Influence of Flood Water Contribution from Multiple Sources in Extreme Event Statistics of Urban Flooding

Abstract

For pluvial flood risk assessment in urban areas it is important to be able to calculate how often a specific area is at risk of flooding. This is especially evident in urban areas subject to contribution from multiple sources, e.g. surcharging drainage system, surface runoff, overflowing rivers, etc. In this study extreme event statistics are assessed by simulation of rainfall impact and consecutive statistics of flood response in order to estimate return periods of flooding. The model applied is an integrated hydraulic model which includes relevant hydrological processes that contribute to urban flooding. The setup is analysed based on a small urban catchment in Aalborg Denmark. Results show that it is possible to estimate return periods of flood volume, flood extent and local water levels based on simulation and that rainfall and hydrological conditions critical to flooding can be identified.