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MIKE SHE Public Data Catalog

Singapore

Version: 0.1 test template
Purpose: Country-specific public dataset catalog for building simple to advanced MIKE SHE models
Region: Republic of Singapore (main island and offshore islands)

Quick Start

Minimum Public Datasets for Recharge Modelling with MIKE SHE (Singapore)

If your objective is to calculate distributed groundwater recharge (without simulating groundwater flow or rivers), only five dataset categories are required.

Singapore is a small, highly urbanized city-state. Groundwater is not used for public water supply, so recharge modelling mainly serves reservoir catchment yield, green-blue infrastructure, reclaimed land and excavation studies. Several national datasets are restricted; the free options below are the most practical starting point.

MIKE SHE Input Dataset Type Recommended Dataset Spatial Availability Why recommended
Topography (DEM) Gridded Copernicus GLO-30 Global Free 30 m DEM. Note that global DEMs pre-date recent land reclamation and are coarse relative to urban drainage. Higher-resolution national 3D data (Singapore Land Authority) are restricted.
Land Cover Vector URA Master Plan land use (via data.gov.sg)

ESA WorldCover		 Singapore The Master Plan gives official land-use zoning at parcel level; WorldCover shows actual vegetation and built-up cover at 10 m.
Soil Hydraulic Properties — Geological map and literature values Singapore Global soil products are unreliable in urban and reclaimed areas. Assign parameters by geological unit (e.g. Bukit Timah Granite residual soils, Jurong Formation, Old Alluvium, Kallang Formation, fill).
Precipitation Time Series Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records

Real-time 5-minute rainfall via data.gov.sg		 ~60 stations Very dense station network; the data.gov.sg API provides high-frequency rainfall for storm events.
Gridded GPM IMERG / GSMaP Global Only as a regional check; too coarse for Singapore itself.
Meteorological Forcing / Potential ET Time Series Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records Selected stations Temperature, wind and rainfall; the Changi climate station has the longest record.
Gridded ERA5-Land Global Humidity and radiation where station data are missing (coarse, partly over sea).

Optional Improvements

Dataset Purpose
PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency Drainage network, catchments, reservoirs (mainly by request)
Geology of Singapore (Defence Science and Technology Agency) Geological map and descriptions of formations
Sentinel-2 Vegetation and green-roof mapping
  1. Download Copernicus GLO-30 for the model domain.
  2. Delineate the model domain and prepare the terrain model.
  3. Download URA Master Plan and WorldCover and assign MIKE SHE vegetation classes.
  4. Download geological units and derive van Genuchten parameters using pedotransfer functions.
  5. Choose your meteorological forcing:
  6. Option A (recommended): Use MSS station rainfall interpolated across the island.
  7. Option B: Use 5-minute rainfall from data.gov.sg for event simulations.
  8. Let MIKE SHE calculate evapotranspiration internally using the selected vegetation and soil parameters.
  9. Represent paved areas and storm drainage explicitly.
  10. Check simulated actual ET against literature values for tropical urban vegetation.
  11. Export the distributed groundwater recharge for use in MODFLOW, FEFLOW, or other groundwater models.

1. Introduction for advanced data sources

1.1 Purpose

This document summarizes public datasets that can be used to construct a physically based MIKE SHE model for Singapore.

The catalog is organized according to the typical MIKE SHE model-building workflow. It covers terrain, land cover, meteorological forcing, ET, rivers, soils, hydrogeology, groundwater, water management, and calibration.

1.2 Intended Use

This catalog is intended for:

  • reservoir catchment yield studies
  • urban stormwater and green-blue infrastructure (ABC Waters) assessments
  • groundwater and settlement studies for deep excavations and tunnels
  • reclaimed land hydrology
  • sea-level rise and coastal protection studies

1.3 General Notes for Singapore

  • Most detailed data (drainage, geotechnical boreholes, LiDAR) are held by agencies and released by request.
  • Coordinate system: SVY21 (EPSG:3414); heights refer to the Singapore Height Datum.
  • MIKE SHE is often coupled with urban drainage models (e.g. MIKE+) in Singapore.

2. Hydrological Characteristics of Singapore

2.1 Climate

  • equatorial climate with no dry season
  • annual rainfall around 2,300–2,600 mm
  • north-east (December–March) and south-west (June–September) monsoons, with inter-monsoon thunderstorms
  • intense convective storms and pre-dawn squall lines (Sumatra squalls)

2.2 Topography

  • low-lying island, highest point about 164 m (Bukit Timah)
  • dense urban area with extensive paved surfaces
  • large reclaimed areas along the coast
  • reservoirs created by damming estuaries (e.g. Marina, Punggol, Serangoon)

2.3 Major Hydrological Challenges

  • flash floods from intense rainfall
  • maximizing catchment yield to reservoirs (around two-thirds of land area is water catchment)
  • groundwater drawdown and settlement around deep excavations
  • groundwater in reclaimed land
  • sea-level rise

2.4 Major Aquifer Systems

Groundwater is not used for public supply, but matters for construction and catchment hydrology. Key geological units:

  • Old Alluvium (eastern Singapore)
  • Bukit Timah Granite and its residual soils (central)
  • Jurong Formation sedimentary rocks (western)
  • Kallang Formation soft marine clays and fill (low-lying areas)

3. Recommended Dataset Stack

Component Recommended Dataset Alternative Dataset Importance
DEM Copernicus GLO-30 SLA 3D data (restricted) ★★★★☆
Land use URA Master Plan land use (via data.gov.sg) ESA WorldCover ★★★★★
Precipitation Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records data.gov.sg real-time rainfall ★★★★★
Climate forcing Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records ERA5-Land ★★★★☆
Drainage and catchments PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency OpenStreetMap ★★★★★
Geology Geology of Singapore (DSTA) — ★★★★☆
Groundwater heads Construction project monitoring — ★★★☆☆
Streamflow and levels PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency — ★★★★☆

4. Terrain Model

4.1 Purpose in MIKE SHE

Terrain data are required for model surface elevation, overland-flow gradients, surface storage, catchment delineation, river network verification, and floodplain connectivity.

4.2 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Suitability Advantages Limitations Recommendation
Copernicus GLO-30 Global 30 m Screening Free Pre-dates reclamation; urban artefacts ★★★☆☆
FABDEM Global 30 m Screening Buildings removed Licence terms ★★★☆☆
SLA 3D mapping Singapore Sub-metre Detailed models Very accurate Restricted ★★★★★

4.3 Typical Preprocessing

  • reproject to SVY21
  • clip to model domain plus buffer
  • condition drainage and check against the river network
  • resample to model grid
  • smooth only where needed for numerical stability

4.4 Quality Checks

  • check reclaimed coastline against current imagery
  • burn in canals and drains
  • check reservoirs and tidal gates

5. Surface Water

5.1 Rivers

Dataset Coverage MIKE SHE / MIKE 1D Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency Singapore Canals, drains, catchments Official By request ★★★★★
OpenStreetMap Singapore Canals and waterways Free Incomplete for drains ★★★☆☆

5.2 Lakes, Reservoirs and Wetlands

Dataset Use Recommendation
PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency Reservoir operations ★★★★★
Global Mangrove Watch Mangroves ★★★☆☆

5.3 Typical Preprocessing

  • simplify river network
  • align river network with DEM
  • define channel geometry from surveys or estimated widths
  • represent floodplains and wetlands as overland-flow storage
  • assign river, reservoir and tidal boundary conditions

6. Land Cover and Vegetation

6.1 Purpose in MIKE SHE

Land cover and vegetation define interception, ET parameters, root depth, crop coefficients, Manning roughness, irrigation zones, and impervious areas.

6.2 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
URA Master Plan land use (via data.gov.sg) Singapore Parcel Land-use zoning Official Zoning, not actual cover ★★★★☆
ESA WorldCover Global 10 m Vegetation and built-up Actual cover 2020–2021 only ★★★★☆

6.3 Vegetation Datasets

Parameter Dataset Use Recommendation
LAI MODIS MCD15A3H Seasonal LAI ★★★★☆
NDVI Sentinel-2 / Landsat Crop calendars and phenology ★★★★☆
Crop coefficient FAO-56 Urban vegetation, turf, secondary forest ★★★★☆

6.4 Typical Preprocessing

  • separate paved, building, green-space, forest and water classes
  • estimate impervious fractions
  • include green roofs and bioretention where relevant

7. Meteorological Forcing

7.1 Precipitation

Dataset Coverage Resolution Temporal Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records Singapore ~60 stations Daily (historical) Primary forcing Dense Point data ★★★★★
data.gov.sg rainfall API Singapore ~60 stations 5 min Event forcing High frequency Real-time focus; archive via API ★★★★☆
GPM IMERG Global ~10 km 30 min Regional check Consistent Too coarse ★★☆☆☆

7.2 Climate Variables

Variable Recommended Dataset Alternatives MIKE SHE Use
Air temperature Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records ERA5-Land ET
Wind speed Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records ERA5-Land Penman-Monteith
Humidity Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records ERA5-Land Vapour-pressure deficit
Solar radiation Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records ERA5-Land, NASA POWER ET energy term
Reference ET FAO-56 from Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records TerraClimate PET forcing

7.3 Notes

  • rainfall varies strongly over short distances in convective storms
  • use sub-daily forcing for flood studies

8. Soil Data

8.1 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Resolution MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
Geology of Singapore (DSTA) Singapore 1:25,000 maps Soil and aquifer zones Country-specific Geological, not hydraulic ★★★★☆
SoilGrids Global 250 m Not recommended — Unreliable in urban areas ★☆☆☆☆

8.2 Typical Preprocessing

  • assign parameters by geological unit and fill type
  • use geotechnical borehole data where available

9. Hydrogeology

9.1 Dataset Comparison

Dataset Coverage Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
Geology of Singapore (DSTA) Singapore Geological framework Detailed Hydraulic data limited ★★★★☆
Geotechnical investigations (BCA, LTA and projects) Local Borehole logs, permeability Detailed By request ★★★★★

9.2 Conceptual Model Recommendations

  • residual soils over granite with shallow water tables
  • soft marine clay aquitards
  • fill over marine clay in reclaimed areas
  • tidal and sea-level boundaries

10. Groundwater Data

Dataset Coverage Use Recommendation
Construction and tunnel project monitoring Local Heads and settlement ★★★★☆

There is no public national groundwater monitoring network.

11. Water Management

11.1 Relevant Processes

  • reservoirs and catchment management
  • urban drainage
  • NEWater and desalination (outside the MIKE SHE domain)
  • dewatering for excavations

11.2 Regulatory Framework

  • Public Utilities Act and PUB regulations for water and drainage
  • building and excavation controls (Building and Construction Authority)

11.3 Key Institutions

Topic Institution
Water and drainage PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency
Meteorology Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records
Open data data.gov.sg
Land and mapping Singapore Land Authority

12. Remote Sensing Products

Dataset Resolution Use Recommendation
Sentinel-1 SAR 10 m Flood mapping, InSAR subsidence, wetness under cloud ★★★★★
Sentinel-2 10 m Land cover, irrigation and crop calendars ★★★★☆
GLEAM ~25 km Actual ET ★★★☆☆
MODIS MOD16 500 m Actual ET ★★★☆☆
SMAP / ESA CCI Soil Moisture ~9–25 km Soil moisture ★★★☆☆
GRACE / GRACE-FO ~300 km Large-basin storage change ★☆☆☆☆

13. Calibration Datasets

Target Dataset Use Recommendation
Water levels and flows PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency Drainage calibration ★★★★★
Groundwater heads Project monitoring SZ calibration ★★★★☆
Reservoir inflow PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency Catchment yield ★★★★☆

Calibration relies mostly on PUB data and project monitoring, obtained by request.

14. Typical MIKE SHE Workflow

  1. Define modelling objective and domain.
  2. Prepare the DEM from Copernicus GLO-30 or SLA data.
  3. Build the river network from PUB drainage data.
  4. Prepare land cover from URA Master Plan and WorldCover.
  5. Assign vegetation parameters, rooting depths and crop calendars.
  6. Prepare precipitation from MSS stations.
  7. Prepare climate forcing and reference ET from MSS and ERA5-Land.
  8. Prepare soil properties from geological units.
  9. Build hydrogeological layers from the geological map and borehole logs.
  10. Add pumping and irrigation from dewatering records.
  11. Couple rivers and groundwater.
  12. Calibrate against PUB flows and project heads.
  13. Validate with flood observations.
  14. Document assumptions and uncertainties.

15. Minimum Dataset Package

Model Element Dataset
DEM Copernicus GLO-30
Land use URA Master Plan land use (via data.gov.sg)
Precipitation Meteorological Service Singapore – historical daily records
Climate ERA5-Land
Geology Geology of Singapore

16. Recommended Dataset Package

Model Element Dataset
DEM SLA data (by request)
Drainage PUB network
Precipitation MSS + 5-minute data
Subsurface Geotechnical boreholes

17. Premium Dataset Package

Dataset Type Possible Source Purpose
LiDAR / 3D city model SLA Detailed terrain
Drain survey PUB Drainage model
Monitoring wells Project installation Heads

18. Dataset Comparison Table Template

Dataset Coverage Spatial Resolution Temporal Resolution Time Period Format API / Access License MIKE SHE Use Advantages Limitations Recommendation
★☆☆☆☆

19. Data Preparation Checklist

Terrain

  • [ ] DEM downloaded (or requested) and licence checked
  • [ ] DEM projected and clipped
  • [ ] drainage checked against river network

Surface Water

  • [ ] river network prepared
  • [ ] reservoirs, wetlands and floodplains identified
  • [ ] boundary conditions assigned

Land Cover and Vegetation

  • [ ] land cover reclassified
  • [ ] irrigated areas and crop calendars defined
  • [ ] LAI and rooting depths assigned

Weather

  • [ ] precipitation prepared and compared with station data
  • [ ] climate forcing prepared
  • [ ] reference ET calculated

Soil

  • [ ] soil data downloaded or requested
  • [ ] hydraulic parameters derived

Groundwater

  • [ ] geology and hydrogeology collected
  • [ ] heads and pumping data requested
  • [ ] boundary conditions defined

Calibration and Validation

  • [ ] discharge data obtained
  • [ ] ET and remote-sensing validation data prepared
  • [ ] calibration and validation periods defined

Singapore-specific

  • [ ] reclaimed areas checked
  • [ ] impervious fractions defined
  • [ ] data requests to PUB and SLA made

20. References and Official Data Portals

National and regional sources

Global sources

21. Notes on Uncertainty

  • urban drainage and impervious fractions
  • DEM resolution and reclamation changes
  • highly local convective rainfall
  • subsurface heterogeneity and fill

A defensible model should document dataset choices, preprocessing assumptions, calibration strategy, validation results, and known limitations.