FEMA – DSS-WISE™ Lite: Web-based Automated Dam-Break Modeling/Mapping Tool

The Decision Support System for Water Infrastructure Security™ Lite (DSS-WISE™ Lite) is a web-based, automated two-dimensional dam-break flood modeling and mapping capability, funded by FEMA, which can be used by critical infrastructure stakeholders to understand the consequences of dam failure flooding events and can help organizations enhance their resilience.

The tool was developed by the National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering (NCCHE) and the University of Mississippi. According to a FEMA fact sheet, some of the key benefits include:

• Expertise in numerical modeling is not required.
• Simulations can be set up very quickly with minimum user input data.
• Input files are automatically prepared using input data and national data sets.
• Numerical model uses a state-of-the-art upwind numerical scheme that can handle all types of fast unsteady flows, wet/dry interfaces, and discontinuities.
• Parallelized code offers extremely high computational speeds for operational real-time simulations for emergencies.
• Produces geospatial results files compatible with GIS software and HAZUS-MH.
• Can be used for hazard classification, ranking and prioritizing, EAP preparation and emergency response planning.

DSS-WISE™ Lite has been used extensively during numerous dam incidents and emergencies. FEMA reached out to several states asking for case studies of their experience with DSS-WISE and compiled a report which can be accessed here. For example, in California, Lake Van Norden Dam suffered damage to the spillway channel concrete liner. The dam owner’s approved inundation map was used during the incident, but DSS-WISE™ Lite was used to confirm the owner’s inundation area and flood parameters. Access the tool here or read a FEMA fact sheet.