Coastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters Joint Conference 2015
Comparing Inundation Maps Developed Using WHAFIS and STWAVE: A Case Study in Washington County, RI
Publication: Coastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2015: Resilient Coastal Communities
ABSTRACT
In 2010, a report, Mapping the Zone, Improving Map Accuracy, was prepared by a FEMA flood map committee appointed by the National Academies’ Water Sciences and Technology Board, which discussed theoretical and practical issues related to FEMA map accuracy. The present analysis presents a case study, which addresses in particular one of their major concerns: the use of a 1-D model to solve a 2-D problem. Finding #2 in the report stated: “Coastal flood maps can be improved significantly through use of coupled two-dimensional storm surge and wave models and improved process models, which would yield more accurate base flood elevations”. The study re-computes the 100-year inundation maps in Washington County, using two-dimensional models. The initial and boundary conditions for wave simulations are based on results of fully coupled 2-D surge and wave models, the advanced circuulation model (ADCIRC) and the phase-averaged steady state spectral wave model (STWAVE), respectively, from the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS) performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Waves are simulated using STWAVE over a series of high-resolution grids in nearshore and overland areas. Results are mapped and compared with FEMA’s maps and transects.
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Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge support for this work from the RI Coastal Resource Management Council. For providing the results of the NACCS study, we are indebted to Mary Cialone, Norberto Nadal-Carabello, and Jeff Melby of the US Army Corps of Engineers and many others of their team. We also thank John Burin for providing FEMA’s documents relevant to the RI, Washington County, 2012 FIRM. For providing bathymetric and land use data, we are also indebted to Chris Damon.
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Coastal Structures and Solutions to Coastal Disasters 2015: Resilient Coastal Communities
Pages: 147 - 160
Editors: Louise Wallendorf, U.S. Naval Academy and Daniel T. Cox, Ph.D., Oregon State University
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8030-4
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© 2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Published online: Jul 11, 2017
Published in print: Jul 11, 2017
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