Abstract
Satellite remote sensing has been used effectively to estimate flood inundation extents in large river basins. In the case of flash floods in mountainous catchments, however, it is difficult to use remote sensing information. To compensate for this situation, detailed rainfall–runoff and flood inundation models have been utilized. Regardless of the recent technological advances in simulations, there has been a significant lack of data for validating such models, particularly with respect to local flood inundation depths. To estimate flood inundation depths, this study proposes using a backpack-mounted mobile mapping system (MMS) for post-flood surveys. Our case study in Northern Kyushu Island, which was affected by devastating flash floods in July 2017, suggests that the MMS can be used to estimate the inundation depth with an accuracy of 0.14 m. Furthermore, the landform change due to deposition of sediments could be estimated by the MMS survey. By taking into consideration the change of topography, the rainfall–runoff–inundation (RRI) model could reasonably reproduce the flood inundation compared with the MMS measurements. Overall, this study demonstrates the effective application of the MMS and RRI model for flash flood analysis in mountainous river catchments.
Highlights
The spatial distribution of inundation depth represents the basic information required to understand the damage of flood disasters
The present study examines the application of a mobile mapping system (MMS) in high-water mark surveys
We examined the utility and feasibility of using the backpack type MMS (Pegasus: Backpack, PB of Leica Geosystems)
Summary
The spatial distribution of inundation depth represents the basic information required to understand the damage of flood disasters. In the case of abrupt, small-scale flooding, such as flash floods in mountainous catchments, it has proven difficult to use satellite remote sensing techniques [5]. To compensate for this situation, detailed rainfall–runoff and flood inundation modeling has been performed to estimate the dynamics of flooding [5,6,7]. Despite considerable advances in modeling, mainly due to the accurate and fine resolution of rainfall and topographic information in recent years, not much technological innovation has occurred in the investigation of high-water marks during post-flood field surveys. To carry out field measurements of high-water marks with a tape measure is laborious and time-consuming
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
