Abstract This proposal focuses on enhancing the equitable resilience of Nebraska's transportation infrastructure against flood hazards. In light of the substantial damage caused by flooding, the project aims to introduce a robust framework for designing and retrofitting, especially bridges, to withstand flood impacts. A novel simulationbased approach promoting equitable and resilience-informed decision-making will be implemented, focusing on individual bridges within Nebraska. The methodology developed will produce cost estimates for implementing flood design upgrades, ensuring new retrofit level requirements are met for existing bridges. The research will contribute to the MATC-TSE theme of improving transportation resilience and align with USDOT's strategic infrastructure investment and innovation goals. The anticipated results include a robust simulation-based framework for designing and retrofitting bridges, an optimized policy framework for flood hazard mitigation, cost estimates for implementing flood design upgrades, and a comprehensive report detailing the research findings.
Description The project aims to enhance the resilience of Nebraska's transportation infrastructure against flood hazards. It introduces a robust framework for designing and retrofitting bridges to withstand flood impacts. Implementing a novel simulation-based approach promotes equitable and resilience-informed decision-making, focusing on individual bridges within Nebraska. The methodology is expected to produce cost estimates for implementing flood design upgrades, ensuring that new retrofit level requirements are met for existing bridges. This project complements the PI’s recently funded project by NDOT, which revolves around creating an integrated bridge, transportation network, and community resilience framework for Nebraska. The PIs will develop a validated resilience model for the state highway system that accounts for its interconnectedness with the broader community.
Objective The project aligns with USDOT's strategic goals of infrastructure investment and innovation. By quantifying transportation infrastructure resilience and accounting for mitigation costs for implementing flood design upgrades, this research supports the efficient use of resources for infrastructure improvement. Additionally, the novel simulation-based approach promotes innovation in transportation design and planning.
Impacts/Benefits "The project's focus on enhancing the resilience of Nebraska's transportation infrastructure against flood hazards has the potential to significantly mitigate flood-related damages. Through the introduction of a robust framework for the design and retrofitting of bridges, the project aims to ensure more effective flood mitigation efforts, resulting in safer and more reliable transportation systems. The application of a simulation-based approach that prioritizes equitable resilience will also foster innovation in infrastructure planning and design, setting a new standard for resilience-informed decision-making. Furthermore, the project's emphasis on equitable distribution of resources can contribute to social equity, ensuring that all communities benefit from improved infrastructure. As the research is implemented in Nebraska, it can serve as a replicable model for other states facing similar flood hazards, leading to a future where transportation infrastructures across the country are better equipped to withstand and recover from flood events.
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