BlackbirdView Help - Grand River Demo
BlackbirdView is designed for visualization of model output from the Blackbird model. This demo is designed specifically to host automated hourly run results for the Grand River watershed to represent real-time flood conditions.
BlackbirdView utilizes the geoJSON format (in WGS84 lat-long coordinates) for additional visualization of the model configuration.
Methodology
This demonstration combines 1) a Raven hydrologic model that uses real-time Water Survey of Canada gauges to assimilate real-time flows throughout the domain without performing rainfall-runoff modelling, and 2) a Blackbird model that takes the most recent flow rate and performs steady-state 1D modelling to produce flood depths. The combination of these approaches shows how real-time flood information may be used in an efficient and timely fashion at large scales. The model also uses bathymetry information provided by the research group at Concordia University in collaboration with Pascale Biron and Guenole Choné. An inverse hydraulic modelling methodology, based on the water surface of the river channels derived from LiDAR data, is used to estimate the bathymetry, as described in the references provided below.
Choné, G., Mazgareanu, I., Biron, P. M., Buffin-Bélanger, T., Larouche-Tremblay, F., Perry, B., & Fortin, M. (2024). Large-scale flood modelling based on LiDAR data: a case study in the Southwest Miramichi watershed, New Brunswick, Canada. Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue Canadienne Des Ressources Hydriques, 49(4), 460–478. https://doi.org/10.1080/07011784.2024.2430776
Limitations
This interface is intended as a demo of the capabilities of the Blackbird software and Heron dashboard, and is not intended for use in active decision-making for real-time flood events or other planning purposes. The underlying hydraulic model is not yet fully validated and may not represent local conditions accurately, particularly for smaller tributaries. If you notice any inaccuracies, please contact us at hello@heronhydrologic.ca.
Note that the zoom level is restricted to prevent viewing at levels where tiles have not been generated. This zoom level may be improved in future iterations.
This application and underlying data has no affiliation, endorsement, or involvement from the Grand River Conservation Authority or any other public agency.
Privacy
In this demo, the operations for generating the live updates are performed on Heron servers, but any other files added are client-side, that is, your model files stay on your machine and nothing is uploaded to a server.
Use statement
This user interface is distributed 'as is' without warranties or conditions of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, without limitation, any warranties or conditions of title, non-infringement, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose.