Cellular automata for the flow simulations on the earth surface, optimization computation process

Abstract

The spreading of water across terrain is not a simple and isolated process. The spread of water is a part of the more general water cycle. Many commercial software exist for water modelling, but their correct use requires a considerable knowledge of water modelling, and about the study area. Using the relatively simple principle of cellular automata (CA) it is possible to obtain results which compare well with real measurements. This article describes using a CA for simulating the spreading of liquid, using comparatively simple rules and conditions which include several factors affecting the spreading of water such as slope, roughness and infiltration. A disadvantage of CA is the slower calculation process, which is strongly dependent on the size of the study area. We address this issue by using three optimization methods to reduce the computation time.