Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to assess the efficiency of structural flood control measures: case study of Audi-União District in the city of Curitiba, Brazil

Modelagem hidrológica-hidráulica para avaliação da eficiência de medidas de contenção de cheias: estudo de caso do Bolsão Audi-União em Curitiba, Brasil

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the efficiency of flood control measures implemented in the Audi-União District, located on the Iguaçu River floodplain in the city of Curitiba, Brazil, by the application of hydrological-hydraulic modeling using HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS software packages. The scenarios of the years of 2014, 2024 and 2034 with return periods of 10, 25, 50 and 100 years were analyzed. It was observed that the set of hydraulic structures located upstream of Audi-União District can reduce the peak flow at the beginning of the Iguaçu River by 31.4% and the flood area by 35.1%, considering the period of return of 100 years and the land use of 2014. Regarding the measures implemented directly by the Audi-União District, it was observed that the built levee can control floods in the area, except for a small area that is not protected by the levee, in both 2014 and future scenarios. The creation of the Iguaçu Environmental Protection Area and the relocation of families, which were non-structural measures implemented in the region, also proved to be efficient, considering that these areas would suffer from flooding even for rainfall events with a period of return of 10 years.

Keywords:
Flood control; HEC-HMS; HEC-RAS