Inundata

Inundata is a term used in hydrology and geospatial analysis to describe datasets and analytics related to flood inundation events. It encompasses the spatial extent of inundation, water depths, duration, timing, and frequency, derived from remote sensing, in-situ sensors, and hydrological or hydraulic models. Inundata products are used to map flood-prone areas and support risk assessment, planning, and response.

Common data products include inundation extent maps (binary or probabilistic), depth grids, duration maps, time series of water level or discharge at key locations, and event catalogs with onset and recession times. Data are typically stored in formats such as GeoTIFF, NetCDF, HDF, or vector formats like shapefiles, and are integrated into GIS and modeling workflows.

Data sources and methods rely on satellite imagery, especially radar data from SAR sensors for surface water detection, as well as optical imagery when conditions allow. High-resolution digital elevation models derived from LiDAR or stereo imagery support delineation of floodplains. In-situ river gauges provide ground truth. Hydrodynamic models (2D shallow-water, 3D) simulate inundation using rainfall, soil, land cover, and boundary conditions; data assimilation and change detection refine maps.

Applications include flood risk assessment, urban and infrastructure planning, flood hazard mapping, evacuation planning, and climate adaptation strategies. Challenges include uncertainties in detection and modeling, varying spatial and temporal resolutions, data gaps, interoperability among datasets, licensing and accessibility, and the need for standard terminology. As a relatively new term, its usage varies across organizations and disciplines.