Global and low-cost topographic data to support flood studies

This chapter provides an overview of global and low-cost topographic data to support flood studies, with a focus on usefulness of shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) topography in supporting two-dimensional hydraulic modeling of floods. In particular, flood propagation and inundation modeling of a 10-km reach of the River Dee (United...

Development and evaluation of flood forecasting models for forecast-based financing using a novel model suitability matrix

Forecast-based financing is a financial mechanism that facilitates humanitarian actions prior to anticipated floods by triggering release of pre-allocated funds based on exceedance of flood forecast thresholds. This paper presents a novel model suitability matrix that embeds application-specific needs and contingencies at local level on a...

Integrating Qualitative Flow Observations in a Lumped Hydrologic Routing Model

This study aims at proposing novel approaches for integrating qualitative flow observations in a lumped hydrologic routing model and assessing their usefulness for improving flood estimation. Routing is based on a three-parameter Muskingum model used to propagate streamflow in five different rivers in the United States. Qualitative flow...

Flood modelling: Parameterisation and inflow uncertainty

This paper presents an analysis of uncertainty in hydraulic modelling of floods, focusing on the inaccuracy caused by inflow errors and parameter uncertainty. In particular, the study develops a method to propagate the uncertainty induced by, firstly, application of a stage–discharge rating curve and, secondly, parameterisation of a...

Regional Versus Physically-Based Methods For Flood Inundation Modelling In Data Scarce Areas: An Application To The Blue Nile

One of the main obstacles in mapping flood hazard in data scarce areas is the difficulty in estimating the design flood, i.e. river discharge corresponding to a given return period. This exercise can be carried out using regionalization techniques, which are based on flood data of regions with similar hydro...

Safety against flooding: Activity Report 2008-2009

This document reports the progress of Delft Cluster project CT04.30 "Safety against flooding" till June 2009. Fundamental knowledge from the project has resulted in a large number of scientific publications, PhD theses and MSc theses. Work package A 1 in particular has resulted in high-profile scientific publications, immediately awarded with...