Determination of Zones at Risk of Flooding During A Breakage of an “El Abiod Ghardaia” Dam

A potential catastrophic flood risk has been identified in the M'Zab Valley, Algeria, due to the vulnerability of the El Abiod Ghardaia Dam. The study highlights that a dam break could release a massive flood wave, posing significant danger to the population and the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Researchers developed a hydraulic model using ARCGIS and HECRAS (HEC-GEORAS) to simulate the propagation of flood waves along the studied sections, employing both 1D and 2D HEC-RAS digital models. This approach allowed for the spatial mapping of flood zones, providing critical data to support risk mitigation and sustainable development in the valley.

Kreri, S., Wahib, K. L., & Azzouz, A. E. F. (2023). Determination of Zones at Risk of Flooding During A Breakage of an “El Abiod Ghardaia” Dam. Proceedings of the 8th World Congress on Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering. https://doi.org/10.11159/icgre23.154