GIS, Statistics, and Modeling

Kleinschmidt’s hydraulic engineers specialize in using 1D and 2D HEC-RAS modeling for various applications, such as floodplain modeling, dam breach analyses, restoration design, bridge and culvert hydraulic analyses, and rain on-grid modeling. Our team has completed numerous floodplain studies, dam breach studies, hydraulic design projects, and inundation mapping projects, utilizing 1D, 2D, and 3D hydraulic models and integrating traditional watershed modeling with the new rain on-grid feature in HEC-RAS. Our proprietary software, McBreach©, utilizes the Monte Carlo Method to produce a statistical distribution of possible dam breach outflow rates, enabling more meaningful communication of potential effects. We have shared this software with the dam safety community and have instructed many practitioners on its use.

We provide full service floodplain modeling and mapping both with 1D and 2D HEC-RAS. Our certified floodplain managers are experts in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations and regularly produce no-rise certifications, floodplain and floodway map revisions including Letters of Map Revision/Conditional Letters of Map Revision applications.

Our staff has also conducted hundreds of hydraulic design tasks, ranging from simple to complex, for hydropower and non-hydropower structures, such as spillways, intakes, energy dissipation structures, weirs, and diversion tunnels. Our hydraulic engineering team carefully evaluates each problem and selects the appropriate approach and tools needed to match its complexity and our clients’ needs. Our team works closely with our hydropower, fish passage, geotechnical, and structural engineering teams to develop comprehensive design solutions.

Our hydrologic engineering experience includes developing probable maximum flood (PMF) hydrographs and analyzing existing PMF conditions for dozens of projects throughout North America. We routinely revise flood frequency estimates for sites and apply hypothetical rainfall distributions in our hydrologic models.

We have extensive river restoration design experience with a focus on four general applications: channel and floodplain restoration, fish habitat enhancement, natural upstream passage improvements for fish, and bank stabilization and river training measures that are compatible with natural processes. We have used 1D and 2D hydraulic and hydrodynamic models for use in developing functional and persistent designs, and for reach scale geomorphic assessments of sediment transport, erosion and flood hazards that affect structural and geomorphic stability of prescribed actions. Application examples include instream and floodplain large wood structures, nature-like fishways, stable and adjustable riverbeds, levee removals and setbacks, floodway modifications, flood protection design, and restoring braiding, anastomosing, and meandering channel courses.

We provide expertise in instream flow hydraulic analysis/ habitat modeling, an essential tool in assessing water requirements for aquatic resources, flow regulation, and competing water uses. By using computer models to simulate the flow of water and its interaction with the surrounding habitat, Kleinschmidt can help assess flows needed to support healthy and productive fish habitat. This assessment can be used to guide the design and operation of hydropower projects to evaluate peaking, ramping rates, stranding potential, and the enhancement of spawning habitat in a way that minimizes negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems thereby allowing Kleinschmidt to balance the need for renewable energy with the protection of the natural environment. Kleinschmidt also uses this approach in conjunction with estimates of natural water availability to determine instream flow claims needed to support Tribal hunting, fishing, and gathering rights.

Kleinschmidt uses FLOW-3D and Star-CCM+, two of the most popular and trusted computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling software packages among consultants, to analyze challenging three-dimensional (3D) problems. Between both software packages, Kleinschmidt can evaluate a wide range of free surface and pressurized flow systems. CFD modeling is the most complex type of hydraulic modeling, and it is a valuable tool that Kleinschmidt uses to provide detailed data to understand problems and to inform design. Kleinschmidt has used 3D modeling to evaluate fish passage hydraulics, spillway design, gate design, and bridge hydraulics. We are able to use post processing software to generate compelling figures and animations that communicate information to stakeholders and regulators in ways that other models cannot.

Click below to view examples:

Jet Gate – 2 Fluids Velocity
Jet Gate – 1 Fluid Raytracing
Bridge Geometry Modifications Particles

With the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and smaller, lighter, and less costly imagery sensors, remotely sensed data has become ubiquitous. The use of this data for natural resources mapping and as a source of input data for environmental process modeling and landscape ecology applications will transform environmental management in the 21st century.

Kleinschmidt’s remote sensing team has the capability to incorporate data from a number of sensors, extract useful information, and deliver powerful insights with state-of-the-art software and analytical methods. Our remote sensing projects have saved our clients time and money as expensive, large team surveys are no longer required to assess the same area.

Successful data analysis projects are founded on robust data management solutions. Kleinschmidt’s data professionals design solutions to store, query and manage large data collections for science and engineering projects. In today’s world, data drives decisions. Kleinschmidt’s practices ensure annotated high-quality, bias-free, accessible data products. We view data management as fundamental to delivering quality products to our clients.

The effects of more frequent episodes of extreme weather, changes in water resource availability, and climate variability on infrastructure, municipalities, ecosystems, wildlife, fisheries and human well-being have become apparent, particularly over the past decade. We can no longer focus solely on the effects of projects on the environment—whether the project is the construction of an energy production facility or development of a habitat restoration enhancement— but we must consider the effects of a changing environment on developments, cities, structures, watersheds, and terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Our scientists, engineers, and planners can help you assess risks and potential vulnerabilities in your project in the context of climate change, identify and evaluate alternatives, and design sustainable solutions to maintain the efficiency and longevity of your project. We have the experience to develop adaptive plans and strategies to minimize risk in response to new challenges that arise as the environment around us continues to change.