Floods Simulation on the Vedea River (Romania) Using Hydraulic Modeling and GIS Software: A Case Study

Abstract

Extreme hydro-meteorological phenomena have become more frequent in recent years compared to the year 2000 in Europe, including Romania. Flooding occurs from heavy rainfalls favored by natural and anthropogenic factors such as the valley’s flat slope or settlements situated near the river. Ţigăneşti and Brânceni villages (from southern Romania) are no exception and have been affected by floods many times. One of these events is that from 2005, when the flow reached 676 m3/s (a value 80 times higher than the normal flow of the Vedea River) in Brȃnceni. This paper aims to present a simulation of the flood that occurred during 3–6 July 2005 and its impact on the settlements, roads, and land, using field observation (including some from 2005), GIS software (ArcGIS), software for flood simulations (HEC-RAS—Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System), and flow data from the Romanian National Institute of Hydrology. Simulations were run in HEC-RAS. The obtained flooded areas imported back into GIS (Geographic Information System) were used to determine the area covered by water and the length of affected roads. The surface and number of flooded buildings were calculated using different tools from ArcMap. Results were interpreted, commented on, and compared with data and maps provided by the Romanian Water National Administration. The simulation shows that the villages would be protected from the flood by building a levee along the Vedea River. Significant losses can be prevented, and money can be saved.