Predictable, devastating and very fast: what the simulation of the flooding of the Rambla del Poyo reveals
Context
This project reconstructs, minute by minute, the flood behavior of the Rambla del Poyo using hydrological simulation outputs and local terrain data. I translated technical model results into a readable visual sequence, combining timing, maps, and progression cues so readers could understand how water spread through the area and why the impact escalated so quickly.
My role
- Data analysis
- Cartography
- Frontend development
I co-led the visual and technical implementation with Borja Andrino, translating a scientific hydraulic model into a public-facing interactive narrative focused on temporal clarity and usability.
Data and methodology
The project was developed in close collaboration with a UPV researcher who provided raw simulation outputs in HDF format, including water-level and flood-extent values across time and space.
After validating model behavior against observed events, we designed a map-based storytelling flow that let readers inspect the simulation timeline almost minute by minute.
Key decisions
- We implemented a Mapbox scrollytelling interaction that behaves like a lightweight video player, allowing users to move forward and backward through the simulation state.
- We prioritized color scale legibility and temporal readability so the speed and spread of the flood could be interpreted at a glance.
- Performance was treated as a core requirement: we optimized data handling and rendering to keep the page responsive despite the volume and density of simulation data.
Result
The final piece gave readers an unprecedented reconstruction of what happened during the flood, with a controllable timeline that made both progression and turning points explicit.
Impact and learnings
- The story performed strongly in both editorial impact and audience reach, becoming one of the clearest public reconstructions of the event.
- It proved the value of combining scientific modeling with interaction design to communicate risk, response timing, and institutional accountability.