Articles | Volume 373
https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-373-153-2016
https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-373-153-2016
12 May 2016
 | 12 May 2016

Visualising DEM-related flood-map uncertainties using a disparity-distance equation algorithm

S. Anders Brandt and Nancy J. Lim

Cited articles

Brandt, S. A.: Resolution issues of elevation data during inundation modeling of river floods, in: Water Engineering for the Future: Choices and Challenges, edited by: Jun, B.-H., Lee, S.-I., Seo, I.-W., and Choi, G.-W., Proc. XXXI International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research Congress, Seoul, 11–16 September 2005, Korean Water Association, Seoul, 3573–3581, 2005.
Brandt, S. A.: Betydelse av höjdmodellers kvalitet vid endimensionell översvämningsmodellering, FoU-rapport Nr. 35, Högskolan i Gävle, 2009.
Brandt, S. A.: Modeling and visualizing uncertainties of flood boundary delineation: algorithm for slope and DEM resolution dependencies of 1D hydraulic models, Stoch. Env. Res. Risk A., https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-016-1212-z, in press, 2016.
Brandt, S. A. and Lim, N. J.: Importance of river bank and floodplain slopes on the accuracy of flood inundation mapping, in: River Flow 2012: Volume 2, edited by: Murillo Muñoz, R. E., Proceedings of the International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics, San José, Costa Rica, 5–7 September 2012, CRC Press/Balkema (Taylor & Francis), Leiden, The Netherlands, 1015–1020, 2012.
Casas, A., Benito, G., Thorndycraft, V. R., and Rico, M.: The topographic data source of digital terrain models as a key element in the accuracy of hydraulic flood modelling, Earth Surf. Proc. Land., 31, 444–456, 2006.
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Short summary
The apparent absoluteness of flood boundaries on risk maps can lead to serious mistakes, for example when planning new areas. An empirical equation, that considers both digital elevation model (DEM) resolution and terrain slope, was used to create prediction-uncertainty zones around already modelled flood extents. Results show that the method can visualise inaccuracies due to DEM and slope conditions, thereby enhancing the quality of later decision-making processes.