Center for Spatial Analysis Technologies

CINDI Flood Inundation Project Status Reports

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop and demonstrate a generic GIS flood-inundation model by initial application in the Flint River Basin in Georgia. Follow-on work could lead to developing the capability to demonstrate prior-flood and during-flood applications in selected basins within the United States. VIEW selected background illustrations

Background: During flooding caused by Tropical Storm Alberto (TSA), July 1994, the US Geological Survey (USGS) Center for Spatial Analysis Technology (CSAT) found that flood inundation could be modeled using a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) databases and USGS regional-hydrologic relationships. An experimental GIS flood-inundation model was constructed to assist many agencies with much needed flood-inundation estimates. The resulting models can be coupled with state-of-the-art visualization techniques, such as those employed by the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), to give concerned agencies and the public a quick visual reference to flood impacts. A GIS flood-inundation model may also be coupled with National Weather Service (NWS) information and/or real-time stream-gage information to monitor flood inundation as flooding occurs. Perhaps the principle value of a GIS flood-inundation model will be its usage to aid planning processes and floodplain utilization to discern problems prior to any large flood event.

In May, 2000, the National Weather Service (NWS) Southeast River Forecast Center (SERFC) selected the Flint River Basin, Albany, Georgia area, to showcase flood inundation and visualization information technologies in partnership with USGS, Georgia District and The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). The interagency effort is to develop a NWS flood disaster prototype to support NWS's National Advanced Hydrologic Predictive Services (AHPS) program to utilize best available information technology to depict floods, initially in developed areas. The joint effort will enable NWS, City of Albany officials, the news media and the public to visualize actual or predicted flood inundations from user selected view points. Selected portions of the capability are to be posted to the Internet. SERFC goals are to have an initial mock-up of Albany area visualization and flood inundation prototype for demonstration by the winter of 2001. After subsequent development, the prototype USGS-GTRI Flood Inundation and Visualization Information System is planned to be factored into the new Albany Flint River Center for education and public outreach.

Oct 2000 Status Report	Nov 2000 Status Report	Dec 2000 Status Report
Jan 2001 Status Report	Feb 2001 Status Report	Mar 2001 Status Report
Aug 2001 Status Report

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