Analysis of FEMA Guidelines for Coastal Dunes Using a Numerical Model

Date of Award

Fall 2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Civil & Environmental Engineering

Program/Concentration

Civil Engineering

Committee Director

David R. Basco

Committee Member

Jaewan Yoon

Committee Member

Tal Ezer

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.E542 P39 2010

Abstract

FEMA's current guideline for coastal dune erosion is called the 540 Rule. The intent of the 540 Rule is to act as a boolean guideline for dune protection. If a dune is validated as being substantial against the 1 % Annual Chance Storm Water Elevation Level by the 540 Rule, then the area behind the dune is considered to be susceptible to less energetic flooding. This is known as an AE Flood Zone. An immediate effect of being rezoned is a significant drop in the insurance costs behind the dune. However, if the dune is not validated by the 540 Rule, then it is assumed that the dune is not substantial enough to protect the area behind the dune, and this area therefore is labeled as a VE Zone. Under a VE Zone, construct requirements are considerably stricter, and existing structures will have a significantly higher flood insurance rate than if they were zoned as AE.

The one dimensional cross-shore beach change model known as SBEACH was selected to test the 540 Rule. Five severe storms were modified to be the 1 % annual chance SWEL for two beach profiles provided by FEMA. The PFD of one beach profile is about 20% greater than 540 ft3 /ft, and the other profile is about 20% less than 540 ft3 /ft. The FEMA beach profiles were not detailed enough offshore and were modified using data from the nearby U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility.

The results of the simulation concluded that the five storms applied to the two beach profiles all performed within the definition of the 540 Rule. Of particular importance, the dune which the 540 Rule defines as an effective barrier against the 1 % Annual Chance Storm Water Elevation Level never eroded beyond the dune heel. Therefore, in this study, the 540 Rule is found to be an appropriate means of primary frontal dune evaluation.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/74fy-2482

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS