Integrated hydrological modeling and analysis tool for automatic derivation of design floods in Sicilian watersheds

This work presents a tool that enhances the hydrological flood modeling process at the event scale by integrating geospatial analysis capabilities, hydrological algorithms, and data. The main purpose is to overcome some of the main simplifications made in many modeling flood hydrographs, contributing to better simulate peak flow hydrographs for fixed return period (i.e., design flood). By leveraging geospatial analysis capabilities within a GIS framework, the tool uses spatially distributed data for a more accurate representation of basin characteristics and processes. This is particularly valuable for deriving probabilistic flood hydrographs, whose accurate predictions are essential for risk assessment and management, making the tool a valuable support in decision-making for hydrological agencies and practitioners. The tool has been tested on Sicilian catchments but given its open-source nature, modular, and flexible design, it is adaptable to different input data and geographic areas, proving a promising step forward in hydrological flood modeling.