Application of optimization technique to estimate IDF Parameters

Accurate quantification of rainfall intensity of various duration is of paramount importance in water resource engineering. It is the basic data required for the design of flood control structures, sewers and culverts. Such information is generally expressed in the form of intensity-duration-frequency curves (IDF) or through parametric equations. The reliability of established IDF's is subject to accuracy of data collection and the accuracy in calculation of various parameters in IDF equations. The present work introduces the use of spreadsheet based optimization approach to estimate the various parameters of IDF equations accurately. It was found that the IDF curves resulting from present method were more accurate as compared to the conventional method of multiple regression. Published IDF data were used to evaluate the performance of spreadsheet based optimization approach.