This study presents a water accumulation diffusion algorithm to spatially simulate rainstorm-induced waterlogging for people's lives and property safety. Taking part of Jinfeng District in Yinchuan City, China, as a study area, a storm water management model (SWMM) model is constructed with the aid of geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) technologies. GIS is used to divide subcatchments, generalize drainage system, set parameters, construct spatial geodatabase, and identify flood extents and depths. RS is used to obtain land-use/land-cover information. The water accumulation diffusion algorithm is then designed using the strategies of the dynamic interactions between pipes and surface and between central pixel and its neighbourhood pixels to transform water accumulation volume of sub-catchment into the submerged range and water accumulation depth. Positions, extents, depths, and volumes of water accumulation from pipe network and surface are simulated, respectively. The spatial simulation precisions of rainstorm waterlogging from the pipe network and surface are verified according to the measured and cyber rainstorm data, respectively. The results show that (1) the number of water accumulation nodes increases with the increase of rainfall intensity; (2) urban waterlogging is mainly distributed in the intersects of roads, low depressions and the aged drainage networks; and (3) spatial simulation of urban rainstorm waterlogging based on the GIS, RS, and SWMM techniques and the water accumulation diffusion algorithm is reliable. The results can provide decision-makings to predict rainstorm waterlogging, design drainage network, and construct a sponge city.
ARTICLE HISTORY