Evaluating flood extent mapping of two hydraulic models, 1D HEC‐RAS and 2D LISFLOOD‐FP in comparison with aerial imagery observations in Gorgan flood plain,Iran

We compared flood mapping techniques using a one‐dimensional (1D) hydraulic model HEC‐RAS and two‐dimensional (2D) LISFLOOD‐FP for a 10‐km reach of Gorgan River in Iran. Both models were run using the same hydrologic input data. The input into the models was a steady discharge of 90 cm, corresponds to a flood peak occurred on March 25, 2012. Flood maps generated using these two models were compared with an observed flood inundation map, using F‐statistic. The roughness coefficients of the models were calibrated by maximizing the value of the F‐statistic. Based on the F‐statistic, LISFLOOD‐FP gives a slightly better result (F = 0.69) than HEC‐RAS (F = 0.67). Visual comparison of the flood extents generated by the two models showed reasonably good agreement. Validation was done using a flood event occurred on May 31, 2014. The LISFLOOD‐FP model gave a better result for validation as well. The 2D model showed more consistency in comparison with the 1D model.