Statistical Validation Methods: Application to Unit Hydrographs

Abstract

In hydraulic and hydrologic studies, engineers develop new models or calibrate existing models by various techniques. One is often concerned with the model validity regarding its ability to predict future events. Five potentially useful statistical validation methods are presented. For illustration, they were applied to examine the predictability of unit hydrographs derived by various methods in the framework of the least squares and its variations. It was found that storm-stacking (conventional multistorm analysis) together with storm-scaling yields the most desirable UH. The general framework of these validation methods can also be applied to a validation study of other hydrologic and hydraulic models.