Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4447
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4447
09 Oct 2025
 | 09 Oct 2025
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Geoscientific Model Development (GMD).

Accumulation-based Runoff and Pluvial Flood Estimation Tool

Hannes Leistert, Andreas Hänsler, Max Schmit, Andreas Steinbrich, and Markus Weiler

Abstract. Knowledge about spatially distributed inundation depth and overland flow quantities, as well as related flow velocities, is critical information for establishing a pluvial flood forecasting system and the related disaster management. This kind of information is often derived from computationally demanding simulations with 2-dimensional hydrodynamic models, limiting the number of scenarios for which information can be provided and challenging real-time forecasting. To address this gap, we developed the model AccRo (Accumulation-based Runoff and Flooding), which is a computationally efficient method to derive maximum inundation depth, maximum flow velocity and maximum specific discharge of a flood event at larger spatial scales, based on an improved flow accumulation method to better represent the spatial extent of inundated areas. To assess the quality of AccRo, we compare the results from the AccRo model with the results of two different state-of-the-art 2-dimensional hydrodynamic models for design cases as well as real-world pluvial flood examples. We find that AccRo is able to represent both, the analytical solution for the design cases and the simulations of the hydrodynamic models in the real-world example in high quality, well within the range of the two hydrodynamic models. In combination with the low computational requirements, we conclude that AccRo is a valuable tool for assessing pluvial flood hazards.

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Hannes Leistert, Andreas Hänsler, Max Schmit, Andreas Steinbrich, and Markus Weiler

Status: open (until 04 Dec 2025)

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Hannes Leistert, Andreas Hänsler, Max Schmit, Andreas Steinbrich, and Markus Weiler

Data sets

Primary data and analysis scripts Hannes Leistert et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17154005

Model code and software

AccRo Model Code Hannes Leistert https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17153807

Hannes Leistert, Andreas Hänsler, Max Schmit, Andreas Steinbrich, and Markus Weiler
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Latest update: 09 Oct 2025
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Short summary
The newly developed model AccRo (Accumulation-based Runoff and Pluvial Flood Estimation Tool) is a computationally efficient method to derive key parameters for estimating pluvial flood hazards. Here, we compare results of AccRo with the data of two hydrodynamic models for different cases. We find that AccRo is able to represent the simulations of the hydrodynamic models in high quality, but with much lower computational effort, making it a valuable tool for assessing pluvial flood hazards.
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