1. AASHTO Technical Committee on Hydrology & Hydraulics(TCHH) Update
Prepared for:
National Hydraulics Engineering Conference
August 2016
Portland
By :
Karuna Pujara, Chair, TCHH
Maryland Department of Transportation
Thank you. I am here today to provide update to you on behalf of the members of the Technical committee of Hydraulics and Hydrology.

2. AASHTO TCHH Member representation
Total Number of Members – 22
19 State DOTs + 1 FHWA +1 Canada+ 1 AASHTO
1 Vacancy in Region 2
Nothing like starting a presentation with Acronyms – By the way who does not like acronyms?
So AASHTO TCHH - is your Hydrology and Hydraulics representation from all of the DOTs.
Currently there are 22 members of the committee. You should note that out of 22 members 19 are representing state DOTs.

3. Activities and responsibility
Lead and Support Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering in Transportation
Developing technical publication such as drainage guidelines, policies, and procedures,
participate and recommend nation research projects, and
be an advocate on emerging issues and National Policy
TCHH charter makes it responsible to publish Drainage Manual, recommend and participate in national research and to be an advocate for H/H engineering.
For the purpose of today’s presentation, I like to give you an update of TCHH activities in the reverse order and end our discussion with the topic of manuals. 
Extra text: (Review and comment on proposed federal regulations, and participate in the efforts related topics of Hydrology, Hydraulics, Water Quality etc.)

4. Be an advocate for emerging issues?
Review Federal Floodplain Management Regulations (FFMR)
Publish News Letters for All Member States
Interest in Short Publications of the State of the Art Practices
Participate and collaborate with other transportation expertise area
Support National Hydraulics Engineering Conference
Recognition of professionalism and service in the realm of Hydraulics in the memory of Late TCHH member – Mark Miles of Alaska.
In the beginning of last year we reviewed Federal Floodplain Regulations and some of you may know it as FFMR. Majority of members provided comments to AASHTO liaison collecting those comments, held conference calls to help communicate those comments and make all of our membership aware of AASHTO compiles comments. The Committee understands that this is a long process spread over several years and we have continued to stay up to date.
One of the work group is actively engaged in publishing technical newsletter which is distributed to all the member states and others who may express interest. The newsletters are posted on TCHH portal through SCOD webpage.
One of the thing we learned from publishing technical new letter that there is significant information and guidance that can be shared with the practitioners that may not need to be in the manual. For example I heard someone say that AASHTO manuals are policies and standards there is some times missing how to part. It is generally expected that most how to can be learned and that people already know that. However, there are examples of analysis or design that unique and complex that may lend itself to be explained. In addition these could be opportunity to discuss state of the art analysis, methods or processes. Explanation of advanced computer modeling, or summary of H/H research findings and how it should be used can also be discussed. TCHH membership feels that a series of short papers can be written on various topics and be posted on its page for the use of its member states. This part of committee work is gaining greater interest and momentum however, many details are yet to be determined. I am interested to hear any feedback you may have about it.
In the area of advocacy one of the very important thing TCHH has instituted is recognition of professionalism and service in the area of H/H. A Mark Miles Award was established in the memory of late TCHH member from Alaska.

5. participate and Recommend- national research projects in h/h for transportation
Hydrology
Hydraulics – Roadway, Bridge and Coastal
Environmental Hydraulics– Water Quality, Wetlands
Scour
Stream Stability
Climate Change Impacts on Hydraulics Infrastructure
Pipe Materials & Standards
Infrastructure Management
The second mission we have is to recommend national research and participate in those research activities. As you can see from the list above these are the areas of research we frequently find need for. Even though some may think Hydrology must be well established by now – no we still find room for more research there. For example hydrology for stream restoration.

6. Research RECENT NCHRP RESEARCH PROJECTS:
Scour at the Base of Retaining Walls and Other Longitudinal Structures
Combining Individual Scour Components to Determine Total Scour
Evaluation of Long Term Performance of Stormwater Controls
Guidance for Achieving Volume Reduction of Highway Runoff in Urban Areas
Bridge Runoff Treatment Analysis and Treatment Options
Guidance for Complying with EPA Effluent Limitation Guidelines for Construction Runoff
Culvert and Storm Drain Inspection Manual
So when I say recent, I want to go back to may be 2012 and work my way towards 2016 3
Don’t worry I will not read this to you but I like to show you how these topics have evolved with the changing time.
So back in 2012, we desired research on scour, scour, scour, stormwater, more stormwater and some more stormwater.

7. Research Recent Hydraulics related research:
Synthesis “Hydrology for Water Quality Analysis and Design” was just funded.
“Design Hydrology for Stream Restoration and Channel Stability at Stream Crossings”  
“Evaluation and Assessment of Environmentally Sensitive Stream Bank Protection Measures”
By 2014, TCHH continued to have interest in stormwater, and added interest in stream restoration. Moving on with the time and needs as appropriate. It should be interested that these topics are also of high interest to other transportation expertise I am happy to tell you that research money can be spread much more with collaborative efforts.

8. Research FY2015 NCHRP Hydraulics related research:
Development of Design Guidance to Mitigate Hydroplaning Effects
Limitations of the Infiltration Approach to Stormwater Management in the Highway Environment
Minimize Roadway Embankment Damage from Overtopping
3By 2015, we begin to be sure that roads are going to expand. Highway are more and more widened along the original alignment as oppose to building more new roads. We observed that roads went from 2 lanes to 4 lanes to 6 lanes in each direction in some parts of the country. In urban areas, shoulders are being repurposed for Pedestrian and bicycle lanes or bus routs. The shoulder that generally provide quick drainage off the roadway are being actively utilized.
The first reactionary topic of interest has been hydroplaning. As many of us read Green book, we agreed that the requirements are flexible.
Another interest is understanding how infiltration would affect highways or the stability of surrounding properties as more and more LID practices are promoted for stormwater quality.
Several hurricane events brought attention to embankment safety associated with flood overtopping events.

9. Research FY2016 NCHRP Hydraulics related research:
Applying Climate Change Information to Hydrologic and Hydraulic Design of Transportation Infrastructure (Selected, 15-61)
Strategic Plan for Prioritization and Selection of Research Proposals for Hydrology and Hydraulics (Selected, 20-07)
And now by 2016, there has been an increasing pressure for H/H engineers to design culverts for more flow. Many TCHH members believe that something has to be done in regards to the strandards but upsizing may not be the first and best response. Simply increasing culverts may increase folloding on d/s properties and may be a cause for damage. There may need to be a different approach for preparing for climate change response for existing infrastructure and for the new infrastructure. We recommended a diverse panel of hydraulics, hydrology experts and climate scientists along with policy makers, academia to establish an advisory panel and conduct research to provide necessary tools for engineers.
What we are learning is that what engineers refer to extreme event is not the same as what climate scientists refer to extreme event. NOAA weather service recently published new precipitation data for majority of the country. Engineers utilize NOAA NWS rainfall data for flood events. Since Climate modals predict change over a period of time, it is not the same as recurrence interval rainfall data engineers utilize for engineering.

10. TC – Hydrology and Hydraulics Publications
The AASHTO Drainage
Manual – Last Publication 2014
Two Volumes – Policy & Procedures
Previous Publication – 1991, 2005
Aashto Highway Drainage Guidelines - Last Publications 2007
Previous Publication 1987, 1992
The last and important charter for TCHH is to publish and update two publication.
Discuss both briefly.
TC – Hydrology and Hydraulics Publications

11. Maintain Drainage Manual updates
Two or potentially three chapters are currently being updated:
Surface Water Environment
replacing one chapter with multiple chapters or separate publications – Water Quality and Flood Control, addressing various BMP types.
Bridge Hydraulics, and LRFD considerations
Hydrology – address Climate Change
What is being updated…

12. TCHH Activities and Efforts going forward
Topic Areas of Future Challenges
Water Quality and Transportation
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Strategies
Aging Drainage Infrastructure – Culvert failures and remediation, and management programs
Preparedness for Hurricanes – Potential Need of Design Standards
Application of LRFD for Bridge Scour Computations
Understanding Drainage Design for Reconstruction Projects and for the Practical Design
These are some of the topics are of interest for us and you will hear many more at this conference this week. On behalf of AASHTO, I welcome you to this conference and encourage you to meet some of our members. We have almost entire committee here except a member from NY. We also like to hear more from you. We have a poster outside and a tray where you may drop off your ideas, questions and emerging issues. Thank you and enjoy this conference, and the beautiful weather.

13. Questions?