Flood inundation modeling is one of the essential steps in flood hazard mapping. However, the desirable input and calibration data for model building and evaluation are not sufficient or unavailable in many rivers and floodplains of the world. A potential opportunity to fill this gap is offered nowadays by global earth observation data, which can be obtained freely (or at low cost), such as the shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) and radar altimetry. However, the actual usefulness of these data is still poorly investigated. This study attempts to assess the value of SRTM topography and radar altimetry in supporting flood-level predictions in data-poor areas. To this end, a hydraulic model of a 150-km reach of the Danube River was built by using SRTM topography as input data and radar altimetry of the 2006 flood event as calibration data. The model was then used to simulate the 2007 flood event and evaluated against water levels measured in four stream gauge stations. Model evaluation allows the investigation of the usefulness and limitations of SRTM topography and radar altimetry in supporting hydraulic modeling of floods.

Exploring the potential of SRTM topography and radar altimetry to support flood propagation modeling: Danube case study

Tarpanelli Angelica;Moramarco Tommaso;
2014

Abstract

Flood inundation modeling is one of the essential steps in flood hazard mapping. However, the desirable input and calibration data for model building and evaluation are not sufficient or unavailable in many rivers and floodplains of the world. A potential opportunity to fill this gap is offered nowadays by global earth observation data, which can be obtained freely (or at low cost), such as the shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) and radar altimetry. However, the actual usefulness of these data is still poorly investigated. This study attempts to assess the value of SRTM topography and radar altimetry in supporting flood-level predictions in data-poor areas. To this end, a hydraulic model of a 150-km reach of the Danube River was built by using SRTM topography as input data and radar altimetry of the 2006 flood event as calibration data. The model was then used to simulate the 2007 flood event and evaluated against water levels measured in four stream gauge stations. Model evaluation allows the investigation of the usefulness and limitations of SRTM topography and radar altimetry in supporting hydraulic modeling of floods.
2014
Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica - IRPI
Flood inundation modeling
Model evaluation
Radar altimetry
Shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) topography
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14243/272633
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