Vision:

The routine provision of real-time flood forecast maps for areas where static inundation mapping is not technically sufficient. The provision of real-time inundation maps will enhance community resiliency by enabling decision makers to make more informed decisions which best mitigate the impact of floods.

R-TIME TeamNovember 1, 2006 to July 31, 2007

Mission R-TIME team

Evaluate demonstration projects in which real-time inundation

maps are currently being generated by the NWS and other

government agencies. NWS demonstration projects are

currently being conducted in the Red River, St. Johns River,

Tar River, and Susquehanna River Basins.

Assess the capabilities, limitations, and resources required for

each of these projects/alternatives. Based on the response to

the Request for Information and the evaluation of current

mapping activities, recommend the approach (if any) most

suitable for inclusion in real-time operations. Define what

information should be provided and how it will be depicted,

the frequency with which the maps should be generated, and the

format(s) in which these should be made available.

Pilot Studies

Susquehanna, PA

Red, MN

Tar, NC

St. Johns, FL

Real-Time Inundation Mapping Evaluation (R-TIME) Team

Team Members:John HalquistJoe OstrowskiJonathan AtwellThea MinskCecile AshwandenTom DonaldsonReggina Cabrera

Doug Marcy

Deliverables

The R-TIME team will produce a final report which includes the information required to implement the recommended

solution.

Flood Map Generation

1.1. Process DEM dataProcess DEM data

2.2. Add channel bottom and man-made structuresAdd channel bottom and man-made structures

3.3. Generate ground gridGenerate ground grid

4.4. Generate channel widths at water surface along the riverGenerate channel widths at water surface along the river

5.5. Generate water surface gridGenerate water surface grid

6.6. Generate depth grid (water surface grid – ground grid)Generate depth grid (water surface grid – ground grid)

7.7. Generate the flood mapGenerate the flood map

Is this valid in general?

MARFC

• Susquehanna River

MARFC Flood Mapping• Susquehanna Basin

– Lewistown• Deterministic And

Short-term Probabilistic

– Lower West Branch• 7 Locations• Deterministic

– Harrisburg• Deterministic

• Dynamic mapping– FLDWAV modeling– Produced once daily

Presentation

• Internet Map Services– Autodesk Mapguide

• Requires plugin• Limited to IE

– ESRI ArcIMS• Utilizes java

• ER FTP Site– Shapefiles

Prototype Map Service AutoDesk MapGuide (requires plugin)

Public Display ApplicationFLDIMS Capabilities

Probabilistic flood forecast mapsProbabilistic flood forecast maps

Deterministic peak flood forecast Deterministic peak flood forecast mapmap

Display other layersDisplay other layers

Historical flood mapsHistorical flood maps

Flood animationFlood animation

Identify information in flooded Identify information in flooded areaarea

Prototype Map Service ESRI ArcIMS (uses java)

Process

• FLDWAV– AWIPS REPs– 2-3 minutes for all deterministic and probabilistic

runs to complete

• FLDVIEW – AWIPS HP workstation– Fully automated– 7+ minutes deterministic (one layer)– 35+ minutes, 5 layer probabilistic (5 layers)– Comparison - P3, 1 GHz, 512 MB; ~1’ 10” per layer

Process (cont’d)

• Automated process– Within Linux scripts

• OFS, PQPF, ESPADP, FLDVIEW, FTP

– MARFC-developed queuing system – MARFC-developed auto-X-Display– Expect-based FTP transfer of modified

shapefiles

NCRFC

• Red River mapping…

• Demonstration Project with NWS / IWI / Houston Engineering – Initial area encompasses Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN

• FLDWAV run operationally• FLDVIEW files processed and transferred to

Windows XP system• ArcView process converts FLDVIEW files to

shapefiles [Visual Basic programs]• Shapefiles packaged and transferred to Web

server – display with custom MapServer interface [RRBDIN hosted]

SERFC

• Tar River started on 2002

• St. Johns River started on 2005

Tar River Flood Inundation Forecasting at

SERFC

Partners:

State of North Carolina

NOAA Coastal Services Center

USGS

WFO Raleigh

WFO Newport

Area ModeledSERFC produces flood inundation forecasts along approximately 73 river miles of the Tar River from downstream of the Tar Reservoir (upstream of Rocky Mount, NC) to just below N. Green Street in Greenville, NC. The boxed area, on the map below, represents the approximate geographic area (880 Square Miles) modeled.

The ProcessStep 1: FLDWAV (on AWIPS – LINUX platform) produces river profiles at 6 hour time steps.

Step 2: Each river profile is input into FLDVIEW, an ArcView 3.3 based program, that converts the profile into an ESRI shapefile. This is a computational intensive procedure, where a water surface is generated from the intersection of a ground DEM / TIN and the river profile. ESRI’s Spatial Analyst and 3-D Analyst are required. This step is performed on a Windows PC.

Step 3: The maps are generated by using ArcGIS 8.3. Appropriate symbology is applied to the shapefiles, jpgs are created and sent to the web. A total of 52 maps are created. 48 of them consist of 4 areal views at 6 hour time steps from 6 hours to 72 hours out. The last four are generated from the “peak” flow shapefile.

OutputTime stamped sets of forecasts are produced at three

locations: Greenville, Rocky Mount, and Tarboro. See below for a sample of maps produced for Greenville (9/17/2003 10/6/2003)

Final NoteAlthough Although not not produced produced operationalloperationally, the y, the inundation inundation shapefiles shapefiles can be used can be used to produce to produce maps with maps with greater greater zooms and zooms and more more detailed detailed symbology.symbology.

CautionCaution must be must be exercised exercised when when interpreting interpreting / using these / using these maps.maps.

Inundation ExampleGreenville, NC

September 1 -4, 2006 (Ernesto)

St. Johns River Flood Inundation Forecasting at

SERFC

Partners:

NOS CSP

NWS OHD/SERFC

Status• Under the Coastal Storm Program (CSP), the National Weather

Service (NWS) is collaborating with NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) to couple inland flood and coastal estuary modeling.

• The CSP will improve the accuracy of marine wind speed, wave height,and estuary water level forecasts which are necessary to improve the prediction of inland flooding in coastal areas.

• In support of the newly developed CSP demonstration which began in 2005, seven forecast-supporting hydrologic locations along the St. Johns River in northeast Florida have been added.

• Currently, the NWS is generating water level forecasts for the St. Johns River. NOS estuary model generates salinity forecasts and the maps will be incorporated as part of this experimental project.

• Lessons learned in this demonstration will be applied in other similar areas along the East and Gulf coasts.

St. Johns River Florida

St. Johns River

FLWAV is run operationally on a daily basis.

Output from FLDWAV is transferred to a PC and a script which run FLDVIEW.

Shape files are sent to OHD web site and FLDIMS is used. FLDIMS is a MapGuide application which displays the flooding extent over the Internet in addition to other layers including roads, aerial photo images and historical floods.

Hydraulic model is executed operationally at SERFC on a daily basis.

Water-levels are mapped for the main stemSt. Johns at Jacksonville and Sanford.

Salinity grids are being generated with NOS-EFDC and they are in the process of being Incorporated in the web display.

Uses FLDIMS as a server

St. Johns River Project

RFI Goal• 1) Express a business interest in creating, storing and/or distributing

flood forecast shapefiles/images and/or in using flood forecast shapefiles/images.

• 2) Provide (technical) information and sources regarding creation, storage and/or distribution of flood forecast shapefiles/images and/or on potential uses of flood forecast shapefiles/images.

• 3) Provide information on options for:• a) the nature of the information delivered by the Government, whether it

should be in interim or final display formats including whether the information should be pre-generated or generated on the fly.

• b) whether or not the Government should provide information to a third party who would then distribute to the public.

• c) the scale and costs of infrastructure for these services

• 4) Interest in collaborations with the National Weather Service to publish flood forecast shapefiles/images and/or to use flood forecast shapefiles/images.

VENDORS

• Who believe that they can meet one or some of the requirements are required to submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating they can meet the Government's requirements. All written responses must include a written narrative statement of capability, including detailed (technical) information and other (technical) literature demonstrating the ability to meet the above requirements. The response must be sufficient to permit agency analysis to establish a bona fide capability to meet the requirements. Affirmative written responses must be received by Novemer 30, 2006. This is not a request for proposal but rather a vehicle for obtaining information. The Government will not incur any cost as a result of this announcement.

Proposed work PlanDRAFT DRAFT

• 1. Send RFI request it for Dec 30, 2006• 2. Summary of Current Mapping

Activities TABLE• 3. Describe Flood Forecast Mapping

Capability (FLDVIEW) and customization

• 4. Describe Flood Internet Mapping Service

Next slides

• They come from Janice’s notes

Northumberland, PA

NWS Flood Forecast Mapping Application FLDVIEW

• Features– Stable - Runs under any condition– Fast - Runs in a reasonable amount of time

(minutes vs. hours)– Accurate - Gives reasonable results– Robust - Runs with limited data– Easy to use - As many steps as possible are

automated– Independent – Map application not

dependent on any particular hydraulic model• Current Products

– Shape file– Image file (jpg)– Water surface profile

• Applications of FLDVIEW– Susquehanna River System (Lewistown*,

West Branch, Harrisburg)– Missouri River (St. Charles*) – St. Johns River (FL)– Ohio River (Pittsburgh)

* Indicates map verified with observed data

Harrisburg, PASt. Johns River, FLPittsburgh, PASt. Charles, MOLewistown, PA

1972 flood

1996 flood

1984 flood

1999 flood

Visualization tool to display the extent of flooding in a given area (developed using ESRI’s Arcview 3.x)

Current Flood Forecast Mapping Activities

• Hydraulic Modeling – Susquehanna River System from Conklin, NY to Safe Harbor Dam,

PA has been calibrated using the NWS FLDWAV model and is being implemented operationally.

• Flood Forecast Mapping – GIS data has been acquired for the following areas within the

Susquehanna River System: Allenwood, Harrisburg, Lewisburg, Lewistown, Milton, Muncy, Northumberland, Sunbury, and Watsontown. Flood forecast maps are being generated for all areas.

• Flood Internet Mapping – FLDIMS has been running operationally for over a year displaying the

latest deterministic and probabilistic flood forecast maps for the Lewistown area only; the remaining above mentioned towns will be added to the server later this year; an ArcIMS version of FLDIMS is also being developed.

Note: All high resolution GIS data and verification data (high water marks) were obtained from SEDA-COG.