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Systems and methods for flood risk assessment

  • US 7,917,292 B1
  • Filed: 10/16/2007
  • Issued: 03/29/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for predicting a flood elevation for a flood frequency for a property point, comprising:

  • calculating with a processor at least two points of flood frequency versus flood elevation for the property point using a flood map;

    defining a relationship between flood frequency and flood elevation for the property point using the at least two points; and

    predicting with the processor at least one flood elevation at a flood frequency different from the flood frequency of one of the at least two points for the property point using the relationship;

    wherein the flood map comprises a map of flood zones, defined by flood boundaries, and a plurality of pre-existing flood elevation lines;

    wherein calculating with a processor at least two points of flood frequency versus flood elevation for the property point comprises;

    geographically aligning the flood map with a digital elevation map; and

    forming a substantially perpendicular line, on a digital elevation map, between the property point and a flood source line feature of a flood source in a same catchment area as the property point;

    wherein the at least two points of flood frequency versus flood elevation for the property point are derived from geo-referenced discrete points, on the digital elevation map, for flood frequencies corresponding to a location on the flood source in a flood water surface profile that is on the substantially perpendicular line; and

    wherein the flood water surface profile provides flood elevation for a flood source at given distances along the flood source;

    wherein the defined relationship between flood frequency and flood elevation for the property point is a logarithmic relationship;

    wherein the logarithmic relationship is defined by the equation;


    Flood elevation=a Log(flood return period)+bwhere flood return period is 1/flood frequency, andwherein a and b are defined by solving the equation for the at least two calculated points.

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