Flood management is a topic of special importance due to the accelerated development that many communities are experiencing across the country and the increasingly tangible effects of climate change. The recent floods in British Columbia (BC), as well as the 2005 and 2013 events in Alberta, showcase the potentially devastating impacts of flooding. Flood mapping is a key tool for flood management, as it informs decisions related to flood risk mitigation and emergency response. The provinces of Alberta and BC, despite their proximity, have taken different approaches to flood mapping. Experience on various projects in both provinces has shown that there is no unique approach to flood mapping and that available tools can be used in a variety of ways to inform flood-related decisions. 2D hydraulic models are increasingly replacing 1D models due to their improved capabilities to simulate overbank flooding and braided channels, and the superior computer capacity available nowadays. However, 1D models can produce similar or better results when modelling relatively uniform channels, with less effort and computational requirements.
This presentation aims to provide real world examples of flood mapping projects in Alberta and BC and discuss how the regulatory approach in each province has influenced the application of 1D and 2D hydraulic models.
