This paper describes the various steps followed in phase 1
of our study. The goal of the study is to develop a river network
numerical model that is (1) capable of mapping inundated
floodplain zones directly onto topographic maps and
(2) incorporates “data query” modules relating to (i) flow
depth and (ii) channel cross-section geometry and flood elevations
associated with selected storm events. The river system
chosen as a test case for the study is the South Nation River
and its tributaries, located just east of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
The Ontario government agency responsible for managing
this system is the South Nation Conservation (SNC)
Authority. The approach presently employed by SNC to display
floodplain zones associated with selected design storms
is to manually input water surface elevations, generated by an
existing HEC-2 model of the system, to a GIS interface. This
is clearly an inefficient, expensive, and time-consuming process,
especially as the flood maps need periodic updating. The
SNC was therefore interested in the outcome of this project
and was particularly helpful in acquisition of system data sets.