Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The devastating effects floods have on both social and economic level make effective flood risk management an essential part of rural and urban development. A major part of effective flood risk management is the application of reliable design flood estimation methods. Research over the years has illustrated that current design flood estimation methods as a norm show large discrepancies which can mainly be attributed to the fact that these methods are outdated (Smithers, 2007). The research presented focused on the evaluation and updating of the Midgley and Pitman (MIPI) and the Catchment Parameter (CAPA or McPherson) empirical design flood estimation methods. The evaluation was done by means of comparing design floods estimated by each method with more reliable probabilistic design floods derived from historical flow records. Flow gauging stations were selected as drainage data points based on the availability of flow data and available catchment characteristics. A selection criterion was developed resulting in 53 gauging stations. The Log Normal (LN) and Log Pearson Type III (LP III) distributions were used to derive the probabilistic floods for each gauging station. The flow gauging stations were used to delineate catchments and to quantify catchment characteristics using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and their associated applications. The two methods were approximated by means derived formulas instead of evaluating and updating the two methods from first principles. This was done as a result of the constraints brought about by both time and the attainment of the relevant literature. The formulae were derived by means of plotting method inputs and resulted in graphs, fitting a trendline through the points and deriving a formula best describing the trendline. The derived formulae and the catchment characteristics were used to estimate the design floods for each method. A comparison was then done between the design flood results of the two methods and the probabilistic design floods. The results of these comparisons were used to derive correction factors which could potentially increase the reliability of the two methods used to estimate design floods. The effectiveness of any updating would be the degree (or level) in which the reliability of a method could be increased. It was proven that the correction factors did decrease the difference between the „assumed and more reliable probabilistic design floods‟ and the methods‟ estimates. However, the increase in reliability of the methods through the use of the recommended correction factors is questionable due to factors such as the reliability of the flow data as well as the methods which had to be used to derive the correction factors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die verwoestende gevolge van vloede op beide ekonomiese en sosiale gebiede beklemtoon die belangrikheid van effektiewe vloed risiko bestuur vir ontwikellings doeleindes. „n Baie belangrikke gedeelte van effektiewe vloed risiko bestuur is die gebruik van betroubare ontwerp vloed metodes. Navorsing oor die laaste paar jaar het die tekortkominge van die metodes beklemtoon, wat meestal toegeskryf kan word aan die metodes wat verouderd is. Die navorsing het gefokus op die evaluering en moontlike opdatering van die Midley en Pitman (MIPI) en die “Catchment Parameter” (CAPA of McPherson) empiriese ontwerp vloed metodes. Die evaluering het geskied deur middel van die vergelyking van die ontwerp vloed soos bereken deur die twee metodes en die aanvaarde, meer betroubare probabilistiese ontwerp vloede, bepaal deur middel van statistiese ontledings. Vloei meetstasies is gekies as data-punte omrede die beskikbaarheid van vloei data en beskikbare opvanggebied eienskappe. „n Seleksie kriteruim is ontwikkel waaruit 53 meetstasies gekies is. Die Log Normale (LN) en Log Pearson Tipe III (LP III) verspreidings is verder gebruik om die probabilistiese ontwerp vloede te bereken vir elke meetstasie. Die posisie van die meetstasies is ook verder gebruik om opvanggebiede te definieer en opvanggebied eienskappe te bereken. Geografiese inligtingstelsels (GIS) is vir die doel gebruik inplaas van die oorspronlik hand metodes. Die twee metodes is benader deur die gebruik van afgeleide formules inplaas van „n eerste beginsel benadering. Dit is gedoen as gevolg van die beperkings wat teweeggebring is deur beide tyd en die beskikbaarheid van die relevante litratuur wat handel oor die ontwikkeling van die twee metodes. Die formules is verkry deur middel van die plot van beide insette en resultate in grafieke, die passing van tendenslyne en die afleiding van formules wat die tendenslyne die beste beskryf. Die afgeleide formules saam met die opvanggebied eienskappe is toe verder gebruik om die ontwerp vloede van elke meet stasie te bepaal, vir beide metodes. The resultate van die twee metodes is toe vergelyk met die probabilistiese ontwerp vloede. Die resultate van hierdie vergelyking is verder gebruik om korreksie faktore af te lei wat moontlik die betroubaarheid van die twee metodes kon verhoog. Die doeltreffendheid van enige opdatering sal die mate wees waarin die betroubaarheid van n metode verhoog kan word. Gedurende die verhandeling is dit bewys dat die korreksie faktore wel n vermindering teweebring in die verskil tussen die ontwerp vloede van die aanvaarde meer betroubare probabilistiese ontwerp vloede van beide metodes. Die toename in betroubaarheid van die metodes deur die gebruik van die voorgestelde korreksie faktore is egter bevraagteken as gevolg van faktore soos die betroubaarheid van die vloei data self asook die metodologie wat gevolg is om die korreksie faktore af te lei.