Floodplain Analysis using ArcGIS, HEC-GeoRAS and HEC-RAS in Attarat Um Al-Ghudran Oil Shale Concession Area, Jordan

Abstract

Flood is a natural disaster and causes loss of life and property destruction. The objective of this study was to analyze flood inundation area mapping at Wadi Attarat Um Al Ghurdan Oil Shale mining concession area, The flooded areas along the main Wadi of Al-Ghadaf catchment area have been mapped based on the flow rates for different return periods using the HEC-RAS model, GIS for spatial data processing and HEC-GeoRAS for interfacing between HECRAS and GIS. The areas along the main wadi in the study area were simulated to be inundated for 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 years return periods. An inundation map displays the spatial extent of probable flooding for different scenarios and can be present either in quantitative or qualitative ways. The flood inundation maps for 25, 50 and 100 years return periods were prepared using ArcGIS. The major findings in the study revealed that the water level in some localities in the inundated areas reaches approximately 5.0 m along the wadi. Therefore, proper flood management can be adopted to reduce the adverse effects of flooding particularly in the low-lying flood prone areas.