NEAR-REAL-TIME FLOOD INUNDATION MAPPING PILOT PROJECT
JONES, Joseph L., U.S. Geol Survey, 1201 Pacific Ave, Suite 600, Tacoma, WA 98402, jljones@usgs.gov.

As part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Seattle Natural Hazards Project, USGS scientists are developing a flood-inundation mapping methodology that will generate and distribute storm-specific inundation forecasts in near-real-time over the Internet. Existing flood maps are based on statistically determined recurrence intervals, for example, the often mentioned “100-year” flood. Currently, there are no operational techniques for timely creation of flood maps depicting imminent storm-specific inundation. Flood forecasts generated by the National Weather Service River Forecast Centers (RFCs) for selected forecast points, usually USGS-operated streamflow stations, are of limited use at locations other than the forecast points. A new robust, stable two-dimensional hydraulic model was used in this project to extend the RFC flood forecast to a 23-kilometer reach of river. Very high accuracy (better than 1-foot accuracy) elevation data are being used in the hydraulic model, which allows the generation of flood maps with a high level of detail. Geographic Information Systems provide the map generation capability. The maps are provided over the Internet using emerging Internet map server technology, which allows scale-dependent map symbology and themes, and allows the user to select features of particular individual interest for display along with the inundation forecast.

Cordilleran Section - 98th Annual Meeting (May 13–15, 2002)
Session No. 12
Natural Hazard Monitoring and Warning Systems II
CH2M Hill Alumni Center: Ballroom 110B
2:00 PM-5:30 PM, Monday, May 13, 2002
 

© Copyright 2002 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.