Integrating Climate and Watershed Modeling to Improve Bridge Design: Iowa DOT Climate Change and Extreme Weather Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Project

This presentation will discuss the first in the nation application of utilizing climate science modeling to determine future rainfall events so that future flooding from hydrologic modeling of the basins in Iowa can be predicted. The “future” hydrologic modeling will be analyzed to determine frequency/discharge relationships for sizing bridges and culverts based on “future” flooding. This is a paradigm shift in the way bridges and culverts are currently sized which is based on past flooding. Based on this analysis, policy/design criteria for bridges and roads may change to account for future extreme weather events. This research is an FHWA pilot program to assess and adapt the vulnerability of highway infrastructure due to climate change impacts on extreme weather events