Fractal Assessment of Flooded Areas

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to increase the efficiency of research work aimed at determining the likely level of flood water rise and assessing the risk of flooding of areas. Materials and methods. Multifractal analysis methods and a special add-on to a geographic information system were used to assess the risk of flooding of territories, allowing the analysis of cartographic materials to obtain new knowledge about the configuration of the river network and the resulting features of the spatial localization of flooding. Results and discussion. The floodplain flood risk assessment model based on the analysis of fractal development of the river network is presented. The methodology of fractal modelling based on freely distributed geographical information system - QGIS is described in detail. The obtained results are expressed in cartograms of territories at high risk of flooding by the example of the Kaluga region. A list of proposed anti-flooding measures is given. Conclusions. Application of fractal modelling of hydrological processes in QGIS allows to estimate the level of probable flood water rise in the analysed areas, to selectively assess flood risks and to carry out preventive engineering and reclamation measures on them.