Flood-Prone Area Delineation in Urban Subbasins Based on Stream Ordering: Culiacan Urban Basin as a Study Case

Abstract

Urban development decreases infiltration, increases the runoff velocity, and reduces the concentration times. This situation increases the flood risk in urban watersheds, which represent a management challenge for urban communities and authorities. To increase the resilience of communities due to modifications of the hydrological cycle produced by climate change and urban development, a methodology is proposed to delineate flood-prone areas in urban basins. This methodology is implemented in an urban subbasin of Culiacan, Mexico, and is based on stream order. A high-resolution digital elevation model was used, which was validated independently through a photogrammetric flight with an unmanned aerial vehicle and ground control points obtained with GNSS (global navigation satellite systems) receivers. Morphometric parameters related to geometry, shape, relief, and drainage network aspects of the subbasin were determined and analyzed. Then, flood-prone area zonation was carried out based on stream-order classification and flow direction. Fieldwork was also carried out for the inspection of the sewage network conditions. This methodology simplifies the identification of the flood-prone areas in urban subbasins without carrying out complex hydraulic calculations.

Standardizing Criteria for Calculating Urban Storm Drainage Flow Rates Using Basin Division Based on Aerial Photogrammetry: The Case Study of Culiacan, Mexico

“…This information on various occasions is limited or nonexistent, especially in terms of data corresponding to the topography of the surface of urban areas where the natural terrain conditions have been modified [9]. Obtaining accurate data, such as rainfall data, soil properties, land use, and topographic information, can be challenging and time-consuming in developed countries [25]. In our methodology, this problem is solved by generating a high-resolution digital surface model using photogrammetry, which is a cost-effective and less time-consuming option than traditional methodologies that require ground-level topographic surveys.…”

“…The applied methodology included an investigation of the different methods and criteria applied for conducting hydrological studies [19][20][21][22][23] to select the most appropriate ones to standardize hydrological studies in Culiacan. Different basin delineation methods were also investigated such as the delineation of rural basins based on DEM, urban basin delineation using LIDAR technology, and urban basin delineation based on aerial photogrammetry and flow directions [22,24,25]. Figure 2 shows the proposed methodology for the standardization of urban hydrological studies using basin division based on aerial photogrammetry.…”

“…For this purpose, it is convenient to use the tools for the hydrological analysis of geospatial information systems (GIS). In this study, we used the methodology proposed by Sanhouse-Garcia [25] and Rivera-Buelna [18] to delineate urban basins from photogrammetry. This consisted of determining the highest elevations of the basin and the topographic criteria of the study area to visualize the possible hydrological basins.…”