Web-GIS application for flood prediction and monitoring

Abstract

With global warming and extensive infrastructure development close to rivers, the impacts of flooding events have greatly increased over recent years. To support flood management, early prediction is very useful. In this research, we have developed a decision support system for flood prediction and monitoring that integrates GIS and hydrological modelling with additional bridge sensors and users' observations. Hydrological modelling considers a wide range of information that affect flooding such as snow conditions, temperatures, precipitation patterns, water levels and stream to generate flood predictions. The predicted water levels for the next 24 and 48 hours can be displayed via dynamic web pages, and overlaid with maps of the transportation network, property boundaries, municipal infrastructure and water depth contour lines. In conclusion, this research can provide good flood prediction precision and strong support to the public evacuation if flood events happen. © 2008 WIT Press.