1. Multi-Purpose, Multi-Scale Storm Surge and Flood Forecasting for Planning and Preparedness (Jackson State University/Dr. Shahrouz
Aliabadi) - in progress
We propose the development of a fully integrated framework for the modeling and simulation of storm surge and
flood events, with applicability at macro-, meso-, and micro-scale levels. This project is comprised of three components:
(1) High-resolution Storm Surge and Flood Modeling (2) Infrastructure Assessment and Resiliency, and (3) Disaster Preparedness and
Response. The proposed (MSFP)2 project employs existing flood assessment and management (FAM) models and new FAM models developed
by project partners, with intended application to the forecast of hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, flood inundation in associated coastal
regions, infrastructure assessment, and disaster preparedness and response in an integrated framework.
2. Increasing Community
Disaster Resilience through Targeted Strengthening of Critical Infrastructure (Mississippi State University/ Dr. Isaac L. Howard)
- in progress
The resilience of communities against the force of natural disasters is a complex function of the community’s socio-political
and physical features. This proposal focuses on technical and engineering aspects of two of the most significant components
of a community’s physical resilience -- protection against threats posed by moving water, and the reconstitution of critical infrastructure
to permit community recovery. In contrast to historical “case hardening” approaches, this research focuses on targeted solutions
for key infrastructure components, as identified by the community or its designees. The research further considers only those
solutions which may be rapidly deployed to achieve maximum benefit to the community, typically through the use of on-site materials,
pre-engineered components, and innovative construction materials and techniques. Finally, the proposed research is limited to
components that may be damaged by water currents or waves, though portions of the work may be easily extensible to disasters initiated
by high winds or by strong ground motions.
3. Tools for Enhanced Mapping and Managing Post-Disaster Debris (Mississippi State
University/ Dr. Charles A. Waggoner) -in progress
The overall objective of this research effort is to enhance recovery from and resilience
to large scale disasters by providing Mississippi state agency personnel, as well as Mississippi local governments with tools to enhance
their ability to manage disaster related debris. The research outlined in this proposal will be carried out in four general thrust
areas. Thrust Area 1 – Use of Remote Sensing Data to Enhance Effectiveness of Debris Management. This activity will involve
developing software and procedures for rapidly producing post-disaster maps containing information necessary to optimize management
of debris piles. Thrust Area 2 – Evaluation of an Alternative Treatment Technology for Selected Waste Streams. Land filling
debris in unlined trenches is currently a major disposal mechanism. Numerous waste streams are prospects for segregation and alternative
treatment. Certain problem waste streams (such as Copper Chromated Arsenic (CCA) treated wood) will be evaluated for disposal by low
temperature pyrolysis. Thrust Area 3 – Development of a Preliminary Debris Disposal Cost Projection Model. This model will be
a first step toward providing MEMA and FEMA with an effective tool that will greatly simplify the process of providing relief funding
to counties and municipalities. Thrust Area 4 – Filling in Technical Data Gaps for Debris Management. This effort will receive
extensive input from the Advisory Council to identify gaps in technical information with respect to the behavior of various components
of debris piles to treatment. Data will also be collected to reduce uncertainties associated with the composition of large debris
piles. Information needed to enhance the accuracy of the Preliminary Debris Disposal Model will be generated by this effort.
4.
Structural, Material, and Geotechnical Solutions to Levee and Floodwall Construction and Retrofitting (University of Mississippi/
Dr. Alexander H.D. Cheng) - in progress
The extensive investigation and research of the Interagency Performance Evaluation Taskforce (IPET),
as well as other teams organized by the NSF and ASCE, presented comprehensive insights for the failure mechanism of the levees and
floodwalls in New Orleans areas during Hurricane Katrina. However, despite the authoritative nature of these reports, very little
work was done to address the enhancement of integrity and resiliency of the nation’s hurricane and flood protection system against
future disasters. This research proposal addresses the application of a number of creative ideas that can provide new design principles
and retrofitting techniques to enhance the integrity and resiliency of these infrastructures. We propose four interrelated technical
avenues to address the vulnerability of the hurricane protection system and to improve the overall integrity and endurance of a reconstructed
system. The tasks are divided into four tasks: 1) Geotechnical solutions for a resilient levee and floodwall system that includes
improved floodwall section design to prevent overturning; piling and anchoring to increase the resistance to sliding; clay and bentonite
apron to reduce the seepage; and levee back side protection to prevent erosion caused by overtopping; 2) Structural solutions
to increase the lateral stiffness of the sheet pile system for load transfer to geotechnically reinforced stations, and to increase
the bending stiffness of the buried sheet piles by cross-sectional design to prevent the formation of gap in front of the floodwall; 3) Material solutions that use a new generation of lighter, stronger, and non-corrosive materials, such as polymer composite sheet
pile, polymer concrete, nano particle enhanced spray-on polymer coating, to improve the performance of the system in terms of strength,
durability, and resistance against sabotage; and 4) Testing and validation of the tools, technologies, and systems developed in this
research
5. Development of an Integrated Simulation Tool for Predicting Disastrous Flooding, Water Contamination, Sediment Transport
and their Impacts on the Environment (University of Mississippi/Dr. Yafei Jai) - in progress
In this proposal, developing an integrated
computational tool and supporting databases is proposed for studying disasters caused by extreme flooding including 1) flood wave
propagation under catastrophic conditions (dam/levee breach due to storm surge, high approaching flow, and terror attack); 2) water
contamination due to industrial chemical spills, sewage/waste material, and debris resulted from flooding and hurricane impact; 3)
dam/levee breaching, its associated sediment transport processes and breaching closure practices; and 4) flooding and contamination
resulted environmental and ecological problems during and after the flooding. To make it possible for responders to study the overall
situations as well as local details of the flooding effectively and quickly, all of the computational capabilities will be integrated
into a Graphic User Interface to carry out numerical simulations, visualize the results and guide response and recovery efforts. Databases
will be developed to archive the data collected to support the numerical simulations. Due to the nature of the computation tool, the
data should cover a wide spectrum of information ranging from water infrastructure, hydrology, topography of potential flooding zones,
contamination sources of industrial chemicals, sewage and waste treatment, inventories of high risk dam and levee structures, etc. The developed technologies can also be used for evaluating losses in vulnerable flooding zones and making plans for improvements of
the high risk water infrastructures, industrial chemicals, sewage/waste plants, etc., and enhancement of emergency response and recovery
plans, so that the flooding zones will be less vulnerable to major hazardous and terror attack incidents and therefore have better
resilience to natural and manmade disasters. It is anticipated that the computational tool can be applied by DHS personnel and responders
to make well-informed and/or science-based decisions by studying the outcomes of flooding and mitigation measure scenarios in order
to minimize the potential losses of lives and property as well as the short and long-term environmental impacts.
The capabilities developed
in one of the current SERRI project “Computational Tools for Water Security (CTW)” will be used in this research project.