Development of Near-Real-Time Development of Near-Real-Time and Predicted Flood-Inundation and Predicted Flood-Inundation Maps for Internet Display and Maps for Internet Display and Hazard Mitigation PlanningHazard Mitigation Planning

44thth International Symposium on Flood Defence International Symposium on Flood DefenceMay 6 – 8, 2008May 6 – 8, 2008

Moon Kim, USGS-WSCMoon Kim, USGS-WSCSally Pavlow, NOAA-NWSSally Pavlow, NOAA-NWS

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

• Introduction Introduction

• Pilot Study OverviewPilot Study Overview

• ApproachApproach

• ProductsProducts

• SummarySummary

Flood-Inundation Mapping Pilot Flood-Inundation Mapping Pilot ProjectProject

• Generate current and forecast flood-Generate current and forecast flood-inundation maps: USGS and NWS datainundation maps: USGS and NWS data

• Generate flood maps for importing to Generate flood maps for importing to HAZUS-MH programHAZUS-MH program

• Serve flood maps visually through WebServe flood maps visually through Web

Collaborative EffortCollaborative Effort• Silver Jackets: A Natural Hazard Mitigation TeamSilver Jackets: A Natural Hazard Mitigation Team• City of Indianapolis City of Indianapolis • IMAGISIMAGIS• Indianapolis Museum of ArtIndianapolis Museum of Art• INDHSINDHS• USACEUSACE• IDNRIDNR• NWSNWS• USGSUSGS• PolisPolis

Study AreaStudy Area

• Ravenswood floods frequently and often Ravenswood floods frequently and often damage is incurreddamage is incurred

• IMA Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park is IMA Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park is partially situated in the flood plain: occasional partially situated in the flood plain: occasional floodingflooding

• Availability of high-resolution digital elevation Availability of high-resolution digital elevation data, detailed building inventory data, data, detailed building inventory data, USGS/NWS data and extensive historic high-USGS/NWS data and extensive historic high-water mark and flood elevation datawater mark and flood elevation data

Why Ravenswood?Why Ravenswood?

ApproachApproach• Compile GIS and HAZUS-MH datasetsCompile GIS and HAZUS-MH datasets

• Calibrate, verify and implement hydraulic model Calibrate, verify and implement hydraulic model called “FastMECH”called “FastMECH”

• Automate data retrieval from USGS/NWS and Automate data retrieval from USGS/NWS and create input files for FastMECHcreate input files for FastMECH

• Generate a flood grid for a simulated flood and Generate a flood grid for a simulated flood and perform a HAZUS-MH analysisperform a HAZUS-MH analysis

• Install, test, and implement web and map serversInstall, test, and implement web and map servers

Data needsData needs• FastMECHFastMECH

– Observed and predicted stream-flow and Observed and predicted stream-flow and water-surface elevation data (USGS, NWS)water-surface elevation data (USGS, NWS)

– High-resolution digital elevation dataHigh-resolution digital elevation data

• HAZUS-MHHAZUS-MH– Observed and predicted flood-inundation Observed and predicted flood-inundation

maps from FastMECHmaps from FastMECH– Default hazard, inventory and damage Default hazard, inventory and damage

information for level 1 analysis and more information for level 1 analysis and more detailed local information for the level 2 detailed local information for the level 2 and 3 analysesand 3 analyses

• USGS provides real-time river USGS provides real-time river stagestage and and streamflowstreamflow from from streamgagesstreamgages

• NWS uses streamgage data and NWS uses streamgage data and sophisticated computer models to generate sophisticated computer models to generate forecastsforecasts of stage/streamflow of stage/streamflow

NWS dataNWS data

• Flow and water-surface elevation Flow and water-surface elevation forecasts are generated by the NWS River forecasts are generated by the NWS River Forecast CentersForecast Centers

• Forecasts are based on regional rainfall-Forecasts are based on regional rainfall-runoff relationsrunoff relations

• Automated program will download the Automated program will download the forecast data (XML) through the NWS forecast data (XML) through the NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service

FaSTMECHFaSTMECH• Two-dimensional hydraulic flow modelTwo-dimensional hydraulic flow model

• Allows simulation of long reachesAllows simulation of long reaches

• Can handle flow regime changesCan handle flow regime changes

• Design to have shorter processing timeDesign to have shorter processing time

• Output: Water surface (depths), water Output: Water surface (depths), water velocity, flood arrival timesvelocity, flood arrival times

What is HAZUS-MH? What is HAZUS-MH?

• FEMA created tool that helps communities FEMA created tool that helps communities reduce loss to property and life that may reduce loss to property and life that may result from natural hazards.result from natural hazards.

• ArcGIS 9.2 extension. Requires installation ArcGIS 9.2 extension. Requires installation of Spatial Analyst 9.x (for flood modeling)of Spatial Analyst 9.x (for flood modeling)

• Available from FEMA free of chargeAvailable from FEMA free of charge

MethodologyMethodology

Earthquake Flood Hurricane

Levels of AnalysisLevels of Analysis

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Combinations of local and

default hazard, building, and damage data

Default hazard, inventory, and damage information

Inputdata hazard

specificRequired

User Effort and Sophistication

21

User Defined Flood Depth GridUser Defined Flood Depth Grid

• HAZUS-MH allows users HAZUS-MH allows users to point to one or more to point to one or more existing flood depth grids.existing flood depth grids.

• USGS provided web-based USGS provided web-based delivery of GIS maps and delivery of GIS maps and downloadable flood grids for downloadable flood grids for HAZUS-MH analysisHAZUS-MH analysis

ProductsProducts

• Web-based near-real-time flood-Web-based near-real-time flood-inundation maps updated hourly.inundation maps updated hourly.

• Web-based forecast maps updated every Web-based forecast maps updated every 6 hrs per NWS6 hrs per NWS

• Downloadable flood grids for HAZUS-MHDownloadable flood grids for HAZUS-MH

• Results from the HAZUS-MH analysisResults from the HAZUS-MH analysis

• USGS ReportUSGS Report

SummarySummary

• Products will come with disclaimers and error Products will come with disclaimers and error estimatesestimates

• Highly expandable on a geographic basisHighly expandable on a geographic basis• Many possibilities for future enhancements e.g. Many possibilities for future enhancements e.g.

depth/velocity data for damage estimatesdepth/velocity data for damage estimates• Expands HAZUS-MH from a mitigation-only to a Expands HAZUS-MH from a mitigation-only to a

response toolresponse tool• Web and map server maintenance may be Web and map server maintenance may be

transferred to NWS and/or FEMAtransferred to NWS and/or FEMA

Questions?Questions?

• Contact InformationContact InformationMoon Kim: Moon Kim: mkim@usgs.govmkim@usgs.gov

Sally Pavlow:Sally Pavlow: Sally.Pavlow@noaa.gov