Regidor et al. (2026) Impact of Land Cover Change on Urban Flooding and Hydraulic Performance of Kinalumsan River, Cebu City, Central Visayas, Philippines

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

Identification

• Journal: Hydrology
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-20
• Authors: Niña Alyannah Kaye Regidor, Floris Cornelis Boogaard, Taneza Mae A. Bontilao, Alfonso Miguel I. Angeles, Adones B. Caduyac, Kathrina Marie M. Borgonia
• DOI: 10.3390/hydrology13090257

Research Groups

• University of the Philippines Diliman, Department of Civil Engineering
• Cebu City Water and Sanitation Board
• National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA)

Short Summary

This study assesses the impact of land cover change on flood dynamics in the ungauged Kinalumsan River catchment in Cebu City, Philippines, using a coupled hydrologic-hydraulic modeling framework. The results show that increased built-up areas contribute to higher peak discharges and expanded flood extents.

Objective

• Investigate the effect of land cover change on the hydrological response and hydraulic performance of the Kinalumsan River catchment.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Urban catchment in Cebu City, Philippines (approximately 10 km²)
• Temporal Scale: 1996 to 2023 (land cover maps) and short-term field monitoring campaign during discrete storm events

Methodology and Data

• Models used:
  • HEC-HMS for simulating peak discharges under different return periods
  • HEC-RAS (Version 6.6) 2D model for assessing flood characteristics
• Data sources:
  • Land cover maps from 1996 to 2023
  • Field monitoring data during short-term campaign

Main Results

• Steady increase in built-up areas contributes to higher peak discharges and expanded flood extents.
• Extreme rainfall events amplify flood hazards, with the 100-year return period producing the widest inundation.
• The districts of Tisa and Punta Princesa experience the greatest exposure in both depth and velocity terms.

Contributions

This study provides a scientifically defensible, highly transferable template for rapid flood hazard mapping and stormwater management in data-constrained developing regions. The cost-effective method of flood modeling can be upscaled to other cities where data is scarce, including selection of nature-based solutions for urban drainage and stormwater management.

Funding

• This research was funded by the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD)
• Additional support from the University of the Philippines Diliman's Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD)

Citation

@article{Regidor2026Impact,
  author = {Regidor, Niña Alyannah Kaye and Boogaard, Floris Cornelis and Bontilao, Taneza Mae A. and Angeles, Alfonso Miguel I. and Caduyac, Adones B. and Borgonia, Kathrina Marie M.},
  title = {Impact of Land Cover Change on Urban Flooding and Hydraulic Performance of Kinalumsan River, Cebu City, Central Visayas, Philippines},
  journal = {Hydrology},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/hydrology13090257},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology13090257}
}