Using remote sensing technology in estimating flood discharge

Abstract

Floods are the most natural disasters occurring on earth. Recently, Egypt has been subjected to more frequent floods due to climate change. The main objective of this paper is creating hydrological analysis and estimating water discharge due to a flood hitting a hazardous zone near Safaga city. The research is divided into four main stages; 1) Morphological study, 2) Meteorological study, 3) Losses estimation, and 4) Flood discharge estimation. First, morphological study in which watershed boundaries, main streams and morphological data are delineated using geographic information system (GIS) with the aid of Landsat-8 satellite images and 30-m resolution digital elevation model (DEM). Second, meteorological study in which conventional rainfall frequency analysis is generated to estimate rainfall depth at different return periods using 15-years rainfall historical data from weather stations. Third, losses estimation is determined by using soil conservation service-curve number method (SCS-CN). Fourth, water discharge volume is carried out through hydrological modelling using a hydrologic engineering centre model. The estimated water volume is an appropriate information for decision makers to propose the adequate protection works to mitigate flood impacts.