Showing 55 results for Flood
M.a. Mohammadi, H. Ebrahimnezhadian, M. Asgarkhan Maskan, V. Vaziri,
Volume 26, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
The study of annual damage statistics due to floods in Iran and the world shows the extent of flood damage to natural and human resources in different regions. Determining the flood zone of rivers in order to protect national resources and reduce flood damage provides the possibility of protecting the river from encroachment and the construction of any unauthorized facilities in it. Therefore, in the present study, the capability of numerical models in simulating the flood zone of rivers was evaluated in the range of Azarshahr Qushqura river and the two-dimensional hydraulic model HEC-RAS 5.0.7 and one-dimensional HEC-RAS model were compared. Changes in the hydraulic characteristics of the flood flow including depth and velocity of the flow at different cross sections of the models were evaluated. The results showed that the water surface level (flow depth) of the two-dimensional model HEC-RAS compared to the one-dimensional model had the lowest error as compared to other hydraulic parameters of flood flow. The two-dimensional HEC-RAS model showed the highest error rate in the flow velocity parameter in comparison to the one-dimensional model. The results indicated that two-dimensional HEC-RAS model V5.0.7 determined the surface of the flood zone 12.46 % more than the one-dimensional HEC-RAS model. The confirmation of the resulting zones on the current state of the river and comparison with the river aerial photo of 1346 indicated the higher accuracy of the two-dimensional HEC-RAS model in estimating the flood zone of the river.
A. Esmali Ouri1, P. Farzi, S. Choubeh,
Volume 26, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Planning and providing appropriate tools to reduce the adverse effects of natural hazards including floods is inevitable. Achieving the above goal depends on having sufficient and accurate knowledge and information about the vulnerability of different ecosystems (watersheds) to various destructive factors. Vulnerability assessment by identifying potential stresses and disturbances (natural and man-made) as well as estimating the sensitivity of watersheds allows for predicting the effects and selecting appropriate solutions for the sustainable management of these ecosystems. Therefore, this study has been designed to identify and rank vulnerable sub-watersheds to floods in the Ardabil plain, taking into account social, economic, infrastructural, and ecological dimensions. First, the indicators and criteria of each dimension were identified taking into account the conditions prevailing in Ardabil plain. Then, information and data on climatic, hydrological, demographic, economic, infrastructure, and land use were obtained from relevant authorities. Then, the mentioned criteria were standardized and the weight according to their importance was calculated based on the BWM method the data obtained from this stage were performed using the TOPSIS technique to rank flood vulnerability for different sub-watersheds in Ardabil plain for the period 2007-2017. Finally, a map of Ardabil's plain vulnerability to floods was prepared and presented. According to the results, the criteria of building density, rainfall, population density, and the unemployment rate were the most important criteria of vulnerability and among the studied dimensions, the infrastructure dimension is too significant in flood vulnerability in Ardabil plain. Based on the comprehensive vulnerability map, sub-watershed 7 in Ardabil plain was identified as the most vulnerable sub-watershed in the study area.
F. Naeimi Hoshmand, F. Ahmadzadeh Kaleybar,
Volume 26, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Hydrological models for evaluating and predicting the amount of available water in basins, flood frequency analysis, and developing strategies to deal with destructive floods are expanding daily. In this study, HEC-GeoHMS and Arc Hydro extensions in ArcGIS software and the HEC-HMS model were used to simulate design flood hydrographs in the Aydooghmush basin in the northwest of Iran. SCS-CN, SCS-UH, Maskingham, and monthly fixed methods were used to calculate rainfall losses, rainfall-runoff transformation, flood routing, and base flow, respectively. In model calibration with two real flood events, the average of absolute values of the residuals, the sum of the remaining squares, and the weight of the peak mean the error squares for the flood volume were 2.75, 5.91, and 5.32, respectively and for peak discharge were 8.9, 8.0, and 8.0, respectively. Model validation was evaluated as acceptable with a one percent error rate in the peak of discharge and a 19 percent in the flood volume. For maximum 24-hour precipitation, the log-Pearson type 3 was determined as the most suitable distribution in the SMADA model and design precipitation was extracted in different return periods. Thus, for the return period of 2 to 1000 years, the peak discharge and volume of the design flood were simulated equally to 18.8 to 415.6 m3 s-1 and 5.7 to 87.9 MCM, respectively.
S. Ayoubi Ayoublu, M. Vafakhah, H.r. Pourghasemi,
Volume 26, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Population growth, urbanization, and land use change have increased disastrous floods. Iran is also among the countries at high risk of floods. The latest examples of flood damage are the devastating floods of the spring of 2019 with significant mortality and financial losses in more than ten provinces of the country. The purpose of this study is to prepare an urban flood risk map of District 4 City Shiraz. The vulnerability of the region was made using PROMETHEE Ⅱ and COPRAS multi-criteria decision-making models and urban flood hazard zones were prepared by partial least squares regression (PLSR) and ridge regression (RR) models and a risk map was obtained by multiplying the vulnerability and hazard in ArcGIS software. The highest percentage of the study area in the PROMETHEE Ⅱ and COPRAS models belongs to the moderate class of vulnerability. The evaluation of the vulnerability models using Boolean logic and RMSE and MAPE statistics, showed that the COPRAS model provided better results than the PROMETHEE model. The results of partial least square regression (PLSR) and ridge regression (RR) models in flood risk modeling were analyzed by the Taylor diagram, which showed the superiority of the ridge regression (RR) model and the accuracy of this model in preparing urban flood hazard maps. The risk map of the study area indicated that 34% of the area (973 ha) is in the range of high and very high flood risk.
P. Mohit-Isfahanii, V. Chitsaz,
Volume 27, Issue 1 (5-2023)
Abstract
Introducing reliable regional models to predict the maximum discharge of floods using characteristics of sub-basins has special importance in terms of flood management and designing hydraulic structures in basins that have no hydrometric station. The present study has tried to provide appropriate regional flood models using generalized linear models (GLMs) to estimate 2-, 10-, 50-, and 100-year maximum daily discharges of 62 sub-basins in Great-Karoon and Karkhe basins. According to the results, the sub-basins were categorized into four sub-regions based on some physiographic and climatic characteristics of the study sub-basins. The results showed that regional flood modeling was successful in all sub-regions except sub-region II, which includes very large basins (A̅≈17300 km2). The adjusted R2 of the best models in sub-regions I, III, and IV were estimated at around 82.4, 91.3, and 90.6 percent, and these models have a relative error (RRMSE) of around 9.5, 9.23, and 6.7 percent, respectively. Also, it was found that more frequent floods with 2- and 10-year return periods are influenced by properties such as basin’s length, perimeter, and area, while rare floods with 50- and 100-year return periods are mostly influenced by the river systems characteristics such as the main river length, total lengths of the river system, and slope of the main river. According to the research, it can be stated that the behavior of maximum daily discharges in the study area is extremely influenced by the different climatic and physiographic characteristics of the watersheds. Therefore, the maximum daily discharges can be estimated accurately at ungauged sites by appropriate modeling in gauged catchments.
Y. Esmaeli, F. Yosefvand, S. Shabanlou, M.a. Izadbakhsh,
Volume 27, Issue 2 (9-2023)
Abstract
The objective of the current study was to zone flood probability in the Marzdaran watershed. Since the allocated budget for management work is limited and it is not possible to carry out operations in the whole area, having a map that has prioritized different areas in terms of the probability of flood occurrence will be very useful and necessary. A well-known data mining model namely MaxEnt (ME) is applied due to its robust computational algorithm. Flood inventories are gathered through several field surveys using local information and available organizational resources, and the corresponding map is created in the geographic information system. The twelve predisposing variables are selected and the corresponding maps are generated in the geographic information system by reviewing several studies. The area under the curve (ROC) is used to evaluate the modeling results. Then, the most prone areas of flood occurrence which are prioritized for management operations are identified based on the prepared map. Based on the results, about 100 km2 of the study area is identified as the most prone area for management operations. The results showed that the accuracy of the maximum entropy model is 98% in the training phase and 95% in the validation phase. The distance from the river, drainage density, and topographic wetness index are identified as the most effective factors in the occurrence of floods, respectively.
M. Mehri, M. Hashemy, S. Javadi, M. Movahedinia,
Volume 27, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Rapid urbanization is responsible for impervious area increases and more runoff generation in urbanized catchments. Higher runoff volume in urbanized catchments leads to higher flood risk. One of the methods of runoff management is low impact development (LID). Bio-retention cell (BRC) is one of the infiltration-based LID practices that allows restoring the pre-development hydrologic cycle. However, the overall hydrologic performance of BRCs can vary depending on different urban environments. In this study, the hydrologic performance of BRC in terms of runoff and flood reduction was investigated in a highly urbanized area in the east of Tehran, Iran. The SWMM model was used to evaluate the performance of BRC. The results showed that BRC for rainfall with a return period of 2 to 50 years reduced the total runoff volume by 76.2% to 70.2% and the peak discharge by 65.9% to 36.4%, respectively. Also, for rainfall with a return period of 2 to 50 years, BRC resulted in 15.2% to 27.5% infiltration of rainfall in the study area, respectively. This study demonstrates that BRC can help restore the natural hydrologic cycle of urbanized catchments by reducing runoff and increasing infiltration.
V. Rezaei, S. S. Eslamian, J. Abedi Koupai, A. R. Gohari,
Volume 28, Issue 2 (8-2024)
Abstract
The relationship between intensity-duration-frequency of rainfall is a significant tool for estimating flood discharge. According to the sparsely available rain gauge stations and the development of technology, it is possible to use satellite rainfall data with different temporal and spatial resolutions. PERSIANN rainfall data with a time resolution of 1 and 6 hours were used in this research. Also, the spatial resolution of these data is 0.04 x 0.04 degrees. Rainfall data from synoptic stations around the Kan basin were also used. Three common continuous probability distributions of Gamble, Pearson type 3, and Log Pearson type 3 with return periods of 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 years were investigated to calculate and check the IDF curve. In general, the precipitation intensity obtained from Gumble's method was more than Pearson Type 3's method. Log Pearson type 3 distribution did not provide acceptable results in this research. The two interpolation methods of inverse distance weighting and empirical Bayesian kriging were used to generalize the frequency intensity curves to the entire Kan basin. The results showed little difference between these two methods, except for Pearson type 3 probability distribution.
M. Amiri, E. Fazel Najafabadi, M. Shayannejad,
Volume 28, Issue 3 (10-2024)
Abstract
Piano key weirs are a type of non-linear weir that have a higher discharge coefficient than similar linear weirs. These hydraulic structures have a lightweight foundation and a simple structure is designed and installed on dams and drainage channels. Due to the high efficiency of these weirs, the investigation of downstream scour and ways to reduce it has been the focus of engineers in recent years. In the present study, a trapezoidal type C piano key weir, three discharges, and three tailwater depths were used. Two obstacles with heights of 0.02 and 0.04 meters were also used at the end of the weir exit keys. The results showed that the presence of an obstacle reduces scour at the toe of the weir. The amount of reduction in scour at the toe of the weir was greater in the weir with a larger obstacle height than in the weir with a smaller obstacle height, and in both cases was less than in the simple weir. The presence of an obstacle reduces the maximum depth of scour and moves the distance of the maximum depth of scour away from the toe of the weir. In the weir with obstacle heights of 0.02 and 0.04 meters, compared to the weir without an obstacle, the amount of maximum scour depth is approximately 16.4% and 26.9% less, and the distance of the maximum scour depth is approximately 8.7% and 19.1% more than the weir without an obstacle. The scour index in weirs with obstacles is less than in weirs without obstacles, which can reduce the risk of weir overturning. The lowest value of the scour index was observed in the weir with an obstacle height of 0.04 meters, which is approximately 41.2% less than the weir without an obstacle.
M.a. Abdollahi, J. Abedi Koupai, M.m Matinzadeh,
Volume 28, Issue 3 (10-2024)
Abstract
Today, the problems related to floods and inundation have increased, particularly in urban areas due to climate change, global warming, and the change in precipitation from snow to rain. Therefore, there has also been an increasing focus on rainfall-runoff simulation models to manage, reduce, and solve these problems. This research utilized SewerGEMS software to explore different scenarios to evaluate the model's performance based on the number of sub-basins (2 and 8) and return periods (2 and 5 years). Additionally, four methods of calculating concentration time (SCSlag, Kirpich, Bransby Williams, and Carter) were compared to simulate flood hydrographs in Shahrekord city. The results indicated that increasing the return period from 2 to 5 years leads to an increase in peak discharge in all scenarios. Furthermore, based on the calculated continuity error, the Kirpich method is preferred to estimate the concentration-time in scenarios with more sub-basins and smaller areas. For the 2-year return period, a continuity error of 4% was calculated for the scenario with 2 sub-basins, while for the 5-year return period, the continuity error was 19%. On the other hand, the SCSlag method is preferred to estimate the concentration-time in scenarios with fewer sub-basins and larger areas. For the scenario with 8 sub-basins, a continuity error of 16% was calculated for the 2-year return period, and 11% for the 5-year return period.
M. Ranjbari Hajiabadi, J. Abedi Koupai, M.m. Matinzadeh,
Volume 28, Issue 4 (12-2024)
Abstract
Urban runoff is a serious issue due to urbanization and climate change. Therefore, paying attention to rainfall-runoff simulation models is important to manage and reduce adverse consequences. In this research, the performance of the SewerGEMS software was examined by studying different modes based on the number and area of sub-basins. Two modes, consisting of nine and seventeen sub-basins, were evaluated with varying durations of rainfall of 6 and 12 hours. Additionally, the performance of three methods for calculating concentration time (Kerpich, Brnsby-Williams, Carter) was compared to simulate flood hydrographs in Minab City. The results showed that the total volume of produced runoff in the nine sub-basins was 4% higher than in the seventeen sub-basins. The maximum runoff peak flow in the nine sub-basins was also 20% higher than in the seventeen sub-basins. Furthermore, the Brnsby-Williams method exhibited the least software continuity error among the three calculation methods for concentration time. On the other hand, the Carter method had the highest continuity error. The concentration time calculated by this method in some sub-basins exceeded the 6-hour duration of rain. A t-test was performed to compare the peak discharge data obtained from the Kerpich and Barnesby-Williams methods. The results indicated a significant difference between the data from the two methods at a 95% confidence level (p<0.05). Considering that the Kerpich method is suitable for calculating concentration time in small basins, it was used to compare the nine and seventeen sub-basins. Based on the findings, it was observed that merging the sub-basins and reducing their number from seventeen to nine resulted in an increase in the total volume of produced runoff from approximately 123,839 cubic meters to 128,446 cubic meters, as well as an increase in the maximum peak flow of runoff from about 2.400 m3/s to 2.884 m3/s. This demonstrates an increase in both the total volume and maximum peak discharge of the runoff.
Mahin Tahvilian, Saeed Eslamian, Ali Reza Gohari, Mohammad Jamali,
Volume 29, Issue 3 (10-2025)
Abstract
Time of concentration (Tc) is one of the key parameters in hydrological studies, playing a critical role in flood control structure design, runoff simulation, and water resource management. This study evaluates the performance of seven empirical equations—Bransby-Williams, California, Giandotti, Kirpich, Pilgrim, Rational Hydrograph (SCS), and Carter—in estimating Tc across 35 sub-watersheds in Khuzestan Province, Iran. To assess the accuracy, six sub-watersheds with reliable rainfall-runoff data were selected, and observational Tc values were calculated. The estimated results from the empirical formulas were then compared with observed data using statistical indices such as RMSE, ME, and the Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE). The findings revealed that the Kirpich equation provided the most accurate and reliable estimates, with RMSE = 2 hours, ME = 0.44 hours, and NSE = 0.91. Subsequently, all seven models were applied to estimate Tc for the remaining sub-watersheds. Finally, a concentration time zoning map was generated, which can serve as a practical tool for hydraulic design, flood risk analysis, and optimal water resource planning in Khuzestan Province.
Neda Haseli Nasrabadi, Reza Modarres, Saeed Soltani,
Volume 29, Issue 3 (10-2025)
Abstract
Floods are among the most frequent and destructive natural disasters worldwide, causing significant damage to human infrastructure and the environment each year. This study aims to assess the direct damages caused by flooding using the HEC-FIA model in the Semirom watershed. In the first step, flood inundation maps were generated using the HEC-RAS model based on digital elevation model (DEM) data, hydrological inputs, and Manning’s roughness coefficients under both steady and unsteady flow conditions. These maps were then converted into a format compatible with the HEC-FIA software and integrated with economic, land use, and population data to estimate flood damages. The economic database included updated information on agricultural, horticultural, residential, and industrial land uses, partly obtained through field surveys. The flood event of March 11, 2006, was selected as the base flood, and damage analyses were performed for various return periods. The results indicated that the agricultural sector suffered the most damage. In the base year flood, agricultural damages exceeded 821 billion IRR, while structural damages were estimated at approximately 3 billion IRR. In the 1000-year return period, agricultural damages rose to 1,427 billion IRR, and structural damages increased to 44 billion IRR. Analysis of shorter return periods showed a significant decrease in damages, with no structural damage observed in the 10-year return period or less, although agricultural areas remained vulnerable. The findings suggest that the HEC-FIA model has a high capability in estimating direct flood damages across spatial and temporal scales and can serve as an effective tool for flood risk management and planning.
Mohammad Amin Abdollahi, Jahangir Abedi Koupai, Mohammad Mehdi Matinzadeh,
Volume 29, Issue 4 (12-2025)
Abstract
Urban floods and stormwater runoff are among the most significant environmental and social challenges in urban areas, caused by the accumulation of rainwater and the inadequacy of stormwater collection networks. The performance of the SewerGEMS software in analyzing rainfall events and evaluating the adequacy of the stormwater collection network in Shahrekord City under various conditions has been examined. Only two of the six observed rainfall events could be simulated. In the event of 06/11/1403 (Persian calendar), the observed peak discharge was approximately 1850 liters per second. In contrast, the simulated discharge for the two-sub-basin scenario was around 1750 liters per second, and for the eight-sub-basin scenario, about 1350 liters per second. The results of the two-sub-basin scenario are more reliable. In the event of 27/11/1403, the observed peak discharge was approximately 2000 liters per second, while the simulated discharge for the two-sub-basin scenario was around 1850 liters per second, and for the eight-sub-basin scenario, about 1400 liters per second. This demonstrates that the results for the two-sub-basin scenario are more accurate. The adequacy of the network was then evaluated for return periods of 2 years and 5 years. The results indicated that the stormwater collection network of Shahrekord is generally adequate; however, some areas, such as sections of the Bouali and 13 Aban canals, have deficiencies that lead to local flooding. Finally, recommendations such as identifying locations for artificial recharge basins and continuously monitoring and inspecting the canals, particularly before the rainy season, are proposed to improve the performance of the Shahrekord stormwater collection network and reduce flood-related risks.
Mehdi Doosti, Majid Galoie, Mehdi Mahdikhani,
Volume 30, Issue 1 (3-2026)
Abstract
Rapid urbanization and the expansion of impervious surfaces in urban areas can cause a reduction in infiltration rate, which consequently increases the flash floods and surface runoff in cities. In recent years, the use of bio-infiltration systems has been considered as one of the most effective approaches based on low-impact development (LID) for sustainable urban runoff management. In this study, the performance of six types of biological infiltration basins was investigated to reduce the volume of runoff and improve surface water management in the eastern region of Qazvin city. First, 40 years of rainfall data (1983–2023) were collected from the Qazvin meteorological station, and Intensity–Duration–Frequency (IDF) relationships were developed for various return periods. Six design scenarios were modeled: bioretention basins with and without a drainage system; tree boxes with and without a drainage system; infiltration trenches; and permeable pavements. The dimensions of all systems were kept constant to focus solely on hydrological performance without the influence of size or shape. Overall, using HEC-GeoHMS, SWMM, and MIDS models together offered a detailed and accurate framework for analyzing the hydrological behavior of bioretention systems in urban runoff management. Results showed that the runoff coefficients for the sub-basins averaged 0.79, highlighting the dominance of impervious surfaces in the area. These values were used as inputs for the MIDS model to simulate the six different bioretention scenarios. The results indicated that the permeable pavement scenario had the greatest effect on annual runoff reduction (about 728,555 m ³), while the bioretention cell with a drainage system had the lowest performance. SWMM results, based on DEM-derived sub-catchment data, showed low soil infiltration and high impervious surface coverage. These conditions highlighted the importance of bioretention systems in reducing urban flooding. Overall, the study demonstrates that well-planned bio-retention and other green infrastructure can decrease peak flows, increase time of concentration, and improve urban hydrological and environmental conditions.
