Flood Risk Management for Weirs: Integrated Application of Artificial Intelligence and RESCON Modelling for Maintaining Reservoir Safety

Annual sediment deposition in reservoirs behind weirs poses flood risk, while its accurate prediction remains a challenge. Sediment management by hydraulic flushing is an effective method to maintain reservoir storage. In this study, an integrated approach to predict sediment inflow and sediment flushing simulation in reservoirs is presented. The annual sediment inflow prediction was carried out with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) modelling. RESCON model was applied for quantification of sediment flushing feasibility criteria. The integrated approach was applied on Sangju Weir and also on estuary of Nakdong River (NREB). The mean annual sediment inflow predicted at Sangju Weir and NREB was 400,000 ㎥ and 170,000 ㎥, respectively. The sediment characteristics gathered were used to setup RESCON model and sediment balance ratio (SBR) and long term capacity ratio (LTCR) were used as flushing efficiency indicators. For Sangju Weir, the flushing discharge, Q_f = 140 ㎥/s with a drawdown of 5 m, and flushing duration, T_f = 10 days was necessary for efficient flushing. At NREB site, the parameters for efficient flushing were Q_f = 80 ㎥/s, T_f = 5 days, N = 1, El_f = 2.24 m. The hydraulic flushing was concluded feasible for sediment management at both Sangju Weir and NREB.