Each year, spring’s warmer weather can be a welcome change after months of winter. However, the rain and melting snow that accompany the higher temperatures can also pose a seasonal flood risk for some areas in Iowa.
Flood damage to roads, bridges or other infrastructure is often easy to see; however, other adverse effects, such as road closures that limit mobility or detours that require longer travel times, are less visible and harder to gauge.
To gain a more complete understanding of a flood’s impact and how the state’s finite resources should be allocated for maximum benefit, Iowa DOT Research partnered with researchers from Iowa State University on two research projects that concluded in 2021:
Asset Management, Extreme Weather and Proxy Indicators. Studying flood-prone areas in Iowa, researchers used simulations to identify the roads and bridges most at risk of flood-related closures, as well as the structures that serve the most traffic and keep communities connected.
Together, these two projects provide a more holistic view of all the potential effects a flood could have on a community and which structures might be most vulnerable. Leveraging the information, Iowa DOT is better equipped to prepare for the next flood and prioritize the state’s resources where they’re most needed.
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