Flood Causes and Mitigation Strategies for Civil Engineers
An example of a Google Earth river anatomy label.Copyright 2022, Amanda Oanes, West Fargo, ND, RET Program, College of Engineering, North Dakota State University
Students act as civil engineers who are assessing the viability of a new housing development along a river. Students use a map of the river and the location of the proposed development to demonstrate where erosion and deposition are occurring along the river. They interpret precipitation data to determine whether flooding will occur. Finally, they create a presentation that includes the best course of action for the city and any flood mitigation strategies necessary.
This activity looks at the basics of water resource engineering and the decision-making process that is involved in city planning and development. Civil engineers design flood control structures that manage the risks associated with flooding, evaluating past data and making predictions that inform their design process. They also play a part in educating the public about the benefits and drawbacks of building along a river.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Identify what factors influence flooding.
- Understand different ways that communities prepare for and handle flood events.