Development of “Kanako 2D (Ver.2.00),” a user-friendly one- and two-dimensional debris flow simulator equipped with a graphical user interface

Abstract

Debris flows often cause substantial losses of human life as well as economic losses. Damage can be estimated using numerical simulation models that describe the debris flow process. Some models can be used to determine the possible effects of sabo dams and have been practically employed to plan sabo dam arrangement. However, the existing simulation systems currently do not have efficient user interfaces, making it difficult for non-experts in debris flow simulations to run simulations without the aid of specialists. We developed a system that produces one-and two-dimensional debris flow simulations and is equipped with a graphical user interface. The system is based on an integration model and employs one-dimensional simulations of gully areas and two-dimensional simulations of alluvial fan areas; it then considers mutual influences in boundary areas between gullies and alluvial fans. Data can be input using a mouse and viewed on the monitor, and users can see real-time visualized images of a debris flow during a simulation. The interface enables users to run a debris-flow simulation without expert knowledge of the model, enabling better solutions for sabo engineering.

Effect assessment of debris flow mitigation works based on numerical simulation by using Kanako 2D

“…Therefore Kanako 2D model and parameters input for the simulation Kanako 2D model In Kanako 2D, an integrated model , Nakatani et al 2008) is used to obtain more accurate results in the boundary area between one-dimensional (1D) simulation areas, such as gullies, and two-dimensional (2D) simulation areas, such as alluvial fans. The basic 2D debris flow equations are shown below.…”

“…This model was used in Kanako simulator. The numerical simulation model applies a staggered scheme using a finite difference method (Nakatani et al 2007(Nakatani et al , 2008. Scalar and vector quantities are staggered by Δx/2 (or Δy/2) in the flow direction (or cross direction), as shown in Fig.…”

“…Kanako software is a numerical simulation system equipped with efficient graphical user interface (GUI) by using MS Visual Basic.NET (VB.NET) as platform, which makes it easy to know the efficient mitigation measures and explain about debris flow effect (Nakatani et al 2007(Nakatani et al , 2008. For gullies, it uses a 1D numerical simulation model to reproduce variations in a mountainous riverbed caused by debris flow and to simulate the effects of dams (Satofuka and Mizuyama 2005).…”

“…For gullies, it uses a 1D numerical simulation model to reproduce variations in a mountainous riverbed caused by debris flow and to simulate the effects of dams (Satofuka and Mizuyama 2005). For alluvial fans, it uses a 2D@@@ numerical simulation model to reproduce changes in flow depth and sedimentation and to simulate the passing area of debris flow (Nakatani et al 2008). In this paper, Kanako system was used for assessing the effects of debris flow mitigation measures in Caijia Gully, Sichuan Province, China.…”

Potential Impact of Climate Change and Extreme Events on Slope Land Hazard – A Case Study of Xindian Watershed in Taiwan

“…Various kinds of useful numerical programs have been developed by research and academic institutions worldwide. Although they are based on different theories, the governing equations are derived from mass and momentum conservations (Hutter and Greve, 2017;O'Brien et al, 1993;Hungr, 1995;Sassa et al, 2004;Liu and Huang, 2006;Nakatani et al, 2008;Armanini et al, 2009;Christen et al, 2010). According to the practical application of inputs, the models can be divided into hydrological-and 15 geologic-based models.…”