New rainfall estimates to support infrastructure design
New Intensity–Frequency–Duration (IFD) design rainfall estimates have been released for use in flood estimation and water infrastructure design.
IFDs are part of a suite of inputs used by engineers to design water infrastructure such as gutters, culverts, roofs, stormwater drains, flood levees and retarding basins.
Bureau Director, Dr Andrew Johnson said the new estimates include observations from over 10,000 rainfall gauging stations, including 2,300 extra rainfall stations and nearly three decades of additional rainfall data.
‘We’ve also used statistical analysis techniques that weren’t available 30 years ago.
‘The new IFDs more accurately estimate rainfall intensity, frequency and duration in specific locations, which helps Australia to reduce the potential damaging impact of future floods,’ Dr Johnson said.
The 2016 IFDs are better estimates of the 2% and 1% annual exceedance probability IFDs than the interim 2013 IFDs, which they replace.
The 2016 IFDs should be used from now on, in conjunction with the 2016 edition of Australian Rainfall and Runoff: A Guide to Flood Estimation (ARR2016) released in November by Geoscience Australia.
Using 2016 IFDs and ARR2016 together will facilitate infrastructure design for improved flood preparedness and public safety. ARR2016 is available from Geoscience Australia.
Find out more and access the 2016 IFDs
Original article posted on Bureau of Meteorology website, December 2016 (Link)
