gateway with mesh radio nodes
- Optional flashing beacon or sign
- Remote triggering of warning stations
- Elements 360
AEM Ascend
For deployments that need additional communications and data-handling capabilities.
- Water-level, rain gauge and multi-weather options
- Cellular and satellite options
- Redundant, two-way communications
- Local data logging
- Multiple sensors and durable enclosure
AEM Apex
For advanced deployments requiring a wider range of communications and warning options.
- Water-level, rain gauge, weather and camera options
- ALERT2 communications (IP and radio)
- Cellular and satellite options
- Local data logging and multiple sensors
- Optional beacon, sign or barrier gate
- DOT-certified design
Compare the features
This comparison follows the feature table in the AEM February 2025 buying guide. A dash means the feature is not marked for that station in the guide.
| Feature | Vantage Essential |
Ascend Enhanced |
Apex Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring & data | |||
| Elements 360 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multiple sensors at each site | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Local data logging | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Camera option | — | — | ✓ |
| Communications | |||
| Cellular communications | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Satellite (GOES, Iridium, Inmarsat) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Redundancy in communications | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Two-way communications | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| ALERT2 (IP and radio) | — | — | ✓ |
| Warning equipment & durability | |||
| Optional flashing beacon or sign | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remotely trigger warning station | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Increased durability (metal enclosures etc.) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Optional barrier gates | — | — | ✓ |
| DOT-certified design | — | — | ✓ |
Consider the complete solution
Depending on your project, flood monitoring hardware may form part of a wider system incorporating forecasting, warning and specialist project support.
GARR
Consider GARR as part of a wider warning solution where the project requirements call for additional warning and response capabilities.
Vflo Flood Forecasting
Flood forecasting tools can complement field monitoring by helping users assess developing conditions and inform flood-related decisions.
Project Services
Plan the sensors, communications, warning equipment and installation requirements together for a solution suited to the site.
Find the right system for your site
Explore the original guide for further information about the Vantage, Ascend and Apex flood warning station options.