Simulation of flash floods in ungauged basins using post‐event surveys and numerical modelling

A novel approach combining post-event surveys and numerical modeling successfully simulates flash floods in ungauged basins, offering potential for predicting future events. The study focuses on the 2010 flash flood that affected Atrani village along Italy's Amalfi Coast, where conventional measurement networks proved inadequate due to the event's small spatial and temporal scales. Researchers used a width function instantaneous unit hydrograph (WFIUH) rainfall-runoff model to derive flow hydrographs for upstream areas, which were then inputted into a two-dimensional hydraulic model. This unstructured mesh approach allowed for detailed simulation of water flow within the village's narrow alleyways, with results aligning closely with field observations. The method demonstrates promise for application in similar contexts, providing a tool for risk assessment and mitigation in vulnerable coastal regions.

Ciervo, F., Papa, M. N., Medina, V., & Bateman, A. (2014). Simulation of flash floods in ungauged basins using post‐event surveys and numerical modelling. Journal of Flood Risk Management, 8(4), 343–355. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12103