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Assessment of Hybrid Infrastructure Systems under Multi-Flood Hazards in Coastal Georgia
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  • Félix Santiago-Collazo,
  • Matthew Chambers,
  • Daniel Buhr,
  • Haley Selsor,
  • Brian Bledsoe
Félix Santiago-Collazo
University of Georgia

Corresponding Author:fsantiago@uga.edu

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Matthew Chambers
University of Georgia
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Daniel Buhr
University of Georgia
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Haley Selsor
University of Georgia
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Brian Bledsoe
University of Georgia
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Abstract

Tropical coastal communities accommodate critical infrastructure, densely-populated urban regions, tourism-driven economies, and industrial facilities. These communities are prone to multiple flood hazards such as nuisance flooding, tropical cyclones, extreme rainfall events, and sea-level rise (SLR). Thus, governments and stakeholders Are pursuing a range of measures to enhance flood resiliency. These alternatives can be classified into structural (i.e., conventional infrastructure), non-structural, natural and nature-based features (NNBF), and hybrid systems. While there is a large body of published work on coastal risk reduction via conventional infrastructure and NNBF, there is a paucity of information on Hybrid Infrastructure Systems (HIS) in the literature, especially under multi-flood hazard scenarios. This research aims to assess various HIS under multiple flood hazards for flood reduction and wildlife and habitat benefits in the coastal community of Tybee Island (Georgia, US). This community is the most densely populated barrier island in Georgia and receives over 1 million visitors each year. The Interconnected Channel and Pond Routing (ICPR) hydrodynamic model was selected to simulate hydrologic (e.g., rainfall and infiltration) and coastal (e.g., tides, storm surge, and SLR) processes, and various combinations of HIS including several conventional infrastructures (e.g., stormwater drainage system, culverts, pump systems), inland (e.g., bioswales and pocket parks) and coastal (e.g., horizontal levees and retention ponds with smart tidal gates) NNBF. Results show that NNBF can prolong the service life of conventional infrastructure in a HIS by reducing flooding stress on these structures while promoting wildlife habitats and marsh conservation by increasing the hydraulic connectivity in the tidal river system. HIS alternatives were ranked using multi-criteria decision analysis. The local government, residents, and stakeholders will select their preferred alternative for detailed design. Local studies and modeling of multi-hazard flood processes can provide insight into the performance of HIS, thus providing the opportunity to policy-makers and government agencies to improve design standards and permitting procedures for HIS at a regional scale.