Abstract:In this paper we extend the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) technique to estimate spatially distributed uncertainty in models conditioned against binary pattern data contained in flood inundation maps. Untransformed binary pattern data already have been used within GLUE to estimate domain-averaged (zerodimensional) likelihoods, yet the pattern information embedded within such sources has not been used to estimate distributed uncertainty. Where pattern information has been used to map distributed uncertainty it has been transformed into a continuous function prior to use, which may introduce additional errors. To solve this problem we use here 'raw' binary pattern data to define a zero-dimensional global performance measure for each simulation in a Monte Carlo ensemble. Thereafter, for each pixel of the distributed model we evaluate the probability that this pixel was inundated. This probability is then weighted by the measure of global model performance, thus taking into account how well a given parameter set performs overall. The result is a distributed uncertainty measure mapped over real space. The advantage of the approach is that it both captures distributed uncertainty and contains information on global likelihood that can be used to condition predictions of further events for which observed data are not available. The technique is applied to the problem of flood inundation prediction at two test sites representing different hydrodynamic conditions. In both cases, the method reveals the spatial structure in simulation uncertainty and simultaneously enables mapping of flood probability predicted by the model. Spatially distributed uncertainty analysis is shown to contain information over and above that available from global performance measures. Overall, the paper highlights the different types of information that may be obtained from mappings of model uncertainty over real and n-dimensional parameter spaces.
[1] This paper presents the first application and validation of a 2D hydrodynamic model of the Amazon at a large spatial scale. The simulation results suggest that a significantly higher proportion of total flow is routed through the floodplain than previously thought. We use the hydrodynamic model LISFLOOD-FP with topographic data from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission to predict floodplain inundation for a 240 Â 125 km section of the central Amazon floodplain in Brazil and compare our results to satellite-derived estimates of inundation extent, existing gauged data and satellite altimetry. We find that model accuracy is good at high water (72% spatial fit; 0.99 m root mean square error in water stage heights), while accuracy drops at low water (23%; 3.17 m) due to incomplete drainage of the floodplain resulting from errors in topographic data and omission of floodplain hydrologic processes from this initial model. Citation: Wilson, M.,
The ability to monitor floods with sensors mounted on aircraft and satellites has been known for decades. Early launches of satellites and the availability of aerial photography allowed investigation of the potential to support flood monitoring from as far as space. There have been notable studies on integrating data from these instruments with flood modeling since the late 1990s. There is now a consensus among space agencies to strengthen the support that satellites can offer. This trend has stimulated more research in this area, and significant progress has been achieved in recent years in fostering our understanding of the ways in which remote sensing can support or even advance flood modeling. This research goes considerably further than using a wet/dry flood map for model validation as in early studies of this type. Therefore, this paper aims to review recent and current efforts to aid advancing flood inundation modeling from space.
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