National Flood

Interoperability
Experiment

NFIE-Hydro

HRRR

Forcing

NHDPlus
to RAPID

WRF-Hydro

Grid to
catchment

ECMWF

Forecast services

NFIE Project Teams

7 week collaboration

Teams of 3-5 participants will work together to execute agreed

upon project scope and present results at capstone event in
July
Teams will be formed based on interests while balancing skills and
institutional diversity

Expect Google doc on May 18th with list of potential NFIE projects

If a listed project is not of interest to you, please provide your own idea

Rate your top 2-3 projects on Google doc

Teams will be formed during first week of boot camp

Based on Google doc responses, discussions groups will be formed to

elaborate on project ideas

HYDROLOGY

Theme lead: Sagy Cohen

(University of Alabama)

Title: Regional model calibration of

NFIE-Hydro
Description: This project will study the WRF-Hydro
Noah-MP and RAPID models and perform model
calibration at a regional scale. Although the NFIEHydro models are operating at a national scale,
regional and local scale calibration studies will need
to be initiated to ensure adequate model
performance; calibration can be performed on both
land-surface and flow fluxes.
Themes: Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Reservoir modeling within

NFIE-Hydro
Description: This project will formulate methods for
dealing with reservoirs within a national hydraulic
modeling framework. NFIE-Hydro ignores reservoirs
but it is possible to use National Weather Service
streamflow forecasts at large reservoirs to interrupt
flow routing. Using NHDPlus, it is also possible to
identify smaller reservoirs and alter routing
parameters at these locations accordingly.
Themes: Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Reservoir modeling within

NFIE-Hydro
Forcing: Runoff and reservoir releases

NHDPlus Catchment

Flow

Legend
Dam
Junction
Catchment

Title: Impact of high resolution

flowlines on flood forecasting
Description: This project will investigate the use of
the 24k NHDPlus flowlines and determine whether
or not high resolution flowlines are necessary within
a national flood forecasting framework. The current
system uses 100k NHDPlus flowlines to route flow
through the landscape.
Themes: Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Anthroprogenic impacts on

flood modeling
Description: This project will evaluate the impact of
anthroprogenic effects on runoff and streamflow by
assessing land cover change, urban infrastructure,
storm water systems, reservoir operations, water
diversions etc. This project will leverage either the
models in the existing NFIE-Hydro framework or
others.
Themes: Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Integrating remote sensing and

data assimilation into flood modeling
Description: Remote sensing has a lot of potential for
flood modeling. The Dartmouth Flood Observatory,
for example, offers access to derived streamflow and
flood inundation extents based on remotely sensed
data. This type of data can also be used to validate
radar precipitation, land use and more. This project
will investigate methods for integrating remotely
sensed and other real-time data into flood modeling.
Themes: Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: RAPID inundation mapping

Description: Critical to our understanding of potential flood
damage impact, inundation is the bridge to which response
and damage assessment are connected to hydrology and
hydraulics. With NFIE-Hydro generating 15-hour lead time
forecasts of discharge at the catchment level, this project will
examine the effectiveness of rapid inundation mapping
models using forecast discharge from NFIE-Hydro. In this
project, the team will examine the use of several developing
technologies, including, but not limited to, SPRNT and
AutoRoute. If additional models are available, we can attempt
to utilize these as well. The main focus of this project will be
to generate rapid inundation maps with NFIE-Hydro forecasts
in the MARS region of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and
Georgia.
Themes: Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Model Comparisons with

Current Forecasts and Observations
Description: This comparison will build on an effort
currently being carried out by UCAR under the direction
of Andy Wood. They have developed a large sample set
of watersheds
(http://staff.ucar.edu/browse/people/19876/OSGC-000000-021-510) from which model and forecast skill can be
compared. We will use several of these watersheds to
monitor/compare the WRF-Hydro and ECMWF/RAPID
forecasts to available observed data and results already
compiled by the UCAR scientists. Further we will examine
ways to use observed data to improve the skill of
forecasting from these models.
Themes: Hydrology, Uncertainty

Title: A regional study of hydrological

modeling frameworks
Description: This project will evaluate several
modeling frameworks (e.g. NoahMP, VIC, WBM, CLM
etc.) at regional scales and compare the advantages
and disadvantages of each. Results of model outputs
will also be compared to existing NFIE-Hydro
forecasts.
Themes: Hydrology, Hydraulics, Uncertainty

Title: Evaluation of flood forecasting

in snow/cold regions
Description: Current operational systems use
empirical temperature index approaches to
snowmelt. This can result in incorrect estimates of
surface water input which then propagate through to
incorrect estimates of runoff and flow. This study
would examine the potential for improvements in
flood forecasting by using alternative, more
physically based models for snowmelt. It would also
assess the availability of data needed for these
models and identify the data uncertainties that
contribute most to forecast uncertainties.
Themes: Hydrology, Response

HYDRAULICS

Theme lead: Jim Nelson

(BYU)

Title: River modeling, flood mapping

and inundation
Description: This project will support river routing
models by deriving cross-sections from high
resolution terrain and bathymetry data, and
assimilating existing cross-sections. This project will
develop a data model for storing cross-sections and
rating curves by referencing the NHDPlus framework
and map flood extents based on existing flow
calculations.
Themes: Hydraulics, Hydrology

Title: Estimating hydraulic parameters for

flood inundation mapping
Description: One obstacle to the NFIE frameworks ability
to forecast flood inundation is that the availability of
high-resolution topographic and bathymetric data is
limited and varies by region. If the hydraulic parameters
needed to model flood inundation (e.g., channel
geometry, roughness) could be reasonably estimated
from existing geospatial and remotely-sensed data, flood
inundation could be more reliably modeled even in the
absence of LiDAR or other high-resolution data. The goal
of this project would be to develop a set of parameters
accessible from existing geospatial datasets that predict
channel characteristics as measured from LiDAR.
Themes: Hydraulics, Hydrology

Title: Incorporating 2D hydraulic

modeling
Description: NFIEs high-resolution real-time floodinundation forecasts could be improved through the
incorporation of hydraulic processes using 2D models
(e.g. LISFLOOD, TUFLOW, Delft3D) for select reaches
where detailed topographic and bathymetric data
are available. In this project, students would choose
one more appropriate stream reaches for hydraulic
modeling, decide which hydraulic model would be
best, and create a workflow for linking the NFIEHydro outputs to the hydraulic model.
Themes: Hydraulics, Hydrology

Title: Incorporating 2D hydraulic

modeling

Title: Incorporating coastal processes

into NFIE-Hydro
Description: Flood forecasting in coastal areas,
where the U.S. population is disproportionately
concentrated, is complicated by the interaction of
riverine and coastal processes. In order for NFIE to
reliably forecast floods in these regions, coastal
processes such as waves, tides, and storm surge
must be explicitly incorporated. The goal of this
project would be to link a coastal model (e.g. SLOSH)
to the existing NFIE-Hydro framework.
Themes: Hydraulics, Hydrology

Title: Incorporating coastal processes

into NFIE-Hydro

Title: Analyzing impacts of river

morphology
Description: While the geometry of river channels
significantly affects flood inundation, major flooding
events can in turn rearrange river channel morphology,
which would then affect inundation from future floods.
This dynamic relationship between flood inundation and
channel morphology has implications not only for flood
hazards, but also for the structure and function of river
ecosystems. The goal of this project would be to use the
NFIE-Hydro hydrologic forecasts as input to a reach-scale
geomorphic model in order to simulate erosion and
deposition and resulting channel changes associated with
a range of potential flood events.
Themes: Hydraulics

UNCERTAINTY

Theme lead: David Maidment

(University of Texas at Austin)

Title: Statistical analysis for historical

flows
Description: This project will perform a statistical
characterization of modeled flow at the reach scale
by driving the RAPID model or other models (e.g.
SPRNT) with NLDAS surface and subsurface runoff
from 1979 to present.
Themes: Uncertainty, Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Statistical analysis for historical

flows

Title: Error propagation throuch

cascading models
Description: Several cascading models are employed
in NFIE-Hydro without much of an understanding of
how errors in data and model parameters propagate
through the system. This project would break the
workflow up and study the propagation of errors for
various model components at varying spatial scales.
A point of departure for this project could be based
on tracking how errors in flow propagate through the
river network by assessing errors at gages.
Themes: Uncertainty, Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Ensemble flood forecasting

Description: This project will utilize the Global
Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) and ECMWF
ensemble forecasts to evaluate the use of ensemble
flood forecasts. In addition to assessing the validity
of the ensemble forecasts, this project will also look
into the best mechanisms for communicating
ensemble forecasts to the public and response
community.
Themes: Hydrology, Hydraulics, Response,
Uncertainty

Title: Ensemble flood forecasting

RESPONSE

Theme lead: Barbara Minsker

(University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

NFIE Emergency Response

& Decision Support
Theme

L. Myers

Objectives
Design real-time tools &
methods for:
Daily flood briefings
Decision support (current &
forecast):
Incident type
Emergency management
actions

Create functioning
prototypes of the above,
leveraging other themes
work

L. Myers

Daily Flood Briefings

Geospatial dashboard of
unfolding event:
Extent of flood inundation
Current & forecast risks
Include swift water areas
Weather
Rainfall rates, radar
Vulnerable areas locations,
numbers, types, status
Low-water egress
Critical infrastructure
Vulnerable populations
Emergency response teams &
resources locations,
numbers, types, status

ESRI.com

Decision Support: Incident Type

Current & forecast risk of
incident type
Type 1 most complex, national
resources
Type 2 regional/state resources
Type 3 multiple operational
periods, extensive resources
Type 4 & 5 most common, single
to strike team resources

Based on
Similarity to historical & design
storms
Weather, hydrologic, & hydraulic
model forecasts & error bounds

L. Myers

General Staff Overview Expanding Incidents

Incident
Command

Operations
Section

Directs all response/

tactical actions to
achieve the incident
objectives.

Planning
Section

Logistics
Section

Finance/Admin
Section

Activated, as needed, to
support the incident response
directed by the Operations
Section.

Visual 5.34
General Staff Functions

Expanding Incidents
Expanding incidents may
add supervisory layers to
the organizational structure
as needed.
Branches

Command
Incident
Commander

Sections
Operations Section
Chief

Units

Single
Resources
Divisions

Groups
Visual 5.35
General Staff Functions

Geographic Divisions & Groups

Divisions, led by a Supervisor, are used to divide an
incident geographically.
Operations
Section Chief

East Division
Supervisor

West Division
Supervisor

Recovery
Group Supervisor

Search & Rescue

Strike Team 1

Search & Rescue

Strike Team 2

Damage Assessment
Task Force

Perimeter Security
Strike Team 1

Perimeter Security
Strike Team 2

Restoration/Recovery
Task Force

Medical Aid
Strike Team 1

Medical Aid
Strike Team 2

Shelter and Feeding

Task Force 1

Shelter and Feeding

Task Force 2

Visual 5.36
General Staff Functions

Decision Support: Emergency

Management Actions
Safest/fastest routes for evacuation & rescue
Evacuation vs shelter in place decisions
Road & bridge closings
Reverse 911 messages
Other risk communication messages e.g., videos of upstream
damage, cues to action

Optimal resource deployments (rescue teams, equipment)

L. Myers

Modeling Infrastructure Damage: Hazus-MH

/
1
0

Modeling Human Response: Agent-Based Models

Simulates actions of a group of autonomous agents (each agent follows
his individual behavior rules and update these rules under changing
environments) to assess system behavior as a whole.

Snapshot from www.YouTube

Starling flock pattern

Title: Decision support for flood

forecasting (first responders)
Description: Design & implement a prototype
decision dashboard for daily flood briefings before
and during an emergency to create a common
operating picture of the unfolding situation. We
anticipate that the information would be presented
as a geospatial dashboard (e.g., layers on Google
maps) containing model forecasts from the other
projects, as well as other pertinent information. This
would include the extent and type of flood
inundation; weather; and status of vulnerable areas
and emergency response teams and resources.
Themes: Response

Title: Decision support for flood

forecasting (public)
Description: Based on the safest and fastest routes currently available,
optimization and machine learning algorithms will be created to
provide recommendations for: (1) evacuate vs. shelter in place, (2)
road or bridge closings, (3) reverse 911 messages, transmitting
instructions from emergency operations to residents, and (4) other risk
communication messages such as videos of upstream damage or other
cues to action. To accomplish these goals, simulation models of critical
infrastructure and human response to an unfolding crisis will need to
be created. The former could involve using using Hazus-MH, which
models bridges, buildings, traffic, power, etc. The latter could involve
developing agent-based models based on data and previous findings of
the Center for Advanced Public Safety.
Themes: Response

Title: Flash flood prediction

Description: Given historical data on flash flood
locations and times, train machine learning models
to identify rainfall patterns that lead to different
patterns of flooding. Use the machine learning
models to provide alerts when conditions are similar
to those that have led to flash flooding in the past.
Historical data could be 911 and 411 calls, what the
call was about (search text for mentions of flood),
and GPS coordinates/addresses. Social media or
video data could also be added.
Themes: Hydrology, Response

Title: Identifying flood hazard zones

Description: The National Flood Hazard layer shows
the potential extent of flooding for an event of a
given return period. Through modeling and statistical
analyses, one can determine the potential hazard
associated with a given flow event by intersecting
the flood hazard and NHDPlus catchment layer. This
project will work to provide a system and interface
through which flow forecasts can be used to signal
hazard at the catchment level by color coding hazard
zones based on risk.
Themes: Response, Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Identifying flood hazard zones

Title: Flood simulator

Description: It is important that results from hydraulic models
adequately convey results to emergency management
personnel so that they can make decisions. One way we can
help to do this is create a simulator that allows them to
examine results from models generated for multiple possible
flooding scenarios. In this way they can simultaneously
understand the results models provide and use them to play
what if scenarios or replay actual events and practice their
decision making. We have already set up the GSSHA model to
do this kind of thing with Tethys in the Canned GSSHA
model. We hope to add display of floodplain maps to this app,
but this could be part of this project. We can also explore
using other models/results in a similar fashion.
Themes: Response, Hydrology, Hydraulics

Title: Flood simulator