A non-uniform efficient grid type for GPU-parallel Shallow Water Equations models

A GPU-parallel numerical model for the solution of the 2D Shallow Water Equations, based on a novel type of grid called Block-Uniform Quadtree (BUQ), is presented. BUQ grids are based on a data structure which allows to exploit the computational capability of GPUs with minimum overheads, while discretizing the domain with non-uniform resolution. Different cases have been simulated in order to assess the efficiency of the BUQ grids. Theoretical and laboratory tests demonstrate that speed-ups of up to one order of magnitude can be achieved in comparison with uniform Cartesian grids. In the simulation of a hypothetical flood event induced by a levee breach in a real 83 km long river reach, with maximum resolution of 5 m, a ratio of physical to computational time of about 12 was obtained, opening scenarios of quasi real-time 2D simulations in large domains, still retaining a high resolution where necessary.