College of Civil Engineering and Architecture
Department of Civil Engineering
Chapter 3
FLOOD PROTECTION METHODS
Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
By : Birhane S.(MSc
Chapter 3
Contents of the chapter
Introduction to Floods and Their Impact
Flood Risk Assessment and Management
Structural Flood Protection Methods
Non-Structural Flood Protection Methods
Sustainable and Innovative Flood Protection
Solutions
3.1 Introduction to Floods and Their Impact
Definition and Types of Floods
Definition
o Flood: the overflow of water on to dry land, typically
caused by excessive rainfall, river overflow, dam
failure etc.
o It is normally the level at which the river overflows
its banks and inundates the adjoining area.
…cont’d
Types of Floods
a) River Flood: Occurs when rivers overflow their banks
due to heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or dam failures.
b) Flash Flood: A sudden, intense flood caused by heavy
rainfall in a short period, often in urban areas or
mountainous regions.
c) Coastal Flood: Caused by storm surges, tsunamis, or
high tides combined with strong winds, leading to
seawater inundation of coastal areas.
d) Urban Flood: Results from poor drainage systems in
cities, where excessive rainfall above drainage capacity,
leading to water accumulation on streets.
…cont’d
e) Groundwater Flood: Occurs when the water table
rises above the surface due to prolonged rainfall or
seepage from underground sources.
f) Dam Break Flood: Results from the failure of a dam
or levee, causing a rapid and catastrophic release of
water downstream.
…cont’d
Causes of Flooding
1)Natural Causes
Heavy Rainfall: Excessive and prolonged rainfall can saturate
the soil, causing runoff and overflow of rivers, lakes, and
drainage systems.
River Overflow: When rivers exceed their carrying capacity
due to heavy rains or melting snow, they spill over their
banks.
Storm Surges: Coastal areas experience flooding when strong
winds from hurricanes or cyclones push ocean water onto the
land.
Snowmelt and Ice Jams: Rapid melting of snow and ice
increases river flow, leading to floods. Ice jams can also block
rivers, causing water to back up.
…cont’d
Tsunamis: Underwater earthquakes or volcanic
eruptions can generate massive waves that flood
coastal areas.
Topography and Soil Conditions: Low-lying areas and
regions with impermeable or already saturated soil
are more prone to flooding.
2) Human-Induced Causes
Deforestation: Cutting down trees reduces the land’s
ability to absorb rainwater, increasing runoff and
erosion.
Urbanization and Poor Drainage Systems: Paved
surfaces prevent water infiltration, overwhelming
drainage systems and causing flash floods.
…cont’d
Dam Failures: The collapse of a dam or embankment
can release a large volume of water, causing severe
flooding.
Climate Change: Rising global temperatures lead to
more intense storms, sea-level rise, and changing
precipitation patterns, increasing the likelihood of
floods.
Poor Agricultural Practices: Overgrazing and
improper irrigation can degrade land, making it more
susceptible to waterlogging and floods.
…cont’d
Impacts of Floods
Environmental
Social
Economic
…cont’d
Flood Frequency Analysis and Prediction
Flood Frequency Analysis
It is a statistical approach used to estimate the
likelihood of flood events of different magnitudes
occurring over a specific period.
It helps in designing hydraulic structures, floodplain
management, and risk assessment.
It involves using past flood records to estimate the
probability of future floods.
…cont’d
The key steps Flood Frequency Analysis include are:
a) Data Collection
o Historical flood records (e.g., peak annual discharge)
o Rainfall and river flow data
o Gauge station data
b) Selection of Probability Distribution
Commonly used probability distributions include:
Gumbel Distribution (Extreme Value Type I)
Log-Pearson Type III Distribution
Normal and Log-Normal Distributions
…cont’d
c) Estimation of Return Period (T)
The return period (or recurrence interval) is given by:
T = N+1/m
T= return period (years)
N= number of years of record
m= rank of flood magnitude (largest flood is rank 1)
d) Probability of Exceedance (P)
The probability of a flood of magnitude Q being
equaled or exceeded in any given year is:
P = 1/T
…cont’d
Flow (m^3/s) Q in Rank (m) Return Probability of
decreasing period (T) exceedance
order T = N+1/m P = 1/T
100 100 1 6 0.16
80 90 2 3 0.33
90 80 3 2 0.5
60 70 4 1.5 0.67
70 60 5 1.2 0.83
…cont’d
Flood Prediction Methods
It involves forecasting flood events based on meteorological
and hydrological data.
a) Hydrological Models
• Rainfall-Runoff Models: Convert rainfall into runoff (e.g. HEC-
HMS, SWAT)
Statistical Models: Use regression and probability
techniques(like Gumbel Distribution, Log-Pearson Type III,
etc.)
• Machine Learning Models: Use AI-based approaches (e.g.,
ANN, Random Forest)
b) Remote Sensing and GIS
• Satellite imagery for real-time flood monitoring
• Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for floodplain mapping
…cont’d
Applications of Flood Frequency Analysis
Design of dams, bridges, and levees
Urban storm water drainage planning
Risk assessment for insurance and land-use planning
Development of flood mitigation strategies
3.2 Structural Flood Protection Methods
Levees/dykes
It is an embankment built along a river, lake, or coastal area to
prevent flooding. It can be natural (formed by sediment
deposition) or artificial (constructed using earth, concrete, or
other materials).
o Earthen Levees: Made of compacted soil and clay, covered
with grass or riprap.
o Concrete Levees: Stronger but more expensive, often used in
urban areas.
o Ring Levees: Circular levees protecting a specific area, such
as a town or industrial site.
…cont’d
Dams for Flood Control
Dams play a crucial role in flood control by regulating river
flow, storing excess water during peak periods, and releasing it
gradually to prevent downstream flooding.
Types of Dams Used for Flood Control
• Storage Dams: Large reservoirs store floodwaters and release
them slowly.
• Multipurpose Dams: Designed for flood control, irrigation,
hydroelectric power, and water supply.
• Detention Dams: Temporarily store floodwaters and release
them at a controlled rate.
• Check Dams: Small structures in tributaries that slow down
runoff and reduce erosion.
…cont’d
River Training Works
Guide Banks
Guide banks are constructed on either side of the river for
protecting the structure from erosion.
Guide bank is consisting of curved heads on either ends.
These are constructed parallel to the direction of river flow
and extend both upstream and downstream of the hydraulic
structure’s abutments.
…cont’d
Design criteria for guide banks
a) Length of clear water(L): is the length provided between
guide banks.
L= 1.1P to 1.25P, P= 4.75Q^0.5
Where p is lacey’s regime perimeter(m)
Q is maximum discharge(m^3/s)
b) Length of guide bank
u/s of axis work:
1.25L for discharge up to 20,000m^3/s
1.5L for higher discharge
d/s axis work:
0.1L to 0.2L for any discharge.
…cont’d
c) Radius and sweep angles of curve heads
Upstream curve heads
R = 0.45L Angle = 120 to 145 degree
Downstream curve heads
R = 0.25L angle = 45 to 90 degree
…cont’d
Exercise
Assume the amount of flow through a certain
river is 10,000m^3/s. determine the size of the
guide bank and sketch it. Use length of a clear
water way, L = 1.2P
…cont’d
Groynes/Spurs
• Groynes are impervious permanent structures that
are constructed on the curves.
• They are constructed for protecting the river bank
from erosion.
• Groynes generally make an angle of 60 to 75 degree
with the bank.
…cont’d
Types of Groynes
i) Repelling Groyne
• Groynes in river training works can be aligned either
perpendicular to the bank or in the inclined direction that
may be pointing either upstream or downstream.
• When the groyne is pointing upstream, it is called a repelling
groyne.
• This groyne has a property of repelling the river flow from the
bank.
• This is made possible by the creation of a still pond at the
upstream end.
• The river also follows beyond the still pond and the river starts
flowing away from the bank
…cont’d
…cont’d
ii) Attracting groyne.
• A Groyne that is pointing in the downstream
direction of the river flow it is called an
Attracting groyne.
• This Groyne has a tendency of attracting the
river flow towards the bank
…cont’d
…cont’d
iii )Deflecting Groyne.
• A Groyne of shorter length that is
perpendicular to the bank is called a
Deflecting Groyne.
• A Deflecting Groyne deflects the flow locally.
….cont’d
3.3 Non-Structural Flood Protection Methods
Non-structural flood protection methods focus on reducing
flood risks and minimizing damage without constructing
physical barriers like dams or levees. These methods include
Flood Forecasting and Early Warning Systems
• Using meteorological data and hydrological models to predict
floods.
• Implementing automated alerts via SMS, radio, TV, and
others.
Floodplain Management
• Enforcing regulations to control construction in flood-prone
zones.
• Establishing buffer zones along rivers and coasts
…cont’d
Insurance & Financial Mechanisms
• Promoting flood insurance to help communities recover.
Public Awareness & Education
• Conducting campaigns on flood risks and preparedness.
• Training communities on evacuation plans and emergency
response
Afforestation & Watershed Management
• Planting trees to improve water retention and reduce runoff.
• Maintaining natural vegetation along riverbanks to slow water
flow
The end