Sentinel‐1 remote sensing data and Hydrologic Engineering Centres River Analysis System two‐dimensional integration for flash flood detection and modelling in New Cairo City, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Digital surface models, land use and rainfall data were used to simulate water areas using Hydrologic Engineering Centres River Analysis System (HEC‐RAS) software. Multi‐temporal synthetic aperture radar (SAR) was used for the detection of flood prone area to calibrate HEC‐RAS, due to the lack of data validation in the New Cairo City, Egypt. The thresholding water detection method was applied to two Sentinel‐1 images, one pre‐ and one post‐flash flood event from April 24 to 27, 2018. The threshold method was used to detect water areas from SAR Sentinel‐1 images. Feature statistical agreement F1 and F2 values ranged from 73.4 to 77.7% between water areas extracted based on backscattering values between 19.97 and 16.53 in decibels (dB) and reference water areas obtained using an optical image of the Sentinel‐2 satellite. The similarity between simulated HEC‐RAS two‐dimensional (2D) of water areas and reference water areas based on SAR data ranged between 74.2 and 89.7% using feature statistical agreement values F1 and F2. It provides a clear suggestion that, in the absence of field observations, SAR data can be used to calibrate the model. Two flood hazard maps created based on water velocity and depth were obtained from HEC‐RAS 2D simulation. The obtained maps indicated that 11% of the roads and 50% of the buildings in New Cairo City are exposed to high hazard areas. Furthermore, 28% of the bare land is situated in a very high vulnerability area. We recommend the use of obtained hazard map in supporting emergency response, and designing effective emergency plans.

Keywords

• flood hazard maps
• hydraulic modelling
• rainfall data, New Cairo City
• remote sensing
• SAR data