Rapid assessment of flood loss based on neural network ensemble

Considering the defects of low accuracy and slow speed existing in traditional flood loss assessment, firstly, the technical route of flood loss assessment was presented based on the neural network ensemble. Secondly, through the study of certain country of Poyang Lake district, the flood loss assessment indicators of the test area were analyzed and extracted by utilizing analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and the weights of the impact factors were assigned. Subsequently, the approaches to generate individuals and conclusions of neural network ensemble model were also investigated. In the platform of C# language and neural network library under AForge.NET open source, a flood loss assessment program which could rapidly build neural network ensemble models was developed. Finally, the proposed method was tested and verified. The comparison results between the assessment results of the proposed method and the actual statistical flood loss proved the feasibility of this method, thus a new approach for flood loss assessment was provided.

Relationship between Regional Rainstorm Index and Flood Disaster Ratio of Crop

According to the daily precipitation data in Beijing area from 1985 to 2008,rainstorm weather index （10.4-38.8 mm） and climate index （daily precipitation ≥27.5 mm） in Beijing area were obtained by using the determination method of extreme climate event index recommended by IPCC. Based on rainstorm weather index,rainstorm climate index and national rainstorm standard,the number of rainstorm days and rainfall amount in past years were calculated,and the correlation of annual number of rainy days,rainstorm days,precipitation and rainstorm amount with the flood disaster ratio of crop was analyzed,and the results showed that annual number of rainy days and rainstorm days couldn＇t reflect flood disaster ratio of crop truly,while annual precipitation and rainstorm amount had obvious linear positive correlation with the flood disaster ratio of crop. In addition,the correlation degree between rainstorm amount calculated by regional climate index and flood disaster ratio of crop was the highest,so it was suggested that rainstorm amount calculated by regional rainstorm climate index could be used to predict and evaluate flood disaster.

人大代表叫停三门峡

认为渭河水灾与三门峡水库有关，15名代表向陕西省人大提交议案。

Experimental Study of the Interaction between Building Clusters and Flash Floods

In recent years, flash flood disasters have occurred frequently in southwest China due to the increased frequency of extreme climate events. To solve this problem, great efforts have been made in studying the process of flash flood. However, little attention was paid on bearing body of hazard, the clusters of buildings. Thus the real disaster mechanism of flash flood remains unclear.Accordingly, based on the experiments of artificial flash floods in a conceptual solid model, this paper focuses on the flood-impacted inundation characteristics of the building clusters at different locations of the gully model, in order to obtain a better understanding of the disaster process and the interaction between the flash floods and building clusters. The results showed that, in a typical smallscale flash flood gully with hot and dry climate, 1)clusters of buildings on an alluvial fan could reduce about 35% of the flooding area by blocking the diffusion of the flood to the depression areas, and could also promote the deposition in lower reaches of the river channel by blocking the overbank flow from going back into the channel, making the width-depth ratio of the channel larger. 2) The flash flood rates of disaster and hazard on the alluvial fan are generally higher than that of the inner gully. For the inner gully,buildings located on the beaches along the lower river and the transitional areas of the straight channel and channel bends can easily be affected because of their lower elevations. For the alluvial fan, buildings nearby the meanders suffer the greatest impacts because of bank collapsing and flooding. 3) The safe vertical distance from a building to the river channel is 13 m for the buildings in the inner gully under extreme floods. Below this threshold, the smaller the vertical distance is, the greater the risk exposure is. For the buildings on the alluvial fan, especially for the buildings near the concave bank of the top rush point,the horizontal distance is more important, and the safe value is 80 m under extreme floods.

Integrated Debris Flow Disaster Mitigation—A Comprehensive Method for Debris Flow Disaster Mitigation

Integrated disaster mitigation needs interpreting torrent catchment areas as complex landscape systems. The history of valley-evolution shows the influence of climate and vegetation on the valley-evolution. The energy-concept (energy dissipation concept including the idea of the energy-line) is used for a simple explanation of debris flow. Examples of heavy debris flow disasters in controlled torrents in the Alps and Pyrenees give hints, which expanding the time scale can show that side-effects restrict or counteract the mitigation measures. A pallet of different mitigation measures to avoid or to reduce some of the side-effects is shown. The comprehensive method of disaster mitigation also includes the effect of vegetation. The pallet includes: avoiding hazards (hazard mapping, warning and alarming), appropriate land use and avoiding disaster-enhancing measures in the landscape and technical measures, which take into account their side-effects. The energy line is used as simple design theory. The Jiu-Jitsu Principle is explained too. With this comprehensive method a more sustainable reduction of disasters seems possible.

An AMSR-E Data Unmixing Method for Monitoring Flood and Waterlogging Disaster

Spectral remote sensing technique is usually used to monitor flood and waterlogging disaster.Although spectral remote sensing data have many advantages for ground information observation,such as real time and high spatial resolution,they are often interfered by clouds,haze and rain.As a result,it is very difficult to retrieve ground information from spectral remote sensing data under those conditions.Compared with spectral remote sensing tech-nique,passive microwave remote sensing technique has obvious superiority in most weather conditions.However,the main drawback of passive microwave remote sensing is the extreme low spatial resolution.Considering the wide ap-plication of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-Earth Observing System(AMSR-E) data,an AMSR-E data unmixing method was proposed in this paper based on Bellerby's algorithm.By utilizing the surface type classifi-cation results with high spatial resolution,the proposed unmixing method can obtain the component brightness tem-perature and corresponding spatial position distribution,which effectively improve the spatial resolution of passive microwave remote sensing data.Through researching the AMSR-E unmixed data of Yongji County,Jilin Provinc,Northeast China after the worst flood and waterlogging disaster occurred on July 28,2010,the experimental results demonstrated that the AMSR-E unmixed data could effectively evaluate the flood and waterlogging disaster.

Characteristics of Drought and Flood in Zhejiang Province,East China:Past and Future

On the basis of large amount of historical and measured data, this paper analyzed the regional, periodic, frequency, continuing, and response characteristics of droughts and floods in Zhejiang and proposed the conception of ratio of peak runoff. Main characteristics of droughts and floods in Zhejiang are as follows： 1） The western Zhejiang region is plum rain major control area, and the eastern coastal region of Zhejiang is typhoon major control area. 2） Within a long period in the future, Zhejiang will be in the long period that features droughts. 3） In Zhejiang the 17th century was frequent drought and flood period, the 16th, 19th, and 20th centuries were normal periods, while the 18th century was spasmodic drought and flood period. 4） The severe and medium floods in Zhejiang were all centered around the M-or m-year of the 11-year sunspot activity period. 5） There are biggish years of annual runoff occurred in E1 Nifio year （E） or the following year （E＋1） in Zhejiang. The near future evolution trend of droughts and floods in Zhejiang is as follows： 1） Within a relatively long period in the future, Zhejiang Province will be in the long period of mostly drought years. 2） Between 1999 and 2009 this area will feature drought years mainly, while the period of 2010-2020 will feature flood years mostly. 3） Zhejiang has a good response to the sunspot activities, and the years around 2009, 2015, and 2020 must be given due attention, especially around 2020 there might be an extremely severe flood year in Zhejiang. 4） Floods in Zhejiang have good response to El Nifio events, in El Nifio year or the following year much attention must be paid to. And 5） In the future, the first, second, and third severe typhoon years in Zhejiang will be 2009. 2012. and 2015. resnectivelv.

RESEARCH ON SYSTEM OF FLOOD DISASTER CONTROL AND REDUCTION SUPPORTED BY GIS IN MEDIUM AND SMALL BASINS

Southeast China coastal areas belong to subtropical monsoon climatic zone, thus easily affected by floods resulted from typhoons and rainstorms. Since the areas of river basins are small, rivers flood regulation capacities are low, and therefore flood hazard is grave. In this paper, taking the Yongjiang basin in southeast China as an example, the approaches and methods of geographic information system(GIS) applied to flood disaster control and reduction research on small basin are explored. On GIS help the rainfall runoff calculation model and the river channel flood routing model are developed. And the evaluating flood submerged area and the damage assessment models are built supported by digit elevation models. Lastly the decision support system on GIS supported for flood control in research basin has been set up. This greatly improves flood proofing decision making capacities in river basin, and provides valuable information and a mode for flood prevention and reduction in the medium and small basin. Meanwhile, the research indicates that technologies of GIS provide a powerful tool for flood disaster control.

PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE FLOODING AND DROUGHT CALAMITY DURING PAST 1500 YEARSIN THE HAI'AN REGION, JIANGSU PROVINCE

Collection and arrangement of the historical records of climatic changes andenvironment evolution, especially in the aspect of calamities, are made on the history documents ofpast 1500 years about Hai'an region, Jiangsu Province. There existed two obvious flooding-droughtfrequently-occurring periods: one was from 1550 AD to 1850 AD and another was 1000 AD to 1200 AD.The period of 1550 AD to 1850 AD is interrupted by two relatively arid and cold climatic periods:one was from 1630 AD to 1700 AD and another was 1750 AD to 1820 AD. The main characteristic of thecalamity periods is that they occurred by turns, and sometimes, both drought and flooding occurredin the same year. The instability of the climatic changes in the Little Ice Age may be the mainreason of the frequently-occurring flooding and drought in Hai'an region. Research results also showthat the frequently-occurring periods of flooding and drought is in close relationship with thesolar activity, and therefore, occurrence of the flooding and drought may be in relation with theintensity of the solar activity. This hypothesis may need further study in the future.

A High Precision Comprehensive Evaluation Method for Flood Disaster Loss Based on Improved Genetic Programming

Precise comprehensive evaluation of flood disaster loss is significant for the prevention and mitigation of flood disasters. Here, one of the difficulties involved is how to establish a model capable of describing the complex relation between the input and output data of the system of flood disaster loss. Genetic programming (GP) solves problems by using ideas from genetic algorithm and generates computer programs automatically. In this study a new method named the evaluation of the grade of flood disaster loss (EGFD) on the basis of improved genetic programming (IGP) is presented (IGP-EGFD). The flood disaster area and the direct economic loss are taken as the evaluation indexes of flood disaster loss. Obviously that the larger the evaluation index value, the larger the corresponding value of the grade of flood disaster loss is. Consequently the IGP code is designed to make the value of the grade of flood disaster be an increasing function of the index value. The result of the application of the IGP-EGFD model to Henan Province shows that a good function expression can be obtained within a bigger searched function space; and the model is of high precision and considerable practical significance. Thus, IGP-EGFD can be widely used in automatic modeling and other evaluation systems.

Spatio-temporal changes of exposure and vulnerability to floods in China

A socio-economic data set on China＇s historical flood losses for the period 1984--2012 was compiled to analyze the exposed population, economy, and crop area as well as the vulnerabilities of the population and economy to floods. The results revealed that the exposed population was approximately 126 persons km-2 per year when taking China as a whole; in terms of the economy, potential losses due to floods were estimated to be approximately 1.49 million C/W4 km 2 and the crop area exposed to floods covered 153 million hm2 per year. China＇s total exposure to floods significantly increased over the analysis period. The areas that showed the higher exposure were mainly located along the east coast. The population＇s vulnerability to floods showed a significantly increasing trend, however, the economic vulnerability showed a decreasing trend. The populations and economies that were most vulnerable to floods were in Hunan, Anhui, Chongqing, Jiangxi, and Hubei provinces. The municipalities of Shanghai, Beijing, and Tianjin showed the lowest vulnerabilities to floods.

Projecting Spatial Patterns of Flood Hazard: Recent Climate and Future Changes over Yangtze River Basin

Projection of hazard changes in climate extremes is critical to assessing the potential impacts of climate change on human and natural systems. Using simulations of providing regional climates for impacts studies, five indicators (rainstorm days, maximum 3-day precipitation, elevation, gradient and distance from river or lake) were selected to project the spatial patterns of flood hazard over Yangtze River Basin for the baseline period (1961– 1990) and future (2011–2100) under SRES B2 scenario. The results showed the mean annual rainstorm days over the basin by the near-term, mid-term and long-term would increase from 3.9 days to 4.7, 4.9 and 5.1 days, and the mean annual maximum 3-day precipitation from 122 mm to 143, 146 and 149 mm, respectively. The flood hazard of the basin would become more severe, especially in the middle and lower reaches. Flood hazard grade 5 by the nearterm, mid-term and long-term would extend from 10.99% to 25.46, 28.14 and 29.75%, respectively.

Using modified Soil Conservation Service curve number method to simulate the role of forest in flood control in the upper reach of the Tingjiang River in China

To improve flood control efficiency and increase urban resilience to flooding,the impacts of forest type change on flood control in the upper reach of the Tingjiang River(URTR) were evaluated by a modified model based on the Soil Conservation Service curve number(SCS-CN) method. Parameters of the model were selected and determined according to the comprehensive analysis of model evaluation indexes. The first simulation of forest reconstruction scenario,namely a coniferous forest covering 59.35km^2 is replaced by a broad-leaved forest showed no significant impact on the flood reduction in the URTR. The second simulation was added with 61.75km^2 bamboo forest replaced by broad-leaved forest,the reduction of flood peak discharge and flood volume could be improved significantly. Specifically,flood peak discharge of 10-year return period event was reduced to 7-year event,and the reduction rate of small flood was 21%-28%. Moreover,the flood volume was reduced by 9%-14% and 18%-35% for moderate floods and small floods,respectively. The resultssuggest that the bamboo forest reconstruction is an effective control solution for small to moderate flood in the URTR,the effect of forest conversion on flood volume is increasingly reduced as the rainfall amount increases to more extreme magnitude. Using a hydrological model with scenarios analysis is an effective simulation approach in investigating the relationship between forest type change and flood control. This method would provide reliable support for flood control and disaster mitigation in mountainous cities.

Flood Vulnerability Assessment： A Multiscale, Multitemporal and Multidisciplinary Approach

Recent catastrophic events related to floods in Colombia reveal again the situation of disaster as a development issue not solved in the country. It is necessary to analyze in more detail the areas under threat and their respective vulnerability to the different mechanisms can generate flooding events and make adjustments in the assessment of disaster risks for the appropriate decision-making at local, regional and national levels. This paper presents a research project in its first phase, whose main objective is to develop a methodology for vulnerability assessment from a multiscale, multitemporal and multidisciplinary perspectives, combining the use of indicators and a spatial information system to analyze exposure and vulnerability at regional and local level in specific areas. This methodological tool will also enable local and regional authorities to identify the most appropriate strategies to reduce vulnerability and adaptation options, and make better decisions in assessing disaster risk. The information generated in this study will contribute to public policy action structured to correct short- and medium-term situations of actual or potential vulnerability, which can also be used in other activities of territorial and environmental planning, developing technology transfer activities and training associated with the research project in the service of the authorities and communities. Results obtained of the vulnerability analysis for a Colombian study area will relate to the hazards obtained in a parallel project whose goal is to identify the best risk management strategies through the development of GIS （geographic information system）-based scenarios for different risk and vulnerability reduction options.

The Numerical Simulation of Storm-Surge and Coastal Flooding in Western Taiwan： A Case Study of 2007 Typhoon SEPAT

A numerical model for simulating storm surge with nested grid system has been applied to hindcast the coastal flooding on both sides of Taiwan Strait. The simulation results can be used to understand the transport variation and the inundation distribution induced by the storm surge on the interested area during typhoon invades. The case in this study is Typhoon SEPAT, which passed through central Taiwan in 2007. The transport characteristics through Taiwan Strait under the influence of Typhoon SEPAT were discussed by comparing the field observations and numerical simulations during the typhoon period. The results indicate that the surge height of Typhoon SEPAT did not respond to the peak of wind waves accompanied with 15 hrs time lag. According to the influence of dynamical forces on the storm surge in Taiwan Strait, the onshore wind is the dominant role of coastal inundation during this typhoon event in Taiwan Strait. By observing the inundation map through the typhoon period, the coasts of Yulin County are verified to be the most serious affected area in the vicinity of Taiwan Strait.

Floodplain Hazard Mitigations, Solutions and Recommendations for Wadi Asia in Jeddah-Saudi Arabia

No simple solution to flood prevention is accessible. This research provides a brief summary of the hydrologic and hydraulic methodology that can be used to develop specific details that integrated the flood information tool. It permits rapid analysis of a wide variety of stream discharge data and topographic mapping to avoid the flood hazard over entire floodplain boundaries. This paper focuses on the water floodplain hazard in Wadi Asla-Jaddah-Saudi Arabia. The most common type of rainfall in the study area is that accompanied by thunderstorms, which usually fall during the winter season as well as in the spring. The primarily evaluation of this problem and the solution is contemplate. The more essential and ＂doable＂ elements of a solutions and recommendations are discussed in this research.

A Potential Flood Hazard Caused by Tianchi Volcano Eruption in Changbai Mountain, Northeast China

Geohazards appear to be increasing in frequency globally. It is of necessity to actively manage these natural hazards to minimize loss of life and property. From an early warning perspective, this paper stresses the potential fatal flood hazard represented by the huge volume of water in Tianchi Lake, the unique geography of Changbai Mountain, and the limited flood control ability in the upstream of the Songhua River. Northeast Asian countries should keep a watchful eye on the Changbai volcano cooperatively, and Chinese government especially needs to prepare plans for fighting a flood in advance.

Some Reflections of the Geographies of Socio-Economic Impact of the Kosi River Floods, 2008

In India, floods remain a natural recurrent event of many major rivers of the sub-continent. Most frequently, it occurs during the ＂monsoon season＂ when precipitation remains very heavy and the natural watercourses fail to accommodate excess water. The river Kosi, located in Bihar, India too bears a long history of annual floods and is often labeled as a ＂Sorrow of Bihar＂ due to its strange behavioural attributes and the extensive damage it causes as a result of severe flood inundation. The river Kosi is one of the megafans of the Gangetic plains. Geologic evidence demonstrates that the megafans are prone to devastating flood hazards. On August 18, 2008, the river Kosi burst through its banks to flow into a channel it had abandoned more than 200 years ago, drowning towns, numerous villages and rendering over a million homeless and many were reported to have died. The research is an attempt to reflect on the geographies of socio-economic impact of the Kosi flood, 2008. For this, the research uses a holistic approach. The findings suggest that the rescue and rehabilitation operation continue in the post flood region. However, operations were significantly delayed as the result of inept bureaucratic process and insufficient funding. The final sections draw together, the threads of analysis and suggest suitable measures, so that the floods of such magnitude can be managed better in near future.

Experience of Planning the Local Climate Change Adaptation Plan in Taoyuan

Based on the experience of emergency operation on earthquake and flooding in local and foreign countries, the secondary disasters of fire, damage of critical infrastructure usually harmed lives or disturbed living condition. In order to safeguard people＇s lives and property safety, Taoyuan City Government, except for elementary public facilities, added standardized disaster prevention parks and detention ponds in the zone-expropriation project at Chunglu area. The zone-expropriation project at Chunglu, Taoyuan is designed for 487,600 residents in 2021. The area of public facilities of park, school, road and green land is 50.7 ha, 41.88% of total development area of 122.06 ha, in which, the capacity of disaster prevention parks at Chunglu area is designed for 3,164 refugee in 7.54 ha. An underground storage construction, withstand 7-magnitude earthquake, could supply the amount of water consumption of 3 L daily per person, lasting at least four weeks. The capacity of two detention ponds is 87,800 m3. During normal times, the disaster prevention park and detention ponds can be used as a recreational space for residents. When a disaster occurs, shelters are set up in the parks to accommodate residents to protect lives and property. And, detention ponds could adjust outflow discharge into neighborhood drainage system to mitigate disaster happening. Because the construction of standardized disaster prevention park with climate change needs much more land area, the acquisition of private land area is very difficult either general acquisition or zone expropriation in urban area. During each stage of zone expropriation, the support of landlord and Mayor Wu is very important. By means of public participation, information meeting was held hundreds times and revised content according to landlord＇s positive opinion. Moreover, the design idea and content was discussed with consultant-company mutually from time to time. Fortunately, this project is finished successfully and got award from Public Construction Council of Taiwan in 2014.

Community-based flood disaster management for older adults in southern of Thailand:A qualitative study

Objective:This study explored the approaches for community-based flood disaster management for older adults in Southern Thailand.It sought to understand community culture for supporting older adults and promoting community strength in case of flood disaster.Method:This was a qualitative content analysis study using data from observation,in-depth interviews,secondary data,and focus group discussion.One hundred and twenty-seven people in total were selected specifically for the study,including Local Administration Organization(LAO),community leaders,public sector officers,civil groups,and older adult groups and family caregivers.Results:The results of this study were two main themes,focusing on 1)approaches to community-based flood disaster management for older adults as follows:eight approaches in the phase of prevention and preparedness in flood disaster management for older adults,eight approaches in the phase of response in flood disaster management for older adults,and six approaches in the phase of recovery and rehabilitation in flood disaster management for older adults;and 2)factors contributing to success in flood disaster management for older adults has four factors,including the human factor,the work factor,the data factor,and the resource factor.Conclusion:The findings showed significant roles in improving the potential and strength in communitybased flood disaster management for older adults and providing suggestions for community nurses and health practice personnel involving in flood disaster management to mitigate the potential influence on older adults in the community.