Using 3D-Hybrid Animation of XPSWMM Results as a Tool to Educate Stakeholders and

Communities on Flood HazardsASCE Orange County EWRI February 2015 Luncheon

“Public Awareness”

Flood Hazards• Storm Flooding• Sea Level Rise• Levee Breach• Dam Break• Tsunami

Funding Sources• Stakeholders• Policy Makers• General Public (Voters)

Typical Approaches to Communicate Technical Results

Text Tables

Output Files

Color Exhibits

Communication Hurdles (LWV) Gaining Trust. If they don’t understand it, they

won’t buy it. “Voodoo” Varying levels of knowledge. Consultant Curse.

Planning

Understand Audience & Target Message

Model Validation

Graphical Result Representation (1d, 2d, 3d?)

Visualization

City of Redlands MPD

Issue: Recurring floods in the downtown area.

Project: Identify causes and alternatives to mitigate

flood hazards.

Focus:

1. To get City Council Approval to put DIF increase on ballot.

2. Educate public and stakeholders of issues and mitigation.

FEMA Floodplain

Originally Planned Diversion

Drainage Area Map

Regional Drainage Issues

DowntownRedlands, CA

Main Flooding Issue

Mission Zanja (Q100 = 4,124 cfs)

Reservoir Cnyn (Q100 = 4,008 cfs)

Main Flooding Issue

Mission Zanja (Q100 = 4,124 cfs)

Reservoir Cnyn (Q100 = 4,008 cfs)

RC Recently Improved

Zanja - Focus of Past Studies

XPSWMMModel Development

Linked 1D/2D Model

All SDs Tributary to Downtown

XPSWMMModel Development

2D Grid Size = 6’x6’ (1.6 sq. Miles)

Total # of Grid Cells = 1.3M

XPSWMMModel Development

100-year/24-hour Design Storm

• Hydrographs

Boundary Conditions

Manning’s “n” (Bed Resistance)

• Account for buildings/obstructions

Rating Curves/Links to Subsurface

Maximum WSE 100-YR (2D)

1976 Storm Comparisons

1976 Storm Comparison

New Proposed Downtown Bypass

Animation Process

Create and Run XPSWMM 1D/2D Model

Refine Surface in 3rd Party Software

Import Data into Animation Software

Isolate Scenes -“Hotspots”

Results

Clear Identification of Flood Hazards.

Isolation of Local “Hotspots” using focused Scenes.

Council Adopted MPD (After 3D Animation).

Council Approved DIF Ballot Measure (After 3D).

Special Interest Groups On Board.

Eliminated Outside Questions Regarding Study.

World Trade Center Flood Resiliency Study

Hurricane Sandy

Sandy Stats

Category 1 Hurricane

Storm Surge NY: 9.5’

Approx. 100-yr SS

Project Scope (BPS)

Surface Model (Detailed 2D)• 100-yr (+SLR)• XP 2D

Subsurface Model• Linked Subsurface• 6 Subfloors• XPSWMM 1D

Bollard Protection System

Surface Model ADCIRC Coastal 2D

Model• 10m x 10m cells

XPSWMM Model• Detailed Surface TIN• 5’ x 5’ cells• 3 Inflow Boundaries

Surface Modeling Results

Depth & Maximum WSE

Maximum Velocity (BPS)• Vectors • Magnitude

2D Animation Issues• Image Distortion

- Difficult to lay over DTM- Buildings out of line

Animation Process Surface 3D Model• Civil3D• SketchUp• VR-Design Studio

Subsurface Model• Form Z• SketchUp• Electric Image

Animation System

Project Results Velocities at Proposed BPS Identified. Multiple Stakeholder Awareness. Wall Breach Analyses. Emergency Escape Routes Identified. Critical Rooms & Critical Flow Paths

What We Learned In All Projects

Conveying Complex Calculation Results • Visualization Increases Understanding.• Understanding Gains Confidence in Model Results.• Confidence Allows:

- Stakeholders to Make Decisions; and- Policy Makers to Convey Message to Public.

• Helps Public Understand Issues

Questions?