Use of Height Above the Nearest Drainage Model and GIS for Fluvial Flood Hazard Mapping: A Case Study

Použitie Height Above the Nearest Drainage modelu a GIS na mapovanie fluviálnej povodňovej hrozby: prípadová štúdia

Soheyl Moradi, Matej Vojtek, Jana Vojteková

In: Geografické informácie (Geographical Information), Ročník (Volume) 28, Číslo (Issue) 2, 2024, p. 80-95, ISSN 1337-9453

DOI: 10.17846/GI.2024.28.2.80-95

Abstract

This paper focuses on the effectiveness of the Height Above the Nearest Drainage (HAND) model with the integration of detailed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data and geographic information systems (GIS) to compute the fluvial flood hazard maps in the Gidra River Basin, western Slovakia. Study area, which is characterized by a wide variety of terrain forms including valleys, hills or lowland, serves as an ideal case study for creating the HAND model. Our approach uses GIS tools to develop digital elevation model (DEM)-based factors crucial for creating the HAND model, such as stream network, flow direction and flow accumulation rasters. Based on the HAND model, it is possible to derive flood-prone areas for any observed water stage measured at gauging stations or with the use of synthetic rating curves for any cross section on the river. This paper aims at outlining the usefulness of GIS and detailed DEM data to produce the HAND model, which is then applied for rapid creation of fluvial flood hazard maps.

Keywords: fluvial floods, flood hazard, HAND model, LiDAR DEM, GIS

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