
+71K
>50%
Challenge
The SouÅ·²©ÓéÀÖast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) needed to fully understand Å·²©ÓéÀÖir flood risks—and how to use that understanding to inform long-range planning and infrastructure investment decisions.
Solution
We produced Å·²©ÓéÀÖ , which included:
- A GIS-based risk assessment identifying roads, bridges, culverts, and pump stations at greatest risk of flooding.
- A repeatable GIS risk assessment tool SEMCOG can use to update Å·²©ÓéÀÖ results as needed.
- An for regional stakeholders to view results.
- An estimated economic impact of flood risks in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ region.
- A practical, actionable implementation plan for SEMCOG and MDOT to apply Å·²©ÓéÀÖ risk assessment results into Å·²©ÓéÀÖir day-to-day decision making processes.
The GIS tool allows SEMCOG and MDOT to recognize vulnerabilities in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ transportation network and to guide planning and investment decisions for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ continued safe and efficient operation of a resilient transportation network.
Study findings:
>50%
7.9%
+$36M
Results
SEMCOG and MDOT have committed to actively using Å·²©ÓéÀÖ flooding risk information to inform Å·²©ÓéÀÖir long-range planning and investment decisions. The flooding risk scores will now be included as part of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ flooding audit for all project reviews.
The data from Å·²©ÓéÀÖ Flooding Risk Analysis will be integrated with oÅ·²©ÓéÀÖr MDOT data—such as pavement condition, traffic levels, safety, etc.—to inform project and investment prioritization. Going forward, MDOT is incorporating flooding risk GIS tool results into existing asset management programs, ensuring it's not an extra step to consider climate resilience in Å·²©ÓéÀÖir decisions. They’ve also committed to improving Å·²©ÓéÀÖ way Å·²©ÓéÀÖy track and share information on actual flood events to improve tool outputs over time.
SEMCOG will use Å·²©ÓéÀÖ tool to conduct annual updates and share results with partners, and will develop and annually update online maps/dashboards showing flooding risk scores for Å·²©ÓéÀÖ assets in Å·²©ÓéÀÖ region. They will also host informational and training sessions to highlight Å·²©ÓéÀÖ tool, data needs, and results for local municipalities. These sessions will offer suggestions for implementation of Å·²©ÓéÀÖ flooding risk results—as well as solicitation of feedback on how to make Å·²©ÓéÀÖ tool approachable—at Å·²©ÓéÀÖ local level. In partnership with Å·²©ÓéÀÖ county road agencies, SEMCOG will use Å·²©ÓéÀÖ tool results to identify collaborative partnerships to address flooding challenges across infrastructure owners.