Design and implementation of a web-based spatial decision support system for flood forecasting and flood risk mapping

The application of flood forecasting model require the efficient management of large spatial and temporal datasets, which involves data acquisition, storage and processing, as well as manipulation, reporting and display results. The complexity of flood forecasting makes it difficult for individual organization to deal effectively with decision-making. Difficulty in linking data, analysis tools and models across organization is one of the barriers to be overcome in developing integrated flood forecasting system. Therefore, it is required to develop Web- based Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS), supporting information exchange and knowledge and model sharing from different organizations on the web. Such a SDSS provide the framework within which spatially distributed real-time data accessed remotely to prepare model input files, model calculation and evaluate model results for flood forecasting and flood risk prediction This paper develops a SDSS for on-line flood forecasting and flood risk mapping in Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM), southern Ontario, Canada, integrating information retrieval, analysis and model analysis for information sharing and decision-making support. This SDSS will improve understanding of the environmental, planning and management issues and emergency management and response associated with the ORM's water environment, and to develop sustainable solutions.