Use of Digital Twin for assessing the impact of degraded areas on flood occurrence: a case study of the Muriaé river watershed, Brazil

Abstract

The occurrence of environmental disasters, such as floods, is becoming more frequent every day due to the climate emergency faced by humanity. The number of studies on anthropogenic interference in landscapes, which influences the increased frequency of floods, such as environmental degradation, is also rising. It is crucial to assess, on a macro scale, the relationship between the upstream and downstream parts of a watershed, which often spans multiple municipalities, regarding the occurrence of environmental disasters. This issue poses a challenge for public managers and directly impacts the population. To address this, a Digital Twin representing the Muriaé River watershed was developed using the MOHID platform. Five scenarios were simulated to evaluate the impact of restoring degraded areas due to pastureland use and the recovery of native vegetation on flood mitigation, considering changes in soil density and roughness coefficient. The results indicate a reduction in peak flow after these modifications, supporting the discussion on the recovery of degraded areas as a means to prevent, neutralize, or reduce the problem of frequent floods.