A real-time hydrological model for flood prediction using GIS and the WWW

The purpose of this paper is to examine the current status of real time hydrological models used for flood nowcasting and hazard mitigation and indicate how WWW-based systems can overcome some of the limitations of existing systems. Whilst hydrologically innovative and robust models are available, they are poorly suited to real time application, are often not well integrated with spatial datasets such as GIS. Current systems also lack flexibility, customisability and accessibility by a range of end users. We describe the development of a Web-based hydrological modelling system that permits integrated handling of real-time rainfall data from a wireless monitoring network. A spatially distributed GIS-based model is integrated on the basis of this incoming data, approximating real-time to produce data on catchment hydrology and runoff. The data can be accessed from any WWW interface, and they can be analysed online using a number of GIS and numerical functions. We discuss the potential users of such a system and the requirements for interfacing model output with these users for hydrological nowcasting and spatial real-time, emergency decision support. Rather than discuss developments in the modelling of hydrology for flood hazard mitigation, this paper focuses on developments in interfacing these models with end users. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.