INTEGRATED SCIENCE AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ISWMS™)

Real-time, probabilistic flood and low-flow intelligence forecasting and mapping designed for operational decision-making at scale.

Unlike conventional hydraulic modeling workflows, ISWMS™ combines ML-based probabilistic forecasting with rapid mapping, reducing time-to-insight from weeks to hours.

  • Operational forecasts with uncertainty: supports real-time situational awareness and planning (including multi-scenario climate inputs where applicable).
  • Fast, actionable mapping outputs: translates flow forecasts and design flows into flood risk intelligence that can be communicated visually.
  • Built for complex engineering applications: supports infrastructure owners, emergency management, and resource/industrial operators.


Trusted since 1999 — Supporting operations for municipalities, conservation authorities, emergency management programs, and resource sector clients across Canada.

What ISWMS™ delivers

Modern watershed management requires forecasts that are not only timely, but also transparent about uncertainty and easy to act on. ISWMS™ integrates forecasting, hydrologic context, and mapping-oriented outputs to support decisions across flood response, drought/low-flow operations, and long-term planning.

Capabilities:
 
  • Probabilistic flow forecasts — localized, uncertainty-aware predictions
  • Flood and low-flow decision support — real-time operational view
  • Flood-frequency analysis (FFA) — return-period design flow context
  • Map-ready risk intelligence — web-ready visuals and decision outputs


Current platform capabilities



ISWMS™ v3 (Operational) — Machine-learning flow forecasting + FFA
 
  • Incorporates a Temporal Fusion Transformer (TFT)-based machine-learning model to generate hydrometric flow forecasts across North America.
  • Trained on an extensive archive of flow measurements from thousands of gauging stations, integrating:
    • real-time hydrometric observations
    • climate inputs
    • catchment characteristics
  • Produces localized probabilistic flow predictions to support operational decisions.
  • Includes Flood-Frequency Analysis (FFA) functionality to derive return-period basin flows, enabling both real-time forecasting and long-term hydrologic design context. 

See ISWMS™ v3 video (with audio)

ISWMS™ v5 (Prototype / Pilot) — Rapid hydraulic flood mapping with LiDAR-informed modeling
 
  • Addresses a common gap: many regions lack up-to-date, decision-ready flood maps due to the cost and time required for conventional hydraulic modeling.
  • Adds a computationally efficient hydraulic flood mapping approach designed to translate forecasted/design flows into inundation extents that can be rendered in web-based map products.
  • Evaluated using a LiDAR-based open-source mapping database and assessed against a calibrated, validated, professionally sealed hydraulic model for a real river system context.


Validation and quality assurance



Validation highlights:
 
  • Where validated: Mattagami River system / City of Timmins, Ontario
  • Compared against: Calibrated, validated HEC-RAS 1D model sealed by a professional engineer
  • Events tested: 25-, 50-, and 100-year return period floods; Timmins Storm (regulatory) flood event
  • How evaluated: Flood extent comparison using 9 statistical performance measures
What this means for users: Confidence-aware outputs and decision support—not just a single deterministic line.

Limitation acknowledgment: Forecast skill varies by basin data availability and climate input quality. ISWMS™ outputs are decision-support tools and do not replace site-specific engineering assessments where required.





Applications

Resource and industrial operators (mining, oil sands, etc.)
  • Operational risk management for flood/erosion susceptibility affecting facilities, access routes, and site infrastructure.
Utilities + hydropower
  • Flow prediction for operational planning, asset protection, and optimization of hydropower operations.
Emergency management + public safety
  • Flood early warning and operational response support for vulnerable communities, including flood-prone settlements and remote regions.
Infrastructure owners and corridors
  • Risk intelligence for:
    • Wastewater treatment plants impacted by floodplains (including CSO storage/overflow contexts).
    • Road/bridge crossings and culverts supporting asset management programs.
    • Transportation corridors susceptible to flash flooding.
    • Pipeline/telecommunications crossings affected by erosion and extreme flows.
Consulting and planning
  • Support for environmental assessment planning and design for corridors and facilities; technical inputs that support stakeholder engagement contexts where required.


Deployment and governance
 
  • Designed to support operational usage with monitoring and controlled access.
  • Supports defensible workflows by documenting inputs, assumptions, and uncertainty.


To explore how ISWMS™ supports operational flood and low-flow decision support, contact us or request a demonstration.
 

Updated: January 7, 2026
Greenland International Consulting Ltd.



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Client Testimonials

University of Guelph

The reappearance of excessive nutrient loading in Lake Erie and the subsequent algae blooms is an extremely complex issue and is quite different in nature than the previous phosphorous loadings in the 1970s. Unlike the issue in the 1970s, there are far more sources adding nutrients to the late and these sources are diverse in nature ranging from rural to urban. In order to understand the nutrient loading, both in the temporal and spatial domains, more complex analytic and predictive tools are required in order to help policy make sound, science based, and defendable solutions.

The University of Guelph is uniquely positioned to help address the issues around Lake Erie with long standing core strengths in both the agricultural sector and the environmental field. In conjunction with our partner, Greenland Consulting Engineers, and their watershed evaluation tool (CANWETTM), we believe that we have the engineering and technology to extrapolate CANWETTM from the watershed level up to the lake basin level and provide decision-making support for the entire Lake Erie basin.

Hussein Abdullah, Ph.D., P. Eng.
Director, School of Engineering
University of Guelph

January, 26 2015
 

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

RE: Town of Innisfil (Community of Alcona) Flood Reduction Class Environmental Assessment

On behalf of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA), I would like to thank GREENLAND® International - Consulting Engineers for the excellent work undertaken to complete the Flood Reduction Class Environmental Assessment for the Community of Alcona. I also want to provide you our sincere appreciation for the support GREENLAND® provided both in-kind and financially which allowed the project to proceed. The approved strategy will now enable the LSRCA and Town of Innisfil to move forward with the next phase of the project so that the science-based, publicly supported solution, can be implemented to alleviate flooding impacting residents in Alcona as soon as possible. 

The project goal was to develop a sustainable - engineering solution to reduce significant annual flood damages currently occurring within the Community of Alcona (Town of Innisfil) and located within the Belle Aire Creek subwatershed. The project included a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process with extensive public and other stakeholder consultations to advance a solution involving enhancing a wetland (green infrastructure) to provide flood mitigation. The project was proposed over a decade ago and was then adopted in the Town’s Master Drainage Plan as required under the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. It is now one step closer to completion. 

The project deliverables produced by GREENLAND® included an Environmental Study Report (ESR) which now provides a science-based, well-engineered, thorough and systematic understanding of the chronic flooding that has impacted the affected settlement area in the Town of Innisfil. The Environmental Study Report (by GREENLAND®) also developed a proactive flood mitigation and resiliency plan that can now be implemented by the LSRCA, Town and other stakeholders. Finally, the project work plan satisfied requirements of Ontario's Class Environmental Assessment process and with an effective/collaborative spirit of a "public-private partnership” utilizing and ecosystem approach. The timelines to complete the project were very aggressive and I was pleased that GREENLAND® was able to complete the project on-time and budget. 

In conclusion, the role that GREENLAND® played to prepare the funding application for Canada’s National Disaster Mitigation Program; securing in-kind participation of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (ICCA) at the University of Waterloo; providing in-kind Intellectual Property leveraging resources, and the financial contribution helped ensure the project was a complete success. I look forward to working with your company again on other partnerships of mutual interest and would be pleased to serve as professional references on similar projects. 

Michael Walters
(Former) Chief Administrative Officer
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

November 6, 2020
 

The City of Waterloo

As a Senior Project Engineer (Water Resources) for the City of Waterloo, I would like to extend my appreciation to Greenland Consulting Engineers for providing exemplary EA planning, design, contract administration and construction inspection services for the Pond #53 Sediment Removal/Reuse and Retrofit Project.
 
This project was an important undertaking for the City which consisted of: the removal of 360m3 of sediment for reuse in a City owned boulevard area; removal of all additional sediment (approx. 3,000m3) from the SWMF permanent pool and forebay area to improve its operation, implementation of the retrofit design including improved maintenance access and proactive management of many unforeseen conditions throughout the duration of the project. This project also included significant logistical challenges with respect to the coordination of public access for area residents and businesses, and providing workable solutions to implementing the design as intended due to challenging unforseen site constraints.

As the Design Consultant, Contract Administrator and on-site Construction Inspector, Greenland always maintained open lines of communication between the City, Contractor and the affected residents, and promptly responded to all questions and issues raised by the Contractor, the City and the public. Greenland’s attention to detail throughout the entire duration of this assignment helped ensure the project was completed as required.

Jessica Kellerman, P. Eng
Senior Project Engineer - Water Resources
Engineering Services, Design & Construction
City of Waterloo

October 24, 2019
 

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