Objectives

OPIDIN (Outil de Prédiction des Inondations dans la Delta Intérieur du Niger) is a tool developed for the Inner Niger Delta to predict the level and the timing of the flood peak as well as the maximal flood extent. That is why OPIDIN can be used as an early warning system. Also the deflooding is predicted. OPIDIN uses for their prediction the daily water levels measured by the Direction Nationale de l'Hydraulique (DNH), in combination with the rainfall in the Upper Niger during the last three weeks.

The main objective of OPIDIN is to serve as an Early Warning System. More in detail the objectives of OPIDIN are:

• Inform the local communities in the Inner Niger Delta timely and frequently in the flooding season about the expected inundations of the delta, in order to take appropriate measures when needed;

• Inform water managers and authorities timely and frequently about the expected flooding of the delta, in order to take appropriate measures when needed;

• Inform (international) agencies timely and frequently about the expected flooding of the delta, in order to take appropriate measures when needed;

• Provide digital water maps of the expected flooding of the delta. An analogue water atlas is also available in local languages;

• Provide insight into the annual and seasonal variation of the flooding of the delta.