المملكة: “Swmm” and “GIS” models to study the risk of floods in Makkah Al -Mukarramah

King Abdulaziz University, represented by the Geomatx Department of the College of Architecture and Planning, launched a strategic research project aimed at analyzing the risk of floods and rainwater management in the city of Makkah Al -Mukarramah.
The project uses the advanced water simulation model “SWMM” and the technologies of geographic information systems “GIS”, in a move that reflects the university’s commitment to harnessing scientific research to face urban challenges.
This qualitative research project is supervised by Dr. Ahmed Fallatah and Dr. Rayan Sehiriri, where the team focuses in its study on the Muhammadiyah neighborhood in Makkah Al -Mukarramah, a neighborhood that witnesses frequent water flows during the rainy season.

Rain water drainage

A precise simulation of rainwater drainage was already using the SWM Model, which provided an opportunity to assess the performance of current channels and openings and surface flow of water in the targeted area.
In this context, Dr. Ahmed Fallatah explained that the project represents a qualitative step in employing spatial data to study complex hydrological patterns in urban areas, and analyze the extent of the current system’s ability to manage rain water efficiently.
He added, “A simulation model based on specific time data was built to monitor the system response during the rainy peak periods, which helps greatly in identifying the most vulnerable to water gathering and forming floods.”

Geographical information systems

The project witnessed an active student participation, as the two students, Muhammad al -Shahrani and Hassan Gigo, worked to design advanced interactive maps showing the classification of the risk of floods in the Muhammadiyah neighborhood using geographic information systems techniques.
In these maps, multiple factors such as topography, ground cover, and expected rain quantities were merged to generate a map distributed on five degrees of risk, starting from very low to very high.
Student Hassan Gogo pointed out that the results of the simulation showed the recovery of the water system after the moment of maximum stress “at 04:15 in the form”, where the accumulated water was gradually drained, which reflects the effectiveness of the system in absorbing water during the critical periods.

Facing the challenges of floods

For his part, the student, Muhammad Al -Shahrani, explained that the project was divided into five main stages that included: collection of data, then processing, followed by hydrological analysis.
He stated that the data used in the project was open source, which facilitated the processes of collecting and analyzing it, and that the initial data collection was started and processed according to the plan.
Dr. Ryan Sehiri stressed that the project seeks to provide practical and innovative solutions that contribute to strengthening the infrastructure of the city of Makkah to meet the challenges of floods, and developing proactive strategies aimed at reducing the effects of possible natural disasters.
He added: “The project aims mainly to raise the efficiency of urban planning processes by converting spatial data into analytical tools capable of accurate prediction of hot points of water gathering, thus directing the rescue and relief efforts better and more effective.”