Maps show flood risk to East End and the O2

Landmarks such as the O2 building and much of the Isle of Dogs are shown underwater and the outline of the Thames is radically altered.

Today, a major conference is to warn London business leaders they could lose their companies if they do not address the risk of flood damage.

Dr Justin Butler of Ambiental, the firm that created the maps, said: "I think the recent extreme weather events and floods in the UK have shown just how real this risk is, yet a lot of Londoners are complacent."

The graphics were created from a combination of satellite images and new 3D maps showing the height of the land and are accurate to three feet.

They also take into account existing flood defences such as the Thames Barrier.

While previous maps have enabled insurers to predict flood damage by postcode, the new maps do the same for individual buildings.

" We have modelled, for instance, the effect of a 5.9metre storm surge on the East End," said Dr Butler. "Because our maps are so accurate, we can zoom into individual buildings and model the effect of a rise in the Thames."

The team was shocked to uncover the impact flooding could have.

"The effects are devastating, with thousands of businesses affected, as well as tourist attractions like the O2," said Dr Butler. "As we have seen from recent flood damage, a lot of companies are simply not insured well enough and a flood could kill them off." The maps, which insurers are starting to use, could also enable emergency services to plan access routes through flooded areas.

"We can identify the points where defences are breached and show how the fire service, for instance, could get in and out," said Dr Butler. Trewin Restorick, director of Global Action Plan, an environmental charity, said: "London faces a real risk of flooding if action isn't taken now to lighten the city's footprint. Businesses can play a major role in reducing London's environmental impact." Today's Global Action Plan meeting at City Hall will discuss a range of climate change issues facing the capital. The conference will also host the premiere of Seven Metres, a disaster film that imagines the impact of climate change and flooding on London.