Layan et al. (2026) Flood Hazard Detection in Data-Scarce Regions: A Case Study of a Semi-Arid River in Northeastern Morocco

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-01-23
• Authors: Badr Layan, Benaabidate Lahcen, Mahmoud Zemzami, Mohamed Hanchane, Mohamed Ben Abbou
• DOI: 10.1051/bioconf/202621201010/pdf

Research Groups

The paper does not explicitly list specific research groups, labs, or departments involved.

Short Summary

This study utilized the HEC-RAS model to identify flood risk zones for various return periods along the ungauged Larbaâ River in Taza City, a data-scarce, semi-arid region, successfully mapping vulnerable areas consistent with historical flood events.

Objective

• To identify flood risk zones for various return periods along an ungauged river in a data-scarce, semi-arid region using the HEC-RAS model, specifically focusing on the densely populated area surrounding the Larbaâ River in Taza City.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Larbaâ River and its floodplain within Taza City, Morocco (implied semi-arid region).
• Temporal Scale: Flood hazard mapping for various return periods (e.g., 100-year flood); model validation against flood events from the past two decades.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: HEC-RAS model (for hydraulic modeling), GRADEX method (for peak flow estimation).
• Data sources: Peak flow estimates (derived from GRADEX method), physical parameters (approximated using standardized tables, e.g., Manning coefficient), direct field measurements, historical flood events (for validation).

Main Results

• The HEC-RAS numerical model successfully identified vulnerable flood hazard areas along the Larbaâ River.
• The mapped floodplain closely aligns with the extent of the 100-year flood.
• Model results demonstrated consistency with observed flood events from the past two decades, confirming its predictive accuracy regarding the river's behavior.

Contributions

• Demonstrates the effective application of the HEC-RAS model for comprehensive flood risk assessment in data-scarce, ungauged river basins within semi-arid regions.
• Provides crucial insights and a valuable tool for urban planning and the implementation of effective flood mitigation strategies for local authorities in Taza City.
• Offers a robust methodology for flood hazard mapping in areas lacking traditional monitoring data.

Funding

The paper text does not provide information regarding specific funding projects, programs, or reference codes.

Citation

@article{Layan2026Flood,
  author = {Layan, Badr and Lahcen, Benaabidate and Zemzami, Mahmoud and Hanchane, Mohamed and Abbou, Mohamed Ben},
  title = {Flood Hazard Detection in Data-Scarce Regions: A Case Study of a Semi-Arid River in Northeastern Morocco},
  journal = {Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.1051/bioconf/202621201010/pdf},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202621201010/pdf}
}