Large flood waves resulting from the failure of dams and levees cause loss of life,
human suffering, and destruction of properties and ecosystems for hundreds of miles,
e.g., the Malpasset dam failure in France, Teton dam failure in the USA and the
levee breaches in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina. The breach formation,
propagation of flood waves and the erosion and deposition of bed material have been
investigated individually in the past because of lack of facilities or very specialized
individual expertise although these are strongly inter-dependent phenomena. The
proposed research on erosion, deposition, and transport of sediment including the
mobilization of the bed following levee or dam failure will be conducted in a unified
manner to provide a complete and accurate picture of resulting flood hazard and
the associated geomorphic impacts.
The educational plan includes the exchange of faculty members, graduate and undergraduate
students, internationalization of water resources curriculum, field visits, and
development of postgraduate courses. Each year 10 undergraduate and 5 graduate students,
one research professor, one post-doctoral fellow, and several American and European
researchers will participate in the project activities.
Two European institutions --- the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium (UCL),
and the Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon, Portugal (IST) have joined as partners
in this effort. Unique laboratory facilities, technical expertise and experience
of senior personnel, and the ability to provide quality educational, cultural and
social experiences of these prominent institutions will significantly contribute
to this project. University of Puerto Rico and South Carolina State University are
also involved as active partners.
The results of the proposed research will be useful in planning for emergencies
following dam or levee failure and the development of strategies for the mitigation
of adverse ecological and morphological impacts. Exchange visits and collaborative
research and educational activities will enhance the research capabilities of USC
while producing globally engaged professionals, approximately 10 doctoral and 50
undergraduate students, 2 postdoctoral fellows and several faculty members, especially
females and from underrepresented groups. Two senior and 2 junior participants are
from under-represented groups and will serve as role models.
