Urban Development Policy Making

Urban Development Policy Making

Data-Driven Application of the Water and Power Observatory in Flood Management in the Metropolis of Ahvaz

Document Type : ŮŽApplied Papers

Authors
Mostafa Masoumi 1
Seyed Ebrahim Hosseini 2
Gholamhossein Karimi 1
Aref Vaeli 1
Ardeshir Kalani 1
1 Water and Power Observatory, Khuzestan Water and Power Authority, Ahvaz, Iran
2 River and Coastal Engineering Department, Khuzestan Water and Power Authority, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22034/judpm.2025.542528.1059
Abstract
The presence of permanent rivers or seasonal streams in populated areas or in the vicinity of large cities such as Tehran, Ahvaz, Isfahan, and Shiraz, in addition to creating opportunities for urban development, should always be considered as a potential threat in terms of risks and damages caused by floods. The presence of 5 important and flood rivers in Khuzestan Province and the location of the metropolis of Ahvaz and some important cities in the vicinity of these rivers shows that floods are always lurking in the shadows of entering these cities. 60 years of experience in water resources management in Khuzestan Province has led to integrated and more accurate flood management, which can be introduced as a suitable model for the flood management process in cities located in the vicinity of rivers or streams. In the April 2019 flood in the Khuzestan region, the effective use of data, information, and model output, along with the correct analysis of various scenarios, resulted in the maximum flow rate of the Karun River in the Ahvaz section not exceeding 3,200 m3/s. This was while, based on mathematical models and field evidence, if the aforementioned measures were not implemented, the flow rate in the Ahvaz section would have exceeded 5,000 m3/s, causing financial and human losses. In this article, which was conducted in a descriptive-analytical manner after collecting and processing data, based on the lessons learned and experiences gained from the management of the aforementioned flood, the role of the Water and Energy Observatory in predicting and reducing flood risks in the period before, during, and after the flood is presented as an efficient model.
Keywords
Ahvaz, Flood Management Regulations, Specialized Table, Urban Flood

Subjects

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Urban Development Policy Making
Volume 3, Issue 1
Spring 2026
Pages 1-17

  • Receive Date 23 July 2025
  • Revise Date 02 September 2025
  • Accept Date 02 November 2025
  • Publish Date 01 January 2027