Integrating GIS for Better Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling

Stephen P. Phipps and Clarence Robbins, Woolpert

Mr. Phipps will present a method of storm water infrastructure inventory that can be integrated with ArcInfo software. This presenter will show how to integrate today's technology to collect, store, and analyze the vast amount of data that is needed to complete a successful hydrologic and hydraulic modeling program to support the dynamic task of basin master planning. This paper will explain proven techniques for storm water structure attribute collection including open channel as well as piped systems. Methods of using digital topographic data with observed channel type sections to enhance modeling estimates will be explored. Demos of custom GIS user applications that aid in the input of attributes for lag-time coefficients will be explained. An explanation of inventory storage and techniques to analyze the data with different off-the-shelf modeling packages including HEC-1, HEC-2, and XP-SWMM will also be included. Other integration issues including the output of floodplain plots using ArcInfo will be demonstrated.

Discussion on the Storm Sewer Analysis Application

Bruce Davidson, Alan Potok, Bill Thaman, and Katrine Wu, Turner Collie and Braden Inc.

This paper will provide a discussion on the Storm Sewer Analysis application written by Turner Collie and Braden. A brief history of why the application was developed as well as the data sources used for the original application. Other topics discussed will include experiences: converting an existing BASIC program to Visual Basic; customizing ArcView; developing Avenue scripts to work with the Visual Basic program, using DDE to communicate between ArcView and Visual Basic. The paper will end with a statement of where we plan to go.

Questionnaire Distribution Analysis of the Potential for Stormwater Master Planning

Duncan S. Rowe and Kent L. Lage, Black and Veatch. Consulting Engineers Black and Veatch has completed a stormwater masterplan for the City of Ann Arbor that utilized geographic information systems (GIS) technology. Critical to the success of the project was the public input gained by incorporating a questionnaire on recent flooding events. Greater value was added to the questionnaire data set by incorporating address-matching procedures. With this, the spatial distribution of the questionnaire responses could be visualized in geographic context to the modeled storm-system and other geographic data sets. The set of techniques known as Point Pattern Analysis have long been employed to study the spatial distribution of phenomenon. Typically, the phenomenon is not subjective nor is the data captured of nominal form. In this study, the questionnaire responses had both these characteristics. Quadrant analysis was used to explore the possible existence of clustered flooding events that were reported and captured by the questionnaire as point phenomenon. A control group was used to test the validity of clusters uncovered by the Point Pattern Analysis. Lastly, the proximity of clusters to system components modeled as inadequate for design rainfall events was analyzed, and correlations were investigated by considering the land characteristics. In this paper, the conclusions from this approach will be presented, and the limitations and benefits obtained from completing this analysis in an operational environment will be discussed.

Wastewater Collection System Modelling Using Geographical Information Systems

Robin W. Erkkila, Peter C.G. Veenstra, Black and Veatch

The question to answer in the analysis or design of a wastewater collection system is "how much flow?". System engineers need to know how much water the wastewater system can transport and how much the future transport requirements will be. There are many different approaches to determining wastewater collection system flow. The method outlined in this paper applies landuse and population data to determine the basis for current and future system flow parameters. This data is manipulated using a Geographic Information System (GIS), and input into the hydraulic model for system analysis. The results of the model are output to, and stored in the GIS from which meaningful graphic and tabular output is obtained. The information in the GIS can then be used to help the engineer and planner design a system which is adequate to meet the current and future needs of a municipality. This paper will outline the process involved in using GIS to obtain, derive, manage and output the data required for modeling a wastewater system.


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