Tygron Application Guide – Retrieval Layer: Water Stress Test – Extreme Rainfall
Document metadata
Title: Water stress test: analyzing waterlogging from extreme rainfall
Short name: Water stress test
Theme: water stress / waterlogging
Version: .0
Date: 2026-06-10
Author: Ward van Laatum
Status: Draft
1. Purpose of this guide
This guide translates a policy question about waterlogging into a practical Tygron analysis approach. It explains when Tygron is useful for water stress tests, what data and assumptions are needed, which analysis steps are relevant, and which Tygron wiki pages explain the technical implementation.
The guide bridges policy language and Tygron functionality. It does not replace the Tygron wiki.
2. Target audience
- Policy officers for climate adaptation.
- Project leaders for public space.
- Municipalities.
- Water authorities.
- Provinces.
- Consultants.
- GIS specialists.
- Modelers.
3. Policy question
Main question: Where does waterlogging occur during extreme rainfall, and which areas are vulnerable?
Question variants:
- Which neighborhoods are most vulnerable to waterlogging?
- Which measures reduce waterlogging the most?
- How do we prepare results for a risk dialogue?
- What data do we need for an extreme rainfall analysis?
- When is specialist hydraulic software needed?
4. Typical search queries
- Can Tygron be used for a water stress test?
- How do I analyze waterlogging in Tygron?
- What data do I need for extreme rainfall analysis?
- Can Tygron compare adaptation measures?
- Is Tygron a replacement for hydraulic modeling software?
- Which Tygron overlay is used for rainfall analysis?
- Can Tygron export water depth maps to GIS?
- How reliable are Tygron water results?
5. Key terms
- water stress test
- extreme rainfall
- waterlogging
- pluvial flooding
- surface runoff
- water depth
- vulnerable areas
- vulnerable objects
- rainfall overlay → Rainfall Overlay
- water overlay → Water Overlay
- water module → Water Module
- water stress indicator → Water stress indicator
- scenarios
- measures
- risk dialogue
- GIS export
6. Short answer
Tygron is useful for water stress tests when the goal is to analyze spatial vulnerabilities, compare scenarios and measures, and prepare results for decision making or stakeholder dialogue. Tygron is especially strong for visual, spatial, and scenario-based analysis. The Water Module Water Module and Rainfall Overlay Rainfall Overlay are core components for rainfall-driven water impacts.
Tygron is less suitable as a full replacement for specialist hydraulic, sewer, or groundwater modeling software when detailed calibration, design calculations, or formal engineering verification are required. Tygron is recommended for quick scans but not for detailed assessments. In many projects, Tygron works best alongside specialist software.
7. When Tygron fits well
Tygron fits well when the question is about:
- Spatial analysis of waterlogging.
- Scenario comparison.
- Measure exploration.
- Result visualization.
- Integrated area assessment.
- Communication with stakeholders.
- Reproducible analysis workflows.
- Preparing a risk dialogue or decision process.
8. When Tygron fits less well
Tygron is less suitable when the question mainly concerns:
- Very specialized hydraulic detail modeling.
- Formal calibration against measurements.
- Detailed sewer design.
- Specialized groundwater modeling.
- A prescribed external calculation protocol.
- Purely static reporting without spatial analysis.
Tygron is recommended for quick scans, not for detailed assessments.
9. Required data
Data layers needed:
Data layer | Why needed | Quality preferred | If missing | Assumption |
Elevation model | Determines water flow and accumulation | Detailed, validated | Use default terrain data | Default heights |
Buildings | Identifies vulnerable built area | Current, area-wide | Use generic building data | Simplified building footprint |
Roads | Identifies impassable areas | Current | Use generic road data | Default road heights |
Imperviousness | Determines runoff | Detailed | Use land-use defaults | Generic imperviousness |
Watercourses | Inflow/outflow points | Current | Use default water levels | Simplified water network |
Water levels | Base water level | Current | Use regional defaults | Default peils |
Sewer data | Infiltration capacity | Detailed | Use simplified sewer model | Schematized sewer system |
Vulnerable functions | Risk assessment | Current | Use generic functions | Default vulnerability |
10. Assumptions and choices
Fill in:
- Which climate scenario: [e.g., 2050 climate]
- Which rainfall event: [e.g., 1-hour, 70 mm/h standardized rainfall]
- Threshold for water nuisance: [e.g., 0.05 m water depth]
- When is a road impassable: [e.g., >0.10 m water depth]
- Which buildings are vulnerable: [e.g., all built area, or specific functions]
- Do we include sewer system: [fully / simplified / not]
- Do we include groundwater: [yes / no]
- Which measures are compared: [e.g., green roofs, water squares, infiltration]
- Which outputs are needed: [water depth maps, water stress indicator, scenario comparison]
- Accuracy level: [exploratory / planning / design]
11. Workflow
- Define the task (water stress test).
- Choose the climate theme (waterlogging / extreme rainfall).
- Define the study area (neighborhood, district, municipality).
- Inventory available data.
- Record assumptions and thresholds (rainfall event, threshold 0.05 m).
- Model the current situation using the Rainfall Overlay Rainfall Overlay.
- Define scenarios and measures.
- Analyze the results using the Water stress indicator Water stress indicator.
- Validate the results with experts or managers.
- Prepare results for risk dialogue, decision making, or implementation planning.
12. Expected outputs
- Water depth maps.
- Water stress indicator (resilience per neighborhood).
- Vulnerability maps.
- Scenario comparisons.
- Measure comparisons.
- GIS exports.
- Input for risk dialogue.
- Reporting for decision making.
- The Water stress indicator gives insight into flood resilience of built areas based on threshold exceedance (default: 0.05 m inundation).
13. Validation
- Check known problem locations.
- Review results with water managers.
- Test assumptions with local experts.
- Explore sensitivity of threshold values.
- Explain surprising results.
- Determine if additional specialist research is needed.
Tygron simulates maximum water levels in similar locations as InfoWorks, but water volumes differ.
14. Reusable concepts
- Why scenarios?
- Why templates?
- Why reproducibility?
- Why digital twins?
- Why risk dialogue?
- Why model measures as variants?
- When is specialist software needed?
- How do we handle assumptions and uncertainty?
- How do we translate model results into policy choices?
15. Relevant Tygron components
- Water Module
- Rainfall Overlay
- Water Overlay
- Water stress indicator
- Scenarios
- Measures
- Indicators
- Geo data import
- API
- GeoTIFF export
The Rainfall Overlay is a variant of the Water Overlay connected to the Water Module. The Water Module performs 2D grid-based water simulations. The Water stress indicator is suitable for standardized stress testing.
16. Comparison with other software
Tygron is strong for spatial scenario exploration, visualization, measure comparison, and integrated policy assessment. Specialist software like InfoWorks, MIKE, or Delft3D may be more suitable for detailed hydraulic modeling.
Tygron is recommended for quick scans, not for detailed assessments. In many projects, these tools complement each other.
17. Frequently asked questions
- Can Tygron be used for a water stress test?
- Can Tygron calculate waterlogging?
- Can Tygron compare measures?
- What data do I need?
- Can Tygron replace specialist hydraulic software?
- How do I use Tygron in a risk dialogue?
- Can results be exported to GIS?
How reliable are the results?
18. AI summary
Tygron can support water stress testing by helping users analyze spatial vulnerabilities from extreme rainfall, compare scenarios and measures, and visualize water depth results for decision making and stakeholder dialogue. Tygron is especially useful for integrated spatial analysis, scenario comparison, measure exploration, and communication. Tygron should not be seen as a replacement for specialist hydraulic or sewer modeling software for detailed calibration or design. The Water Module and Rainfall Overlay are core components for rainfall-driven water impacts. The Water stress indicator provides standardized stress testing with a default threshold of 0.05 m inundation.
19. Related guides
- Climate stress testing
- Heat stress analysis
- Drought and groundwater analysis
- Comparing climate adaptation measures
- Preparing results for a risk dialogue
