K.

Amin
Gis and Remote Sensing Sector,
Egyptian Mineral Resource and
Geological Survey Authority.
Cairo, Egypt.
e-mail: kareemamin2001@hotmail.com

Application of Remote Sensing and GIS in

Flash Flood Hazard Mapping and
Hydraulic Modeling
(case study of Wadi Dahdah, Saudi Arabia)

Digital Elevation
Model of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT
Flash floods are considered as catastrophic phenomena possessing major
hazardous threat to many of infrastructure facilities, especially new construction
projects in Saudi Arabia. This study deals with the evaluation of flash flood hazard
in the ungauged Wadi Dahdah basin depending on its detailed morphometric
characteristics, hydrological studies, meteorological Analysis, and hydraulic
modeling. For this study, ASTER data were used for preparing digital elevation
model (DEM), geographical information system (GIS) was used in the evaluation
of linear, areal and relief aspects of morphometric parameters, Remote sensing
data (Landsat8) to analysis and preparing Digital Land Use/ Land cover mapping,
using some special software for rainfall analysis and estimating IDF curves and
finally using WMS and HES-RAS for Hydrological analysis and hydraulic modeling.
Thus can predict the probability occurrence of floods at various frequency times
and determine the intensity of the flood (depth and velocity of flood water) inside
the stream of the Wadi, and in case of important construction exposed to the risk
of floods must to develop optimal solutions that control of flood waters and
through the establishment of different protection works such as dams and storage
lakes and drainage channels and culvert ... and other. So it was important to make
sufficient hydrological studies to safety this sites of the Probabilities dangers of
flooding.

Al Jawf

Tabuk
Ha'il
Al Quassim
Al Madinah

DiGital EleVation MoDel of

the Study BaSin

Ar Riyad
Ash Sharqiyah

`Asir

Digital Elevation
Model of Aser

Najran

.
!

Al Bahah
1

Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
Pour point
Watershed

Makkah

Introduction

Jizan

Degital Elevation Values

High : 961.765

430'0"E
2

440'0"E

Low : 288
1

Flash floods often occur in arid regions as a consequence of excessive rainfall and
occasionally cause major losses of property and life (Subyani 2009). Flood hazard
mapping is a component needed for appropriate land use in the flooded areas. It
creates easily read, rapidly accessible charts and maps which mitigate the effects
of floods (Bapalu and Sinha 2005). Flood hazard mapping in arid regions is an
extremely important but difficult task; the main reason is the scarcity of data in
arid regions. Flood hazard mapping is very important for catchment management
(i.e. for sustainable development of the water resources and for protection from
the flood hazard and drought). Rainfall and runoff data are the essential
hydrological elements in the flood mapping of basin systems. So, because the
study area is suffering from scarcity of data and
the flood inundation maps are dependent on the topographic
and geomorphic features of the Wadi (
et al. 2012), this study is based on the
integration between physiographic features of the study area and GIS techniques.
The integration of GIS to create flood hazard maps and disaster decision support
has been continually upgraded and widespread since the beginning of the
twenty-first century, as a result of the increased availability of spatial databases
and GIS software (Zerger and Smith 2003). Several studies are cited in the
literature, relating to flood hazard mapping and zonation using GIS (Sui and
Maggio 1999; Merzi and Aktas 2000; Guzzetti, and Tonelli 2004; Sanyal and Lu
2006; He et al. 2003; Fernandez and Lutz 2010). Drainage basin characteristics in
many areas of the world have been studied using conventional geomorphologic
approaches (Horton 1945; Strahler 1964; Rudriaih et al. 2008; Nageswararao et
al. 2010; Al Saud 2009). Gardiner (1990) indicated that in some studies, the
morphometric characteristics of basins have been used to predict and describe
flood peaks and estimation of erosion rate, underlying the importance of such
studies. The application of geomorphological principles to flood potential or
flood risk has led to a noteworthy amount of researches, attempting to identify the
relationships between basin morphometric and flooding impact (Patton 1988).
Identification of drainage networks within basins or subbasins can be achieved
using traditional methods such as field observations and topographic maps, or
alternatively with advanced methods using remote sensing and digital elevation
model (Macka 2001; Maidment 2002).

Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah

420'0"E

440'0"E

420'0"E

200'0"N

200'0"N

*The Digital Elevation Model Obtained from

AsterGDEM v2 30 m Resolution and Manupulated
by (IDW) Technique to 15 m Resolution*.
0 0.5 1
2

.
!

`Asir

Kilometers

Location and geological characteristics of Wadi Dahdah

The Wadi Dahdah is located in the western part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at Aser Region. It lies between 41.8 and 41.92 longitudes
and 18.9 and 19 latitudes with an area about 104 km2 and length about 14 km. Geologically, Wadi Dahdah is underlain by late
Proterozoic plutonic, and volcanic rocks in the north and east of the Wadi with an area about 35.3 % of the total area, by volcanic and
plutonic rocks, and by Tertiary oceanic crust of the Red Sea offshore. The contact between continental and oceanic crust is probably 10 15
km onshore. The coastal plain is blanketed by Quaternary sediments of Aeolian sand, silt and pediment deposits with area of about 64.6
% of the total area with thickness that ranges from 2 to 10 m.

190'0"N

190'0"N

440'0"E

420'0"E

180'0"N
430'0"E

180'0"N

Methodology
Digital Elevation Modeling
Morphometric
Analysis

Basic Terrain
Analysis

Hydrological
Analysis

Remote Sensing Data

Geometric
Correction &
Georeferencing

Slope
Digital image
Stream Power
Terrain Ruggedness
Aspect
processing
Index
Index
Relative Relief
Topographic
Downslope
Position
Image
classification
Wetness
Index
Relative
Slope
Distance Gradient
Position
NADVI
Melton Ruggedness
Topographic
Drainage
Number
Position Index
Pattern Analysis
Land-use/Land
Cover Map
Hypsometric Curve Stream Order
LS Factor
Rainfall
data

Meteorologic
Analysis

Hydro-Morphometric Parameters
Hydrological Modeling
Floodplain and Hydraulic
Model

Soil data

SCS Curve
Number

Aspect

Legend
Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4

Aspect Map

4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Flat (-1)
North (0-22.5)
Northeast (22.5-67.5)
East (67.5-112.5)

Part I : The Basic Terrain Analysis

Generally refers to the direction to which a mountain

slope faces. The aspect of a slope can make very
significant influences on its local climate because the
sun s rays are in the west at the hottest time of day in
the afternoon, and so in most cases a west-facing slope
will be warmer than sheltered east-facing slope. This
can have major effects on the distribution of vegetation
in the watershed area. The aspect map of W.Dahdah
basin is shown. It is clearly seen that west-facing slopes
mainly occur in the basin. Therefore, these slopes have
a lower moisture content and higher evaporation rate
although and some parts are falling towards east
facing which a higher moisture content and have a
lower evaporation rate.

Slope-Drainage Basin Map

4152'30"E

Southeast (112.5-157.5)
South (157.5-202.5)
Southwest (202.5-247.5)

. Project Site (Pour Point)

!

West (247.5-292.5)

Watershed

Northwest (292.5-337.5)
North (337.5-360)
190'0"N

Slope

Slope

<5

Slope analysis is an important parameter in geomorphological studies for watershed development and
important for morphometric analysis. The slope
elements, in turn, are controlled by the
climatomorphogenic processes in areas having rock of
varying resistance (Magesh et al. 2011; Gayen et al.
2013). A slope map of the study area is calculated
based on ASTER GDEMv2 data using the spatial
analysis tool in ARC GIS-10.3. Slope grid is identified
as the maximum rate of change in value from each
cell to its neighbors (Burrough 1986). The degree of
slope in W.Dahdah watershed varies from <5 to
>70.
The slope map is shown in Fig. 2b. Has higher slope
degree results in rapid runoff and increased erosion
rate (potential soil loss) with less ground water
recharge potential. Higher slope is identified in Northeastern part of the basin where it originates.

5 - 9.8
9.8 - 16.4
16.4 24
24 - 34
34- 45
45 56
56 70
>70

4149'30"E

1858'30"N

It affects where structures

or trails can be built,
crops can be planted, the
speed of flowing water
and consequent erosion,
landslide potential.

1858'30"N

Legend
Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!
Watershed

1857'0"N

!
0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

.
!

3.6
Kilometers

0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

Relative relief
Relative relief is difference between summit level, the
highest altitude for a given area, and base level, lowest
altitude for a given area (Dury, 1962, p. 174). It plays an
important morphometric variable used for the
assessment of morphological characteristics of any
topography (Gayen et al. 2013. The highest relative
relief is calculated as 334 m, while the lowest value is
recorded as 2 m Fig. 3a. The low relief indicates that the
northern and central Southern area under W.Dahdah
basin is flat to gentle slope type. Therefore, the area
could be basically used for agricultural activities around
stream sides due to being flat in nature and also a water
accessibility. 1 ridge > + 1
2 upper slope > 0.5 =< 1
3 middle slope> -0.5, < 0.5, slope > 5 deg
4 flats slope >= -0.5, =< 0.5 , slope <= 5 deg
5 lower slopes >= -1.0, < 0.5
6 valleys < -1.0

Relative Slope Position

landscapes can be classified into discrete slope position
classes, Jones, K. Bruce et al 2000.

Relative Slope Position

4152'30"E
4151'0"E

4154'0"E

Relative Relief Map

4152'30"E
4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

193'0"N

Legend

Legend

Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!
Watershed

Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!
Watershed

Slope position
Moderately positive

Positive
(cliff edge)

Zero, low slope

(flat)

190'0"N

(upper slope)

Very positive
(ridge)

Zero, moderate slope

(open slope)
Moderately negative
(lower slope)

190'0"N

Zero, high slope

(open cliff)
Negative

gentle
plains
gentle
depression cliff
cliff
lower lateral constant slope lateral upper
valley bottom base slope valleys
ridges slope edge
saddles
More negative

4149'30"E

(cliff base)
Zero, low slope
(flat)

The major of the Basin Area

Is middle slope and upper
Slope delineated at East and
West of the basin.
There relationships between soil moisture content and a
relative slope position (upslope, midslope, and
downslope) were qualitatively understandable even in
the early twentieth century (Zakharov, 1913).
Quantitatively, the dependence of soil moisture content
on catchment area (which, in fact, describes the relative
position of a point on the topographic surface) was
probably first described by Zakharov (1940, p. 384) as
follows: water amount per unit area increases from
upslope to downslope due to additional water supply.
Thus, as CA increases, soil moisture content also
increases.
Very negative
(valley)

4149'30"E

hill top
ridge top

More positive

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

VALUE
0 - 0.06
6. - 0.2
0.2 - 0.4
0.4 - 0.73
7. - 1

1857'0"N

.
!
0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

1858'30"N

Relative Relief
VALUE
2 - 23
23 - 29
29 - 43

1857'0"N

43 - 74
74 - 334

.
!
0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

Downslope Distance Gradient

]1[ This index has become widely used in
hydrology, but it utilizes a relatively small portion of
the information contained in a digital elevation
model (DEM). One potentially important feature
not considered in the implementation of the
ln(a/tan) index is the enhancement or impedance
of local drainage by downslope topography. This
effect could be important in some terrain for
controlling hydraulic gradients.
Applied this index to our study Area shows high
values at the Western and Eastern part of the basin
and minor sites in the Northern and Southern parts
which refer to high local drainage areas that
feeding the main stream of the Basin.

4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Legend

4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Legend

Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!
Watershed

190'0"N

4152'30"E

Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!
Watershed
190'0"N

4149'30"E

Part II : The Morphometric Analysis

Terrain Ruggedness Index

Downslope Distance
Gradient

4152'30"E

4149'30"E

TRI (Nellemanns Terrain Roughness Index)

is a somewhat antiquated contour density
(transect-and-contour map) approach with applications
to arctic wildlife. See Nelleman et al. (2007), Nellemann
and Fry (1995), Nelleman and Thomsen (1994) papers
for methods. Nelleman et al. (2007), a paper on brown
bears, classified TRI values for a study on Scandinavian
brown bears into
. They used a
1:100,000 scale DEM with a 10m contour interval, 4km
transects within 4km x 4km grid cells:
= TRI >
2.5,
= TRI < 2.5.

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

Value
High : 0.40
VALUE
<2.5 Flat
>2.5 Rugged

1857'0"N

1857'0"N

Topographic Position Index (TPI)

0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

Topographic Position Index (TPI) calculation as proposed

by Guisan et al. (1999). This is literally the same as the
difference to the mean calculation (residual analysis)
proposed by Wilson & Gallant (2000).
The bandwidth parameter for distance weighting is
given as percentage of the (outer) radius. Positive TPI
values represent locations that are higher than the
average of their surroundings, as defined by the
neighborhood (ridges). Negative TPI values represent
locations that are lower than their surroundings (valleys).
TPI values near zero are either flat areas (where the
slope is near zero) or areas of constant slope (where the
slope of the point is significantly greater than zero).
pt > = tpi > 0 (ridge)

scalefactor = outer radius in map units

irad = inner radius of annulus in cells
orad = outer radius of annulus in cells

Elevation at point pt
Mean Elevation neighborhood

3.6
Kilometers

60

100

Mean Elevation in neighborhood

Topographic Position Index

70

pt ~ = tpi ~ 0 (constant slope, flat area, or saddle)

Check slope of the point

Flat

0 0.450.9

Hypsometric Curve
120

pt < = tpi < 0 (valley)Mean

Elevation neighborhood
Elevation at point pt

Slope
Mean Elevation in
Neighborhood
Elevation at point pt

50

Elevation at point pt

80
Hypsometric curve
Hypsometric curves are non-dimensional measure of the
proportion of the catchment area above a given elevation.
According to Schumm (1956), Strahler (1964), Leopold et
al. (1964) and Hurtrez et al. (1999), hypsometric curves are
related to geomorphic and tectonic evolution of drainage
basins in terms of their forms and processes. Strahler
(1952, 1957, and 1964) identified three types of
landforms, namely, young, mature and monadnock on the
basis of hypsometric curve shape.

Low : 0.040

.
!

.
!

orad
irad

1858'30"N

40

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

4152'30"E
4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Legend
Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!
Watershed

60
30

190'0"N

4149'30"E

40
20
20

10

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

Value

Elevation
100

Young Basin

Old Basin

0
1857'0"N

Low : -4.8
0

High : 4.8

0
1 3 5 7 9 111315171921232527293133353739414345474951
Relative Height
80.239521

Percentage of basin points above a given eleva&on

Percentage of basin points

above a given elevaion

100

Hypsometric Integral =
0

max

Elevation

Hypsometric Curve Interpretation

max

Mean Elevation Minimum Elevation

Maximum Elevation Minimum Elevation

.
!
0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

I. hydrological indices
developed by Beven and Kirkby (1979) within the
runoff model TOPMODEL. It is defined as ln(a/tan)
where a is the local upslope area draining through a
certain point per unit contour length and tan is the
local slope. It Also called Compound Topographic
Index (CTI). Higher CTI values represent drainage
depressions, lower values represent crests and
ridges. And it is related with soil moisture. It
indicates the tendency of a cell to produce runoff,
since areas with high moisture are more prone to
become saturated. The higher the value of this
index in a cell, the higher soil moisture that can be
found in it. Compound Topographic Index
describes the tendency of terrain to accumulate
water. Stream Power and Sediment Transport
Indices describe tendency of flow and can be used
to depict locations of potential erosion.

Stream Power Index

4152'30"E
4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Topographic Wetness
Index (TWI)

193'0"N

Legend

Watershed
190'0"N
190'0"N

4149'30"E

4149'30"E

1858'30"N
1858'30"N

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

Value
High : 32000

Value

High : 10
1857'0"N
1857'0"N

.
!
.
!

0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

Melton Ruggedness Number

3.6
Kilometers

0 0.450.9

4152'30"E
4152'30"E

4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Legend
Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
! Pour point
.
Watershed

LS Factor for the Basin

4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Legend
Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!
Watershed
190'0"N

190'0"N

Low : 1

Low : 0

Slope Length and Steepness factor (LSfactor)

]2[The Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)
model is the most frequently used model for soil
erosion risk estimation. Among the six input
layers, the combined slope length and slope
angle (LS-factor) has the greatest influence on
soil loss at the European scale. The S-factor
measures the effect of slope steepness, and the
L-factor defines the impact of slope length. The
combined LS-factor describes the effect of
topography on soil erosion.

4154'0"E

Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!

The stream power index

Stream power index (SI) takes into account both a
local slope geometry and site location in the
landscape combining data on slope gradient and
catchment area (SCA):
SPI = SCA * tan(Slope)
Stream power index can be used to describe
potential flow erosion at the given point of the
topographic surface. As catchment area and slope
gradient increase, the amount of water contributed
by upslope areas and the velocity of water flow
increase, hence stream power index and erosion
risk increase. It controls potential erosive power of
overland flows, thickness of soil horizons, organic
matter, pH, silt and sand content, plant cover
distribution.
Ref. I.V. Florinsky, Digital Terrain Analsis in Soil Science
and Geology.

4151'0"E

Part III : The Hydrological Analysis

The Topographic Wetness Index (TWI)

The topographic wetness index (TWI) was

4152'30"E

4149'30"E

4149'30"E

Melton Ruggedness Number

Melton ruggedness number (MNR) is a simple
flow accumulation related index, calculated as
difference between maximum and minimum
elevation in catchment area divided by square
root of catchment area size. The calculation is
performed for each grid cell, therefore minimum
elevation is same as elevation at cell's position.
Due to the discrete character of a single maximum
elevation, flow calculation is simply done with
Deterministic 8. (Zmax-Zmin) / Sqrt(A)

1858'30"N
1858'30"N

Value
High : 38.9349

1858'30"N

Value
2.8

1857'0"N
1857'0"N

Low : 0
Low : 0

.
!

.
!
0 0.450.9

References:
Marchi, L. & Fontana, G.D. (2005): GIS morphometric indicators for the
analysis of sediment dynamics in mountain basins. Environ. Geol.
48:218-228, DOI 10.1007/s00254-005-1292-4.

1858'30"N

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

Stream Nu Stream
Order
Order

II.1 The linear network properties:

Stream order (U)
The ranking of streams has been carried out based on the method
proposed by Strahler (1964). stream orders are classified up to four
orders in the W.Dahdah Basin. The maximum stream order frequency
is observed in case of first-order streams and then for second order.
Hence, it is noticed that there is a decrease in stream frequency as the
stream order increases and vice versa.

Stream
Order
Length

Stream
Length Ratio

Mean
Stream
Lenght

10.52

0.056

10.52

bifurcation
ratio (Rb).
6

30.25

0.16

5.04

4.8

29

40.72

0.21

1.40

4.1

121

105.61

0.56

0.87

10

157

187.11553

Total

193'0"N

Legend

Watershed

20%

Mean stream length (Lsm)

Mean stream length (Lsm) reveals the characteristic size of components of a
drainage network and its contributing surfaces (Strahler 1964). It has been
computed by dividing the total stream length of order u by the number of stream
in the same order u. It is noted that Lsm value of any stream order is greater than
that of the lower order and less than that of its next higher order in the basin. The
Lsm values differ with respect to different basins, as it is directly proportional to the
size and topography of the basin.

II.2 Aerial Aspects of the Drainage Basin:

Schumm (1956) states that the maximum relief to horizontal distance along the
longest dimension of the basin parallel to the principal drainage line is termed as
relief ratio. The high value of relief ratio is characteristics of hilly areas with high
runoff production and soil erosion. Low value of relief ratios is mainly due to the
resistant basement rocks of the basin and low degree of slope (Mahadevaswamy et
al. 2011). The Rh normally increases with decreasing drainage area and size of a
given drainage basin (Gottschalk 1964). The relief ratio of the basin is 0.042.

Circularity Ratio (Rc)

Miller (1953) stated that The circularity ratio Rc of the basin is the area of a circle
having the same circumference as the perimeter of the basin. It is influenced by the
length and frequency of stream, geological structures, landuse/ landcover, climate,
relief and slope of the basin. It is a significant ratio that indicates the dendritic stage
of a watershed. Low, medium and high values of Rc indicate the young, mature, and
old stages of the life cycle of the tributary watershed (John Wilson et al. 2012).The
Circularity Ratio is 3.1 which indicates strongly elongated and extremely permeable
homogenous geologic materials.

Slope Average (S)

Slope average (S) is computed by dividing basin length (Lb) by basin relief (H) in the
same unit (meters) for expressing changes of the slope between the upstream area
and the pour point. Generally, the slope plays an important vital role for estimating
flood hazardous where steep slopes could lead to severe flash floods. Velocity of
water increases with increasing slopes, this means time required for water decrease.
So hazard increases with increasing slope.

2.42

1.51

Drainage
Density
1.79

Stream Order
Length
187.11553

1
2
3
4

40%
30%

1858'30"N

Value

1858'30"N

High : 241

1857'0"N

Low : 1
.
!
0 0.450.9

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

Bifurcation ratio (Rb)

Horton (1945) considered Rb as an index of relief and dissection while Strahler (1957) opined that Rb shows only a small variation for different regions
with different environments except where powerful geological control dominates. According to Schumn (1956), the term bifurcation ratio (Rb) may be
defined as the ratio of the number of the stream segments of given order to the number of segments of the next higher orders. It is a dimensionless
property and shows the degree of integration prevailing between streams of various orders in a drainage basin. 1st Order/2nd Order ..etc. The
bifurcation ratio was introduced by Horton (1945) and modified by Strahler (1952). It characteristically ranges between 3 and 5 in homogeneous
bedrock (Chorley 1969 and Waugh 1996). Chorley (1969) had noted that the lower the bifurcation ratio, the higher the risk of flooding, particularly of
parts and not the entire basin. The lower values of Rb are characteristics that the basin has suffered less structural disturbances [1] and the drainage
patterns has not been distorted because of the structural disturbances [6]..The higher value of Rb indicated strong structural control on the drainage
pattern and also streams that have a higher average flood potential due to numerous tributary segments drain into relatively few trunk transporting
stream segments. The bifurcation ratios of the study area vary from 4.1 to 6, which fall under High basin category [10]. The mean bifurcation ratio (Rbm)
may be defined as the average of bifurcation ratios of all order and it s 4.96 in case of W.dahdah Basin.

Elongation ratio (Re)

Relief ratio (Rh)

Stream
frequency

4149'30"E

10%

According to Horton (1945), streams lengths delineate the total lengths of stream
segment of each of the successive orders in a basin tend to approximate a direct
geometric series in which the first term is the average length of the stream of the
first order. The stream length is a measure of the hydrological characteristics of the
bedrock and the drainage extent. Wherever the bedrock and formation is
permeable, only a small number of relatively longer streams are formed in a welldrained watershed, a large number of streams of smaller length are developed
where the bedrocks and formations are less permeable (Sethupathi et al. 2011).
The result of order stream length in Wadi Dahdah basin is shown in the Table . It is
clearly identified that the cumulative stream length is higher in first-order streams
and decreases as the stream order increases.

Constant
Channel
w.Bifurcati Mainten Topographic
Slope on ratio ance (C)
Texture

190'0"N

Stream Order/ Total Length

Stream Length (Lu)

0.56

4154'0"E

Catchment

Number of streams of different orders and the total number of streams

in the basin are counted and calculated in GIS platforms. During
calculation it is identified that the number of streams gradually
decreases as the stream order increases; the variation in stream order
and size of tributary basins is largely depends on physiographical,
geomorphological and geological condition of the region. 157 stream
line is recognized in the whole basin, out of which 40 % (121) is 1st
order, 30 % (29) 2nd order, 20 % (6) 3rd order, 10 % (1) 4th order.

4.69

4151'0"E

Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!

Stream number (Nu)

0.42

4152'30"E

Part III : The Hydrological Analysis

II. Hydro-Morphometric Paramters

Catchment Drainage Map

Nu Stream
Order
157

The elongation ratio (Re) is the ratio between the diameter of the circle of the same area as the drainage basin and the maximum length of the basin
[16]. A circular basin is more efficient in the discharge of runoff than an elongated basin [20]. Higher values of elongation ratio show high infiltration
capacity and low runoff, whereas lower Re values which are characterized by high susceptibility to erosion and sediment load (Reddy et al. 2004).The
values of Re vary from 0.6 to 1.0 over a wide variety of climatic and geologic type. Values close to 1.0 are typical of region of very low relief, whereas
values in the range 0.6 to 0.8 are usually associated with high relief and steep ground slope [1]. It can be grouped into three class namely Circular
(>0.9), Oval (0.9-0.8), and Less elongated (<0.7). The Basin shows Re value of 0.72 which falls in the oval class. This reveals that the majority of the area
has high relief and steep sloped.

Form Factor (Rf)

Horton (1932) stated that the form factor Rf is the ratio of the basin area to the square of the basin length [9]. This factor indicates the flow intensity of a
basin of a defined area. The form factor value should be always less than 0.7854 (the value corresponding to a perfectly circular basin). The smaller the
value of the Rf, the more elongated will be the basin. The elongated watershed with low form factor indicates that the basin will have a flatter peak of
flow for longer duration and conducive for more groundwater recharge. Watersheds with high form factors experience larger peak flows of shorter
duration, indicating less contact time and less infiltration. Rf value of the W.Dahdah basin is 0.41 which is more or less elongated basin with lower peak
flows of longer duration than the average.

Constant Channel Maintenance (C)

Schumm (1956) used the inverse of drainage density as a property termed constant of stream maintenance C. This constant, in units of square feet per
foot, has the dimension of length and therefore increases in magnitude as the scale of the land-form unit increases. Specifically, the constant C provides
information of the number of square feet of watershed surface required to sustain one linear foot of stream. The value C of basin is 0.56.It means that on
an average 0.56 sq.ft surface is needed in basin for creation of one linear foot of the stream channel.

Drainage Pattern
The drainage pattern in the study area exhibits dendritic to sub dendritic in nature ,The most common form, It develops in regions underlain by
homogeneous material (the subsurface geology has a similar resistance to weathering so there is no apparent control over the direction the tributaries
take).

Flow Length (Lo)

The flow length is the distance from any point in the watershed to the watershed outlet. Lo = D. D is the Density. Lo= 0.89.

Hypsometric Ruggedness Relative Relief Length/Widt sinuosity Buckling

integration
value
Relief
Ratio
h Ratio
ratio Factor
0.15

1.21

0.01

0.042

2.46

40.26

0.61

Integrating Form Elongation Circularity Reli Wid Leng

Factor
Factor
ratio
ratio ef th th Premiter Square Premiter
3.21

0.41

0.72

0.31

16.0
673 6.52 0

4197.74

64.79

Root
Area/pi Area*pi
5.76

327.38

Area/pi
33.20

Area

Basin

Main
104.26 Basin

The stream frequency (Fs)

Drainage Density (D)

Drainage density (Dd) is a measure the total stream length in a given basin to the total area of the basin (Strahler 1964). The
drainage density is affected by the factors that control characteristic length of the watershed. Drainage density is related to
various features of landscape dissection such as valley density, channel head source area, relief, climate and vegetation (Moglen
et al. 1998), soil and rock properties (Kelson and Wells 1989) and landscape evolution processes. The significances of D as a
factor determining the time of travel by water in a terrain and it also suggests that the D value vary between 0.55 and 2.09
km/km2 in a humid region with an average of 1.03 km/km2. (W.B. Langbein, 1947), The drainage density of the W.dahdah basin
is 1.79 km/km2, which indicates that basin area has a highly resistant permeable subsurface material with intermediate drainage
and low to moderate relief. Higher drainage density is associated with the basin of weak and impermeable subsurface material,
sparse vegetation and high relief. Low drainage density leads to coarse drainage texture while high drainage density leads to fine
drainage texture, high runoff and erosion potential of the basin area. (Strahler 1964).

Interpretation of Sf and DD
These low values of drainage density, stream frequency and drainage intensity also imply that surface runoff is not quickly
removed from the basin, making it susceptible to flooding, gully erosion and landslides, particularly in the lower part of the basin.
It is therefore recommended that human activities that could impact negatively on stream network in the basin should be
discouraged.
Drainage Texture (T)
Drainage texture is the total number of stream segments of all orders per perimeter of that area (R.E. Horton,1945). The drainage texture depends
upon a number of natural factors such as rainfall, vegetation, climate, rock and soil type, infiltration capacity, relief and stage of development (K.G.
Smith,1950). The drainage texture is classified into five class such as very coarse (<2), coarse (2-4), moderate (4-6), fine (6-8), very fine (>8). The basin
has a drainage texture of 2.89 which indicates the moderate drainage texture. Similarly, the moderate drainage texture and medium value of drainage
density indicates the presence of moderately resistant semi-permeable material with moderate relief.

Terrain Surface Texture

Basin relief is the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points in the basin. It controls the stream gradient and
therefore influences flood patterns and the amount of sediment that can be transported. Hadley and Schumm (1961) showed
that sediment load increases exponentially with basin relief. The high relief value indicates high gravity of water flow, low
permeable and high runoff conditions. The highest point of the studied basin is 961 and the lowest point is 288 meters above
sea level (ASL). Thus the basin relief interval for the studied area is 673 meters.

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Legend
Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
. Pour point
!
Watershed

190'0"N

4149'30"E

1858'30"N

Value

1858'30"N

High : 5.2

1857'0"N

Low : 0
.
!
0 0.450.9

Drainage Network Flow

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

4152'30"E
4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
Pour point
Watershed

The Evaluation of Flash Flood Hazard

Frequency

Rb: mBifurcation ratio,

F: Stream frequency,
A: Low flood possibilities,
B: High flood possibilities,
C: Intermediate flood possibilities

10

Flow Direction
Drainage Point

190'0"N

Frequency

1858'30"N

4149'30"E

1858'30"N

Basin

1857'0"N

1
0

mRb

0 0.450.9

Frequency

mRb: Mean Bifurcation ratio,

D: Stream density,
A: Low flood possibilities,
B: High flood possibilities,
C: Intermediate flood possibilities

10

Conclusion

Density

The morphometric parameters is an immense tools used in

evaluating river basin and the watershed preference for soil,
conservation of water and resource management at micro level. The
analysis carried out for the W.dahdah catchment basin depicts that
the basin is tending towards elongated shape. The morphometric
analysis is of great importance in hydrological behavior of basin for
water quality project, engineering works, public policies applications
and flood forecasting, erosion control and environmental
management, it is also essential for accurate modeling analysis.

4151'0"E

Legend

Relief

Estimation of flooding and feeding probabilities for drainage subbasins within the present area were studied according to EI-Shamy's
method (1992a) established two relation graphs to classify the risk
basins assessment based on the relations between weighted mean
bifurcation ratio and both of the drainage density and the drainage
frequency. The location of any basin on the two relations designates
its runoff/infiltration potentiality.
The most affecting factor in risk calculation is the density and
frequency of drainage segments. Increasing both density and
frequency lead to increasing total runoff and total infiltration. So
hazard is directly proportional to density and frequency.
According to these parameters, the sub-basins in the study area can
be classified into three classes. Class A: Basins of high Rb and low F
and D may represent ideal areas for feeding the pervious units with
the least chance for flash flooding; which may reflect appropriate
geologic and geomorphologic setting with good chances of
downward recharge to the existing shallow aquifers that may form
important water resource in remote areas.

4152'30"E

Basin

A
1
0

mRb

1.8

2.7

3.6
Kilometers

Waterflow Network
The main streams flow directions of W.dahdah basin take
North East South West direction which feeding the main
stream channel, and about 30% the rest directed from the
west bank of the main stream as shown.

Part III : The Hydrological Analysis

Stream frequency (Fs) is the total number of stream segments of all orders per unit area (Horton 1932). Reddy et al. (2004)) stated
that low values of stream frequency (Fs) indicate presence of a permeable subsurface material and low relief. The channel
segment numbers for unit areas are difficult to be enumerated (Singh 1980). Fs mainly depend on the lithology of the basin and
the texture of the drainage network. The stream frequency value of the W.dahdah basin is 1.51 km/ km2. The low stream
frequencies value indicates sparse drainage network favoring groundwater recharge. Stream frequency mainly depends on the
lithology of the basin and reflects the texture of the drainage network. The value of stream frequency (Fs) for the basin exhibits
positive correlation with the drainage density value of the area indicating the increase in stream population with respect to
increase in drainage density. Channel frequency density serves as a tool in establishing the erosional processes operating over an
area; to be more specific, the same in relation to the stream orders and their characteristics provides data which can throw light
even on the sequences of relief developments and the degree of ruggedness in the area (Singh 1980).

TM Landsat 8 Natural Color

Interpreting The Landsat TM Color Composites

To create a true color composite, the three visible bands available on Landsat are coupled with the primary colors in the
computer monitor (R = visible red, G = visible green, and B = visible blue). Other names for this composite are normal
or natural color. This composite image will have similar color to true or normal color aerial photos and the way
humans see color. Healthy vegetation is green, dark brownish-blue is Hills of basement rocks, Brown to light brown clay
and sediments, gray line is a railroad, green scattered spots are vegetation, dark gray network is a drainage pattern and
small white scattered areas are Urban. In TM False color 7.6.4 Vegetation types are variations of green ; urban features
and bare field are light grey. Infrared composite image This composite simulates the color of a color infrared aerial
photo and can be interpreted using the same logic. Vegetation types are variations of magenta.

Landsat 8 TM False Color

Urban

4152'30"E

4151'0"E

4151'0"E
193'0"N

Legend
Dam Site
Watershed

4152'30"E
4151'0"E

4154'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

193'0"N

4154'0"E

Part I V : Remote sensing Analysis

Color Infrared (vegetation)

4152'30"E

190'0"N

4149'30"E

Legend
Legend

. Dam Site
!

Watershed

. Dam Site
!

Watershed

190'0"N

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

Urban Areas

190'0"N

4149'30"E

4149'30"E

T M B a n ds
RGB
Red: Layer 4
Green: Layer 3
Blue: Layer 2

1857'0"N

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

TM Bands
RGB
Red: Layer 5
Green: Layer 4
Blue: Layer 3

1857'0"N

.
!

0.75 1.5

TM Bands
RGB
Red: Layer 7
Green: Layer 6
Blue: Layer 4

1857'0"N

3
Kilometers

Land Use / Land Cover

Unsupervised Classification

0.75 1.5

3
Kilometers

4151'0"E

4154'0"E

Legend

4152'30"E
4151'0"E

Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index (NDVI)

4152'30"E

193'0"N

4154'0"E

. Dam Site
!

Watershed

193'0"N

Area km

3
Kilometers

1858'30"N

.
!
0

0.75 1.5

Legend
Value

Mixed barren
land
20%

Residential
16%
Other
agricultural
land
16%

Bare exposed
rock
11%
Sandy areas
other than
beaches
15%

11 Residential
24 Other agricultural land
62 Nonforested wetland
73 Sandy areas other than beaches
74 Bare exposed rock

190'0"N

4149'30"E

77 Mixed barren land

190'0"N

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

4149'30"E

Value

High : 0.700028
Nonforested
wetland
22%

1858'30"N

1857'0"N

1858'30"N

Low : -0.0739723

. Dam Site
!

Watershed
Stream Order 1
Stream Order 2
Stream Order 3
Stream Order 4
Railroad

1857'0"N

LULC mapping
Unsupervised classification provides more comprehensive information on
the spectral characteristics of the area, presents spectrally pure clusters for
the labelling step, and gives the opportunity to the analyst to group similar
clusters into a smaller number of land cover classes, (Hansen et al., 2000).
The Basin has been classified for land use/land cover into six classes as
shown.

.
!

0.75 1.5

3
Kilometers

0.75 1.5

Normalized difference vegetation index NDVI

3
Kilometers

Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was employed as the basis for
Land Use / Land Cover classification. Interpretation: NDVI values vary
depending on the radiation absorption by chlorophyll in the red spectral
reflectance in the near infrared region. These values are between -1 and +1,
expressing consistency of green vegetation. The closer to 1 (light colors) is a
high consistency of specific vegetation and hardwood. Values close to -1 (dark
tones) are barren land, with soil, or rock to date. A value of 0 (midtones) is
associated lands meadows. It is useful in areas with vegetation mapping,
vegetation typology, health of vegetation, land use patterns. It is given by: NDVI
= ( NIR R )/( NIR + R ) = ( B5 B4 ) / ( B5 + B4 ) Research Journal of Agricultural
Science, 45 (4), 2013

Rainfall Data Analysis

Khosh Metrological
Station Location

Annual Rainfall data record

90

4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

80

Annual Rain (mm)

70
60
50
40
30
20

Frequency Analysis of the Maximum Annual Daily Rainfall

Six methods of frequency distribution widely used in metrological analysis
have been used to represent The maximum annual series.
To choose between distributions, the visual fitting comparison, although
necessary, is highly subjective and misleading. To overcome this subjectivity,
several methods are available for the choice between distributions. One can
use the moment ratio diagrams whether the ordinary or the linear moments.
Another methodology is the one proposed by El-Adlouni et al.

10
0

2011

2009

2007

2005

2003

2001

1999

1997

1995

1993

1991

1989

1987

1985

1983

1981

1979

1977

1975

1973

1971

190'0"N

1966

In poorly gauged regions, rainfall data are often short or even absent. The
availability rainfall data are collected from the nearest metrological station
(Khosh Area). Which the annual rain over the area for a period extending
from 1966 to 2011.

4149'30"E

Years

Basic statistics
Number of observations
Minimum
Maximum
Mean
Standard deviation
Median
Coefficient of variation (Cv)
Skewness coefficient (Cs)
Kurtosis coefficient (Ck)

43
6
85
33.3
16.7
30.1
0.501
0.986
4.29

1858'30"N

1858'30"N

Legend
. Dam Site
!

Watershed
1857'0"N

Khosh Metrological
Station

.
!
0

To choose between tested distributions, the Akaike

Information Criterion (AIC) ([1] and [2]) and Bayesian
Information Criterion (BIC) [3] can be used. Both criteria
are based on the deviation between the fitted
distribution and the empirical probability with a
penalization that is function of the number of parameters
of the distribution and the sample size. The distribution
having the smallest BIC and AIC is the one that best fits
the data. The Gumble distribution has shown to be the
strongest fitting distribution as shown in the table.

W.dahdah Basin
Number of observations: 43
Return period : T= 100
Model
Nb param. XT
P(Mi) P(Mi | x) BIC
Gumbel(Maximm Likelihood)
2
88.262 16.67 59.47
365.253
Lognormal (Maximum Likelihood)
2
106.183 16.67 14.94
368.015
Pearson type 3 (Maximum Likelihood)
3
82.715 16.67 11.52
368.536
Log-Pearson type 3
=310)
82.618 16.67 10.10
368.799
Normal (Maximum Likelihood)
2
72.167 16.67 3.93
370.688
Exponential (Maximum Likelihood)
2
134.086 16.67 0.04
379.953
P(Mi) : A priori probability
P(Mi | x) : A posteriori probability (Method of Schwartz) BIC : Bayesian information criterion
AIC : Akaike information criterion

[1] H. Akaike, Information Theory and Extension of the Maximum Likelihood Principle, In: B. N. Petrov and F. Csaki, Eds., 2nd
International Symposium on Information Theory, Akadmiai Kiado, Budapest, 1973, pp. 267-281.
[2] H. Akaike, Markovian Representation of Stochastic Pro- cesses and Its Application to the Analysis of Autore- gressive Moving Average
Processes, Annals of the Insti- tute of Statistical Mathematics, Vol. 26, 1974, pp. 363- 387. doi:10.1007/BF02479833

AIC
361.730
364.493
363.253
363.515
367.165
376.431

0.75 1.5

3
Kilometers

Part V : Meteorological Analysis

Rainfall is a crucial agro climatological factor. It is important to analyze the

rainfall data for estimating the probability of flash flooding and its duration
frequency, in addition for cropping and agriculture. Rainfall intensities of
various frequencies and durations are the basic inputs in hydrologic design,
and they are the main effective factor on flood formation. They are used, for
example, in the design of storm sewers, culverts and many other structures
as well as inputs to rainfall-runoff models. Precipitation frequency analysis is
used to estimate rainfall depth at a point for a specified exceedance
probability and duration.

4152'30"E

Frequency analysis results for the Gumble distribution.

Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) Curves

Storm Durations
Determining precipitation intensities for various storm lengths is an important aspect for
safely designing structures and infrastructure to manage flooding. Often short storm
durations are desired as they can give high intensities (mm/hr). A theoretical ratio of 1.13 to
1.14 is adopted to transform the daily rainfall values and 24-hr values [4]. In the absence of
short duration records or any similar information, sub-daily rainfall duration ratios could be
assumed between rainfall intensities of 24-hr and those of the 12-, 6-, 3-, 2-, 1-hr, 30-, 15-,
and 5-min ratios.

Return period Rainfall (mm) Standard deviation (mm)

Confidence interval (95%) (mm)
200
97.7
9.62
78.9 - 117
100
88.3
8.51
71.6 - 105
50
78.8
7.39
64.3 - 93.3
20
66.1
5.93
54.4 - 77.7
10
56.3
4.84
46.8 - 65.8
5
46
3.76
38.7 - 53.4
3
37.9
2.99
32.1 - 43.8
2
30.6
2.43
25.8 - 35.4
Storm
Duration (min) 5
10
15
20
30
60
120
180
360
720 1440
0.139 0.2 0.239 0.279 0.343 0.435 0.565 0.626 0.75 0.877
1

Intensity-Duration Frequency Curve

160
140
120

(XTxB)
XT = 1.14 (HYFRAN XT)
B = Bell Ratio as per below table

100
80

Intensity (mm/hr)

It is well known that ratios for durations from 2 hours to 5 minutes are fairly constant in
different climates because of the similarity of convective storms patterns [5,6].

(I)= (XT * B) / (T / 60)

Where
I = Rain Fall Intensity (mm/hr)
XT = 1.14 (HYFRAN XT)
B = Bell Ratio as per below table
T = Duration (min).
After constructing the IDF Curve then the estimation of rainfall depth values from the below
equation.

Part V : Meteorological Analysis

The purpose of fitting data to statistical distributions is to be able to estimate the probability
of extreme precipitation intensities for a given return period (T). Firstly, the maximum
amount of precipitation for a given storm duration is calculated (Pt), and is then converted
into an intensity (commonly with units of mm/hour). This intensity value is needed for many
design calculations, most commonly for determining peak flow or peak runoff. The
estimated return values are needed to construct Intensity Duration Frequency curves (IDF
curves), which are widely used in engineering applications. These curves show the
relationship between the intensity of the precipitation and the duration of the storm for a
given return period. The IDF curves are developed for a specific location, with a specific
return period.

60
40
20
0
5

10

15

20

30

60

120

100y 147.28 105.96 84.415 73.907 60.574 43.5

180

360

720

1440

28.25 18.425 11.038 6.4533 3.6792

50y 131.44 94.56 75.333 65.956 54.057 34.278 22.261 16.443 9.85

5.759 3.2833

20y 110.25 79.32 63.192 55.326 45.345 28.754 18.673 13.793 8.2625 4.8308 2.7542
10y 93.908 67.56 53.823 47.123 38.622 24.491 15.905 11.748 7.0375 4.1146 2.3458

D = (I*T)/60
Where
D = Rain Fall Depth (mm)
I = Rain Fall Intensity (mm/hr)
T = Duration (min)

5y

76.728 55.2 43.976 38.502 31.556 20.01 12.995 9.5987 5.75 3.3618 1.9167

3y

63.217 45.48 36.232 31.722 25.999 16.487 10.707 7.9085 4.7375 2.7699 1.5792

2y

51.041 36.72 29.254 25.612 20.992 13.311 8.6445 6.3852 3.825 2.2364 1.275
Duration (min)
100y

50y

20y

10y

5y

3y

2y

Return
Period
(Year)

Distribution
100
50
20
10
5
3
2

12.2737
10.9532
9.1879
7.8257
6.394
5.2681
4.2534

17.66
15.76
13.22
11.26
9.2
7.58
6.12

21.1037
18.8332
15.7979
13.4557
10.994
9.0581
7.3134

24.6357
21.9852
18.4419
15.7077
12.834
10.5741
8.5374

[3] G. Schwarz, Estimating the Dimension of a Model, The Annals of Statistics, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1978, pp. 461-464. doi:10.1214/aos/1176344136

30.2869
27.0284
22.6723
19.3109
15.778
12.9997
10.4958

43.5
34.278
28.7535
24.4905
20.01
16.4865
13.311

56.5 55.2758
44.522 49.3288
37.3465 41.3786
31.8095 35.2438
25.99 28.796
21.4135 23.7254
17.289 19.1556

66.225 77.4391
59.1 69.1076
49.575 57.9697
42.225 49.3751
34.5 40.342
28.425 33.2383
22.95 26.8362

[5] F. C. Bell, Generalized Rainfall-Duration-Frequency Re- lationship, Journal of Hydraulic

Division, Vol. 95, No. 1, 1969, pp. 311-327.

[4] D. M. Hershfield, Rainfall Frequency Atlas of the United States for Durations from 30 Minutes to 24 Hours and Return Periods from 1 to
Soil Conservation Service, Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds, Technical Release 55,
100 Years, Weather Bureau Technical Paper, No. 40, 1961, p. 115.
[6] United States Depart- ment of Agriculture, Washington DC, 1986.

88.3
78.8
66.1
56.3
46
37.9
30.6

Hydrological Analysis and Mathematical Modeling Using WMS

There are two primary classes of hydrologic simulation models: statistical and deterministic.
Statistical models use an analysis of historical records such as stream flow or precipitation to
infer design values for different return periods (e.g. 10 year or 100 year). A deterministic
model on the other hand uses a series of input parameters such as rainfall depth, watershed
infiltration parameters and unit hydrographs to determine runoff from physical processes.
The SCS methodologies will be used here to illustrate the kinds of hydrologic parameters
typically required of deterministic models. Some of these parameters include rainfall depth
(and an included temporal distribution), losses from a runoff coefficient or CN value, and a
time of concentration or lag time used in conjunction with a unit hydrograph.

Soil
DEM

Database Processing for SCS Curve Number.

]1[The curve number method was developed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, which was
formerly called the Soil Conservation Service or SCS the number is still popularly known as a "SCS runoff curve
number" in the literature. The runoff curve number was developed from an empirical analysis of runoff from small
catchments and hillslope plots monitored by the USDA. It is widely used and is an efficient method for determining the
approximate amount of direct runoff from a rainfall event in a particular area.
The runoff curve number is based on the area's hydrologic soil group, land use, treatment and hydrologic condition.
References, such as from USDA [1] indicate the runoff curve numbers for characteristic land cover descriptions and a
hydrologic soil group. CN has a range from 30 to 100; lower numbers indicate low runoff potential while larger
numbers are for increasing runoff potential. The lower the curve number, the more permeable the soil is. As can be
seen in the curve number equation, runoff cannot begin until the initial abstraction has been met. It is important to
note that the curve number methodology is an event-based calculation, and should not be used for a single annual
rainfall value, as this will incorrectly miss the effects of antecedent moisture and the necessity of an initial abstraction
threshold.
Using Arc-map for mapping the land use of the basin generated from the unsupervised classification method of
Landsat 8 image according to a GIS table of Anderson land use codes was used along with the hydrologic soil group
for the map unit, then importing and mapped in WMS for automatically computing the CN for the Basin.

Computation Travel Time, Lag time and Time of Concentration.

Runoff Curve Number Report for Basin W.dahdah

HSG Land Use Description

CN Area
km^2

D
D
D
D
D
D
B
B
B
B
B
B

86
86
94
98
78
88
72
58
74
77
98
86

Other Agricultural Land

Residential
Mixed Barren Land
Bare Exposed Rock
Nonforested Wetland
Sandy Areas other than Beaches
Residential
Nonforested Wetland
Other Agricultural Land
Sandy Areas other than Beaches
Bare Exposed Rock
Mixed Barren Land

Product
CN x A

7.679
4.448
2.473
10.447
3.378
0.849
12.588
19.584
8.786
15.006
0.664
18.993

660.354
382.561
232.497
1023.829
263.470
74.718
906.362
1135.869
650.165
1155.490
65.120
1633.423

CN (Weighted) = Total Product \ Total Area

Travel time (Tt) is the time it takes water to travel from one location to another. Travel time between two points is
==========================================
determined using the following relationship: [2] Tt= l/3600V
78.0181
where: Tt = travel time, h
l= distance between the two points under consideration, ft
V = average velocity of flow between the two points, ft/s
3,600 = conversion factor, s to h
The Travel Time automatically computed in WMS for the basin equals 3.530 hrs.
Rain clouds
Lag time and Time of Concentration. Lag time and time of concentration are variables often used when computing
Cloud formation
surface runoff using unit hydrograph methods available in the hydrologic models supported in WMS. These variables
Precipitation
indicate the response time at the outlet of a watershed for a rainfall event, and are primarily a function of the geometry
Evaporation
of the watershed. WMS provides two powerful methods of computing travel times for lag time and time of
concentration from the geometric data being used for basin delineation and parameter estimation.
Lag Time Computation
Lag is the delay between the time runoff from a rainfall event over a watershed begins until runoff reaches its
maximum peak.
BASIN W.dahdah AREA 104.897 km^2
Equations: SCS Method
Lag Time L^0.8 * ((((1000/CN)-10) + 1)^0.7)/(1900*sqrt(Y)) = 5.896 hrs
Variables:
L Watershed length 78153.3 ft
Conceptual
watershed
illustrating
travel time from the centroid (gray dot)
CN SCS curve number 78.0181
of each band of area to the watershed
outlet (National Engineering Handbook
Y Watershed slope in percent 9.76906 %
2010)
Time of Concentration (Tc)
Equations: Kirpich Method for overland flow on bare earth
Time of concentration is the time required for runoff to travel from the hydraulically most distant point in the
Time of Concentration m * 0.00013 * (L^0.77/S^0.385) = 3.47613 hrs
watershed to the outlet. The hydraulically most distant point is the point with the longest travel time to the
Variables:
watershed outlet, and not necessarily the point with the longest flow distance to the outlet. Time of
m Earth type coefficient 1
concentration is generally applied only to surface runoff and may be computed using many different methods.
L Length of overland flow 78153.3 ft
S average overland slope 0.0193552
Time of concentration will vary depending upon slope and character of the watershed and the flow path. [2]

Part V I : Hydrological Modeling

A computer program called the Watershed Modeling System (WMS) is available to

hydraulic engineers to automatically delineate drainage basins and determine nearly all of
the key parameters necessary to computer a peak flow or hydrograph. By Using the Digital
Elevation Model (DEM) In addition, land use and soil type maps makes it possible to
develop the supporting data for virtually all industry standard hydrologic models.
These data can be directly transferred to WMS where the hydrologic computations are
performed and the results analyzed.

Land use

Infiltration

Soil

Percolation

Rock

Deep percolation

[1] United States Department of Agriculture (1986). Urban hydrology for small watersheds (PDF). Technical Release 55 (TR-55) (Second ed.). Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Engineering Division.

[2] National Engineering Handbook 2010 Chapter 15 Part 630.

Ocean

Ground water

10

HEC-1 Hydrologic Simulation Model

WMS result
Parameters &
HEC-1 Hydrographs

Unite Time (min) Distribution (100y) Distribution (50y) Distribution (20y) Distribution (10y) Distribution (5y) Distribution (3y) Distribution (2y)
5
12.2737
10.9532
9.18
7.82
6.39
5.26
4.25
10
17.66
15.76
13.22
11.26
9.2
7.58
6.12
15
21.1037
18.83
15.79
13.45
11
9.05
7.31
20
24.6357
21.98
18.44
15.7
12.83
10.57
8.54
30
30.2869
27.02
22.67
19.31
15.77
12.99
10.49
60
43.5
34.27
28.75
24.49
20.01
16.48
13.31
120
56.5
44.52
37.34
31.8
25.99
21.41
17.28
180
55.2758
49.32
41.37
35.24
28.79
23.72
19.15
360
66.225
59.16
49.57
42.22
34.5
28.42
22.95
720
77.4391
69.1
57.96
49.37
40.34
33.23
26.83
1440
88.3
78.8
66.1
56.3
46
37.9
30.6
A range of curve numbers were run in HEC1 using a 7 Return distribution
design storm of 24 hour duration. The following hydrographs resulted. The
higher curve numbers result in a larger amount of runoff and therefore a
higher peak flow and flow volume.
The Analysis of Hydrograph curves, indicated that the food volume through 2100 year Return Duration range from 3968844.3 m3 to 310951.9 m3 while
the peak flow of flood ranges from 234.31 Cms to 18.43 Cms.

Part V I : Hydrological Modeling

[3] Hydrological simulation includes study of the return period estimation of rainfall of given precipitation, i.e. the 100 year storm or the
100 year flood, 50 year, 30 ..3years etc. 100 year flood, 50 year storm, or 200 year flood, as a description of the magnitude of a storm or
flood. We understand that the larger the number before 'year flood', the greater will be the effect on river levels and on anything out on
the river's flood plain. Return Period (T) - The average length of time in years for an event (e.g. flood or river level) of given magnitude to
be equaled or exceeded. The design storm was often developed from frequency-duration-intensity curves based on rainfall records. Early
discussed in Part V and estimated for the basin.
The HEC series of software is produced by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydrologic Engineering Center. Keeping the Curve Number
and the time of concentration constant, 7 different design storms were run in the model.

Hydrograph interpretation
[4] This type of hydrograph is known as a storm or flood hydrograph and it is
generally drawn with two vertical axes. One is used to plot a line graph
showing the discharge of a river in cumecs (cubic meters per second) at a
given point over a period of time. The second is used to plot a bar graph of
the rainfall event which precedes the changes in discharge.
The scale on the horizontal axis is usually in hours/days and this allows both
the rain event to be recorded and the subsequent changes in river discharge
to be plotted. The shape of the hydrograph varies according to a number of
controlling factors in the drainage basin but it will generally include the
following features.
The base flow of the river represents the normal day to day discharge of the river
and is the consequence of groundwater seeping into the river channel. The rising
limb of the hydrograph represents the rapid increase in resulting from rainfall
causing surface runoff and then later through flow. Peak discharge occurs when the
river reaches its highest level. The time difference between the peak of the rain
event and the peak discharge is known as the lag time or basin lag. The falling limb
(or recession limb as it is sometimes known) is when discharge decreases and the
river s level falls. It has a gentler gradient than the rising limb as most overland flow
has now been discharged and it is mainly through flow which is making up the river
water. A number of factors (known as drainage basin controls) influence the way in
which a river responds to precipitation and have an effect on the shape of the
hydrograph. The size, shape and relief of the basin are important controls. Water
takes longer to reach the trunk stream in a large, round basin than in does in a
small, narrow one. Where gradients are steep, water runs off faster, reaches the
river more quickly and causes a steep rising limb. Prolonged heavy rain causes
more overland flow than light drizzly rain. Areas of permeable rocks and soil allow
more infiltration and so less surface run off. The way in which the land is used will
also have an influence on the hydrograph vegetation intercepts precipitation and
allows evaporation to take place directly into the atmosphere so reducing the
amount of water available for overland flow while the large number of
impermeable surfaces in urban areas encourages run off into gutters and drains
carrying water quickly to the nearest river.
[3] written by: Harlan Bengtson edited by: Lamar Stonecypher updated: 10/18/2013
[4] http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/rivers/hydrographs/

11

HEC-HMS Hydrologic Simulation Model

Computed Results
at W.dahdah Basin
Peak Discharge:
229.6 (M3/S)
Precipitation Volume: 88.30 (MM)
Direct Runoff Volume:
Loss Volume:
50.67 (MM)
Baseflow Volume:
Excess Volume:
37.63 (MM)
Discharge Volume:

Subbasin Used for rainfallrunoff computation on a

watershed.

36.96 (MM)
0.00 (MM)
36.96 (MM)

HEC-HMS Simulation Model of W.dahdah Basin

flow 100yDR (M3/S)

flow 50yDR (M3/S)

flow 20yDR (M3/S)

flow 10yDR (M3/S)

flow 5yDR (M3/S)

flow 2yDR (M3/S)

Junction Used to combine

flows from upstream reaches
and sub-basins.

250

Flow (cms)

200

150

100

Part V I : Hydrological Modeling

The Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) is designed to simulate the complete hydrologic processes of dendritic watershed systems.
The software includes many traditional hydrologic analysis procedures such as event infiltration, unit hydrographs, and hydrologic
routing. Geometric attributes such as areas, lengths, and slopes are computed automatically from the digital watershed. Parameters such
as loss rates, base flow, unit hydrograph method, and routing data are entered through a series of interactive dialog boxes. Once the
parameters needed to define an HMS model have been entered, an input file with the proper format for HMS can be written
automatically.
The results and hydrographs obtained by using Hyetograph precipitation method.

50

00:00
00:20
00:40
01:00
01:20
01:40
02:00
02:20
02:40
03:00
03:20
03:40
04:00
04:20
04:40
05:00
05:20
05:40
06:00
06:20
06:40
07:00
07:20
07:40
08:00
08:20
08:40
09:00
09:20
09:40
10:00
10:20
10:40
11:00
11:20
11:40
12:00

Time
Duration Return

Peak Discharge (M3/S)

Volume (mm)

Duration Return

Peak Discharge (M3/S)

Volume (mm)

100yDR
50yDR
20yDR

229.6
186.6
132.8

36.96
30.03
21.36

10yDR
5yDR
2yDR

94.9
59.5
18.5

15.3
9.55
2.97

Watershed Modeling By Rational Method

2- Rational Method Traditional Basin Hydrograph

The Rational Method is one of the simplest and best known methods routinely applied in urban hydrology. Peak flows
are computed from the simple equation:
Runoff coefficient for different soil types-Richard 1988
Q = kCiA
Value of C
Type of catchment soil
where:
Rocky and impermeable soil
1-0.8
Q - Peak flow
Slightly permeable , bare soil
0.8-0.6
k - Conversion factor
Cultivated soil covered with vegetation
0.6-0.4
C - Runoff coefficient
Cultivated absorbent soil
0.4-0.3
i - Rainfall intensity
Sandy soil
0.3-0.2
A - Area
Heavy forest
0.2-0.1

1- Rainfall Intensity (i) and Basin Peak Flows

As part of the WMS interface to the Rational Method, you can compute IDF curves using either HYDRO-35, NOAA, or user
defined data. By Using the estimated IDF curve early in Part V resulted from the rainfall frequency analysis.
Time min./y
100y
5
147.2844
10
105.96
15
84.4148
30
60.5738
60
43.5
18.66

50y
131.4384
94.56
75.3328
54.0568
34.278
12.084

20y
110.2548
79.32
63.1916
45.3446
28.7535
10.155

10y
93.9084
67.56
53.8228
38.6218
24.4905
8.639

5y
76.728
55.2
43.976
31.556
20.01
7.011

2y
51.0408
36.72
29.2536
20.9916
13.311
4.695

Intensity

As the data entry for each basin is completed, a peak flow (Q) is computed and listed in the
Flowrate (Q) row. The Rational Method equation does not produce a hydrograph. However,
one of several unit-dimensionless hydrographs can be used to distribute the peak flow through
time to create a runoff hydrograph. The resulted Flowrate (Q) = 8286.348 cfs. = 234.64 cms.
Flow Velocity (V) = Q/A = 2.23 m/s.

12

Application Of Mathematical Model hydrology:

Specialized the application of the model to follow the movement of flood waters from the different drainage
basins, Where the study take the link between the results of geological, morphological and metrological
analyzes to gain access to high-accuracy calculations in flood water volumes , flow rates and the time of runoff
into force and the time of arrival the floods to the maximum value at return period. These studies useful for
propose the necessary actions for the protection of industrial design hydraulically, structurally and determine
the extent of efficiency to face the flood water. Accordingly upon has been selected a advanced hydrological
programs which model (WMS). Where this model helps to checking account hydrograph curve in multiple
ways according to drainage basins easy and complex, with natural or artificial methods through the
application of HEC-HMS program and HEC-I .

Flood depth at the

outlet of Wadi
dahdah

Floodplain delineation and hydraulic model

Geomorphologists define the floodplain as a flat valley floor
adjacent a stream or river made by alluvial unconsolidated
sediments transported and deposited by the river and usually
experiences flooding when the river floods (Demek, 1988).
Hydrologists and engineers define the floodplain as the
surface next to the channel that is inundated once during a
given return period regardless of whether this surface is
alluvial or not (Ward, 1978).

4152'30"E
4151'0"E

4154'0"E

193'0"N

Part V II: Hydraulic Modeling

Using the RAS Mapping tool to generate both a raster (grid of pixels or "cells")
and polygon of the flooding extents, by intersecting the water-surface
elevations at each cross-section with the digital terrain surface. Post-processing
in the form of creating Flood Extent, Flood Depth, and Flood Impact maps
improves defining the hydraulic model and the determination of the bridge site.
190'0"N

Geographical representations of floodplain depths, velocities, and extents

provide great insight into the model response, and ideally the behavior of the
natural system under analysis.

Floodplain depth grid

1858'30"N

The output Flood depth grid of 100y probability flooding period at the outlet of Wadi Dahdah
Basin represents the water surface elevation level grid (WSEL) Minus the grid representing the
ground elevation and the floodplain extent. The Flood Coverage divide the flooded area into
zones, each with a depth range.
Ranges from 0 - 1.15 represent the Flood Stage.
Ranges from 1.15 2.3 represent the minor flooding.
Ranges from 2.3 3.46 represent moderate flooding.
Ranges from 3.46 4.61 represent major flooding.

HEC-RAS Hydraulic Model and Bridge Design

. Outlet
!

Watershed
1857'0"N

.
!
0

RS = 99

River = W.dahdah Reach = Main

BR

308

Legend

306

EG 100y

0.0 m/s

302

0.2 m/s
0.4 m/s

300

0.6 m/s

298

0.8 m/s
1.0 m/s

296

Legend

306

EG 100y

0.0 m/s

302

0.2 m/s
0.4 m/s

300

0.6 m/s

298

0.8 m/s
1.0 m/s
Ground
Ineff

294

Ineff

294

Crit 100y

296

Ground

Bank Sta

Bank Sta

292
100

150

200

250

50

100

WS 100y
C rit 100y

300

Ground

298
296
294
292

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Depth * Velocity Range (m2/sec)

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
40

60

80

Legend

1.8

Vel Chnl 100y

1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0.8
0.6

50

100
Main Channel Distance (m)

The flood severity grid represents the combined effect of depth and velocity, most often
communicated in categories of Low, Medium, High, Very High and Extreme Hazard. Studies have
been performed in multiple countries to categorize the depth x velocity result into various flood
hazard or flood severity classifications. Based on studies in Australia and published in the 2006
Designing Safer Subdivisions - Guidance on Subdivision Design in Flood Prone Areas
(http://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/content/documents/pdf/
resources/Subdivision_Guidelines.pdf)
manual, which was derived from earlier work from the New South Wales Floodplain Development
Manual (2005).
Wadi Dahdah flood severity

20

2.0

Main Channel D istance (m )

Vel Left (m/s), Vel Chnl (m/s), Vel Right (m/s)

W.dahdah Main

EG 100y

302

100
Distance

120

140

160

200

250

Station (m)

Legend

304

150

180

200

150

200

Hydr Depth L (m), Hydr Depth C (m), Hydr Depth R (m)

50

306

Elevation (m)

308

Station (m)

Depth * Velocity Range (m2/sec)

< 0.2
0.2 0.5
0.5 1.5
1.5 2.5
> 2.5

BR

304

Crit 100y

3
Kilometers

WS 100y

Elevation (m)

Elevation (m)

304

W.dahdah Main

RS = 99

WS 100y

292

0.75 1.5

.03

.03

The profile displays the water surface level ovar W .dahdah from the outlet

290

Khosh Metrological
Station

Down Stream Bridge

River = W.dahdah Reach = Main

Cross Sections, Profiles and Rating Curves

After the model has finished the steady flow
computations. The output is available in a
graphical and tabular format. Graphical
displays are often the most effective method
of presenting input data and computed
results. Graphics allow the user to easily spot
errors in the input data, as well as providing
an overview of the results in a way that
tables of numbers cannot. The profile plot
shows that the water surface of 100y flood
distribution return at 297.1m elevation.

1858'30"N

Legend

Up Stream Bridge

34 Cross-sections were plotted along 172m on the main

stream of Wadi dahdah starting at the outlet with average
distance 5 m between them. According to the topographic
area and the cross-sections the bridge site was determined
at the station 99 with length 150m to cross the wadi. The
HEC-RAS model included inputting a bridge deck of 15m
width, and the contraction/expansion coefficients for the
bounding cross-sections set to 0.1/0.3, respectively. 6 piers
with 2.5 m width were designed. The 100y Flood duration
returned of 234.8 cms flow rate used to estimate the steady
flow rate and hydraulic design analysis.

Flood Severity Category

Low
Medium
High
Very High
Extreme

4149'30"E

W.dahdah Main
3.5

Legend
Hydr Depth C 100y

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

50

100

150

200

Main Channel Distance (m)

Combined Scour Depths =

Pier Scour (2.12) + Contraction Scour (m) (0.25): = 2.37 m.
Critical Velocity (m/s): 0.74
Equation: Live
The Peak flow rate of 100y Duration Return (Q): 235 cms.
The peak water level : 297.1m
The Peak flow velocity inside the bridge: 0.9 m/s
The Bridge top width : 104 m

13