A comprehensive study of floodplain analysis utilising HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, and GIS on the Kosasthalaiyar River sub-basin

Abstract

The present study focused on the Kosasthalaiyar River basin in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. We analysed the 2015 peak flood and forecasted the feature data in the representative concentration pathways (RCP) 4.5 scenario for various years. We used the scientific data management system (SDSM) software to downscale the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) 2.0 general circulation models (GCMs). According to hydrograph analysis, 142.7, 75.31, 461.73, and 248.22 mm runoff can occur in 2030, 2050, 2080, and 2100, respectively. The current study estimates probable peak flows by performing floodplain analysis on the Kosasthalaiyar River sub-basin using the Hydrologic Engineering Centre’s Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS), the Hydrologic Engineering Centre’s River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), and geographic information system (GIS) tools. It is possible to observe that the two major peak floods, measuring 581.6 and 110.7 m3 /s, respectively, will occur on 28 November 2030 at 10:20 a.m. and 12 December 2050 at 9:20 a.m. Additionally, high floods of 997 and 1,438.4 m3 /s can be recorded on 20 December 2080 at 9:50 a.m. and 29 November 2100 at 9:40 a.m., respectively.