FastFlood is a super-fast flood model that lets you see potential flood maps almost instantly. It's designed to be interactive and easy to use, so you don't need to be a flood modeling expert to explore different scenarios.

Two Main Steps: Routing and Inundation

The model first figures out how water moves through rivers and reservoirs in a process called routing. Then, it calculates how that water spreads out over the surrounding land to create the final flood map, a step known as inundation mapping.

Data Layers

To make accurate maps, the model uses many layers of global data. These include detailed elevation maps to know the shape of the land, land cover data to know where forests, cities, and farms are , and soil information to understand how water soaks into the ground.

Boundary Conditions

Boundary conditions tell the model how much water is flowing into the area from rivers at its edges. This is a crucial starting point, ensuring the simulation begins with the correct amount of water in the river system.

Design Storms & Return Periods

You can test how an area would handle different types of floods by using "design events". These are often described by a "return period," like a 1-in-100-year storm, which represents a very intense storm that has a 1% chance of happening in any given year.