Abstract
This study deals with the use of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GISs), hydrologic modeling (water modeling system, WMS), and hydraulic modeling (Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System, HEC-RAS) to evaluate the impact of flash flood hazards on the sustainable urban development of Tabuk City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Determining the impact of flood hazards on the urban area and developing alternatives for protection and prevention measures were the main aims of this work. Tabuk City is exposed to frequent flash flooding due to its location along the outlets of five major wadis. These wadis frequently carry flash floods, seriously impacting the urban areas of the city. WMS and HEC-HMS models and RS data were used to determine the paths and morphological characteristics of the wadis, the hydrographic flow of different drainage basins, flow rates and volumes, and the expansion of agricultural and urban areas from 1998 to 2018. Finally, hydraulic modeling of the HEC-RAS program was applied to delineate the urban areas that could be inundated with floodwater. Ultimately, the most suitable remedial measures are proposed to protect the future sustainable urban development of Tabuk City from flood hazards. This approach is rarely used in the KSA. We propose a novel method that could help decision-makers and planners in determining inundated flood zones before planning future urban and agricultural development in the KSA.
Highlights
Flash floods are among the most frequent events that cause substantial problems all over the world [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effective impact of flash floods on urban areas of Tabuk City, using an innovative approach for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) based on remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GISs), the water modeling system (WMS), the Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), and the Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS)
Three main steps were followed: (1) the WMS model was used to extract the drainage networks and basin characteristics, followed by the HEC-HMS, which has a high capability of calculating hydrograph curves in multiple ways, according to ease of basin drainage, by either natural or artificial methods; (2) a hydraulic model (HEC-RAS) was used, which has a high capacity for determining the runoff limits, depths, and velocities of flooding; and (3) spatial modeling (GIS and RS) was used, with a high capacity for linking, identifying, and spatially analyzing areas at risk for flooding in the city, leading to sustainable urban development
Summary
Flash floods are among the most frequent events that cause substantial problems all over the world [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Tabuk is one of the Saudi cities that have pursued urban expansion that encroaches on the wadis, which means these portions of the city are located in areas vulnerable to flash floods. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effective impact of flash floods on urban areas of Tabuk City, using an innovative approach for the KSA based on RS, GIS, the water modeling system (WMS), the Hydrologic Engineering Center Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS), and the Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS). Eastern district at a depth of more than 50 cm (note undercutting of the highway due to floodwaters in (f))
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