Vflo ®—Software for Distributed Hydrology

Abstract

Vflo (R) is a distributed model for hydrologic prediction and analysis that is based on: recently developed distributed modeling techniques; multisensor precipitation estimation; and secure client/server architecture. It utilizes GIS and remotely sensed data. Developed from the outset to utilize multisensor inputs, this model is suited for distributed hydrologic prediction in post-analysis and online for continuous forecasting. The hallmark of Vflo (R) is its prediction of flow rates and stage in every grid cell defined by the hydraulics of overland and channel flow. An integrated network-based hydraulic approach to watershed modeling has advantages that make it possible to represent both local and main-stem flows with the same model setup and simultaneously. This integrated approach is useful for urban and natural watershed applications, reservoir inflow forecasting, flood prediction, and hydrologic analysis of land use and climate change.