IOWA FLOOD INFORMATION SYSTEM (IFIS)

After the devastation caused by the 2008 flood in the state of Iowa, awareness of the need for a state-wide flood information system has amplified. The Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS) is a web-based platform developed by Iowa Flood Center (IFC) to provide access to flood conditions, flood forecasts, flood related data, information and interactive visualizations for communities in the state of Iowa. The key element of the system’s architecture is the notion of community. Locations of the communities (those near stream and rivers) define basin boundaries. The IFIS provides inundation maps, community based flood conditions, watershed characteristics, weather (rainfall) conditions, and data and visualization tools. Interactive interfaces on the IFIS provide access to inundation maps for different stage and return period values, and flooding scenarios with contributions from multiple rivers. Real-time and historical data of water levels, gauge heights, and rainfall conditions are available in the IFIS by streaming data from automated IFC bridge sensors, USGS stream gauges, and NEXRAD radars. 2D and 3D interactive visualizations in the IFIS make the data more understandable to general public. Users are able to filter data sources for their communities and selected rivers. The data and information on IFIS is also accessible through web services, and mobile applications. The IFIS is optimized for various browsers, and screen size to provide access through multiple platforms including tablets and mobile devices. The IFIS includes a forecast model to provide a 5-day flood risk estimate for around 500 communities in the state of Iowa. Multiple view modes in the IFIS accommodate different user types from general public to researchers and decision makers by providing different level of tools and details. Multi sensor mode allows users to visualize data from multiple IFC bridge sensors and USGS stream gauges in a single view. The IFIS will help communities make better-informed decisions on the occurrence of floods, and will inform communities in advance to help minimize damage of floods. This presentation provides an overview of the tools and interfaces in the IFIS developed to provide a platform for one-stop access to flood related data, visualizations, flood conditions, and forecast.