Yes / Manning’s roughness coefficient (n) has been widely used to estimate flood discharges and flow depths in natural channels. Therefore, although extensive guidelines are available, the selection of the appropriate n value is of great importance to hydraulic engineers and hydrologists. Generally, the largest source of error in post-flood estimates is caused by the estimation of n values, particularly when there has been minimal field verification of flow resistance. This emphasizes the need to improve methods for evaluating the roughness coefficients. Trinidad and Tobago currently does not have any set method or standardised procedure that they use to determine the n value. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a soft computing model in the calculation of the roughness coefficient values using low flow discharge measurements for a stream. This study presents Gene-Expression Programming (GEP), as an improved approach to compute Manning’s Roughness Coefficient. The GEP model was found to be accurate, producing a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.94 and Root Mean Square Error (RSME) of 0.0024.

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We compared high-resolution drone laser scanning (DLS) and structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry-derived vegetation heights at the Virginia Tech StREAM Lab to determine Manning's roughness coefficient. We utilized two calibrated approaches and a calculated approach to estimate roughness from the two data sets (DLS and SfM), then utilized them in a two-dimensional (2D) hydrodynamic model (HEC-RAS). The calculated approach used plant characteristics to determine vegetative roughness, while the calibrated approaches involved adjusting roughness values until model outputs approached values of field data (e.g., velocity probe and visual observations). We compared the model simulations to seven actual high-flow events during the fall of 2018 and 2019 using measured field data (velocity sensors, groundwater well height, marked flood extents). We used a t-test to find that all models were not significantly different to water surface elevations from our 18 wells in the floodplain (p > 0.05). There was a decrease in RMSE (-0.02 m) using the calculated compared to the calibrated models. Another decrease in RMSE was found for DLS compared to SfM (-0.01 m). This increase might not justify the increased cost of a DLS setup over SfM (~$150,000 versus ~$2,000), though future studies are needed. Our results inform hydrodynamic modeling efforts, which are becoming increasingly important for management and planning as we experience increasing high-flow events in the eastern United States due to climate change. / Master of Science / We compared high-resolution drone laser scanning (DLS) and structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry-derived vegetation heights at the Virginia Tech StREAM Lab to improve flood modeling. DLS uses laser pulses to measure distances to create a three-dimensional (3D) point cloud of the landscape. SfM combines overlapping aerial images to create a 3D point cloud. Each method has limitations, such as cost (DLS) and accuracy (SfM). These remote sensing methods have been increasingly used to provide inputs to flood models, due to lower cost, and increased accuracy compared to airplane or satellite-based surveys. Quantifying roughness or resistance to flow can be extremely difficult and results in flood model accuracy problems. We used two forms of a calibrated approach, and a calculated approach to estimate roughness from the two data sets (DLS and SfM) which were then used in a two-dimensional (2D) flood model. We compared the model results to measured field data from seven actual high-flow events in Fall 2018 and 2019. We used statistics to determine compare the various techniques. We found that model results were not significantly different from measured water-surface elevations measured in the floodplain during floods. We also used root mean square error (RMSE) to measure the differences between modeled and observed data. There was slight decrease (-0.02 m) in error when comparing model results using the calculated and calibrated techniques. The error also decreased (-0.01 m) for simulations using the DLS versus SfM data sets. The improved accuracy due to the use of DLS might not be justified based on the increased cost of a DLS setup to SfM (~$150,000 versus ~$2,000), though future studies are needed. Insights from this analysis will help improve flood modeling, particularly as we plan for increasing high-flow events in the eastern Unites States due to climate change.

Yes / The upper reach of the Yellow River from Daliushu to Shapotou consists of five bends and has complex topography. A two-dimensional Re-Normalisation Group (RNG) k-ε model was developed to simulate the flow in the reach. In order to take the circulation currents in the bends into account, the momentum equations were improved by adding an additional source term. Comparison of the numerical simulation with field measurements indicates that the improved two-dimensional depth-averaged RNG k-ε model can improve the accuracy of the numerical simulation. A rapid adaptive algorithm was constructed, which can automatically adjust Manning's roughness coefficient in different parts of the study river reach. As a result, not only can the trial computation time be significantly shortened, but the accuracy of the numerical simulation can also be greatly improved. Comparison of the simulated and measured water surface slopes for four typical cases shows that the longitudinal and transverse slopes of the water surface increase with the average velocity upstream. In addition, comparison was made between the positions of the talweg and the main streamline, which coincide for most of the study river reach. However, deviations between the positions of the talweg and the main streamline were found at the junction of two bends, at the position where the river width suddenly decreases or increases. / National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 11361002 and 91230111), the Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia, China (Grant No. NZ13086), the Project of Beifang University of Nationalities, China (Grant No. 2012XZK05), the Foreign Expert Project of Beifang University of Nationalities, China, and the Visiting Scholar Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering Science, Wuhan University, China (Grant No. 2013A011).

Orientador: César Gustavo da Rocha Lima / Resumo: O Brasil, frente aos acidentes ocorridos em Mariana – MG (2015) e em Brumadinho – MG (2019), tem vivenciado inúmeras discussões no que tange à assuntos regulatórios e à confiabilidade das barragens construídas no país. Neste trabalho, inicialmente, fez-se um breve comparativo entre a legislação brasileira e alguns normativos internacionais (China, Portugal, Estados Unidos e África do Sul) sobre segurança de barragens, observando-se a existência de diferentes aspectos abordados entre eles. A Política Nacional de Segurança de Barragens se demonstrou uma das regulamentações menos rígidas entre as analisadas quanto a pré-requisitos técnicos para sua aplicação, deixando grande parte das barragens de pequeno porte dispensadas do cumprimento de algumas obrigações. Além disto, a legislação federal brasileira foi implementada há menos de uma década, o que implica, atualmente, em uma dificuldade muito grande do empreendedor, dos órgãos fiscalizadores e do governo federal a se adaptarem a possuir esta cultura de segurança de barragens. Diante da interface destas construções com o meio ambiente, faz-se necessário um monitoramento constante das estruturas por uma equipe multidisciplinar e um programa de segurança consistente que vise garantir a integridade do meio ambiente nas áreas de influência das barragens, bem como resguardar o bem-estar e a vida da população situada a jusante. O uso de funções matemáticas e softwares para o mapeamento das áreas sujeitas aos riscos impostos pelas bar... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Brazil, faced with the accidents that occurred in Mariana - MG (2015) and in Brumadinho - MG (2019), has experienced numerous discussions regarding regulatory issues and the reliability of the dams built in the country. In this work, it was made a brief comparison between Brazilian legislation and some international regulations (China, Portugal, United States and South Africa) on dam safety, observing the existence of different aspects addressed among them. The National Dams Safety Policy demonstrated one of the less rigid regulations among those analyzed regarding technical prerequisites for their application, leaving most of the small dams exempted from compliance with certain obligations. In addition, Brazilian federal legislation was implemented less than a decade ago, which currently implies a great difficulty for the entrepreneur, the inspection agencies and the federal government to adapt to having this dam safety culture. In view of the interface of these constructions with the environment, it is necessary a constant monitoring of the structures by a multidisciplinary team and a consistent safety program that aims to guarantee the integrity of the environment in the areas of influence of the dams, as well as to protect the well-being and the life of the downstream population. The use of mathematical functions and softwares for the mapping of the areas subject to the risks imposed by the dams is a great advance in the safety aspect of these structures. In this context,... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre