Integrating SWAT and HEC-RAS models for enhanced flood risk mapping in Swat River, KPK, Pakistan

Abstract

This research is seeking ways to enhance flood prediction and early warning systems accuracy with better hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. This study offers an automated methodology to integrate two tools - SWAT and HEC-RAS – that automatically associate rainfall-runoff events to river's hydraulic processes. The effectiveness of the system was evaluated in the Swat River basin, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, a flood prone area due to high rainfall. Relying on sensitivity analysis permitted the variation of model parameters and uncertainty of input data with an assurance of model soundness. The examinations show that the simulated and measured values of stream flow over a period of 23 years correlate strongly to each other with R² = 0.95. Computational efficacy is stated with the phrases real-time flood forecasting and flood forecasting in less than 60 minutes. The rest of the research is focused on assessing its broader implications on policies of regional flood risk management in addition to climate change adaptation, showcasing the usefulness of integrated hydrologic-hydraulic modeling within early warning systems