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Hydraulic Design using HEC-RAS: Coastal LA


HydroLearn

Problem Statement

Wetlands in Louisiana’s Chenier Plain are undergoing persistent deterioration that will become increasingly problematic if not adequately addressed. Many types of projects are proposed with the ultimate goal of protecting and/or restoring the wetlands. One such type of project is freshwater introduction aimed at decreasing the salinity levels within a marsh ecosystem. Sustained saltwater intrusion is one of the leading causes of marsh fragility and land loss in coastal Louisiana. In order to determine the potential impact and effectiveness of any given project, computer models are used to simulate the hydrology of the area both with and without the project. Understanding the theory behind the model as well as methods used to construct and evaluate the model is vital to implementing successful restoration activities.

Module Overview

This module is based on a case study of a fresh water introduction restoration project located near Pecan Island in Coastal Louisiana. Id concentrates on using a one-dimensional unsteady flow model to assist in the hydraulic design of a proposed conveyance channel.

Topics Covered

- Developing project area maps with QGIS

- Using RAS Mapper to create a geometry layer

- Modeling one-dimensional unsteady flow in HEC-RAS

- A simple project cost analysis

Learning Objectives

At the end of this case study, you should be able to:

- Explain the purpose and goals of the ME-23 restoration project

- Develop geometry files

- Implement the proposed hydraulic structure

- Conduct a one-dimensional unsteady flow analysis

- Analyze and interpret the design modifications to make informed engineering decisions

This will be accomplished through activities within each section. Results from each activity will be recorded in specified results templates. The results templates for each activity can be found at the beginning of each activity. The results templates are organized such that results from one activity can easily be used in successive activities.

Suggested Implentation Mode

The intent of this module is to introduce students to coastal restoration projects and the use of numerical models and data analysis to (a) assess the feasibility of the proposed project, and (b) perform hydraulic design analysis. The module is based on an actual restoration project that was proposed in the Pecan Island area in southwest Louisiana and concentrates on using a one-dimensional unsteady flow model to assist in the hydraulic design of a proposed conveyance channel. The design of the module is such that the students should be able to complete all activities on their own with no assistance from the Instructor. The Instructor may choose to implement the module with a fully hands-off approach and ask the students to submit their solutions at the end of the module.

Prerequisites

N/A

Course Authors

Robert Miller, PhD, PE

University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Contact: Robert.Miller@louisiana.edu

Matthew Deshotel

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Master's student graduate

Water Resources Engineer at Dewberry. Contact: MDeshotel@dewberry.com

Jenny Byrd, Graduate Research Assistant

University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Contact: C00074306@louisiana.edu

Emad Habib, PhD, PE

University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Contact: emad.habib@louisiana.edu

Target Audience

Junior/Senior Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Courses

Tools Needed

Computer with access to Internet, Excel, free QGIS software, and free HEC-RAS software.

Expected Total Hours

A student could expect to complete this module with approximately 20 work hours.

  1. Course Export

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  2. Course Number

    HydroLearn403-1
  3. Classes Start

  4. Estimated Effort

    20:00
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