Author(s): Humberto A. Gallegos; Brett F. Sanders; Jochen E. Schubert
Linked Author(s): Brett F. Sanders
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Government at all levels is increasingly investing in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to organize and efficiently utilize geospatial data for management and operational objectives such as flood risk assessment. In Los Angeles County, for example, a consortium of public agencies known as the Los Angeles Area Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LAR-IAC) jointly funded the acquisition of several highresolution data sets including Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) terrain data, orthoimagery, and oblique aerial imagery. Moreover, literature review shows there are promising new directions for 2D urban flood modeling. However, the paucity of validation datasets that include high resolution terrain data and flood observations has made it difficult to evaluate the merit of alternative schemes. This problem is particularly acute with respect to dam-break flood events. In this study, we present what we believe is the first high-resolution 2D modeling study of dam-break flooding over an urbanized land surface. We consider the 1963 failure of the Baldwin Hills Dam in Los Angeles, California. Using LiDAR terrain data resulting from the LARIAC project, and historical information about the size and location of the reservoir, a2D flood model is applied and model predictions of flood extent and peak downstream discharges are compared to observations. The accuracy of the model is reported, as well as its sensitivity to factors such as mesh and terrain resolution, and resistance parameter distributions.
Year: 2009