Title: research and development of synthetic river bathymetry generation and large-scale flood susceptibility assessment capabilities project period: 01 16 2025 through 01 15 2026AWARD purpose: this…

This Cooperative Agreement award, funded by the U.S. Geological Survey under the Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes (CFDA 15.805) program, aims to improve flood prediction and risk assessment capabilities across the United States. The $165,000 project, running from January 16, 2025 to January 15, 2026, will be carried out by Purdue University. The research team will develop a new computer model that integrates river data, rainfall patterns, city drainage systems, and land characteristics to create detailed flood risk maps and predictive tools for government agencies, city planners, and researchers. The project will result in publicly available flood prediction software and comprehensive guidelines for its use, leading to more accurate forecasting that accounts for both natural and man-made water infrastructure.

Activities

The research team will create a new computer model that learns from various types of water-related data. This involves gathering information about rivers, rainfall patterns, city drainage systems, and land characteristics. The team will develop new methods to process this data, create prediction tools, and test them across different regions. The work includes creating detailed maps of river depths, analyzing how water moves through city drainage systems, and combining this information into a single tool that can predict flood risks. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the project will produce a publicly available flood prediction tool that works across the continental united states. This includes detailed maps showing areas at risk of flooding, easy-to-use computer programs for flood analysis, and comprehensive guidelines for using these tools. The work will result in more accurate flood predictions that account for both natural water systems and city infrastructure.

Intended beneficiaries

This project will serve multiple groups: government agencies responsible for flood management and emergency response, city planners and engineers working on flood protection, insurance companies assessing flood risks, and researchers studying water systems. The tools developed will help communities better prepare for and respond to flood events, ultimately benefiting residents in flood-prone areas.

Subrecipient activities

No subrecipient activities.