Author(s): Carmen E. Bernedo

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Design flow; Rainfall distribution; Rainfall patterns

Abstract: Recent activities in the design of hydraulic structures in developing countries, where lack of hydrologic information is common, have pointed out the challenges of safe and sound designs. The impact of using “common approaches” for design flow estimates can be SIGNIFICANT! Similar issues have been identified worldwide but results presented here will focus on one country used as a case study, Peru. Significant cost impacts can be expected if overestimations are made, but also significant safety issues are of concern if underestimations are obtained. Design flows are related to the rainfall duration and distribution. Unfortunately in remote sites, there is not enough data for characterization, which results in “typical” storm distributions (i.e. by NRCS) being used. Do these “typical” rainfall patterns (i.e. developed in the USA) resemble rainfall events in countries far from the USA? A case study showing a comparison of the typically rainfall patterns used with in-situ data is presented to illustrate the underestimation and/or overestimation that can be obtained.

DOI:

Year: 2011