Evaluation of the Simplified Dynamic Wave, Diffusion Wave and the Full Dynamic Wave Flood Routing Models

Abstract

The accuracy of prediction and ease of use of the three popular flood routing models; simplified dynamic Wave, diffusion wave, and full dynamic wave were evaluated. The models were evaluated along a reach of the Credit River Watershed, in Southern Ontario, Canada. The simplified dynamic wave model showed better accuracy and easier formulation when compared against the diffusion wave and the full dynamic wave models. Indicating that the simplified dynamic wave model can be applied to reaches where the diffusion wave and the full dynamic wave models may not be applicable. The principle novel contributions of the paper are (a) the extension of the flood routing formulations by Keskin and Agiralioglu, (b) the use of a prismatic channel and floodplain with varying top-widths, (c) the validation of the methodology through the application of an event simulation to an actual river reach, and (d) comparison of the modeling results to those obtained using the full dynamic wave model and the diffusion wave models.