Author(s): M. Tritthart; P. Milbradt
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Danube; Flooding; Hydrodynamic model; Shallow water equations; Parameter sensitivity
Abstract: Getting an overview of the general situation is very often the first step in an engineering approach towards the analysis of a flood event. If little is known a priori about the terrain, the flow directions and flow conditions, a detailed analysis can only be performed by investing large amounts of money and time to gather the required data in a first step. However, for the investigation of a larger area of interest, this detail is often not necessary and delays the delivery of results to the contracting authority. The paper shows that exactness of the digital terrain model and detailed surface roughness information is not always required in the hydrodynamic modelling of a larger area, by analysing the August 2002 flooding at the rivers Danube and Kamp in Lower Austria. Simulation is performed with a two-dimensional finite element model based on the shallow water equations. The results are compared to aerial views that were made at the peak of the flood event and show a good conformity with reality in large parts of the area of interest. Even some of the local effects of the combined flooding of two rivers are precisely predicted by the coarse analysis model.
Year: 2003