Evaluation of the role of dams in reducing flood exposure : a case study of the Mun River Basin, Thailand | |
| Author | Prajapati, Palpasa |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.WM-24-10 |
| Subject(s) | Climatic changes--Thailand--Mun River Basin--Evaluation Floods--Thailand--Mun River Basin Dams--Thailand--Mun River Basin |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Water Engineering and Management, School of Engineering and Technology |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis; no. WM-24-10 |
| Abstract | Floods pose significant social, economic, and environmental challenges. Effective management techniques, including structural and non-structural practices, are essential to mitigate these impacts. Dams, a traditional method for water storage, range from small earthen structures to large multipurpose facilities. Despite numerous reservoirs and dams constructed since the 1960s in the Mun River Basin, Thailand, the region still experiences frequent floods and droughts. This study evaluates the efficacy of the Rasi Salai dam by analyzing flood characteristics with and without the dam and forecasting future flood inundation using the existing dam as a potential mitigation measure. A 2D HEC-RAS simulation was employed to model flood scenarios, incorporating time series data on the dam gate operations. The model was calibrated using 2017 data and validated with 2011 data. Flood simulations for 1983 were performed to assess historical conditions. Performance metrics, including Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), Percent Bias (PBIAS), and the coefficient of determination (R²), demonstrated satisfactory model performance. Future flood scenarios were projected using climate data from the ACCESS-CM2 GCM, adjusted through linear scaling bias correction. The HEC-HMS hydrological model simulated river flow, and then HEC-RAS was used for future flood inundation mapping. The analysis indicated a potential increase in annual precipitation and temperature by mid-century under SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios. The performance of HEC-HMS during calibration and validation was robust, supporting the reliability of future flood projections. Results showed a decrease in flood inundation area and depth downstream of the dam. Future projections indicate a further reduction in inundation area by 25-30% under SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, with paddy fields remaining the most affected land use type. This study highlights the dam operations in flood mitigation and provides valuable insights for future water management strategies in the Mun River Basin |
| Year | 2024 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis; no. WM-24-10 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Water Engineering and Management (WM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shrestha, Sangam; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shanmugam, Mohana Sundaram;Natthachet Tangdamrongsub; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP); |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2024 |