Examining the Influence of DEM Resolution in Flood Hazard Assessment using the Flood Modeller Pro 2D Solver

Abstract

Floods are the most frequent natural hazards that threat the human life, environment and infrastructure. The flood prediction models that have wide use in the recent years represent important tools for flood management decisions aiming to mitigate the impacts of the flood events. The accuracy of the constructed prediction models is based on the quality of the primary data, such as the terrain’s resolution. This study examines the effect of different digital elevation models’ (DEM) resolution in flood hazard assessment. In particular, it used the Flood Modeller Pro software in two-dimensional approach simulating the hydraulic characteristics of the flow in a wide plain area. The results are compared in terms of water’s depth, water’s velocity and flood hazard mapping quality, showing that the DEM’s greater resolution enhances the flood prediction models’ accuracy.
Keywords: Flood hazard, flood management, Flood Modeller Pro, DEM, 2D flood modeling