Near-real-time simulation and internet-based delivery of forecast-flood inundation maps using two-dimensional hydraulic modeling: a pilot study of the Snoqualmie River, Washington

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Title Near-real-time simulation and internet-based delivery of forecast-flood inundation maps using two-dimensional hydraulic modeling: a pilot study of the Snoqualmie River, Washington
Creator Jones, J.L.; Fulford, J.M.; Voss, F.D.
Subject Computer simulation; Floods; Hydraulics; Maps; Methodology
Spatial Coverage Columbia River; Washington
Description A system of numerical hydraulic modeling, geographic information system processing, and Internet map serving, supported by new data sources and application automation, was developed that generates inundation maps for forecast floods in near real time and makes them available through the Internet. Forecasts for flooding are generated by the National Weather Service (NWS) River Forecast Center (RFC); these forecasts are retrieved automatically by the system and prepared for input to a hydraulic model. The model, TrimR2D, is a new, robust, two-dimensional model capable of simulating wide varieties of discharge hydrographs and relatively long stream reaches. TrimR2D was calibrated for a 28-kilometer reach of the Snoqualmie River in Washington State, and is used to estimate flood extent, depth, arrival time, and peak time for the RFC forecast. The results of the model are processed automatically by a Geographic Information System (GIS) into maps of flood extent, depth, and arrival and peak times. These maps subsequently are processed into formats acceptable by an Internet map server (IMS). The IMS application is a user-friendly interface to access the maps over the Internet; it allows users to select what information they wish to see presented and allows the authors to define scale-dependent availability of map layers and their symbology (appearance of map features). For example, the IMS presents a background of a digital USGS 1:100,000-scale quadrangle at smaller scales, and automatically switches to an ortho-rectified aerial photograph (a digital photograph that has camera angle and tilt distortions removed) at larger scales so viewers can see ground features that help them identify their area of interest more effectively. For the user, the option exists to select either background at any scale. Similar options are provided for both themap creator and the viewer for the various flood maps. This combination of a robust model, emerging IMS software, and application interface programming should allow the technology developed in the pilot study to be applied to other river systems where NWS forecasts are provided routinely.
Publisher U. S. Geological Survey
Date 2002
Type Text
Format application/pdf
Digitization Specifications pdf file copied from USGS website (http://pubs.usgs.gov/). Uploaded into CONTENTdm version 3.7.
Identifier http://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/wri024251/
Source Jones, J.L., Fulford, J.M., and Voss, F.D., 2002, Near-real-time simulation and internet-based delivery of forecast-flood inundation maps using two-dimensional hydraulic modeling: a pilot study of the Snoqualmie River, Washington, Washington: U. S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4251, 40 p.
Language eng
Rights Management Public Domain, Courtesy of the USGS
Holding Institution University of Utah
ARK ark:/87278/s6w66jqz
Setname wwdl_er
ID 1145706
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6w66jqz