Computerized Tool for the Development of Intensity-Duration-Frequency Curves under Climate Change
NEW PUBLICATION: "A decision support system for updating and incorporating climate change impacts into rainfall intensity-duration-frequency curves: Review of the stakeholder involvement process":
A new paper has been published in the Journal of Environmental Modelling & Software. Free access is available through the following link (http://authors.elsevier.com/a/1TNoF4sKhE9jbK) until September 3, 2016.
(July 18, 2016) 
NEW FEATURE – Viewing Uncertainty:
A new feature has been added to the tool to allow users to quickly assess uncertainty associated with generation of future IDF curves using different GCMs. Users can now quickly view the distribution of outputs generated by each of the 22 GCMs available in the tool in the form of box plots. Users must select the “All Models” GCM option when generating future IDF curves and then the “Box Plot – Uncertainty” tab when viewing future IDF curves to view this feature.
(April 04, 2016)
Municipal water management in Canada is heavily dependent on the use of Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves in planning, design, and operation of municipal water
infrastructure. Many watershed management activities also rely on the use of IDF curves, including those related to water supply, water quality management and flood control.
This project focused on updating IDF curves under a changing climate and developing an accessible, web-based tool available to anyone interested in developing IDF curves
that incorporate projected climate change impacts.
While there is a need in almost every Canadian municipality to adapt to changing climatic conditions, there is a lack of necessary expertise within
municipalities for implementing current research related to the impact of climatic change on IDF curves. Thus, one of the primary aims of this
project was to standardize the IDF update process and make the results of current research on climate change impacts on IDF curves accessible to everyone.
The developers and supporting agencies believe that a freely available, computerized IDF update tool will aid in the selection of effective climate change
adaptation options at the local level, advancing the decision making capabilities of municipalities, watershed management authorities and other key stakeholders.
The tool will also provide a direct link between Canadian municipalities and the research community, creating opportunities for further research and innovation.
This computerized web-based IDF tool integrates a user interface with a Geographic Information System (GIS). By creating or selecting a station the user
will be able to carry out statistical analysis on historical data, as well as generate and verify possible future change based on a methodology using
a combination of global climate modeling outputs and locally observed weather data.
To access functionalities and explore advanced options (for example, provide your own data/stations and carry out analysis for future scenarios using Global Circulations Models),
please create your account or login if you have an account already.
By accessing any of the above options you agree with the Terms of Use
We also encourage you to check out the user manual and technical documentation available in the Help section.
For more information on IDF curves, climate change, please see:
CSA document on IDF curves: http://shop.csa.ca/en/canada/infrastructure-and-public-works/plus-4013-2nd-ed-pub-2012/invt/27030802012
The current version of the Tool includes version 2.30 of Enviroment Canada IDF dataset from 21/Dec/2014 available at: http://climate.weather.gc.ca/prods_servs/engineering_e.html
Please contact us using this form to send comments, report suspected bugs or suggest modifications to existing features.
