Abstract

Interactive Dam Breach Inundation Mapping
Track: Disaster and Emergency Management
Authors: Jennifer Austin

TransCanada updated Emergency Action Plans for six dams with a goal of providing more extensive, useful information than previous versions. Kleinschmidt developed a GIS-based interactive EAP to accomplish this. The digital version of the EAP includes print files, GIS database, and interactive mapping within a self-contained application.

The inundation mapping includes depths across inundation areas as maximum flooding and six time-steps: one, two, three, six, nine, and twelve hours after the breach. Timing and depth of flooding is critical to planning evacuations. Hydrographs linked to cross-sections display water surface elevations and river flows over the entire flood event to show "how much" water and when it arrives and recedes.

The ArcReader application was distributed to affected response agencies and communities. TransCanada received positive feedback on the format and ease of use of the application. It allowed wide-spread data sharing in a consistent, simple format for any level of GIS user.