Environment, Coasts, Oceans, & Infrastructure

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  • 1.  Data you need but can't get?

    Posted 20 days ago

    If a genie offered you whatever data you wanted for engineering work, what would you ask for that you can't already obtain?



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    William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
    ENGINEER
    Columbus MS
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  • 2.  RE: Data you need but can't get?

    Posted 19 days ago

    Bill, I would ask the genie for the tool before the data: a highly accurate sediment-transport modeling capability that works seamlessly across freshwater, estuarine, and saltwater systems. Then I would add comprehensive, consistent data from locations throughout the continental United States. πŸ§žβ€β™‚οΈ


    The best data in the world only gets us so far without the right tool to interpret it.



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    Robert Wagner P.E., C.Eng, BC.NE, M.ASCE
    National Sediment Management & Dredging Lead
    Black & Veatch
    Savannah GA
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  • 3.  RE: Data you need but can't get?

    Posted 17 days ago

    I second your nomination, Robert. ASCE Manual 156 (LINK) engages these issues in the context of navigation channel sedimentation and the concepts are applicable in other environments.

    Both instrumentation and modeling have made great strides but we need still more improvements in both technology and the know-how required to use the technology. Models are sometimes so easy to use that they are used improperly. A socket wrench can be used to drive a nail, but no one will be happy with the result. Same with models.

    Bill



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    William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
    ENGINEER
    Columbus MS
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Data you need but can't get?

    Posted 19 days ago

    Bill, I would ask the genie for the tool before the data: a highly accurate sediment-transport modeling capability that works seamlessly across freshwater, estuarine, and saltwater systems. Then I would add comprehensive, consistent data from locations throughout the continental United States. πŸ§žβ€β™‚οΈ
    The best data in the world only gets us so far without the right tool to interpret it.



    ------------------------------
    Robert Wagner P.E., C.Eng, BC.NE, M.ASCE
    National Sediment Management & Dredging Lead
    Black & Veatch
    Savannah GA
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Data you need but can't get?

    Posted 6 days ago

    Hey Bill,

    One thing I would like to see in a "fun but unrealistic scenario" would be even better rainfall records. For fun, lets say a rain gage every square foot. One of the clients I support already has a fairly large number of rain gages scattered around their city, and at times the return intervals of gages near each other can vary massively. Aside from personally just wanting to see "the full picture" of each storm, understanding these impacts over small areas have real-world effects regarding flooding and what level of support is triggered based on the intensity of the rainfall that impacted a given area. 



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    Christopher Seigel P.E., M.ASCE
    Civil Engineer
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