Usage of SIMWE model to model urban overland flood: a case study in Oslo

Abstract

Abstract There has been a surge of interest in the field of urban flooding in recent years. However, current stormwater management models are often too complex to apply on a large scale. To fill this gap, we use a physically based and spatially distributed overland flow model, SIMulated Water Erosion (SIMWE). The SIMWE model requires only rainfall intensity, terrain, infiltration, and surface roughness as input. The SIMWE model has great potential for application in real-time flood forecasting. In this study, we use the SIMWE model at two resolutions (20 m and 500 m) for Oslo, and at a high resolution (1 m) at the Grefsen area, which is approximately 1.5 km2 in Oslo. The results show that the SIMWE model can generate water depth maps at both coarse and high resolutions. The spatial resolution has strong impacts on the absolute values of water depth and subsequently on the classification of flood risks. The SIMWE model at a higher spatial resolution produces more overland flow and higher estimation of flood risk with low rainfall input, but larger areas of risk with high rainfall input. The Grefsen case study shows that roads act as floodways, where overland flow accumulates and moves fast.