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Publication Date

2019

First Advisor

Susannah Howe

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Engineering

Keywords

Hydrology, Hydraulics, Culverts, Modeling, GIS, Stormwater, TR-55, Stream Stats

Abstract

When culverts are not adequately sized, many structural and ecological problems occur. This issue will increase in frequency and severity as infrastructure ages and climate change increases the severity of storms. Currently there are several methods to determine if a culvert is undersized. Yet, they require a substantial amount of physical data about the culvert and its surrounding area to complete. It is necessary to measure variables such as the slope of the culvert and the height of the road fill above the culvert opening for accurate analysis, but these factors often unmeasured when culverts are assessed by cities. In this project,

I investigated whether cities without data stored about slope, road fill height, and inlet type can make assumptions about these data to make a preliminary evaluation of sizing. This information could be used in justifying further specific analysis in grant proposals and to the department as well as determine the order in which culverts are fully evaluated. I investigated two sets of assumptions: one that underestimates culvert capacity and one that tries to match the true culvert capacity. To do this, I used the Cornell Culvert Model. This model uses a mixture of ArcGIS and Python scripts to output the most extreme possible storm the culvert can pass without overtopping the road, given physical data about the culvert in question and the surrounding area. This measure is also called maximum return period. Using data from Livingston county and Genesee counties in New York and the two sets of assumptions, I used the model to find the maximum return period for 101 culverts. The underestimation and accuracy assumptions correctly identified which culverts were undersized 79.2% and 93.7% of the time, respectively.

Then, I investigated the accessibility of calculating maximum return period with the StreamStats web tool and the Cornell Culvert Model. I used both methods to determine which culverts in Northampton were possibly undersized. I also created maps showing my results. These methods were not able to analyze most Northampton culverts, even with the application of the simplifying assumptions I investigate in the first half of the project. This was mostly due to lack of basic shape data and culvert drainage area being outside of the acceptable range. In each model, approximately 30% of culverts were analyzed. Although the use of assumptions is reasonable, these methods of determining peak discharge are still inaccessible to municipalities due to the amount of time and the skills needed to perform analysis.

Rights

©2019 Molly Rose Day. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Comments

42 pages : illustrations (some color). Includes bibliographical references (pages 31-32)

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