Real-Time Predictive Floodplain Mapping

摘要

The City of Austin (COA) is located in the heart of flash flood alley. Austin experiences high intensity rainfall rates and has generally unfavorable soil characteristics, small watersheds, and extensive urbanization—all leading to the potential for life-threatening flash flooding. The City of Austin's Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) relies on multiple tools to make educated decisions during flood events, many of which are developed to highlight specific areas of flooding concern. However, it is equally valuable to have an overall picture of potential flooding throughout the City that allows emergency responders and FEWS staff to decide how to best direct their efforts. To provide this information, FEWS engineers have developed a GIS mapping application that works in conjunction with real-time hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) models. The resulting map is displayed on an intranet website and is automatically updated every 15 minutes. This solution provides FEWS staff and emergency personnel with a visual aide to quickly identify potential areas of flooding throughout the city, the time in which they will occur, and the roads that may potentially be overtopped.