Development of an expert-led GIS-based approach for assessing the performance of river levees: the Digsure method and tool

France and other regions around theworld frequently undergo devastating flood events. Any failure of a flood protection structure can lead to human casualties and material damage.Unfortunately, such long linear structures are often poorly maintained and have shown repeated signs of weakness. Therefore, river levee management raises a number of substantial issues for the decision-makers responsible for ensuring maximum safety for the surrounding population at a reasonable management cost. The aim of the Digsure project is to provide levee managers with scientific methods and information technology (IT) tools for levee management. The Digsure method is a levee assessment method based on a probabilistic pattern. It produces levee performance indicators and integrates data and the uncertainty on results. Digsure is a geographic information system tool that implements the Digsure method. It estimates and displays levee performance and associated uncertainty intervals throughout levee assessments.