TECHNICAL PAPERS
May 1, 1991

Output Reliability as Guide for Selection of Rainfall‐Runoff Models

Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 117, Issue 3

Abstract

Selection of rainfall‐runoff models is dependent on the modeling objectives and the simulation accuracy required. Output reliability is proposed as a measure to help in choosing the appropriate model for a given rainfall‐runoff model use. Output reliability can be expressed by the output variable cumulative distribution function, probability density function, confidence limits, standard deviation, or probability of acceptable percent deviation from the predicted value. Approximations of these reliability measures could be established by methods such as first‐order second‐moment reliability analysis. To demonstrate the approach, an example is given of estimating peak discharge for a watershed in central Illinois using both the HEC‐1 and RORB rainfall‐runoff models.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Ang, A. H.‐S., and Tang, W. H. (1984). Probability concepts in engineering planning and design, Vol. II: Decision, risk, and reliability. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y.
2.
Chow, V. T. (1972). “Hydrologic modeling—the Seventh John R. Freeman Memorial Lecture.” Proc., Boston Soc. Civ. Eng., 60(5), 1–27.
3.
Cheng, S.‐T. (1982). “Overtopping risk evaluation for an existing dam,” thesis presented to the Dept. of Civil Engineering, Univ. of Illinois, at Urbana‐Champaign, Ill., in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
4.
Dawdy, D. R., Lichty, R. W., and Bergmann, J. M. (1972). “A rainfall‐runoff simulation model for estimation of flood peaks from small drainage basins,” U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 506‐B, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
5.
Ford, D. T., Morris, E. C., and Feldman, A. D. (1980). “Corps of Engineers' experience with automatic calibration of precipitation‐runoff models.” Water and related land resource systems, Y. Haimes and J. Kindler, eds., Pergamon Press, New York, N.Y.
6.
Garen, D. C., and Burges, S. J. (1981). “Approximate error bounds for simulated hydrographs.” J. Hydr. Div., ASCE, 107(11), 1519–1534.
7.
Gupta, V. K., and Sorooshian, S. (1983). “Uniqueness and observability of conceptual rainfall‐runoff model parameters: The percolation process examined.” Water Resour. Res., 19(1), 269–276.
8.
Kuczera, G. (1988). “On the validity of first‐order prediction limits for conceptual hydrologic models.” J. Hydrol., 103, 229–247.
9.
Laurenson, E. M., and Mein, R. G. (1985). RORB‐version 3 runoff routing program user manual. Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Monash Univ., Victoria, Australia.
10.
Linsley, R. K. (1986). “Flood estimates: How good are they?” Water Resour. Res., 22(9), 159s–164s.
11.
Melching, C. S. (1987). “A reliability analysis on flood event forecasting with uncertainties,” thesis presented to the Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Illinois, at Urbana‐Champaign, Ill. in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
12.
Melching, C. S., Yen, B. C., and Wenzel, H. G., Jr. (1990). “A reliability estimation in modeling watershed runoff with uncertainties.” Water Resour. Res., 26(10) 2275–2286.
13.
Packer, M. R. (1972). “Analysis of streamflow forecasting uncertainty.” Proc., Int. Symp. on Uncertainties in Hydrologic and Water Resources Systems, Vol. 1, 115–121.
14.
Rackwitz, R. (1976). “Practical probabilistic approach to design.” Bulletin 112, Comite European du Beton, Paris, France.
15.
Singh, V. P. (1977). “Sensitivity of some runoff models to error in rainfall excess.” J. Hydrol., 33, 301–318.
16.
Troutman, B. M. (1983). “An analysis of input errors in precipitation‐runoff models using regression with errors in the independent variable.” Water Resour. Res., 18(4), 947–964.
17.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. (1985). HEC‐1 flood hydrograph package: User's manual. Hydrologic Engineering Center, Davis, Calif.
18.
Wood, E. F. (1976). “An analysis of the effects of parameter uncertainty in deterministic hydrologic models.” Water Resour. Res., 26(1), 925–932.
19.
Yeh, W. W.‐G. (1982). “Parameter estimation in rainfall‐runoff modeling.” Statistical analysis of rainfall and runoff, V. P. Singh, ed., Water Resources Publications, Littleton, Colo., 481–490.
20.
Yen, B. C., Cheng, S.‐T., and Melching, C. S. (1986). “First‐order reliability analysis.” Stochastic and risk analysis in hydraulic engineering, B. C. Yen, ed., Water Resources Publications, Littleton, Colo., 1–36.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 117Issue 3May 1991
Pages: 383 - 398

History

Published online: May 1, 1991
Published in print: May 1991

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

Charles S. Melching, Associate Member, ASCE
Asst. Prof., Dept. of Civ. and Envir. Engrg., Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ 08855‐0909
Ben C. Yen
Prof., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Univ. of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
Harry G. Wenzel, Jr., Fellows, ASCE
Prof. of Civ. Engrg. and Asst. Dean, Coll. of Engrg., Univ. of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign, Urbana, IL

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share