Surface Runoff Variation Assessment Using Process-Based Hydrologic Model

Process-based hydrologic models are progressively being used to support decisions on many water resources management such as in the design and operation of the hydraulic structures, water supply, irrigation, flood control, and many other engineering practices. Many of these models share a common base in their endeavor to incorporate the diversity of the watershed and the spatial distribution of topography, vegetation, land use, soil characteristics and rainfall. Activities in the flood plain and catchment such as land clearing for other developments may increase the magnitude of the flood. Understanding on the reaction of the river basin on the floods scenario becomes a crucial part before any project of flood mitigation approach is implemented. The study attempts to highlight the simulation of the Soil Water Assessment Tool ( SWAT) hydrologic model in determining the surface runoff distribution from a different sub-basin. For Langat River Basin, the sub-basin 17 was produced the highest amount of surface runoff in the basin. The assessment of the sub-basins response on the surface runoff can be used as guidance for modelers to understand the impact of a spatial heterogeneity of the river basin towards flood.