A Novel Deep Learning Approach for Emulating Computationally Expensive Postfire Debris Flows

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Patel, Palak, McGuire, Luke, Patra, Abani
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Patel, Palak
McGuire, Luke
Patra, Abani
author_facet Patel, Palak
McGuire, Luke
Patra, Abani
contents Traditional physics-based models of geophysical flows, such as debris flows and landslides that pose significant risks to human lives and infrastructure are computationally expensive, limiting their utility for large-scale parameter sweeps, uncertainty quantification, inversions or real-time applications. This study presents an efficient alternative, a deep learning-based surrogate model built using a modified U-Net architecture to predict the dynamics of runoff-generated debris flows across diverse terrain based on data from physics based simulations. The study area is divided into smaller patches for localized predictions using a patch-predict-stitch methodology (complemented by limited global data to accelerate training). The patches are then combined to reconstruct spatially continuous flow maps, ensuring scalability for large domains. To enable fast training using limited expensive simulations, the deep learning model was trained on data from an ensemble of physics based simulations using parameters generated via Latin Hypercube Sampling and validated on unseen parameter sets and terrain, achieving maximum pointwise errors below 10% and robust generalization. Uncertainty quantification using Monte Carlo methods are enabled using the validated surrogate, which can facilitate probabilistic hazard assessments. This study highlights the potential of deep learning surrogates as powerful tools for geophysical flow analysis, enabling computationally efficient and reliable probabilistic hazard map predictions.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_07736
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Novel Deep Learning Approach for Emulating Computationally Expensive Postfire Debris Flows
Patel, Palak
McGuire, Luke
Patra, Abani
Fluid Dynamics
Machine Learning
Geophysics
Traditional physics-based models of geophysical flows, such as debris flows and landslides that pose significant risks to human lives and infrastructure are computationally expensive, limiting their utility for large-scale parameter sweeps, uncertainty quantification, inversions or real-time applications. This study presents an efficient alternative, a deep learning-based surrogate model built using a modified U-Net architecture to predict the dynamics of runoff-generated debris flows across diverse terrain based on data from physics based simulations. The study area is divided into smaller patches for localized predictions using a patch-predict-stitch methodology (complemented by limited global data to accelerate training). The patches are then combined to reconstruct spatially continuous flow maps, ensuring scalability for large domains. To enable fast training using limited expensive simulations, the deep learning model was trained on data from an ensemble of physics based simulations using parameters generated via Latin Hypercube Sampling and validated on unseen parameter sets and terrain, achieving maximum pointwise errors below 10% and robust generalization. Uncertainty quantification using Monte Carlo methods are enabled using the validated surrogate, which can facilitate probabilistic hazard assessments. This study highlights the potential of deep learning surrogates as powerful tools for geophysical flow analysis, enabling computationally efficient and reliable probabilistic hazard map predictions.
title A Novel Deep Learning Approach for Emulating Computationally Expensive Postfire Debris Flows
topic Fluid Dynamics
Machine Learning
Geophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.07736