v1.0 · Web Application · Desktop installers available for macOS and Windows
FIMsim is a web-based tool designed to eliminate the technical barrier of setting up 2D flood simulations. It serves two distinct purposes: (1) automated preparation of individual hydraulic model input data — including terrain, land cover, river networks, and streamflow time series — and (2) end-to-end configuration and cloud execution of complete flood mapping simulations for two supported hydraulic models (LISFLOOD-FP and TRITON). Users define a study area, and FIMsim handles all data downloading, processing, and file formatting automatically. For users who prefer a local setup, standalone desktop installers for macOS and Windows are also available — no Python installation or technical configuration required.
FIMsim addresses two separate but related challenges in flood modeling:
1. Preparing individual model inputs independently: Hydrologists often need specific geospatial datasets — a DEM for one project, LULC for another, streamflow records for analysis — without running a full simulation. FIMsim provides four standalone tools that each produce one type of input file in different formats, ready to use in any model or workflow.
2. Running a complete flood simulation end to end: When the goal is a full flood inundation map, FIMsim can take over the entire pipeline. After the user defines a study area, it downloads every required input, writes all model-specific configuration files, and submits the simulation to run on cloud infrastructure — no local software installation or GIS expertise required.
| Track | What it does |
|---|---|
| Independent Hydraulic Model Inputs | Four standalone tools for downloading and processing individual geospatial inputs (DEM, LULC & Manning's n, Flowlines, Streamflow Data), each usable independently of any specific flood model |
| Flood Mapping Models | Two complete simulation pipelines — each downloads all required inputs, writes all model files, and runs the simulation on cloud infrastructure |
FIMsim connects to the following public data services. An internet connection is required during data downloads.
| Dataset | Provider | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Elevation Model (DEM) | USGS 3DEP (1 m, 10 m, 30 m) | USA |
| Height Above Nearest Drainage (HAND) | TACC | USA |
| Land Use / Land Cover (LULC) | NLCD — USGS | USA |
| Land Use / Land Cover (LULC) | Sentinel-2 — Esri | Global |
| River flowlines | NHD — USGS | USA |
| USGS stream gages | USGS Water Services | USA |
| Streamflow time series | NWM Retrospective v2.1 — NOAA | USA · 1979–2020 |
| Streamflow forecast | NWM Operational — NOAA | USA · ~10-day horizon |
| Model | Type | Input files generated |
|---|---|---|
| LISFLOOD-FP | 2D raster-based | .par · .bci · .bdy · DEM and Manning ASCII grids |
| TRITON | 2D GPU-accelerated | .cfg · .extbc · .hyg · DEM and friction ASCII grids |
- Multi-AOI batch processing — define multiple study areas in a single shapefile or GeoPackage; all downloads and outputs are handled per AOI automatically
- Editable Manning's n table — the LULC step generates a land-cover lookup table with Min / Avg / Max roughness values that the user can edit before export
- Upstream / downstream detection — the flowline step automatically identifies the upstream and downstream endpoints of the main river and marks them on the map
- Map preview — at each step, the app plots the results for visual inspection before saving
FIMsim is deployed as a web application — no installation required. Open it in any browser and start a project immediately.
🔗 Live app: (link coming soon)
For users who prefer a local installation, standalone installers are available on the Releases page — no Python or conda setup required.
| Platform | File |
|---|---|
| macOS | FIMsim-mac.dmg — drag to Applications |
| Windows | FIMsim-setup-windows.exe — run installer wizard |
git clone https://github.com/pnikrou/FIMsim.git
cd FIMsim
conda env create -f environment.yml
conda activate FIMsim
python main.py