Improving the Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH) statistical index flood method and software

Updates to the Flood Estimation Handbook. The creation of an improved database of systematically recorded flood data has led to updates to the technical details of the Flood Estimation Handbook.

• From: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme and Environment Agency
• Published: 18 February 2021

• Category: Understanding risks from all sources of flooding
• Topics: Flood forecasting, Flood risk assessment, Meteorology, Modelling and Understanding physical processes
• Project status: Completed
• Project code: SC050050
• Date of completion: 31 March 2008

Documents

Improving the FEH statistical procedures for flood frequency estimation - summary (62KB) PDF

Improving the FEH statistical procedures for flood frequency estimation - technical report (2.4MB) PDF

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Details

This research project focused on improving several aspects of the Flood Estimation Handbook (FEH).

This project has updated most technical details of the FEH method to improve the performance procedures. These improved procedures will enable more accurate flood frequency estimation. The updates are required in part because of the availability of a much-improved database of flood data.

The key improvements are:

• a new regression model for estimating the median annual maximum flood (QMED) at ungauged catchments
• an improved procedure for the use of donor catchments for estimation of QMED at ungauged catchments
• an improved procedure for formation of pooling groups and estimation of pooled growth curves

This report describes the studies that have led to the new recommendations.

The project ran from 2005 to 2008.

Published 18 February 2021