Urban Flood Terrain Uncertainty Analysis Using Multi-Source DEMs

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current urban flood numerical modeling struggles to accurately account for terrain uncertainties arising from various factors such as data sources, grid resolutions, and interpolation methods, leading to significant variations in simulation results like inundation extent and depth, necessitating a deeper understanding of terrain-related interactions.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the acquisition and preprocessing of DEM data from SRTM, ASTER, and ALOS, followed by optimization of urban terrain characteristics, Latin hypercube sampling, and a global sensitivity analysis using the Sobol method to quantify and evaluate terrain uncertainties, incorporating a flood hydrodynamic model to simulate different return periods and construct a sensitivity analysis framework.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If terrain data from different data sources is used, then simulation results show significant differences in inundation extent and depth, but this leads to increased uncertainty in flood simulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterrain data accuracyVSAvoidsimulation result consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying terrain data parameters including data sources (SRTM, ASTER, ALOS), grid resolutions (10m, 30m, 90m), and interpolation methods (nearest neighbor, bilinear, cubic convolution) to evaluate their impact on simulation results. This allows identification of optimal parameter combinations that balance accuracy and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses global sensitivity analysis to identify which terrain parameters have the most significant impact on simulation results. By focusing on the most influential parameters (data sources and grid resolutions) rather than all possible parameters, the method achieves reliable results with optimized computational resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Measurement precision

If different grid resolutions are used, then uncertainty characteristics interact with hydrodynamic model parameters, but this increases computational complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterrain resolutionVSAvoidmodel complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically changes grid resolution parameters (10m, 30m, 90m) to evaluate their impact on inundation simulation results. This parameter variation approach allows identification of the optimal resolution that balances detail accuracy with computational efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Through global sensitivity analysis, the patent identifies that grid resolution has limited impact on overall inundation extent but strong interaction effects with other parameters. This allows the method to focus computational effort on the most critical parameters rather than uniformly refining all aspects of the model

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If comprehensive terrain factor analysis is performed, then understanding of terrain-terrain interactions is improved, but this requires extensive computational resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterrain uncertainty understandingVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs global sensitivity analysis to identify and focus on the most influential terrain parameters (data sources and grid resolutions) rather than exhaustively analyzing all possible terrain factors. This partial action approach achieves comprehensive understanding with optimized computational resource usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The method systematically varies key parameters (data sources, grid resolutions, interpolation methods) to evaluate their individual and interaction effects on simulation results. This structured parameter exploration provides comprehensive terrain uncertainty understanding without requiring exhaustive analysis of all possible factors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260043939A1Method for evaluating terrain uncertainty in flood warning and forecasting

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 JIANGSU SECOND NORMAL UNIVERSITY

AI summary

A method for evaluating terrain uncertainty in flood warning and forecasting is provided. The method includes: S1, acquiring three types of digital elevation model (DEM) data from a shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM), an advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER), and an advanced land observing satellite (ALOS); and preprocessing the three types of DEM data; S2, optimizing urban terrain characteristics; S3, constructing a multidimensional parameter space by using Latin hypercube sampling (LHS); S4, calculating flood hydrodynamics numerical value based on multidimensional sample points; and S5, constructing a global sensitivity analysis method frame suitable for urban terrain characteristics-related factors, where a Sobol quantitative method is used in the global sensitivity analysis method frame, and the Sobol quantitative method is used to evaluate uncertainties and sensitivity characteristics of multiple factors of terrain data based on a variance decomposition theory.