Skip to main content

Integrating Climate Change into Culvert Analysis


CIROH

Problem Statement

The Mississippi River runs through Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a bustling city with about 220,000 people (US Census, 2019). The location of the stream gauge (USGS gauge no: 07378000, drainage area = 299 sq. mi.) near the Joor Rd bridge of Comite River, where a large culvert will replace the current structure due to increasing flooding concerns. The risk is due to climate change, and heavy rainfall which should be take into consideration while purposing for a culvert.

You have been tasked by the City of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish to analyze culvert performance by taking into account future climate change such as rainfall and create a report to the city office.

Module Overview

This module will provide the student with learning activities and tools needed to develop a basic knowledge of climate models, rainfall analysis,estimate runoff and culvert analysis. This knowledge is developed by completing the four module sections that build off each other and start with the basics of climate change and end with analyzing how culvert performance is impacted by changing rainfall for 2024 and 2033.

Topics Covered

The fundamental aspects of climate models and rainfall change using Climate Hydro Analytics Platform, runoff computation through the rational method.The basics of culvert performance analysis using HY8 software.

Prerequisites

A desire to learn more about climate models, rainfall, runoff and culvert analysis.

Learning Objectives

1) Students will introduce the module, identify the study area and its problem, and delineate the watershed. [Understanding]

2) Using delineated watershed, students will use climate models to collect annual rainfall and calculate average rainfall changes over various years. [Applying]

3) Students will apply the rational method to compute runoff based on calculated average rainfall. [Applying]

4) Using calculated runoff, elevation, and slope, students will identify performance of culvert. [Analyzing]

Course Authors

Course Staff Image #1

Pawan Thapa

PhD Candidate at University of Alabama

pthapa2@crimson.ua.edu

Target Audience

Junior/Senior Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Courses

Tools Needed

Computer with access to Internet, Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets, HY 8 Software (Free), Google Colab[free].

Expected Effort

10 Hours

  1. Course Export

    Export Link

    To customize this course for your own needs, export a copy and import into a new empty course inside Studio. Requires a HydroLearn instructor Studio account.

  2. Course Number

    CE101
  3. Classes Start

  4. Estimated Effort

    10:00
Enroll