This work report summarizes Amaljit Bharali's contributions in 2016 related to water resources, hydrology, and flood modelling in Northeast India. Major contributions included operational work on a Flood Early Warning System including hydrological modelling. Other work included database development, field surveys, and training. Research activities included urban flood modelling in Shillong and hydraulic modelling of flood prone rivers. Publications and conferences were also listed.

1. Work Report
Amaljit Bharali (RS-Hydrology)
Areaof Work : Water Resources,HydrologyandFloodModelling
2016
North Eastern Regional Node for Disaster Risk Reduction(NER-DRR)
9/9/2016

2. Major Contributions under NER-DRR
Activities in 2014
1. Flood Early Warning System (FLEWS) Operational Work
This operational project envisages a routine computation of the flood runoffs in the
project area catchments, then check with critical parameters that can lead to a flood
event. The primary responsibilities in the project include -
 Preparation of HEC-HMS models
 Collection of ground data
 Running and analyzing HMS model results during FLEWS operational phase
 Identification of RCs to issue flood alert
2. Post FLEWS Field survey of major flood prone rivers in Assam
Field survey was started as part of the post flood activities of FLEWS which will further
strengthen the capability of the FLEWS system. The primary aim was getting location of
WRD gauge sites, studying flood prone areas and conducting bathymetric survey
wherever feasible. In the first phase of work we surveyed the major flood prone rivers
of Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Jorhat and collected location of WRD gauge sites. Also, we studied
2013 Jiadhal embankment breach location, extent of the breach and the river course
change after the breach. We did GPS and Echo-sounder survey in Chumoni gauge site in
Noa-dihing, Doomdooma.
3. NER-DRR Centralized Database Generation and Integration for road network,
settlement/villages, census data Centralized Infrastructure database preparation
With the objective to carry out disaster risk reduction in entire North Eastern Region
(NER) under NER-DRR, a centralized database preparation work was taken up in NESAC.
The major tasks assigned to me for the state of Assam were -
 Generation/Integration of Road Network
 Generation/Integration of Settlement Layer (Village Points, Village boundary,
settlement-polygon-areas)
 Census Data Integration with the Villages
 Asset Mapping
This work has been completed for the state of Assam.
4. Development & Dissemination of web-based Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSSs)
for FLOOD under NER-DRR programme
The primary objectives of the programme
i. Collate and compile all existing databases related to flood in a single platform.

3. ii. Create a decision support application for Disaster Management.
iii. Map-based queries and analysis in the geo-portal
iv. Damage and Vulnerability Assessment on the fly in the portal
As part of the work, FLEWS alerts for 2013 and 2014, Synoptic Weather Advisory, AWS
rainfall readings, flooded RCs (source: ASDMA) and probable inundated village layers
(from NRSC SAR data from 2007-2014 and other sources) were collated for web
dissemination. In this regard, Project Definition Paper (PDE) has already been submitted.
Also, the full flood database for 2014 is ready for integration in the SDSS. For the 2015
flood season, this work is still pending.
5. SBIK Level 1 Flood Zonation database generation For North Eastern States
As part of Space Based Information Kiosk (SBIK) project, identification and digitization of
major flood prone areas were done by combining information from various sources like
historical data, media and available flood zones from state WRD centres. Low lying area
identification was done with the help of contours generated from DEM. SAR data was
used to extract out inundated areas for Manipur and Assam, due to availabity of data in
these states.
Activities in 2015-2016
1. Pre-Monsoon Works:
All total 38 HEC-HMS models of Assam were built as an upgrade to the existing FLEWS
system. The primary work in the phase included:
 Correction of digital river database: The existing river data available with NESAC
had been digitized keeping in view the major/large river systems. But accurate
flood plain representation and proper delineation of sub-catchments need the
details of minor channels which act as major flood discharge carriers during
monsoon.
 Preparation of LULC and Soil data for model preparation: Previously the CN grid
for SCS Runoff module in HEC-HMS was created using four major LULC classes
which generalized the CN for various LULC classes. It was seen that CN
parameter gravely affected the discharge from catchment. Hence for
preparation of CN grid, LULC classes were broken down to 26 different classes
and soil classes viz. A,B,C,D were recomputed using texture, drainage pattern
and type of soil.
 Catchment Delineation and model preparation using HEC-GeoHMS: The
catchment delineation procedure additionally included burning of corrected
major/minor river systems. Special care was taken for removing erroneous sub-

4. catchment polygons and outlets, merging and breaking too small/too big
polygons. Also, the river routing method was changed to Muskingum-Cunge
from Muskingum to account for ungauged catchments and also decrease input
data assumptions in the model.
 Correction to newly built HEC-HMS models: The new models built after
delineation were further checked for erroneous connections and necessary data
for routing were fed. Model calibration procedure was not possible due to
unavailability of required data, hence utmost care was taken to prevent any
errors in the models.
 Model Simulation changed from previously 24 to 48 hours to account for full
routing of bigger rivers and tributaries.
2. Operational FLEWS activities:
The operational phase of the project includes coordinating with team members in the
following works -
 Daily Monitoring & ONLINE Downloads
1. IMD-AWS & IMD-ARG Rainfall
2. MOSDAC AWS Rainfall
3. IMD WRF – 00 UTC & 12 UTC (24 hours & 48 hours)
4. Hydrograph CWC
5. CWC Alert
6. NEEPCO WL monitor
7. ASDMA Flood reports
8. Synoptic (Email)
9. WRF (Email)
10. Satellite & Doppler Monitoring
 Collect WL & Rain gauge data(Phone)
 HMS Model Runs
 Update Discharge North Bank & South Bank Excel
 Convert AWS to image
 FLEWS Alert Status Excel
 FLEWS Alert Dissemination (Email)
 FLEWS Alert Dissemination (SMS)
3. Field Survey
Survey-1: GPS and Bathymetric survey was done for Umngi river in Balat, Meghalaya.
Also study of flood plain and erosion prone areas were done.
Survey-2: Embankment breach verification was done for Darrang, Goalpara and Barpeta
districts of Assam as part post FLEWS Embankment Breach Study.

5. Miscellaneous Works
1. Prepared and proposed the location of ARG stations for Guwahati on the request of
Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) for their Guwahati Urban Flood
Management Project.
2. Presentation on feasibility of River Atlas in Assam to Additional Chief Secretary Water
Resources on 30-July-2015. The final proposal was completed in 2016. Currently work
on the said project has been started.
3. Assisted in preparation of FLEWS proposal for 2015-2017.
4. Assisted in answering Lok-Sabha parliamentary questions on FLEWS.
5. Preparation of FLEWS digital presentation for presentation in PMO Office.
6. Preparation of FLEWS project report, currently in final phase of correction.
7. Imparted hands-on training and prepared course materials for “Pre-Conference Tutorial
on Early Warning System for Floods” organized on September 17, 2014 in NESAC.
8. Imparted training on Flood Early Warning to the ADPOs of Meghalaya during their
Induction training on 13th October, 2015.
9. Assisted in preparation of document on Effective use of Space Technology Based tools
by Water Resource Deptt., Meghalaya and NESAC for Meghalaya State meet 2016.
10. Preparation of comprehensive Hydrology databases available with NESAC. Gaps in
Rainfall, Waterlevel & discharge data were identified during this process. Subsequent
visit was done to Chief Engineer Office, Guwahati and all available data available with
water resources department, Assam were collected. These data are currently being
checked for accuracy after which they will be used for HMS model calibration, preparing
Hydraulic model inputs and rating curves for FLEWS operational works.
11. Training of new JRFs in FLEWS from 2014-2016. In this regard detailed videos of works
have been prepared for easy grasp of the FLEWS working methodology by new
candidates.
12. Preparation of Flood Prone areas for Umgni River, Meghalaya including cross-sections,
longitudinal profile, detailed maps, etc.
13. Prepared drainage maps of Boroi River in Assam-Arunachal for GSI.
14. Assisted in preparation of suitable rivers for installing automatic stage gauges under the
National Hydrology Project-III
15. Assisted in preparation of project proposal for "Remote Sensing Based Surveillance on
the upper catchments of Assam" for Assam State Disaster Management Authority
(ASDMA).
16. Imparted training, hands-on and prepared training materials for "Basic Course on
Remote Sensing and GIS" conducted in NESAC.
17. Assisted and trained two students from Mizoram university in preparation of their
projects namely "Hydrological Runoff Modelling in watershed scale for Gomti, manu

6. confluence of the Natinmanu and Chhamanu rivers in Tripura using Geospatial
Techniques" and "Hydrological Runoff modelling in watershed scale for Tlawng River
and its tributaries in Mizoram using Geo-spatial dataset" respectively.
18. Poster and presentation works for various state meets, meetings, conferences, etc.
Research & Development Activities
1. Preparation of MIKE Flood model for Urban flood simulation in Wamukhra river shillong
2. MIKE 21 Flow Model stability study with variation in Eddy viscosity, Flooding and drying
and Initial Surface parameters.
3. Complex urban bathymetry creation in MIKE 21 environment in the absence of MIKE
URBAN module. Possibility of creating a realistic DEM using surface features digitized
from high resolution imagery is tested.
4. Comparison of rating curves obtained from DEM generated Cross-sections and assumed
bathymetry with actual field rating curves. HEC-RAS, HEC-GeoRAS and AUTOCAD
software module has been used for the purpose.
5. Snow-runoff modelling in HEC-HMS for Tinsukia-Doomdooma Noa-Dihing river
catchment.
6. Testing of CCH2D Software module for Sediment and Morphological Simulation. MIKE
21 C module can be added in the present MIKE package to include this feature.
7. Testing of SWMM Software module for urban flood scenario. Although it is very robust
model and used in majority of urban flooding/planning studies, this model has
limitations in regard to GIS integration. Another module called PCSWMM fulfills this
need but a paid version of the same has to be acquired.
8. Coupled one dimensional and two dimensional Hydraulic modelling in major flood prone
rivers of North-East: MIKE FLOOD hydraulic models were setup for some major flood
prone rivers systems of North-East, with sufficient data for Unsteady Simulation. Some
of the major areas include Guwahati Urban, Shillong Urban, Ranganadi river in
Lakhimpur, Dhansiri(S) river in Assam-Nagaland border, Krishnai-Dudhnoi River systems,
etc.
9. Study of Delft FEWS software for automation of the FLEWS workflow.
10. Methodology and parameter changes for surface flow and runoff schemes of HEC-HMS
models

7. Publications
i. Flood Hydrological and Hydraulic Modelling In Guwahati Urban With Early
Warning Imperatives
Ngangbam Romeji, Amaljit Bharali and S. Sudhakar
[ISPRS Technical Commission VIII Mid Term Symposium 2014]
ii. Urban Flood Modelling with Early Warning Imperatives: A platform towards
Disaster Preparedness in North Eastern India
Ngangbam Romeji, Amaljit Bharali and S. Sudhakar
[ISG regional Conference on Geoinformatics for Early Warning of Disasters with
special emphasis on North Eastern region] [# abstract published]
iii. Flood Early Warning with Quasi-Distributed Hydrological model with input from
NWP rainfall forecast - An operational exercise in flood prone districts of
Brahmaputra valley
D. Barman, S.S. Kundu, R.B. Gogoi, A.Borgohain, A. Bharali, D. Sarma, N.Barman, P.L.N.
Raju
[ISPRS WG VIII/1 Workshop on Geospatial Technology for Disaster Risk Reduction,
Jaipur, India on 17th December, 2015]
iv. Operational remote sensing services in north eastern region of India for natural
resources management, early warning for disaster risk reduction and
dissemination of information and services
P.L.N. Raju*, K.K. Sarma, Diganta Barman, Bijoy Krishna Handique, , Dibyajyoti Chutia,
S.S. Kundu, Ramani Kr Das, Kasturi Chakraborty, Ranjit Das, Jonali Goswami Prathiba
Das, H. Suchitra Devi, Jenita M. Nongkynrih, Kuntala Bhusan, M. Somorjit Singh,
P.Subhash Singh , Victor Saikhom, Chandan Goswami, Rocky Pebam, Arup Borgohain,
Rekha B. Gogoi, N.Romeji Singh, Amaljit Bharali, Dipima Sarma, Rosly Boy Lyngdoh,
Partho Pratim Mandal, Mayuri Chabukdhara
[XXIII ISPRS CONGRESS 2016 - Prague, Czech Republic on 12-19 July'2016]
Membership (Professional Organization)
 Life Member - Indian Society of Geomatics (ISG)

8. Training/Workshops/Conferences/Meetings
 Successfully completed Thirteenth Satellite & Internet Based Distance Learning Program
Basic course on “Remote Sensing, Geographical Information System and Global
Navigation Satellite System” conducted by Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Indian
Space Research Organization from 04-08-2014 to 14-11-2014.
 Attended TEQIP – Short Term Course on “Water Resources Management and Climate
Change Impacts Assessment” from 22nd – 26th December, 2014 held at IIT, Guwahati.
 Participated in the AssamWater Conference – 2015 exhibition from 6th – 8th February,
2015 to showcase the major projects of NESAC, SBIK and FLEWS Geo-portals and got
overwhelming responses from the visitors.
 Participated in ISPRS WG VIII/1 Workshop on Geospatial Technology for Disaster Risk
Reduction, Jaipur, India from 16 -18th December, 2015
 Participated in the Vibrant North East – 2016 exhibition from 18th – 20th February, 2016
to showcase the major projects of NESAC, SBIK and FLEWS Geo-portals and got
overwhelming responses from the visitors.
 Participated in Mizoram State meet 2016.

9. Work/Field Photographs
Field Photograph of Bharalu River in Jonali,
Guwahati
Post FLEWS Bathymetric Survey in Noadihing river
in Tinsukia, Assam
MIKE FLOOD hydraulic simulation of Bharalu River in
Guwahati as part of Urban Flooding Study
Embankment Breach near Jiadhal river, Dhemaji
Bathymetric Survey in Umngi river, Balat, Meghalaya Bank scouring near Umngi river, Meghalaya