Flood simulation in the coastal plain of Coatzacoalcos (Veracruz, Mexico) using LiDAR

In the flood simulation method presented here, different approaches reconstitute at a regional scale flooded areas according to the displaced volume. The developed algorithm creates a flood surface whose slope is calculated according to field observations. The surface thus obtained is superposed on a DEM in order to define the extension of the submerged areas. A concave surface of the flood would correspond to the flux entering in the study region; a convex surface would represent the accumulation or the final stage downstream. On the other hand, slight Gaussian functions are used to simulate local water accumulations and flooding waves related to the sliding motion of the water surface. Such simulations can be used to monitor the areas of potential flood affecting flat coastal plains.