Abstract

To estimate the potential damage by a flood event it is essential to calculate the depth of water. Hydraulic methods for flood routing and calculation of water depth is time-consuming, complex and costly due to the need for river sections at appropriate distances. The use of hydrological methods such as the linear Muskingum method for flood routing, in addition to its simplicity and low cost, offers an appropriate accuracy. So far, the linear Muskingum method has been used to calculate the outflow hydrograph while in economic analysis and flood damage estimation and flood management and engineering, calculation of depth changes over time is of great importance. Therefore, in the present study, using the linear Muskingum method and the PSO algorithm the variation in the downstream depth of water (instead of outflow discharge) have been calculated over time for the river reach between the hydrometric stations of Mollasani and Ahwaz on Karun River. The new method presented in this study presented a good accuracy with more simplicity and less cost compared to the hydraulic methods.