TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

CASE STUDY

CE 319
HYDRAULICS ENGINEERING

SUBMITTED BY:

BULINGOT, ARIANNE GRACE B. 2010512

GABOR, JHANIELLE ARA P. 2012228
VILLAR JR., FREDRICH P. 2011151

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. JERICA LYN P. CRUZ

DATE:
DECEMBER 6, 2022
I. Background of the Study

Flood is an unpredictable and unexpected event which not only damages the
natural resources, lives and environment but also causes health problems and loss
of economy. When the river banks are overtopped, river water spreads over the flood
plain and thus causes damage to crops and property within the flood plain of the
river. Flooding is a major natural hazard affecting more than 520 million people every
year, with more than 25,000 fatalities worldwide, and causing global economic
losses of around $50 billion annually (Alphen et al. 2011).

Since the flood plains are a preferred location for human settlement and his
activities, it is important that floods be controlled so that the damage does not
exceed an acceptable limit. It is not possible to prevent floods but it is possible to
reduce the damages due to floods by controlling the effect of floods. 

According to Pew Research Center, India’s population has more than tripled
in the six decades following Partition, from 361 million (36.1 crore) people in the
1951 census to more than 1.2 billion (120 crore) in 2011. As of 2020, India gains
roughly 1 million (10 lakh) inhabitants each month, putting it on course to surpass
China as the world’s most populous country by 2030, according to the United
Nations Population Division. Nearly 30 million people reside in the Teesta River
basin. The population density in the river basin is high and is growing at a fast pace.
The population mostly resides in rural areas (around 78%) but is urbanizing at a
rapid rate. The basin is primarily agrarian. 

India is one of the worst flood-affected countries in the world, as it is

surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal. As per the
Geological Survey of India, the major flood prone areas of India which cover almost
12.5 % area of the country. About 40 million hectares of land in India is prone to be
flooded (National Flood Commission of India, 2022)

According to Philstar, The perennial problem of flooding in the Philippines is

partly attributed to its geographical attributes. Around 421 principal river basins are
dispersed across the archipelago and an average of 20 typhoons enters the country
annually, making it prone to flooding.

Flood modeling is one of the engineering tools which provide accurate

information of the flood profile. The rainfall, runoff, catchment characteristics and
return period are the parameters which govern the flood.

In order to understand the flood hydrology and to minimize the extent of

damage in downstream of Shetrunji dam, different water surface profiles have been
developed and studied using HEC-RAS model with the help of Remote Sensing and
GIS technology. HEC-RAS is 1-D hydraulic model which is used to determine the
extent of inundation in terms of different water surface profiles. 
 Our chief aim in this paper is to understand the flood hydrology and to
minimize the extent of damage in downstream of Shetrunji river and Teesta River,
water surface profiles have been developed and studied using HEC-RAS model and
HEC- HMS with the help of Remote Sensing and GIS technology. 

II. Description of the Problem

A. Flood Modelling Using HEC-RAS and Geo˗Informatics Technology in

Lower Reaches of Shetrunji river, Gujarat, India

 Over the past decades, Central India has become familiar with precipitation
events like heavy rains and flash floods. Gujarat has seen various damaging floods.
Almost all major rivers in Gujarat pass through a wide stretch of very flat terrain
before meeting to the Ocean. These flat lands of lower river basins are prone to be
flooded every year.Gujarat is also frequently affected by severe floods. Deep
depression in Gujarat state in June 2015 brought heavy rains and thus Gujarat was
affected by flood on 24th June 2015. 

Figure 1: Photo was taken by Indian ministry of defence during the 2015 flood
in Gujarat, India

Following heavy rains in July 2015, Gujarat was hit by a massive flood which
resulted in at least 72 deaths. Over 81, 609 cattle died in three districts.
Three helicopters from Indian Air Force and Border Security Force(BSF) were
deployed for relief and rescue. 
Gujarat has seen various damaging floods. Almost all major rivers in Gujarat
pass through a wide stretch of very flat terrain before meeting to the Ocean. These
flat lands of lower river basins are prone to be flooded every year.Gujarat is also
frequently affected by severe floods. 

Heavy monsoon rains have triggered havoc in Gujarat several times - in 2017, more
than 200 people died in floods triggered by unrelenting rain.According to a
government report, many parts of Gujarat are vulnerable to floods because major
rivers "pass through a wide stretch of the very flat terrain before reaching the sea".
"These flat lowlands of lower river basins are prone to flooding," it adds.

A. Flash flood risk assessment for upper Teesta river basin: using the
hydrological modeling system (HEC-HMS) software

Flash flood is one of the devastating natural disasters in the mountainous

region of India. In Sikkim Darjeeling Himalaya Teesta Watershed is a probable flash
flood occurrence zone. The present study is an attempt to develop a simulation
model of surface runoff in the upper Teesta basin, which is directly related to
catastrophic flood happenings. 
The recent flood in the Mandakini River in Kedarnath (14–17th June, 2013) is
a classic example of flash floods. devastated Uttarakhand by killing thousands of
people (Das et al. 2015). The disaster was an integrated effect of high intensity
rainfall, sudden breach of Chorabari Lake and very steep topography (Rao et al.
2014). The Origin of Teesta river is The Pahunri Glacier, and it flows southward
through gorges and rapid flow in the Sikkim Himalaya. In Past, the Teesta used to
flow beside Rangpo town, where the Rangpo River also meets, and forms the border
between Sikkim and West Bengal up to Teesta Bazaar. 

Figure 2: Photo was taken at Rangpur region after the onrush water from the
Teesta river flooded the area. Source: Dailystar.net
 
Given the government's disaster management capability and other resources,
the relief and rehabilitation operations will probably go well, and the situation will be
stabilized. However, greater questions still remain: What is the guarantee that a
similar frightful episode will not happen again soon? What can India do to avoid such
catastrophic floods and manage to cope with them when they actually happen?

Flood in the Philippines

The catastrophic impact of floods to human welfare and urban development

prompted the government to increase public spending to address this issue. But
many countries - including the Philippines which is often hit by calamities - are
developing long-term flood management approaches that can decrease high
expenditure. This is amid a growing commitment to develop integrated flood
management approaches that will address flooding issues and mitigate the
economic, social, and environmental effects of floods.

According to worlddata.info, Typhoons occur very often in the Philippines. On

average, they happen about 16 times a year. The hardest hit regions are
Calabarzon, Bicol and Central Luzon. One of the strongest typhoons that hits the
Philippines is typhoon Super typhoon Yolanda with a death toll of around 6,300
people and damage worth ₱95.5 billion pesos.

Figure 3: High waves triggered by powerful winds of Supertyphoon “Yolanda”

pound the sea wall of Legazpi City. Source: Inquirer.net

Typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ one of the strongest typhoons on record struck the

Philippines, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and knocking out power
and communications in several provinces.
III. Diagnosis

HEC-RAS is a one-dimensional steady flow hydraulic model designed to aid

hydraulic engineers in channel flow analysis and floodplain determination. The
results of the model can be applied in floodplain management and flood insurance
studies while The Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) is designed to simulate
the precipitation-runoff processes of dendritic drainage basins. It is designed to be
applicable in a wide range of geographic areas for solving the widest possible range
of problems. This includes large river basin water supply and flood hydrology, and
small urban or natural watershed runoff. The difference that the two systems share is
that HEC-HMS is a hydrologic modeling program that allows to establish rainfall-
runoff relationships, based on watershed characteristics. On the other hand, HEC-
RAS is used to make hydraulic models that include rivers and pipes, i.e., modeling of
open channel flow systems. 

As for India being one of the worst floods affected countries in the world,
specifically in Gujarat state, deep depression in June 2015 brought heavy rains on
24th June 2015 and affected major parts of the Gujarat state by flood. Heavy rainfall
occurred with peak accumulations of 25 inches (636mm) in Bagasara and 20.1
inches (511mm) in Dhari, which are located in Shetrunji river basin on the upstream
side of Shetrunji dam. Due to very heavy rainfall in the upstream side the main river
and its tributaries come with ample amounts of water which leads to crossing the Full
Reservoir Level of Shetrunji reservoir. In the study of Anant D. Patel, Dhruvesh P.
Patel, and Indra Prakash (2016), in order to fully understand the flood hydrology and
minimize the extent of damage in the downstream of Shetrunji Dam, water surface
profiles have been developed and studied using HEC-RAS model with the help of
Remote Sensing and GIS technology.

On the other hand, in the mountainous region in India, Sikkim Darjeeling

Himalaya Teesta Watershed is a probable flash flood occurrence zone. With the
study of Subhra Prakash Mandal and Abhisek Chakrabarty (2016), they attempted to
develop a simulation model of the surface runoff in the upper Teesta basin that
causes the catastrophic flood happenings in the area. At the first stage, a primary
unit hydrograph is developed with time for an excess rainfall event by estimating the
stream flow response at the outlet of the watershed. The analysis of the different
hydraulic model to detect flash flood probability was done using HEC-RAS, and
HEC-HMS Software to achieve final and accurate results. The simulation model is
based on the watershed and its surface characteristics of the soil, land use, land
cover and altitude of the area and the discharge volume of water with time. This
model was validated by inserting the rainfall data of a flood event, which took place
on 2nd to 5th October in 1968, and 78 % of the actual area flooded reflected in the
output of the model.

The two studies both display a particular concern in which they may amplify
hazards and unimaginable damages in the country of India. Prior to the first study
that was mentioned, Gujarat has seen various damaging floods. Almost all major
rivers in Gujarat pass through a wide stretch of very flat terrain before meeting to the
Ocean. These flat lands of lower river basins are prone to be flooded every year.
Gujarat is also frequently affected by severe floods. Several parts of Gujarat were
reeling under floods as heavy rains battered south and central districts, killing at
least seven people in the last 24 hours and forcing over 9,000 people to relocate to
safer areas. Meaning, almost all parts of Gujarat state is prone to floods (NDMA). 
According to the IMD, from 1st to 28th of July, 2017, the state received about
559.4 mm of rainfall, as against the average of 339.6 mm between July 1 to 28 which
shows exceptionally heavy rainfall during 2017. Out of the total geographical area of
329 mha, more than 40 mha is flood prone. The deadliest flooding events from 2000
to 2019 were the June 2013 floods in India (6,054 deaths) (UNISIDAR) Raju Thapa,
et al., (2017). The 2017 Gujarat floods resulted in the loss of lives, livestock, crops,
durable assets, and damage to public and private infrastructure.

The districts of Banaskantha, Patan, Gandhinagar, Morbi, Surendranagar,

Mehsana and Sabarkantha received 267%, 208%, 189%, 174%, 172%, 130% and
115% respectively of their average rainfall for the same period.The districts in north
Gujarat received more than 200 mm of rainfall in 24 hours on 24 July.Dhanera
recorded 235 mm rainfall in six hours on 24 July resulting in severe flooding. Deesa
recorded 269 mm rain while Idar recorded 151 mm on 25 July. Sabarkantha received
highest rains in Gujarat at 219 mm, followed by Banaskantha with 150 mm. It was
close to the heaviest rainfall in 112 years in the affected region.

 
Moreover, Shetrunji Dam, which has designed gross storage capacity of
308.68 million cubic meter (MCM) when filled to its capacity might lead to flooding to
the areas surrounding the Shetrunji Dam which led to the first case study to develop
water surface profiles and use the HEC-RAS model to gain control and insights
regarding the flooding incidents.
 Compared to the Gujarat State, the past flood in the Mandakini River in
Kedarnath (14–17th June, 2013) is a classic example of flash floods that devastated
Uttarakhand by killing thousands of people (Das et al. 2015). The Origin of Teesta
River is The Pahunri Glacier, and it flows southward through gorges and rapid flow in
the Sikkim Himalaya. In Past, the Teesta used to flow beside Rangpo town, where
the Rangpo River also meets, and forms the border between Sikkim and West
Bengal up to Teesta Bazaar. Just before the Teesta Bridge. The Teesta is
characterized by a complex hydrological regime. The river is fed not only by
precipitation but also by melting glaciers and snow as well as ground water
(Wiejaczka et al. 2014). It is a hilly region, the relief rainfall or the orographic rains
are very common and in the upper part, the icecaps are also present and ice melt
water is also added in the stream. If any flash flood occurs, losses of life and
property and various other problems are inevitable. 

In 1968, this kind of flash flood occurred here. Therefore, in future, there are
also ample chances of occurrence of this kind of hazard in Teesta River basin. The
rainfall distribution in the hilly region of the river system by using the travel time
coordinate is the significant property of spatial rainfall variability when considering
flood response modeling. (Zoccatelli et al. 2010). According to second study that
focuses on the Teesta River basin, their primary purpose includes to construct a unit
of hydrograph, extraction of drainage line and their catchment, estimation of runoff
from NRCS Curve number which is a function of land use, and he generation of the
hydrograph that is based on the excess rainfall event. 

Low-lying regions in Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram have been

flooded as the Teesta River crossed the danger mark following heavy rains and
onrush of water from upstream. In Nilphamari, the river was flowing 27cm above the
danger mark at the Dalia point Thursday morning after first crossingthe danger mark
Wednesday night when it was flowing 12cm above the danger mark,confirmed Nurul
Islam, the gauge reader at Teesta Barrage. Low-lying and char areas in the Teesta
River basin were inundated due to heavy rains and onrush of water coming down
from India.The Teesta barrage has opened all 44 sluice gates to control the
floodwaters during typhoons.

 
 

With the floodplain along the Teesta River basin, there is a significant concern about
how many districts will be flooded once it overflows. As per the second study, using
the HEC-HMS modeling system, they intended to simulate a complete hydrologic
process of the watershed system surrounding the Teesta River. After gathering the
data results, the collected data are stored in HEC-DSS (data storage system) and
can also be used for studies of water availability.

While both of the two studies focus on the different flood-causing rivers in India, their
methods in analyzing and collecting information the specific areas that surround the
both rivers, Shetrunji and Teesta are alike namely the HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS,
respectively. With these circumstances, the difference between the two flood-
modeling systems has brought the two studies to be more reliable and accurate in
the field of flood-modeling systems in the areas that the two rivers cover in India.

The researchers of the first study set up boundary conditions in order to

perform calculations. It is necessary to establish the starting water surface at the
ends of the river system (upstream and downstream). A starting water surface is
necessary in order for the program to begin the calculations. After entering the
gathered data in the calculations from the HEC-RAS software and from the Geodata,
the researchers proceeded to tabulate the results of the generation of water surface
profile for different discharge. In line with the first study, the researchers on the
second study started first locating the accumulation points on the area of the Teesta
River basin. Runoff coefficient is an important diagnostic variable of runoff
generation and catchment response. To compare catchments at different time scales
to understand the dampening effect on rainfall of various landscapes (Garambois et
al. 2014). Based on the stream and outlet point, a total 377 numbers of the basin
have been generated. These massive numbers of basins are too large for the
analysis. Therefore, basins have been merged and created 17 sub-basins.
Considering the results and the methods that are used, the second study gains more
accurate and complete generation of data that includes the hydrograph, peak
discharge water volume, speed and peak discharge time has been generated. Unlike
the first study that only generated the water surface profiles of the Shetrunji River.
Although, both of them met their objectives with the use of the different flood
modeling system.

IV. Methodology
One of the main problems that an individual is experiencing due to a natural
phenomenon is flood. Flood can be caused by different instances such as heavy
rainfall, climate change that leads to snow melting, dam failures, and deforestation
etc.
We have come far enough with technology and created systems that will guide us to
a solution that enable us to prevent further damage when a natural phenomenon hit
us.
In this study, we are focused on using flood modelling systems such as HEC-RAS
(Hydrologic Engineering Center River Analysis System) and HEC-HMS (Hydrologic
Engineering Center Hydrologic Modelling System) to assess the flood risk of the
overflowing river basins in India such as Shetrunji River basin in Sikkim Darjeeling
Himalaya and upper Teesta River basin in Gujarat that could cause flood and harm
to its nearby inhabitants and properties.
A. Shetrunji River Basin
I. Hydrological data

Gathering hydrological data for the hydrograph to collect an annual rainfall

data on the Shetrunji River Basin for the last 35 years with the help of the
State Water Data Center, the average annual rainfall in the Shetrunji River
Basin is 552mm.
 On July 24th,2015 in the Shetrunji River basin it reached its maximum inflow in
the Shetrunji reservoir which has a discharge of 657,777 cusecs. It is
monitored for 72 hours and is subtracted to its discharge for the hydrograph.
The discharge is 130,390 cusecs.

II. Digitization of River Profile and Cross section

The Shetrunji study area location is broken-down to 60 sections with a total

length of 33.3 km from the ocean.
III. Satellite Data

Satellite images are used for this study to gather further information about the
location of the Shetrunji River Basin. The Indian Remote Sensing Satellite P6
(IRS P6) and Linear Self Scanner III (LISS III) were used in 2015 for the land
use map. Land use map is used to see what is built on an exact location.

IV. Flood Modelling

The Shetrunji River Basin uses HEC-RAS software for flood modelling for the
calculation of water surface elevation of the affected areas. Using HEC-RAS
you are enabled to determine a set of flow data. The data that is collected will
be divided into three parts which is the steady flow simulation, unsteady flow
simulation and geometric data. Below is the step-by-step procedure on how to
make a hydraulic model with HEC-RAS:

1. Start a new project

2. Enter Geometric data
3. Enter flow data and boundary conditions
4. Perform the Steady & Unsteady flow Simulation
5. Result Analysis

B. Upper Teesta River Basin

I. Watershed and streamline delineation

The Teesta basin uses Arc GIS 10.1 for automatic watershed demarcation
that uses Aster GDEM which is a Digital Elevation Model. The Arc GIS is like
a run and fill tool that fill the lower elevations in the environment and is called
the “fil image”.
II. Sub-basin division

Runoff coefficient is an important diagnostic variable of runoff generation and

catchment response. To compare catchments at different time scales to
understand the dampening effect on rainfall of various landscapes
(Garambois et al. 2014).

III. Basin characteristics

To calculate the hydrograph, the characteristic of basins is one of the

significant factors, which Connect River of each stream segments. The spatial
rainfall variability plays a major role when rainfall fields are systematically
structured across locations with equal flow distance coordinates (Wu et al.
2015)

IV. Basin longest flow path

Here based on the individual sub-basins the longest flow path has been
calculating from the vector river layer by using HEC-HMS software
environment.

V. Basin centroid

It is for identification of the centroid of each sub-basin. These centroids are

located at the center of gravity of each sub-basin. Therefore, it is one of the
 useful parameters of hydrograph generation. After generating the centroids,
the centroid elevation has been computed from the Aster DEM.

VI. Hydrological soil division

Those groups of classification are well-known as hydrological soil group. The

runoff properties classify the soils. Soil Group ‘A’ has low runoff potential and
high infiltration rates. This soil is well to excessively drained and has a high

rate of water transmission into the ground.

VII. Land use land cover of the study area

Land use land cover is a very imperative aspect for the curve number
calculation. Based on the land use and land cover the curve number changes,
because the different land cover and land use have a different type of runoff
capacity.

VIII. CN grid generation

The CN value of each pixel based on the land use and hydrological soil group.
The behavior of the CN-rainfall function produced by the simplified two CN
 system approached theoretically; it analyzed scientifically, and it is found to be
related to the variation observed in the natural watershed (Soulis and
Valiantzas 2012).

IX. Hydrologic modeling system

The hydrologic modeling system (HEC-HMS) intended to simulate the

complete hydrologic processes of dendrite watershed systems. The HMS
software comprises several traditional hydrologic analysis procedures such as
event infiltration, unit hydrographs, and hydrologic routing. It also includes
procedures necessary for continuous simulation including evapotranspiration,
snowmelt, and soil moisture accounting (US Army Corps of Engineers
Hydrologic Engineering Centre (USACE) 2008). The software features a
completely integrated work environment including a database, data entry
utilities, computation engine, and results reporting tools. A graphical user
interface allows the seamless user movement between the different parts of
the software.

X. Hydrologic simulation

Mechanism conditions control the flow time of the river water. Mechanism
conditions contain a starting date and time, ending date and time, and a time
interval (Borga et al. 2011). A simulation created by linking a basin model,
meteorological model, and mechanism conditions. Route selections comprise
a precipitation or flow ratio, ability to apart from all basin state information at a
point in time, and able to initiate a simulation run (Zenon et al. 2010).
V. Solution
VI. Conclusion/Recommendation

Fredrich P. Villar Jr.

Floods cause large-scale loss to life and great damage to properties. Floods
cause severe damage to agricultural regions of the affected area. There is loss of life
of humans as well as animals. People and the government both suffer from loss in
financial terms. Re-building of affected areas takes a lot of time and money.
With the use of machine as a mean of predicting and evaluating a flood, we
can develop appropriate measures to control flood risk, mitigate flood hazard,
evacuate people from flood hazard areas, determine insurance premiums, and
manage environmental and water resources systems.
What I can recommend is to Invest in the collection of data and the creation
of comprehensive information systems that are easily accessible to each level of
planning. Find more effective ways to increase public participation, particularly by the
population sectors most affected, in decision-making measures to reduce flood
vulnerability and cost-sharing. Adopt more comprehensive, multisectoral watershed
management programs, including as a key element program to reduce vulnerability
to floods.
 Arianne Grace B. Bulingot
Flood is not a stranger in our country. In Manila, there are specific locations
that even a small amount of rain can make a puddle or aggressive flow of water that
will ruin your mood. A continuous pouring of rain from morning to night can cause a
knee level flood because of clogged drains and sewers. The rest of the world is also
experiencing flood due to heavy rains and climate change.
Knowing your location and topographical locations can help you prevent from
damages that can occur in the future. When the location of your home is lower than
the rest or your location is in the center of high elevated locations, there is a high
chance that your location is prone to flooding. When you are close to any bodies of
water, there is also a high chance that when a typhoon came, your home will be
flooded and have damage.
Flood Modelling systems is helpful because it gives us time to prepare for
what scenario might come to us in the future. We will be relieved from knowing that
our homes will not be affected from any rising water levels when the time comes.
REFERENCES