A flood-risk assessment and management study focusing on the Cork harbour area is to be carried out by the Office of Public Works in conjunction with Cork County Council engineers.
Traders and homeowners in Cork have suffered millions of euro worth of damage in recent years because of flooding.
An estimated €10 million worth of damage was caused to Cork in October 2004 after the worst flooding in the city in more than 40 years.
The city centre was extensively flooded at that time, along with parts of Togher and Blackpool.
Cork county engineer Ned Flynn said the study of the Lee and its tributaries was being made to quantify the city's and county's risk of flooding.
"The study will take 15 months and will involve areas such as Crosshaven, Passage West, Monkstown and Ringaskiddy," he said.
"Basically, it will be the Lee catchment and its tributaries. Our first job is to quantify the risk before we can go looking at local measures to prevent flooding."
A computerised 3D model of the Cork area is due to be built which will pinpoint areas most at risk.
Initial surveys have been completed, and consulting engineers are to be employed shortly. The building of housing and industrial estates in areas prone to flooding will also be assessed.
The initial assessment is expected to be completed by March of next year.