EMBREA-Web: a tool for the simulation of breach through dams and embankments

The failure of dams and embankments can have catastrophic impacts on people, properties and environment. Therefore, dam and embankment breach modelling is a fundamental stage of any flood risk assessment. EMBREA-Web has been developed to help researchers and practitioners undertake this task more easily via an online interface that is built upon the well-known simulation engine of the EMBREA breach model. EMBREA-Web is available in two versions ‘Lite’ and ‘Pro’. The Lite version is free and allows the modelling of the failure of homogeneous dams or embankments initiated by overtopping or internal erosion. The Pro version has advanced features such as modelling of non-homogeneous and layered dams and embankments and the ability to undertake Monte Carlo simulations to account for data and modelling uncertainties. In this paper, a description of the EMBREA simulation engine is given with a detailed presentation of the ‘Lite’ and ‘Pro’ versions of EMBREA-Web. Examples of undertaking modelling runs with EMBREA-Web are also given showing how it guides and simplifies the task of undertaking breach modelling