The 100-year flood model has been a cornerstone of flood risk assessment for decades. This model estimates the probability of a flood of a certain magnitude occurring in a given year. However, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, have challenged the reliability of this traditional approach.
The National Flood Insurance Program developed the 100-year flood model in the 1960s to understand the risks an engineering system may face in a flood. Using precipitation data from the last 30 years, the model estimates the rain intensity and depth for a specific storm in an area. But it’s no longer effective because the past few decades have shown an increase in intense single-day precipitation events that overwhelm stormwater systems. These weather events are more challenging to predict using current models and more complex to plan for, which is difficult for civil engineers.
New technology is helping engineers design more weather-resistant infrastructure
As climate change worsens, civil engineers are realizing that they must adapt their designs to withstand more extreme weather events. To help them do this, they are turning to new technology to understand current weather patterns better and how they affect infrastructure. Some tools that are now being utilized include:
- Advanced modeling: New modeling tools, like climate modeling, allow engineers to assess the risks of future climate conditions and extreme weather events.
- Satellite imagery: High-resolution satellite images provide valuable data on land use, topography, and water bodies for planning.
- LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): This technology generates detailed topographic maps, helping engineers assess flood risks and design effective drainage systems.
- AI: AI-powered algorithms can analyze historical data and identify adverse weather patterns. These techniques can help engineers optimize the design of structures and infrastructure for maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness in adverse weather.
Resilient design techniques are essential
As climate change intensifies, the need for resilient infrastructure and adaptive strategies is becoming more urgent. Civil engineers must embrace climate change adaptation principles and design infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events with new design techniques. Some techniques that can help include:
- Nature-Based Solutions: Integrating natural elements into a project design, like adding wetlands and green roofs to urban designs, can help absorb and store rainwater. These solutions can reduce flooding in flood-prone areas or conserve water in drought-prone areas.
- Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): These systems, often called “blue-green infrastructure,” use natural and engineered solutions to manage stormwater runoff. They are great for areas prone to flooding or drought.
- Climate-Resilient Design: By incorporating climate change considerations into infrastructure design, engineers can build more resilient structures to extreme weather events.
Resilient infrastructure design is essential to safeguarding our communities from the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. By integrating climate change considerations into infrastructure planning and design, engineers can build better systems to withstand natural disasters like floods, droughts, and wildfires. This proactive approach can significantly reduce economic losses, minimize disruptions to essential services, and protect public safety. By investing in resilient infrastructure, communities can adapt to the changing climate and create a more sustainable and prosperous future.
Project Spotlight: Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District
Resilient design is an integral part of who we are at McNeil Engineering. We incorporate resiliency principles into our projects but adapt them to our region. One project we were particularly proud of was our work with the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. Flooding isn’t usually a significant concern in our home state of Utah, but drought is. Utah has been prone to persistent drought for years, substantially impacting our state’s water resources.
To educate homeowners on the benefits of adopting drought-resistant landscaping, as part of their “Slow the Flow” ad campaign, the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District held a design competition for a team of landscape architects to redesign a typical home’s landscaping to be more drought-resistant. Our team won the contest with an innovative design. We replaced the expansive lawn of the house with a dry riverbed entry plaza and a flagstone path. Using drought-resistant plants for all-season color and texture, we added raised planters and a drip irrigation system to maximize water efficiency. The design transformed the home’s exterior to be more drought-resistant and lower the home’s overall water needs.
It’s time to adapt civil engineering for extreme weather
As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events continue to rise, civil engineers must adapt and innovate to protect communities. We can’t continue to embrace old tools, like the 100-year-old flood model, as the standard for safe design. Instead, engineers must harness the power of technology and embrace sustainable design principles for more resilient infrastructure design. We plan to continue to adopt new tools as they come along and incorporate resilient design practices into our work to help our projects stand the test of time.
