Evaluating and educating communities on their flood risks is an integral part of adapting to climate change and more extreme precipitation patterns. Low-income communities are often the most affected by in-land floods. They are more likely to live in floodplains and have less socioeconomic mobility. This thesis takes a two-pronged approach to evaluating flood risk. First, a flood risk model that identifies areas of high runoff in Giles County, Virginia was developed. The model accounts for land cover, soil type and elevation. The soil retention layer and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) produced a cell by cell layer of runoff. Storm data was collected from the NEXRAD program and integrated into the runoff layer. Countywide maps of low, moderate and high risk were produced. Semi structured interviews were then conducted to gauge the usability of the maps within high risk areas. Interview feedback was transcribed and coded for analysis. Themes identified throughout the interviews, were used to make adjustments to the model and maps. This experience suggests that combining technical analysis and community engagement can create a more accurate depiction of flood risk that is meaningful to those most affected. This paper also suggests that evaluating riverine flooding based on the most severe, recent storm yields a more accurate and impactful tool than previous flood modeling methods. This work takes flood modeling a step farther by receiving community input and shows that models are only as useful as they are meaningful to the most impacted communities. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning / Climate change models suggest that many communities will experience fewer precipitation events, but when precipitation events do occur they will be more intense and thus destructive. Communities can expect a higher risk of flooding, which is why it is important to plan proactively and understand where the most at-risk areas are. To help Giles County, VA understand its flood risk we created a tool that displays storm runoff. Elevation, soil type and vegetation were incorporated into the model. Storm data was integrated into the model and compared to annual precipitation levels. Countywide maps of low, moderate and high risk were produced. In order for the maps to have the maximum impact they need to be accessible to at risk populations. To gauge the accessibility of the maps to the community semi structured interviews were conducted within the high risk areas. Issues and opportunities identified through the interviews were used to make adjustments to the model and maps. The findings suggest that combining technical analysis and community engagement can create more accurate depictions of flood risks that are meaningful to those most affected. Future research efforts should include incorporating anticipated development schemes into the model and hosting more in depth community engagement activities. The importance of community engagement is highlighted in this research, as the interviews has a major impact on the outcome of the model.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Technology, Sydney, 2004. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on July 15, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. [259]-279).

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Science in Construction Project Management

In Australia, the developments of hazard-specific legislation, policy and guidelines aims to minimise community exposure to the adverse effects of natural hazards. This occurs under policies of ecologically sustainable development land-use planning processes, which must also now involve the assessment of hazard-risk. However the development occurring in potentially hazardous environments, for example urban floodplains susceptible to flooding, continues to occur as a result of contemporary land-use planning and risk management processes. Why is this an outcome of past and present risk management and land-use planning processes? This thesis finds that a significant factor contributing to this outcome is the discrepancy between the perception and management of risk, particularly acceptable risk, by stakeholders (Local Government, the development industry, risk managers and floodplain occupants). The research is based on an Australian example of an urban floodplain currently under considerable development pressure, but at risk from flooding – Guragunbah (Carrara Merrimac Floodplain) and surrounding suburbs within the Nerang River catchment on the Gold Coast. A case study methodology was adopted, involving a combination of survey data and secondary documents. A basis for the thesis was the modelling of the actual risk decision-making processes operating within the case study Local Government, and the comparison between actual observed process and the theoretical framework outlined by the existing hazard risk management and land-use planning policy, guidelines and legislation. This enabled the identification of key stakeholders and their roles within the risk management and land-use planning processes operating within the case study area. The scope of the results of this thesis indicate that a large proportion of stakeholders external to the Local Government (such as residents and some members of the development industry) do not understand the risks of flooding represented by the standards formally adopted by local government (1-in-100 year flood, for example) and as a result, misinterpret their levels of flood risk exposure. Importantly, the results also indicate that contrasts exist in the flood risks considered to be ‘acceptable’ by the stakeholders, particularly when the potential consequences associated with events are described or illustrated in ‘non-technical’ terms. The extent to which the formal standards are misinterpreted suggests that many stakeholders may potentially be exposed to risks greater than they consider to be ‘acceptable’, but they are assuming that the Local Government (in particular) is setting risk standards that are acceptable to them. The thesis questions the true ‘acceptability’ of the formal standards being adopted through floodplain management policy at the Local, State and Federal levels of Government and identifies management opportunities and constraints in addressing the issue. Obstacles to management change include resource availability, lack of political will and stakeholder consultation. Opportunities for management change include modifying: the approach adopted by Local Governments when constructing planning schemes; the existing planning standards and decisions associated with permissible individual land-use; the mitigation of existing flood risks and exposure; and the communication of flood risk information. In the ‘real-world’ Local Government context, as illustrated by this case study, the issue may be practically addressed by modifying the standards and processes followed to establish acceptable risk.

Thesis (M.A.G.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2007. / Vita. Appendices: leaves 40-51. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-56).

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-66).

Thesis (M.A.G.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2007. / Vita. Appendices: leaves 40-51. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-56).

Flooding in the United States has been increasing over the past century due to changing hydrological conditions as well as increased human manipulation of the waterways. People continue to live in these high hazard areas, even with increasing risk levels. Flood hazard mitigation has increasingly become a primary goal of floodplain managers with buyouts, insurance, and other nonstructural approaches becoming more prevalent over the past two decades. Whole town relocations have become one flood mitigation option. This study explores which community factors affect a town's decision to relocate. Three study areas in the Midwestern U.S. were analyzed: Valmeyer, IL, Rhineland, MO, and Pattonsburg, MO. Each of these three towns underwent a buyout and town relocation after the flood of 1993. Data was gathered using personal interviews with community members, specifically elected officials and relocation committee members. Analysis of interview responses identified community sense of place as the primary factor influencing relocation decisions including leadership, cost, people, and landscape. Leadership included town incorporation, relocation decision and committees, handling of legal issues, and site selection criteria. Cost involved the relocation cost, post-disaster development and tourism, and the business community of the study areas. People included the town heritage, community type, and the various community organizations. Landscape includes the types of relocation completed, the speed of the relocation event, and the amount of pre-disaster planning. Maps created show the pre and post-relocation municipal boundary of the study sites in relation to the 500-year floodplain boundary.

Thesis (M. En.)--Miami University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF document. Document formatted into pages; contains [1], v, 169, [1] p. : ill. Includes bibliographical references (p. 36).

This research proposes an Infrastructure to model complex systems for hydrological modeling. Currently, the three main hydrological packages are: i) SEAWAT (modeling groundwater flow); ii) HECRAS (modeling surface water flow); iii) HEC-HMS (modeling atmospheric water flow). Each of these models is self-contained and has a different timescale and simulation speed. Consequently, any integrated model will only run as fast as the slowest of the models. This makes it difficult to provide reliable and dynamic information on water levels and water availability for a given geographical region in a timely manner. The goal of this research is to facilitate the integration of multiple hydrological models from different hydrological packages by applying Electronic Design Automation (EDA) methodologies, including System Level Design (SLD) methodology, SystemC-AMS language, Python language and libraries (numpy, Statsmodels, and ctypes). The EDA methodology brings in the additional advantage of significantly improved simulation speed. The Infrastructure to Model Complex Systems applications is demonstrated using the following SEAWAT benchmark problems: i) Case 1; ii) Henry; iii) Elder problem. Simulation results from the aforementioned benchmarks are analyzed and discussed. Lastly, future research work is presented. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection