Simulation of overflow thresholds in urban basins: Case study in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico

Abstract

The space–time dynamics and the effect of urban growth on territory transformation were simulated with Iber 2D to analyze flooding events in the lower basin of the Sabinal River, Mexico. We classified the main coverages and land uses of the study area. Soil roughness and water infiltration in the soil were evaluated. Both values were used as input data in a simulation model with Iber 2D to analyze and compare the levels of water height and maximum flood level area with different precipitation values in two reference years, 1986 and 2014. Residential use land cover increased considerably while tree, pasture and agricultural use covers decreased. Consequently, in 2014, precipitation of similar magnitude led to higher values of direct runoff, increasing water levels and therefore the risk of overflowing. The water levels and moments of river overflow provided feedback for flood‐risk warning systems and tools to monitor basins lacking adequate infrastructure.

Scenario‐based hydrodynamic simulation of adaptive strategies for urban design to improve flood resilience: A case study of the Mingzhu Bay Region, Guangzhou, Greater Bay Area

“…The sunken green area and retention space can not only reduce excess precipitation generation at the beginning (Cervantes et al, 2020) but also serve as lowlands to collect surplus overflow.…”

“…The sunken green area and retention space can not only reduce excess precipitation generation at the beginning (Cervantes et al, 2020) but also serve as lowlands to collect surplus overflow. When dealing with increasing intense precipitation as a result of climate change, the altitude of these spaces is critical.…”

“…Nonstructural tactics include legal, institutional, and organizational measures (Linares, 2013). On the one hand, structural measures for sea‐level rise in deltas include hard protection measures such as water gates, riverbed widening, super‐engineered levees, as well as soft measures include beach nourishment and natural water retention and wetland protection (Bokhove, Kelmanson, Kent, Piton, & Tacnet, 2019; Cervantes et al, 2020). Mixed land use was used in buildings to promote flood resilience, with lower level functions having minimal sensitivity to urban inundation and narrow block shapes and perpendicular circulation paths to the coastline reducing damage by draining storm water.…”