Simulating spatial aspects of a flash flood using the Monte Carlomethod and GRASS GIS: a case study of the Malá Svinka Basin(Slovakia)

Abstract

This paper focuses on the flash flood assessmentusing a spatially-distributed hydrological model based onthe Monte Carlo simulation method. The model is implementedas r.sim.water module in GRASS GIS and was appliedto the Malá Svinka Basin in Eastern Slovakia where aheavy rainfall (100 mm/hr.) caused a flash flood event withdeadly consequences in July 1998. The event was simulatedusing standard datasets representing elevation, soilsand land cover. The results were captured in time seriesof water depth maps showing gradual changes in waterdepths across the basin. The hydrological effects of roadsin the study area were simulated using the preferentialflow feature of the model. This simulation helped to identifysource areas contributing to flooding in built-up areas.The implementation in a GIS environment simplifiesthe data preparation and eventual modification for variousscenarios and flood protection measures. The simulationconfirmed excellent robustness and flexibility of themethod.

Keywords

• flash flood
• overland flow
• monte carlo
• grassgis
• simwe