Sieker
Sieker
The Stormwater Experts

Flood warning system HydroWebView

Background

Most conventional runoff predictions are assessed based on weather reports and empirical values, usually leading to unsatisfactory and non realistic outcomes. Web-based system designed to predict rainfall-runoff and assess real-time water levels are generating reliable results.

Therefore; the optimal solution lies with predictions generated from coupling the following main components:

  • A river basin model or drainage network model
  • Online immediately available rainfall data /radar-based rainfall forecasts.

When precipitation data are continuously fed into the model, simulation results will display runoff and water levels predictions at predefined desired locations. The predictions are then made available online and can be used to generate alerts via e-mails, SMS or voice messages.

Corresponding models are currently in use in "Berlin" and in "Georgsmarienhütte".

Small catchments react faster


The hydrological regime of small river catchments differs significantly from the one in larger river basins. Small rivers react much quicker on heavy rainfall.  

Flood forecast systems, based on water level measurements, are widely available for larger rivers like Elbe or Rhine and are not sufficient for smaller catchments. In most cases, when the gauge detects a flood, it is often too late!

Radar-based rainfall prediction

Website www.regenschreiber.net


Nowadays, various national weather services provide radar-based rainfall forecasts. The data have a time step of at least 2 hours where rainfall intensity and spatial distribution can be predicted quite well.

For runoff forecast, the conventional rainfall predictions are most of the time not sufficient. In cooperation with the National Meteorological Service Meteo Group, the company HST offers an important service, where radar-based rainfall data is simultaneously calibrated using terrestrial measurements. With this improvement the rainfall prognosis can be quantified and used as an input for rainfall-runoff modelling. In Germany this service is available nation-wide ("virtual rain gauge"). 

Rainfall-runoff modelling with STORM


STORM is a hydrological water cycle model with various modules (see graphics).  With this tool, flood peak flows can be calculated for small urban catchments as well as for larger river basins.

Typical modelling components used within a flood risk management concepts are:

  • Soil-water balance
  • Distributed rainfall
  • Evaporation and snow modules
  • Runoff concentration with time-area-functions
  • Rivers and streams translation and retention
Hydrological longitudinal section


Typical results of a STORM modelling are:

  • Hydrological longitudinal sections
  • Water levels and hydrographs (e.g. retention areas)
  • Overflow frequency
  • Water balances

Flood forecast and warning


Runoff and flood predictions are made possible, even for small rivers and urban drainage systems, by linking the hydrological model STORM with the radar-based precipitation data forecasts, provided by the company HST. 

The STORM simulation runs in loop, continuously using actualized data from the virtual rain gauge. The results consist of semi-continuous runoff forecasts and hydrographs, available in the web-based database.

When predefined water threshold levels are exceeded, an alarm or warning is generated and sent by emails, SMS or voice messages (s. flowchart).

Web-Interface HydroWebView


Runoff predictions modelled with STORM can be visualized with the web-interface „HydroWebView©“. The service is password protected but can be made available to a large group of users.

HydroWebview has map view and a chart view features.

  • In the map view, users can identify the outflow points, represented with accurate position. The color code of the points varies with the corresponding alarm level. As a base map, satellite images from Google Maps or other WMS service may be incorporated. In the background, it is even possible to add various WMS layers, for example; streams, sewer networks or drainage networks are superimposed.
  • In the diagram view, precipitation is represented as bar chart, with corresponding runoff hydrographs. Alarm levels and codes can be also displayed in the diagram view.

With „HydroWebView©“it is also possible to display simulation results for historical events. The Website is based on the open SOS-interface (Sensor-Observation-Service), which allows the visualization of various time series such as; runoff/water level measurements or results, from other simulation models. It is even possible to arrange a coupling of different models (e.g. hydrological rainfall-runoff-models with hydraulic river models) within this interface.

In addition to this, generated email, SMS or alarms can be automatically sent to rescue control centers if defined threshold values are exceeded. 

The web-interface „HydroWebView “was developed in cooperation with “3s sensors systems solutions”.

Diagram view
Map view

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Projects 3 Products 1 Files 1
Author
Dipl.-Ing. Frauke Jakobs
+49 3342 3595-22
f.jakobs[at]sieker.de
Contact
Dipl.-Geogr. Stephan Bandermann
+49 3342 3595-14
s.bandermann[at]sieker.de
Partner
3S Sensor Systems Solutions
www.3sberlin.de

Panke HW-WS, RAD-Zustand mit Information Dritter (Teil 5/5)