Flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfall

Urbanization has increased impervious surfaces, while climate change has intensified rainfall, leading to more frequent urban flooding. Traditional numerical models for flood prediction are accurate but time-consuming due to extensive parameter calibration and data processing. This study addresses t...

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Main Authors: Se-Dong Jang, Jae-Hwan Yoo, Yeon-Su Lee, Byunghyun Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-04-01
Series:Progress in Disaster Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590061725000122
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author Se-Dong Jang
Jae-Hwan Yoo
Yeon-Su Lee
Byunghyun Kim
author_facet Se-Dong Jang
Jae-Hwan Yoo
Yeon-Su Lee
Byunghyun Kim
author_sort Se-Dong Jang
collection DOAJ
description Urbanization has increased impervious surfaces, while climate change has intensified rainfall, leading to more frequent urban flooding. Traditional numerical models for flood prediction are accurate but time-consuming due to extensive parameter calibration and data processing. This study addresses these limitations by proposing a machine learning-based flood prediction method using a Random Forest model. By utilizing past rainfall data, 1D drainage system simulations, and 2D flood analyses, we trained the model to predict flood patterns for various rainfall events. To enhance prediction accuracy, statistical characteristics of rainfall, such as temporal distribution, were incorporated into the model. Performance metrics (RMSE, R2, MAE) for the test dataset showed values of 3.1573, 0.9682, and 0.9484 for the total rainfall model, and 2.7354, 0.9761, and 0.8942 for the model with statistical characteristics. Both models displayed high predictive accuracy relative to the numerical model, with the Random Forest model using statistical characteristics showing slightly improved performance. This method provides faster, reliable flood predictions, offering a valuable tool for real-time urban flood management and decision-making during emergency situations.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2590-0617
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Progress in Disaster Science
spelling doaj-art-1b2106a5820f467bb1172ea5dbf216ee2025-08-20T02:06:15ZengElsevierProgress in Disaster Science2590-06172025-04-012610041510.1016/j.pdisas.2025.100415Flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfallSe-Dong Jang0Jae-Hwan Yoo1Yeon-Su Lee2Byunghyun Kim3Department of Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaCorresponding author.; Department of Civil Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of KoreaUrbanization has increased impervious surfaces, while climate change has intensified rainfall, leading to more frequent urban flooding. Traditional numerical models for flood prediction are accurate but time-consuming due to extensive parameter calibration and data processing. This study addresses these limitations by proposing a machine learning-based flood prediction method using a Random Forest model. By utilizing past rainfall data, 1D drainage system simulations, and 2D flood analyses, we trained the model to predict flood patterns for various rainfall events. To enhance prediction accuracy, statistical characteristics of rainfall, such as temporal distribution, were incorporated into the model. Performance metrics (RMSE, R2, MAE) for the test dataset showed values of 3.1573, 0.9682, and 0.9484 for the total rainfall model, and 2.7354, 0.9761, and 0.8942 for the model with statistical characteristics. Both models displayed high predictive accuracy relative to the numerical model, with the Random Forest model using statistical characteristics showing slightly improved performance. This method provides faster, reliable flood predictions, offering a valuable tool for real-time urban flood management and decision-making during emergency situations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590061725000122Urban floodFlood forecastingMachine learningRandom forestStatistical characteristic of rainfall
spellingShingle Se-Dong Jang
Jae-Hwan Yoo
Yeon-Su Lee
Byunghyun Kim
Flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfall
Progress in Disaster Science
Urban flood
Flood forecasting
Machine learning
Random forest
Statistical characteristic of rainfall
title Flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfall
title_full Flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfall
title_fullStr Flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfall
title_full_unstemmed Flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfall
title_short Flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfall
title_sort flood prediction in urban areas based on machine learning considering the statistical characteristics of rainfall
topic Urban flood
Flood forecasting
Machine learning
Random forest
Statistical characteristic of rainfall
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590061725000122
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AT yeonsulee floodpredictioninurbanareasbasedonmachinelearningconsideringthestatisticalcharacteristicsofrainfall
AT byunghyunkim floodpredictioninurbanareasbasedonmachinelearningconsideringthestatisticalcharacteristicsofrainfall