1. Why flood modelling is important?
Flood Modelling and Hazard Assessment for Extreme Events in Riverine Basins
Giovanni D. Musolino1,2,3, Roger Falconer1,3, Reza Ahmadian1,3
1 Dept. Of Civil Enigneering, University of Cardiff. 2 Hydro-Environmental Research Center, University of Cardiff. 3 Water Informatics Science and Engineering CDT.
Climate change intensifies and accelerate the natural hydrological cycle, leading to an increment of both frequency and intensity of rainfall events, and this lead to an increase of EXTREME FLOOD EVENTS (Bigger Hazard).
The increasing anthropization of the territory has as consequence bigger impacts on human life and often more flood activity. Reduction of the natural environment, means less capacity of the territory of absorbing and reducing the negative flood impact (Bigger Vulnerability).
Bigger Hazard and Bigger Vulnerability lead to Bigger Risk.
HOW TO ASSESS FLOOD HAZARD?
USING FLOOD MODELLING!
Research Aims
The main focus of this Ph.D. research project is to refine a high resolution 1D model, to predict hydrodynamic processes in river and estuarine water. Moreover to apply this model to cases study, individually or coupled with a 2D model in order to assess flood hazard in different scenarios and at the end provide a guideline of which model is more suitable depending by values of bed slope and roughness.
STEP1: two versions of the refined 1D model will be applied to a series of idealized version of typical river basins, one including a Shock Capturing Algorithm (SCA with TVD scheme) and one not including a SCA (TVD scheme). Results will show for what conditions of the bed slope and roughness the presence of SCA gives more accurate results of flood elevation and inundation extension.
STEP2: to apply the two versions of the 1D model and a 2D model (or a 1D/2D coupled model, depending by the case) to some practical case and compare results from both cases. Two cases study will be considered: Toce river valley (Italy) and the Malpasset dam break (France). Numerical results will be compared with experimental data for both cases.
STEP3: the refined 1D model will be also applied to flooding in urban area. Eventually if there will be enough time, it will be added to the 1D model a sediment transport module or a water quality module (e.g. nutrient, fecal indicator, phosphate).
CONCLUSION: results of all the applications will provide a guideline of which of models is more suitable to be used depending by values of the bed slope and roughness.
Why flood modelling is important?
Flood modelling is a useful tool to study and assess flood events. Flood hazard and risk maps are products of assessments of flood risk and aim to communicate inundation extent and expected damage. Flood mapping assists in the development of flood risk management strategies that aim, to raise public awareness, regulate urban and rural development, maintain flood protection structures, and plan flood warning systems.
For any info or collaboration do not hesitate to contact me:
Giovanni Musolino