METHODS, SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM STORAGE DEVICES FOR GENERATING A FLOODING FORECAST

• US 20140156232A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GlobalFoundries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Mello, Ulisses T., Novakovskaia, Elena A., Cordazzo, Jonas, Treinish, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US13/690,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20140156232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/14 Rainfall or precipitation gauges measuring volume in general G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/10 Numerical modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/23 using finite element methods [FEM] or finite difference methods [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/40 Controlling or monitoring, e.g. of flood or hurricane; Forecasting, e.g. risk assessment or mapping

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to methods, systems and computer program storage devices for generating a flooding forecast. In one specific example, the present disclosure relates generally to methods, systems and computer program storage devices for generating a flooding forecast for an urban environment. In another example, a fully conservative model may be utilized that allows employing an unstructured hybrid grid (1-dimesional/2-dimensional) to represent an urban area, where the 1-dimesional grid is a simplified representation of part of the domain.

Claims

1. A method for generating a flooding forecast, the method comprising:

maintaining a representation of a geographical region, the representation comprising;

(a) at least a first portion having a first dimensionality, the first portion corresponding to a first sub-region of the geographical region and the first dimensionality being a 1-dimensional dimensionality; and

(b) at least a second portion having a second dimensionality, the second portion corresponding to a second sub-region of the geographical region and the second dimensionality being a 2-dimensional dimensionality;

modeling at least one flooding related event within each of the first and second portions in accordance with a respective model that comprises at least a first water level calculation in accordance with the first dimensionality for the first portion and a second water level calculation in accordance with the second dimensionality for the second portion, in such a manner that the first and second portions together form a single mixed mesh; and

providing at least one water level prediction responsive to the modeling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion comprises at least one edge of the second portion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second portion is triangular.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the modeling takes into account conservation of momentum and energy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the modeling combines:

(a) a hydrological model, which includes the single mixed mesh; and

(b) a mesoscale meteorological model.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the meteorological model combines:

(a) radar; and

(b) surface data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing at least one water level prediction comprises outputting the water level prediction to at least one of:

(a) a display monitor;

(b) a digital file; and

(c) a printer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps are carried out in the order recited.

9. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for generating a flooding forecast, the program of instructions, when executing, performing the following steps:

maintaining a representation of a geographical region, the representation comprising;

(a) at least a first portion having a first dimensionality, the first portion corresponding to a first sub-region of the geographical region and the first dimensionality being a 1-dimensional dimensionality; and

(b) at least a second portion having a second dimensionality, the second portion corresponding to a second sub-region of the geographical region and the second dimensionality being a 2-dimensional dimensionality;

modeling at least one flooding related event within each of the first and second portions in accordance with a respective model that comprises at least a first water level calculation in accordance with the first dimensionality for the first portion and a second water level calculation in accordance with the second dimensionality for the second portion, in such a manner that the first and second portions together form a single mixed mesh; and

providing at least one water level prediction responsive to the modeling.

10. The program storage device of claim 9, wherein the first portion comprises at least one edge of the second portion.

11. The program storage device of claim 10, wherein the second portion is triangular.

12. The program storage device of claim 9, wherein the modeling takes into account conservation of momentum and energy.

13. The program storage device of claim 9, wherein the modeling combines:

(a) a hydrological model, which includes the single mixed mesh; and

(b) a mesoscale meteorological model.

14. The program storage device of claim 13, wherein the meteorological model combines:

(a) radar; and

(b) surface data.

15. The program storage device of claim 9, wherein the providing at least one water level prediction comprises outputting the water level prediction to at least one of:

(a) a display monitor;

(b) a digital file; and

(c) a printer.

16. The program storage device of claim 9, wherein the steps are carried out in the order recited.

17. A computer-implemented system for generating a flooding forecast, the system comprising:

a storage element that stores a representation of a geographical region, the representation comprising;

(a) at least a first portion having a first dimensionality, the first portion corresponding to a first sub-region of the geographical region and the first dimensionality being a 1-dimensional dimensionality; and

(b) at least a second portion having a second dimensionality, the second portion corresponding to a second sub-region of the geographical region and the second dimensionality being a 2-dimensional dimensionality;

a modeling element in operative communication with the storage element, the modeling element modeling at least one flooding related event within each of the first and second portions in accordance with a respective model that comprises at least a first water level calculation in accordance with the first dimensionality for the first portion and a second water level calculation in accordance with the second dimensionality for the second portion, in such a manner that the first and second portions together form a single mixed mesh; and

an output element in operative communication with the modeling element, the output element outputting at least one water level prediction responsive to the modeling.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first portion comprises at least one edge of the second portion.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the second portion is triangular.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the modeling takes into account conservation of momentum and energy.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the modeling combines:

(a) a hydrological model, which includes the single mixed mesh; and

(b) a mesoscale meteorological model.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the meteorological model combines:

(a) radar; and

(b) surface data.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the steps are carried out in the order recited.

24. The system of claim 17, further comprising a receiving element, wherein the receiving element receives the representation of the geographical region and the representation of the geographical region is stored in the storage element after receipt by the receiving element.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the output element outputs the water level prediction to at least one of:

(a) a display monitor;

(b) a digital file; and

(c) a printer.