Name: setting bund height to reduce flood risk
Uploaded: 2025-03-26T15:22:22.000Z
Duration: 1 min 17 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Louisiana Student Standards for Science

High School

Chemistry

Matter And Its Interactions

HS-PS1-6

design-example-analyzing-capacity-contours-for-flood-risk-assessment

Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment

A bund is proposed across a small valley to store stormwater. The area of land that will be submerged upstream after construction is determined using capacity contours.Capacity contours represent the contour lines that outline the extent of water spread at a specific water level in the bund.Based on the proposed bund height and the valley's topography, the engineers estimate the high flood level.First, the engineers determine the location of the bund and set a specific height for the high flood level.The engineers place a leveling instrument and determine the staff reading for the high flood level. Then, the same staff reading is marked along the valley on the upstream side at fixed distances apart.At the selected high flood level, the capacity contours extend into the nearby dwelling area, indicating that the locality would be flooded if the bund height remains as proposed.To ensure safety, the engineers should lower the bund height and recheck the capacity contours. At this height, the water would remain at a safe distance from the nearby dwelling area.

design example: analyzing capacity contours for flood risk assessment

Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers first establish the proposed bund's location and determine the anticipated high flood level. Using leveling instruments, they identify and mark points corresponding to this water level along the valley upstream of the bund site. These points help create a visual representation of the capacity contours, which reveal how far the water will spread at the designated height.In this analysis, the initial proposed bund height caused the water to encroach on a nearby dwelling area, posing a significant flood risk. Recognizing this, the engineers adjusted the bund height, lowering it to a level where the water stayed a safe distance from the residential zone. This process of recalculating and rechecking capacity contours ensures the bund's design mitigates flood risks effectively.By integrating topographical assessments with safety considerations, the capacity contour method helps engineers design sustainable water management solutions that prioritize community safety and environmental integrity.

Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a ...

Education

JoVE Core

Civil Engineering

Unit 1

Traverse and Topographic Surveying

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

setting bund height to reduce flood risk

Capacity contours help engineers check flood risk when a bund is built across a small valley. A bund is a raised barrier used here to store stormwater. The contour map shows how far water could spread at a chosen level, which helps judge whether nearby homes are safe.

The process starts by placing the proposed bund in the valley and estimating the high flood level. Engineers then use leveling instruments to find and mark points along the upstream side that match this water level. Those points are used to draw the capacity contours and show the expected water spread at that height.

In this example, the first bund height let water reach too close to a nearby dwelling area. That created a clear flood risk. The engineers then lowered the bund and checked the contours again. With the new height, the water stayed a safe distance from the residential zone. This kind of rechecking helps make sure the design protects the community while supporting effective water management.

Setting Bund Height to Reduce Flood Risk

adjusting a traverse

Correcting Traverse Angle Errors

Correcting traverse angle errors is an important step in site surveying. In a four-sided traverse, the internal angles must add up to 360 degrees. Survey data first showed a total of 359 degrees and 48 minutes, which was 12 minutes short of the expected sum. That gap pointed to a likely measurement error from fieldwork. The correction was made by spreading the 12-minute shortfall evenly across the four internal angles. Three minutes were added to each angle, and the values were recalculated.

latitudes and departures

Balancing Traverse Latitude and Departure

Latitudes and departures are key parts of surveying that help break a traverse line into north-south and east-west parts. These projections let surveyors work with line direction, length, bearings, and area in a clear way. They are also useful for measuring and mapping land accurately. Latitude is the north-south projection of a line. It is found by multiplying the line length by the cosine of its bearing. Departure is the east-west projection. It is found by multiplying the line length by the...

area computation by the alternative coordinate method

area-computation-by-the-alternative-coordinate-method

Shoelace Formula for Traverse Area

The Shoelace Formula is a coordinate method for finding the area of a traverse. It uses Cartesian coordinates, which are x and y values on a graph, to measure the shape accurately and with a simple step-by-step setup. The points of the traverse are listed in order around the shape. Each corner is written as a fraction, with the x-coordinate on top and the y-coordinate on the bottom. The first corner is repeated at the end of the list to close the shape. Next, diagonal lines are used to...

areas within irregular boundaries

Measuring Irregular Land Areas

Measuring irregular land areas often starts with a traverse. A traverse is a connected series of straight lines that follows the boundary as closely as possible. Surveyors use the coordinates of each traverse point to help calculate the enclosed area. One common method is the double meridian distance formula. It uses the vertex coordinates of the traverse to find the area inside the straight-line boundary. This gives a practical base for later calculations. The space between the traverse and...

design example: marking boundaries of a site using a compass

design-example-marking-boundaries-of-a-site-using-a-compass

Compass Traverse for Site Boundary Marking

Marking a site boundary with a compass uses a traverse, which is a line-by-line surveying path. The method relies on the bearings and lengths of each boundary side. It helps surveyors place corner points with accuracy. The process begins with the site details. These include the bearing and length of every boundary line. Surveyors first calculate the latitude and departure of each side. Latitude is the north-south part of a line, and departure is the east-west part. This check shows whether the...

topographic surveying and contours

Reading Terrain with Topographic Maps

Topographic surveying records the shape of land by measuring elevation, slope, and natural and man-made features. Surveyors use these measurements to build a topographic map, which shows the terrain in a visual way. These maps are important for construction planning, water resource management, and land-use analysis. Contour lines are the key feature of a topographic map. A contour line connects points with the same elevation, so it helps show the relief of the land. The spacing between contour...

plotting of topographic maps

Drawing Contour Lines from Elevation Data

Topographic maps use contour lines to show the shape of the land from elevation data. A contour line connects points with the same elevation. This makes a two-dimensional map that shows three-dimensional terrain in a clear way. To build the map, start with a scaled grid. Mark the intersections that match the survey’s elevation data points. Then assign elevation values at those points to create the base map. Next, choose a contour interval, which is the vertical change between contour lines.

methods of obtaining topography

Topographic Surveying: Old and New Methods

Topographic surveying uses land measurements to map elevations, natural features, and artificial structures. The goal is to create an accurate picture of the terrain. Surveyors have used both traditional and modern methods to do this work, and each approach has its own strengths and limits. Traditional surveying methods included transit stadia surveys and plane table surveys. These methods used tools such as theodolites and stadia rods to measure distances and angles. Surveyors then wrote the...

Capacity contours help engineers check flood risk when a bund is built across a small valley. A bund is a raised barrier used here to store stormwater. The contour map shows how far water could spread at a chosen level, which helps judge whether nearby homes are safe. The process starts by placing the proposed bund in the valley and estimating the high flood level. Engineers then use leveling instruments to find and mark points along the upstream side that match this water level. Those points...

key terms and concepts

See how engineers use capacity contours, leveling, and bund height checks to keep stormwater away from homes in a valley flood risk design.

Setting Bund Height to Reduce Flood Risk | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Civil Engineering offers a foundational exploration of essential construction materials such as bricks, stones, steel, wood, and concrete, along with fluid mechanics topics like flow over immersed bodies, open channel flow, and dimensional modeling. It also covers key surveying concepts, including leveling, traverse adjustments, curve design, topographic mapping, and geospatial technologies (GPS & GIS). Science-in-action videos showcase laboratory research on materials, fluids, and surveying practices in real-world engineering systems.

civil engineering

Energy

HS-PS3-3

Environmental Science

Resources And Resource Management

HS-EVS1-3

ohios-learning-standards-and-model-curriculum

Ohio’s Learning Standards and Model Curriculum

9-12

Physical Geology

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Igneous, Metamorphic And Sedimentary Rocks

Ocean

Earth's Resources

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Setting Bund Height to Reduce Flood Risk

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