Determining Downstream Ecological Impacts of Sediment Derived from Bridge Construction

The release of sediment due to bridge construction may change the sediment regime and geomorphology of receiving streams causing short- and long-term effects on aquatic habitat. A geographic information systems (GIS)-based Predictive Sediment Toolbar is already developed and coupled with HEC-RAS 2D to determine the potential depositional area and suspended sediment concentration at bridge construction sites. The toolbar was submitted to Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in Phase I. The performance of the toolbar was assessed using field data and observations at a bridge construction site. The toolbar showed a promising performance; however, to reduce modeling uncertainties and develop an understanding of the uncertainties, and increase the accuracy of the approaches and model capabilities, the research team will perform following tasks: (1) develop a guideline for selecting stream flow events to be used in HEC-RAS 1D model and for determining the extent of modeling downstream of the bridge; (2) develop a new 1D sediment transport model coupled with HEC-RAS 1D and add to the current GIS toolbar; (3) investigate alternative methods for defining eroded sediment characteristics from a typical bridge replacement site and incorporate into the model; (4) examine the performance of the new tool using field data collected from a number of bridge sites with a wide range of flow and sediment characteristics. In this Phase II of the project, the research team will conduct this research at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7.

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Completed
  • Funding: $209,000
  • Contract Numbers:

    0-7023-01

  • Sponsor Organizations:

    Texas Department of Transportation

    11th and Brazos Streets
    Austin, TX  United States  78701
  • Managing Organizations:

    Texas Department of Transportation

    11th and Brazos Streets
    Austin, TX  United States  78701
  • Project Managers:

    Adediwura, Jade

  • Performing Organizations:

    University of Texas at Arlington

    Box 19308
    Arlington, TX  United States  76019-0308
  • Principal Investigators:

    Ahmari, Habib

  • Start Date: 20221110
  • Expected Completion Date: 20240630
  • Actual Completion Date: 20240630

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01875314
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: Texas Department of Transportation
  • Contract Numbers: 0-7023-01
  • Files: RIP, STATEDOT
  • Created Date: Mar 8 2023 3:28PM