Flood Prediction: Graph Analysis and Flow Routing Technique

Flood:
Flood is defined as extremely high flows or levels of rivers, lakes, ponds, reservoirs and
any other water bodies, whereby water inundates outside of the water bodies area. Floods occur
when soil and vegetation cannot absorb all the water.
Causes of Flooding:
Many factors cause floods. In general, the reasons for increasing flooding in many parts of
the world are;
1. Climatic events
2. Changes in Land use and increasing population
3. Land subsidence, Tsunami
4. Dam & Levee Failures
Effects of Flooding:
Floods not only damage property and endanger the lives of humans and animals, but have
other effects as well. Rapid runoff causes soil erosion as well as sediment deposition problems
downstream. Spawning grounds for fish and other wildlife habitat are often destroyed. High-
velocity currents increase flood damage; prolonged high floods delay traffic and interfere with
drainage and economic use of lands. Bridge abutments, bank lines, sewer outfalls, and other
structures within floodways are damaged, and navigation and hydroelectric power are often
impaired. Financial losses due to floods are commonly millions of dollars each year.

Flood Prediction:
Flood prediction and modeling refer to the processes of transformation of rainfall into a
flood hydrograph and to the translation of that hydrograph throughout a watershed or any other
hydrologic system.

ADVANTAGES
• Authorities can prepare defenses and emergency services before a flood occur, therefore reducing
damage to homes, farmland and businesses.
• It can help to choose what type of flood defenses should be used in an area.
• Intangible losses including; loss of life and injury, and the damage caused to human health and
long-term well-being, can be prevented.
• Technology is always improving and becoming more accurate.
• Less damage means costs and disruption of daily lives are greatly reduced.
• Residents can take precautions to protect their property or can be evacuated.

DISADVANTAGES
• How effective the preparations are depends on local authorities and support of voluntary and
official agencies.
• Prediction and warnings don’t help to reduce the chance of the river bursting its banks, therefore
have to be used with other management strategies or defenses.