Progress Report on Flood Hazard Mapping in China
For the Third East and Southeast Asian Regional Seminar on Flood Hazard Mapping
By Xu Jing
From the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters,
Ministry of Water Resources
February, 2009

Personal Data:
Name: Xu Jing
Organization: the Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters,
Ministry of Water resources, China
Present Post: vice director of the second flood control division
E-mail: xujing@mwr.gov.cn
Item A: FHM-related situation in China
A-(1) Current/target situation of FHM in China(1)-1 Current stage of FHM in China
It is a little difficulty to say which single stage China’s FHM is in currently. For theFHM work conditions differ from south to north and from the seaside area to inlandarea. In 2004, we launched pilot work in seven major river basins. Altogether 36 pilot
areas participated this work. More than 300 flood hazard maps were made for thosepilot areas. Taking reference to this pilot work, most maps were of type D or type F
and some were of type E. The conclusion, however, can’t be extended to the wholecountry cause that the pilot areas that we chose have better work conditions (such as
long-term hydrologic data, etc). If the work of FHM is carried out in the wholecountry, I think the total stage maybe in stage C or D.
(1)-2 Outline of current situation in China
Generally say, FHM is still in pilot stage in China .But the pilot products have been
put into usage in pilot areas.
By the end of 2007, the first stage of FHM pilot project was finished. Thirty-six pilot
areas including 12 sections important river dikes, 9 cities, 9 flood detention areas and6 reservoirs.More than 300 flood hazard maps were finished and were taken into use
in those areas. Two technical files were issued to the pilot areas to guide and coachthis work. And two training seminars were held in province of JiangSu. Two technicalexaminations were held in ShangHai and ChangChun.
In 2008, the second stage of FHM pilot projects was launched. Another 18 pilot areas
were selected including cities, flood detention areas, reservoirs and important riverbanks. The second stage pilot project is supposed to be finished in 2010.
Accompanying with FHM in those areas, two technical files are planned to bemodified or to be written. One file is flood hazard mapping guideline and the otherone is flood hazard mapping technical handbook.
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The purpose of carrying out pilot projects is to gain experiences for making, using,modifying and management of FHM.
(1)-3 Good practices of FHM
Example 1: FHM practices in ChengDu city.
ChengDu city is the capital of SiChuan province which is located in southwest China.
City area is 598 squared km. City population is 10.6 million. ChengDu city is an
important finance, trade, culture center and traffic, communication hub for southwest
China. Chengdu FHM project was launched In 2005 and was finished in 2007.
Type E: Past inundation areas based on simulation for ChengDu city
(several past floods)

Type E: Past inundation area based on simulation for ChengDu city
(several past floods)

Another type: Seeper distribution map based on simulation
for different frequency rainfall

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Example 2: FHM practices in EenZhou city.
WenZhou city is located in east China. It is often attacked by typhoon from west
Pacific Ocean. So FHM for WenZhou city mainly considered rainstorm caused bytyphoon.
Type C: Past inundation area of a single past flood(Caused by No. 0505 Typhoon Feria)

Type F: Once in 50 years flood inundation area based on simulation3

(1)-4 Target/necessary stage of FHM in China
In my opinion, the perfect target stage of FHM in China is stage G in which stage
indication forecast is realized by real time analysis and FHM play a more importantrole in flood defending and disaster deduction than now. But it is not the necessary
stage or type currently. The necessary stage we need now is stage C or D which iseasier to make and also can be used for disaster deduction.
A-(2) FOR making of FHM(2)-1 Institutional situation for making FHM
I am sorry to say that we still don’t have FHM-related law by now. To local
governments we don’t have a restriction to clear their obligation on FHM. To financedepartment we can’t apply budget for FHM every year. To the technical department
we can’t get data for free. To the public we lack a measure to regulate the underlying
problems by issuing FHMs. So the absence of FHM-related law is a big obstacle topopularize FHM in China.
Currently, FHM in China is impelled by the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR).
The Office of State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (OSFCDRH) is
responsible for carrying out FHM-related work. The technical support organizations at
central level are China Institute of Water resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR)
Water resources administrations and the offices of flood control and drought relief
headquarters at each level are the responsible organizations. Water-related research or
design institutions and colleges are technical organizations. Thus formed the FHM
system.
Table 1 FHM Organization System
Administration level
Responsible organization
Technical organization
Central
MWR,OSFCDRH
IWHR, GIWP
Water resources research
Seven river basin administration
River basin
institutions at each rivercommittees
basin, universities…
Water resources administration at Water resources research
Province
province levelinstitutions, universities…
Water resources administration at local Water resources research
Locallevelinstitutions, universities…
(2)-2 Hydrological/topographical data situation for making FHMIn China, Hydrological data is in the charge of the Hydrology Bureau which is acomposing department of the Ministry of Water Resources. By now, China has set up
a set of hydrology measure system consists of more than 1,000 central hydrology
measure stations and thousands of local hydrology measure stations. Some stations
have been set up for more than 100 years and have long term hydrology data whilesome others, especially those in some small river basins, only have several years’history. Long term hydrology data are not free for the public even for public affairs
such as FHM. FHM organizations need to buy data from hydrology department.
Situation of topographical data is almost the same with hydrological data.
(2)-3 Problems for making FHM in China
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Lacking of basic datum is the biggest obstacle for making FHM in China.
Hydrological data, topographical data, large scale digital map are in the charge ofdifferent government departments. These data are not free for the public.
Flood risk’s rationality is hard to validate. In some cases, the simulation inundation
results are quiet different with the actually situation especially when topographicaldata are not renew in time. It is time taking to validate and revise.
Focusing more on possible flood calculation or simulation. Most FHMs that were
finished in China are of type E or type F. Comparing with type C or type D, they takemore time and more money. Type C or type D FHM may be more suitable for mostarea in China.
Lacking local residents’ participants. Current FHM are mainly made by technicalorganizations. Local presidents’ participants are not necessarily involved in theprocess of making FHM.
A-(3) For disseminating/use of FHM(3)-1 Institutional situation for disseminating/ use FHM
Same with (2)-1.
(3)-2 Problems for disseminating/use of FHM in China
No FHM-related law to maintenance authority of FHM. By disseminating FHM,
doubt and dissatisfaction will come up with showing flood risk to the public. Local
resident may complain that high flood risk will affect the exchange of their estate or
will rise up their insurance fee. On the other hand, land use department or insurancecompany maybe don’t agree with the flood risk that FHM shown and refuse to accept
FHMs as a reference when make land use plan or make insurance rate.
Item B: For improvement of FHM research by ICHARM
B-(1) For efficient/effective disaster preventions(1) Saturation level of TV, radio, internet and newspaper in China
TV saturation (population) is more than 99.3% and closing 100%. Radio saturation(population) is more than 95%. Internet saturation is 12.3% (2007). Newspaper
saturation is 75 newspapers per thousand people.
(2) The flow of information related to evacuation in flood
Meteorological forecast or heavy rainfall alert is issued to the public and local flood
defending department by local government al meteorological department. Local flood
defending departments issue flood or typhoon emergency responses considering
meteorological and hydrological real time information. Local governments issue
evacuation order.
(3) Awareness level of residents for disaster prevent
In south and east China, flood occur almost every year, residents’ awareness ofdisaster is comparatively higher than residents in north and west China. City
residents’ awareness is higher than rural area residents’. Developed area is higher thandeveloping area. In some east and southeast provinces, such as ZheJiang, FuJian,GuangDong, HuNan, JiangXi and ShanDong, some villages have appointees ororganizations (not special) for disaster alert and evacuation. In coastal areas, people’s
awareness of typhoon is far higher than before due to the disaster related knowledge5education in school and popularization in public.
B-(2) Flood hazard map manual made by ICHARM
No detailed suggestion. If have, may communicated later.

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