BACKGROUND

In 2019, NCHRP Project 15-61 developed a proposed design guide to support hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) engineers in strengthening design methods in response to evolving conditions such as changes in storm intensity, flood frequency, and coastal water levels. The proposed guide was developed to address challenges related to inland and coastal flooding, storm surge impacts, and extreme precipitation events, helping engineers improve the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of transportation infrastructure under variable environmental conditions. It introduced a comprehensive framework for incorporating current hydrologic data and analytical techniques into both project- and program-level H&H design.

To build on this foundation, NCHRP Project 15-61A was launched in 2024 to update and refine the proposed guide by integrating recent advancements in engineering standards, as well as the availability of new datasets, modeling tools, and analytical methods. This effort ensures the guide remains current, applicable, and valuable to practitioners facing today’s complex hydrologic design challenges.

OBJECTIVE 

The objective of this project is to enhance and expand the implementation of the design practices guide, focusing only on inland hydrology/hydraulics, by providing training and disseminating the results to a broad audience of practitioners and decision makers.