Nevertheless, significant uncertainty is associated with existing floodplain delineation methods 3, 4. Riverine areas are not only clearly visible, but are spatially organized following well-known hydrologic and geomorphic properties 2.
To test the GFPLAIN250m dataset, we perform a consistency analysis with floodplain delineations derived by flood hazard modelling studies in Europe.įloodplains are clearly recognizable from aerial photography by their distinguishable shapes and colors 1. The GFPLAIN250m dataset can support many applications, including flood hazard mapping, habitat restoration, development studies, and the analysis of human-flood interactions. The elevation data are processed by a fast geospatial tool for floodplain mapping available for download at. We use the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital terrain model and set of terrain analysis procedures for geomorphic floodplain delineations. In this paper, we present the first, comprehensive, high-resolution, gridded dataset of Earth’s floodplains at 250-m resolution (GFPLAIN250m). However, to date, a global floodplain delineation using a homogeneous procedure has not been constructed.
Identifying floodplain boundaries is of paramount importance for earth, environmental and socioeconomic studies addressing riverine risk and resource management.
