Summer 2025: Compound Flood Hazard Modeling

Affiliations: College of Engineering and Computer Science
Team Leader:
Sara Santamaria-Aguilar
sa198055@ucf.edu
Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering PhD
Faculty Mentor:
Thomas Wahl, PhD
Team Size:
2
Open Spots: 1
Team Member Qualifications:
Team member preferred qualifications include basic programming experience (e.g., in MATLAB, Python, or R) and familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). While prior knowledge of hydrodynamic or hydraulic modeling is beneficial, it is not mandatory.
Description:
Flooding is a primary hazard in coastal areas, often resulting from a combination of factors such as heavy rainfall, river discharge, tides, and storm surges—commonly referred to as “compound events.” This project aims to assess compound flood hazards across various study sites using the dynamic flood modeling tool SFINCS. Students will gain hands-on experience in setting up and running the model, including the preprocessing of input data like elevation and surface roughness, as well as post-processing of flood simulation results. The objective is to explore the complex interactions between the characteristics of compound events and the extent of resulting floods. Insights from this research can support coastal managers and policymakers in developing effective adaptation strategies to mitigate flood risks.