# Vflo

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right'''V''flo''''' is a commercially available, [physics](/source/physics)-based distributed [hydrologic](/source/hydrologic) model generated by [http://www.vieuxinc.com Vieux & Associates, Inc.]  V''flo'' uses [radar rainfall](/source/weather_radar) data for [hydrologic](/source/hydrologic) input to simulate distributed [runoff](/source/runoff_model_(reservoir)).<ref>Vieux, B.E., 2004, Distributed Hydrologic Modeling Using GIS, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 289 pp.</ref><ref>Bedient, P.B., W.C. Huber, and B.E. Vieux, 2008, Hydrology and Floodplain Analysis, Fourth Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 795 pp.</ref> V''flo'' employs [GIS](/source/GIS) maps for parameterization via a desktop interface.<ref>Vieux, B.E., Z. Cui, and A. Gaur, 2004, Evaluation of a physics-based distributed hydrologic model for flood forecasting. ''J. Hydrol.'', '''298'''(1-4): 155-177. DMIP special issue.</ref>  The model is suited for [distributed](/source/Distributed_parameter_system) hydrologic forecasting in post-analysis and in continuous operations.  V''flo'' output is in the form of [hydrograph](/source/hydrograph)s at selected [drainage network](/source/Drainage_system_(geomorphology)) grids, as well as [distributed](/source/Distributed_parameter_system) runoff maps covering the watershed. Model applications include civil [infrastructure](/source/infrastructure) operations and maintenance, [stormwater](/source/stormwater) prediction and [emergency management](/source/emergency_management), continuous and short-term surface water [runoff](/source/runoff_model_(reservoir)), recharge estimation, [soil moisture](/source/soil_moisture) monitoring, [land use](/source/land_use) planning, [water quality](/source/water_quality) monitoring, and water resources management.

== History ==
V''flo'' considers the spatial character of the [parameter](/source/parameter)s and precipitation controlling hydrologic processes, and thus improves upon lumped representations previously used in [hydrologic modeling](/source/Hydrological_modelling).  Historical practice has been to use lumped representations because of computational limitations or because sufficient data was not available to populate a [distributed](/source/Distributed_parameter_system) model database.<ref>Desconnets, J.-C., B.E. Vieux, B. Cappelaere, and F. Delclaux (1996), “A GIS for hydrologic modeling in the semi-arid, HAPEX-Sahel experiment area of Niger Africa.” ''Trans. in GIS'', '''1'''(2): 82-94.</ref>  Advances in [computation](/source/computation)al speed; development of high-resolution precipitation data from [radar](/source/weather_radar) and satellites; and availability of worldwide digital data sets and [GIS](/source/GIS) technology makes distributed, physics-based modeling possible.<ref>ASCE, 1999, ''GIS Modules and Distributed Models of the Watershed'', Report, ASCE Task Committee, GIS Modules and Distributed Models of the Watershed, P.A. DeBarry, R.G. Quimpo, eds., American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA., p. 120.</ref>  V''flo'' is designed to take advantage of the spatial variability of high resolution [radar rainfall](/source/Weather_radar) input, [GIS](/source/GIS) datasets, and hydraulic channel characteristics.  Because it is [physics](/source/physics)-based, it produces [hydrograph](/source/hydrograph)s based on conservation equations and the hydraulics of the [drainage network](/source/Drainage_system_(geomorphology)), and can be employed in locations where there are no [rain gauge](/source/rain_gauge)s or previous modeling studies.  In addition, V''flo''’s network approach makes models scalable from upland [watersheds](/source/Drainage_basin) to river basins using the same [drainage network](/source/Drainage_system_(geomorphology)).

== Formulation ==
V''flo'' is suited for distributed hydrologic forecasting in post-analysis and continuous operations.  V''flo'' models may be [calibrated](/source/calibration) by loading precipitation maps for historical events and comparing simulated volume/peak [hydrograph](/source/hydrograph)s to observed hydrographs.  Elevation data are taken from a [digital elevation model](/source/digital_elevation_model).  A vector channel representation is employed.  Parameterization utilizes digital data sets at any resolution, including [LIDAR](/source/LIDAR) terrain data and other digital maps of [impervious area](/source/Permeability_(earth_sciences)), soils, and land use/cover.  V''flo'' is developed to utilize multi-sensor inputs from [radar](/source/Weather_radar), satellites, [rain gauge](/source/rain_gauge)s, or model forecasts.  The kinematic wave analogy is used to represent hydraulic conditions in a [watershed](/source/Drainage_basin).

== Specific simulation options ==
*Rainfall input
**[Radar-rainfall](/source/Weather_radar): UF, [ASCII](/source/ESRI_grid), [NEXRAD](/source/NEXRAD) Level II, [CSV](/source/Comma-separated_values)
**Satellite data
**[Rain gauge](/source/Rain_gauge)s, [Barnes objective analysis](/source/Barnes_interpolation)
**Quantitative precipitation estimates from model forecasts
**Multi-sensor precipitation estimates
*[Evapotranspiration](/source/Evapotranspiration)
*[Snowmelt](/source/Snowmelt)
*[Sensitivity analysis](/source/Sensitivity_analysis)
*Inundation mapping
*[Infiltration](/source/Infiltration_(hydrology))
**Enhanced [Green-Ampt](/source/Infiltration_(hydrology)) infiltration module with initial saturation calibration factor (slider), saturated hydraulic conductivity, wetting front suction, effective porosity, and soil depth
**Abstraction and impervious area parameters with [ASCII](/source/ESRI_grid) import/export
*Overland flow
**Manning's equation
*Channel flow
**Kinematic Wave Analogy
**Modified Puls
**Observed flow
**Looped rating curve modification (Jones method)
**Rating curves and cross sections for complex hydraulics
*Flood watch points
*Design storms, SCS, user generated

== Applications ==
*Continuous and short-term surface water [runoff](/source/Surface_runoff)
*Stormwater prediction and management
*[Flash flood](/source/Flash_flood) forecasting
*Operational flood alert
*Flood event reconstruction
*Design Storm development
*Recharge estimation
*Soil moisture monitoring
*[Hydrology](/source/Hydrology) and [Hydraulics](/source/Hydraulics) studies
*[Land use](/source/Land_use) planning scenarios
*[Water quality](/source/Water_quality) studies
*[Hydropower](/source/Hydropower) management
*[Hydrology](/source/Hydrology) education
*[Hydrologic](/source/Hydrologic) research

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Integrated hydrologic modelling
Category:Hydrology models
Category:Environmental engineering
Category:Stormwater management
Category:Hydraulic engineering
Category:Water resources management
Category:Finite element software
Category:Computer-aided engineering software
Category:Finite element method
Category:Applied mathematics
Category:Mathematical modeling
Category:Radar meteorology

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Vflo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vflo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vflo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
