Hydraulic Structures & Flood Control: A Case Study of the Red River, Vietnam (Part 2)
In our previous blog, we introduced the study area and outlined the scenarios used to assess the effectiveness of hydraulic structures in the EEMS model during their operation. This blog will focus on discussing and evaluating the results. For details on the study area and simulated scenarios, please refer to the first blog.
Results & Discussion
The water depth at peak flood time for the study area under both scenarios is presented in Figure 1. In Scenario 1, the base model, the hydraulic structures are not operated, meaning the Van Coc Gate, the overflow point, and the Day Weir remain closed. In Scenario 2, the Van Coc Gate, the Day Weir, and the overflow point are opened to allow the influx of floodwater.
The water depths near Van Coc Gate and the Long Bien warning station are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The water levels decrease significantly from the operating to non-operating scenarios of the hydraulic structures. The decrease is up to 0.5 m in front of the Van Coc Gate and 0.2 m at the warning station
Throughout the simulation period, the river water depth follows a similar trend, with a peak of 14.5 m in Scenario 1 and 14.3 m in Scenario 2 at the Long Bien station. A reduction from 6.5 m to 5.7 m near Van Coc Gate was observed in Scenario 2. This reduction significantly alleviates pressure on Hanoi’s dike system and minimizes the flood impact on affected residential areas.
These reductions effectively alleviate pressure on the dike system protecting Hanoi, enhancing resilience against extreme flood events. By lowering the flood impact on surrounding residential areas, the model shows that a well-designed hydraulic infrastructure system, when combined with robust simulation tools like EEMS, can offer practical and reliable solutions for urban flood control and emergency response in complex environments. This case study highlights the capability of EFDC+ to deliver accurate, actionable insights, making it a valuable tool for flood risk management and planning in the Red River basin and similar flood-prone regions.
Conclusions
The findings from this study underscore the critical role that hydraulic structures play in flood management within the Red River basin, particularly in the context of Hanoi’s flood-prone urban areas. Using the EEMS model to simulate the optimal flood control scenario demonstrates the effectiveness of structures such as the Van Coc Gate, overflow point, and Day Weir in mitigating flood impacts. When activated, these structures significantly reduce water levels at key points, decreasing peak water levels by up to 0.5 meters near Van Coc Gate and 0.2 meters at the Long Bien warning station.
You can download this Red River simulation and run it with the EEMS in the demo mode, for free. Download the Red River Model here, and download EEMS and follow these instructions to activate in demo mode. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments, and share with us how you would like to apply this capability.
