Flood Hazard Mapping Using Hydraulic Models and GIS: A Review

Abstract

Floods are a natural event and are among the most frequent and destructive disasters, causing major infrastructure losses and disrupting livelihoods around the world. Floods are most often caused by extreme hydro-metrological and natural forces, but over the past decade, climate change and human response have added new dimensions. There is a wide array of flood risk management methods that can reduce this destruction, which requires estimating flood risks and their impacts. Preventive measures such as efficient land use planning, flood mapping, and implementation of other agronomical and engineering structures are essential in mitigating the hostile impacts of flood. Flood hazard estimation and mapping can be carried out using various methods depending on data, resources, and time availability. In contrast, flood assessment with the creation of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) database for the flood zone and hydraulic modelling software such as HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS has proven to be useful for flood assessment. GIS can accurately predict the extent of flooding and produce flood maps, as well as flood damage estimation maps and flood hazard maps. Flood hazard maps can be analysed to provide advance warnings for general preparation and, if needed, evacuation. It is, therefore, one of the most significant tools for flood risk management.