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Dr. Virginia Smith
Villanova University

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0 Flood
0 Geomorphology
0 Sediment
0 Urban Hydrology
0 fluvial geomorphology

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Journal article
Published: 11 June 2021 in Applied Geography
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Much of the research regarding traffic crashes considers various geometric roadway features; however, ever-evolving urban watersheds and climate change increasingly impact roadway conditions. Little research has focused on the relationship between high-resolution drainage characteristics and the spatial distribution of crashes. This study incorporated local environmental and drainage risk factors in assessing network safety performance using spatial analysis techniques. Kernel density surfaces and the Local Getis Ord Gi* statistics were used to identify and visualize locations prone to experiencing crashes during wet conditions. Spatial regression modelling was used to link crashes to environmental and traffic risk factors across a citywide network. Proof-of-concept for this framework is demonstrated in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania using publicly available spatial data. The results of this study show a relationship between local drainage, environmental characteristics, and wet crash distribution, providing novel insight into roadway safety during wet conditions.

ACS Style

Michael Crimmins; Seri Park; Virginia Smith; Peleg Kremer. A spatial assessment of high-resolution drainage characteristics and roadway safety during wet conditions. Applied Geography 2021, 133, 102477 .

AMA Style

Michael Crimmins, Seri Park, Virginia Smith, Peleg Kremer. A spatial assessment of high-resolution drainage characteristics and roadway safety during wet conditions. Applied Geography. 2021; 133 ():102477.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Michael Crimmins; Seri Park; Virginia Smith; Peleg Kremer. 2021. "A spatial assessment of high-resolution drainage characteristics and roadway safety during wet conditions." Applied Geography 133, no. : 102477.

Journal article
Published: 01 May 2021 in Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment
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Forum papers are thought-provoking opinion pieces or essays founded in fact, sometimes containing speculation, on a civil engineering topic of general interest and relevance to the readership of the journal. The views expressed in this Forum article do not necessarily reflect the views of ASCE or the Editorial Board of the journal.

ACS Style

Bridget Wadzuk; Bridget Gile; Virginia Smith; Ali Ebrahimian; Robert Traver. Call for a Dynamic Approach to GSI Maintenance. Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment 2021, 7, 02521001 .

AMA Style

Bridget Wadzuk, Bridget Gile, Virginia Smith, Ali Ebrahimian, Robert Traver. Call for a Dynamic Approach to GSI Maintenance. Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment. 2021; 7 (2):02521001.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bridget Wadzuk; Bridget Gile; Virginia Smith; Ali Ebrahimian; Robert Traver. 2021. "Call for a Dynamic Approach to GSI Maintenance." Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment 7, no. 2: 02521001.

Journal article
Published: 03 August 2020 in Sustainability
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Mitigating the effects of natural hazards through infrastructure planning requires integration of diverse types of information from a range of fields, including engineering, geography, social science, and geology. Challenges in data availability and previously siloed data have hindered the ability to obtain the information necessary to support decision making for disaster risk management. This is particularly challenging for areas susceptible to multiple types of natural hazards, especially in low-income communities that lack the resources for data collection. The data revolution is altering this landscape, due to the increased availability of remotely sensed data and global data repositories. This work seeks to leverage these advancements to develop a framework using open global datasets for identifying optimal locations for disaster relief shelters. The goal of this study is to empower low-income regions and make resilience more equitable by providing a multi-hazard shelter planning framework that is accessible to all decision-makers. The tool described integrates spatial multi-criteria decision analysis methods with a network analysis procedure to inform decisions regarding disaster shelter planning and siting.

ACS Style

Sarah Godschall; Virginia Smith; Jonathan Hubler; Peleg Kremer. A Decision Process for Optimizing Multi-Hazard Shelter Location Using Global Data. Sustainability 2020, 12, 6252 .

AMA Style

Sarah Godschall, Virginia Smith, Jonathan Hubler, Peleg Kremer. A Decision Process for Optimizing Multi-Hazard Shelter Location Using Global Data. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (15):6252.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sarah Godschall; Virginia Smith; Jonathan Hubler; Peleg Kremer. 2020. "A Decision Process for Optimizing Multi-Hazard Shelter Location Using Global Data." Sustainability 12, no. 15: 6252.

Journal article
Published: 20 March 2020 in Water
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Urbanization typically results in increased imperviousness which alters suspended sediment yield and impacts geomorphic and ecological processes within urban streams. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in the ability to predict suspended sediment yield. This study assesses the combined impact of urban development and increased precipitation on suspended sediment yield in the Cuyahoga River using statistical modeling. Historical satellite-based land-cover data was combined with precipitation and suspended sediment yield data to create a Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) model for the Cuyahoga watershed. An R2 value of 0.71 was obtained for the comparison between the observed and predicted results based on limited land-use and land-cover data. The model also shows that every 1 mm increase in the mean annual precipitation has the potential to increase the mean annual suspended sediment yield by 860 tons/day. Further, a 1 km2 increase in developed land area has the potential to increase mean annual suspended sediment yield by 0.9 tons/day. The framework proposed in this study provides decision makers with a measure for assessing the potential impacts of future development and climate alteration on water quality in the watershed and implications for stream stability, dam and flood management, and in-stream and near-stream infrastructure life.

ACS Style

Richard Ampomah; Hossein Hosseiny; Lan Zhang; Virginia Smith; Kristin Sample-Lord. A Regression-Based Prediction Model of Suspended Sediment Yield in the Cuyahoga River in Ohio Using Historical Satellite Images and Precipitation Data. Water 2020, 12, 881 .

AMA Style

Richard Ampomah, Hossein Hosseiny, Lan Zhang, Virginia Smith, Kristin Sample-Lord. A Regression-Based Prediction Model of Suspended Sediment Yield in the Cuyahoga River in Ohio Using Historical Satellite Images and Precipitation Data. Water. 2020; 12 (3):881.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Richard Ampomah; Hossein Hosseiny; Lan Zhang; Virginia Smith; Kristin Sample-Lord. 2020. "A Regression-Based Prediction Model of Suspended Sediment Yield in the Cuyahoga River in Ohio Using Historical Satellite Images and Precipitation Data." Water 12, no. 3: 881.

Journal article
Published: 01 March 2020 in Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
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Education provides the foundation for a future generation to advance the field of hydraulic engineering. This paper discussed lessons learned and techniques for educating students and new civil engineers in the field of hydraulic engineering from both academic and industry perspectives. Instances from the last 5 years were presented in which applied hydraulic engineering and research were used for education, in the classroom (lectures, experiments, and projects) and in industry (analyses, studies, design, and construction). This paper highlighted several methods that teach hydraulic design via anticipatory learning, collaborative innovation, and real-world connectivity between the classroom, workplace, and hydraulic infrastructure systems. Additionally, this paper discussed observed challenges facing the current generation of young engineers in ever-evolving classrooms and workplaces. The goals of the paper were to foster discussion regarding innovative teaching activities that deepen understanding and application, foster creativity, and strengthen the bridge between academia and industry such that education is viewed as a mutually beneficial, ongoing process.

ACS Style

B. M. Crookston; V. B. Smith; A. Welker; D. B. Campbell. Teaching Hydraulic Design: Innovative Learning in the Classroom and the Workplace. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 2020, 146, 04020006 .

AMA Style

B. M. Crookston, V. B. Smith, A. Welker, D. B. Campbell. Teaching Hydraulic Design: Innovative Learning in the Classroom and the Workplace. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering. 2020; 146 (3):04020006.

Chicago/Turabian Style

B. M. Crookston; V. B. Smith; A. Welker; D. B. Campbell. 2020. "Teaching Hydraulic Design: Innovative Learning in the Classroom and the Workplace." Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 146, no. 3: 04020006.

Journal article
Published: 28 January 2020 in Water
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This research presents a fully automated framework for runoff estimation, applied to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a major urban area. Trends in global urbanization are exacerbating stormwater runoff, making it an increasingly critical challenge in urban areas. Understanding the fine-scale spatial distribution of local flooding is difficult due to the complexity of the urban landscape and lack of measured data, but it is critical for urban management and development. A one-meter resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used in conjunction with a model developed by using ArcGIS Pro software to create urban micro-subbasins. The DEM was manipulated to account for roof drainage and stormwater infrastructure, such as inlets. The generated micro-subbasins paired with 24-h storm data with a 10-year return period taken from the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the Philadelphia area was used to estimate runoff. One-meter land-cover and land-use data were used to estimate pervious and impervious areas and the runoff coefficients for each subbasin. Peak runoff discharge and runoff depth for each subbasin were then estimated by the rational and modified rational methods and the NRCS method. The inundation depths from the NRCS method and the modified rational method models were compared and used to generate percent agreement, maximum, and average of inundation maps of Philadelphia. The outcome of this research provides a clear picture of the spatial likelihood of experiencing negative effects of excessive precipitation, useful for stormwater management agencies, city managers, and citizen.

ACS Style

Hossein Hosseiny; Michael Crimmins; Virginia B. Smith; Peleg Kremer. A Generalized Automated Framework for Urban Runoff Modeling and Its Application at a Citywide Landscape. Water 2020, 12, 357 .

AMA Style

Hossein Hosseiny, Michael Crimmins, Virginia B. Smith, Peleg Kremer. A Generalized Automated Framework for Urban Runoff Modeling and Its Application at a Citywide Landscape. Water. 2020; 12 (2):357.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hossein Hosseiny; Michael Crimmins; Virginia B. Smith; Peleg Kremer. 2020. "A Generalized Automated Framework for Urban Runoff Modeling and Its Application at a Citywide Landscape." Water 12, no. 2: 357.

Research article
Published: 29 October 2019 in Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
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In this paper we use multiple field surveys spanning several decades to systematically evaluate the geomorphic consequences of a change in flow hydraulics from uniform flow to backwater flow for the Lower Trinity River in east TX, USA. Spatial changes in lateral migration rate, channel geometry, and point bar size correspond with two distinct geomorphic zones. Within the upstream uniform flow reach, the river channel is defined by fully developed point bars and a high rate of lateral channel migration. This zone transitions where the median channel bottom elevation drops below sea level. At this point flow is affected by the backwater influence of the Trinity Bay water surface elevation, as opposed to being bed slope control dominated. The change in hydraulics within the backwater zone is reflected in the channel morphology; which is characterized by smaller point bars, narrower and more symmetrical cross‐sectional channel geometry, lower channel migration rates, and little to no bend deformation or cutoffs. Studying the connection between channel geometry, river bend kinematics, sediment transport, and fluid mechanics in each zone provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between channel shape and river mechanics.

ACS Style

Virginia Smith; Jasmine Mason; David Mohrig. Reach‐scale changes in channel geometry and dynamics due to the coastal backwater effect: the lower Trinity River, Texas. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 2019, 45, 565 -573.

AMA Style

Virginia Smith, Jasmine Mason, David Mohrig. Reach‐scale changes in channel geometry and dynamics due to the coastal backwater effect: the lower Trinity River, Texas. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 2019; 45 (3):565-573.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Virginia Smith; Jasmine Mason; David Mohrig. 2019. "Reach‐scale changes in channel geometry and dynamics due to the coastal backwater effect: the lower Trinity River, Texas." Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 45, no. 3: 565-573.

Journal article
Published: 23 October 2019 in Water
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Predicting morphological alterations in backwater zones has substantial merit as it potentially influences the life of millions of people by the change in flood dynamics and land topography. While there is no two-dimensional river model available for predicting morphological alterations in backwater zones, there is an absolute need for such models. This study presents an integrated iterative two-dimensional fluvial morphological model to quantify spatio-temporal fluvial morphological alterations in normal flow to backwater conditions. The integrated model works through the following steps iteratively to derive geomorphic change: (1) iRIC model is used to generate a 2D normal water surface; (2) a 1D water surface is developed for the backwater; (3) the normal and backwater surfaces are integrated; (4) an analytical 2D model is established to estimate shear stresses and morphological alterations in the normal, transitional, and backwater zones. The integrated model generates a new digital elevation model based on the estimated erosion and deposition. The resultant topography then serves as the starting point for the next iteration of flow, ultimately modeling geomorphic changes through time. This model was tested on Darby Creek in Metro-Philadelphia, one of the most flood-prone urban areas in the US and the largest freshwater marsh in Pennsylvania.

ACS Style

Hossein Hosseiny; Virginia Smith. Two Dimensional Model for Backwater Geomorphology: Darby Creek, PA. Water 2019, 11, 2204 .

AMA Style

Hossein Hosseiny, Virginia Smith. Two Dimensional Model for Backwater Geomorphology: Darby Creek, PA. Water. 2019; 11 (11):2204.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hossein Hosseiny; Virginia Smith. 2019. "Two Dimensional Model for Backwater Geomorphology: Darby Creek, PA." Water 11, no. 11: 2204.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2018 in Journal of Infrastructure Systems
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This study applies spatial analysis to investigate the relationship between crashes, wet road conditions, and physical roadway variables. Wet roadway and flood risk factors are not included in the data-driven systemic safety analysis approach currently used by the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Safety. The presented methodology identifies variables that influence crash frequency under wet road conditions by examining spatial correlations between crash data and factors expected to influence roadway drainage patterns. Predicted variables were examined of the geographical information system software ArcMap, such as surface slope, urban influence, and stream influence (relative location within the floodplain). Analysis results revealed a statistical relationship between the predicted variables and the crash severity level. Specifically, urban influence was identified as the most influential factor (37% correlation) followed by stream influence (10% correlation). This information reveals correlations between variables in the physical environment, which may eventually be used to identify areas of high crash risk in existing roadway infrastructure and thus improve the ability for practitioners to develop proactive safety measures.

ACS Style

Seri Park; Virginia Smith; Thomas Saldutti; Nicholas Zoccoli. Exploring Spatial Relationship between Roadway Safety and Wet Condition Risk Factors Based on Systemic Safety Analysis Approach. Journal of Infrastructure Systems 2018, 24, 04018025 .

AMA Style

Seri Park, Virginia Smith, Thomas Saldutti, Nicholas Zoccoli. Exploring Spatial Relationship between Roadway Safety and Wet Condition Risk Factors Based on Systemic Safety Analysis Approach. Journal of Infrastructure Systems. 2018; 24 (4):04018025.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Seri Park; Virginia Smith; Thomas Saldutti; Nicholas Zoccoli. 2018. "Exploring Spatial Relationship between Roadway Safety and Wet Condition Risk Factors Based on Systemic Safety Analysis Approach." Journal of Infrastructure Systems 24, no. 4: 04018025.

Proceedings article
Published: 01 January 2016 in GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA - 2016
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ACS Style

Virginia Smith; David Mohrig; Jasmine Mason. QUANTIFYING AND DESCRIBING CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY OF THE COASTAL BACKWATER: THE LOWER TRINITY RIVER, TEXAS, USA. GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA - 2016 2016, 1 .

AMA Style

Virginia Smith, David Mohrig, Jasmine Mason. QUANTIFYING AND DESCRIBING CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY OF THE COASTAL BACKWATER: THE LOWER TRINITY RIVER, TEXAS, USA. GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA - 2016. 2016; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Virginia Smith; David Mohrig; Jasmine Mason. 2016. "QUANTIFYING AND DESCRIBING CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY OF THE COASTAL BACKWATER: THE LOWER TRINITY RIVER, TEXAS, USA." GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA - 2016 , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 28 January 2015 in Earth Surface Processes and Landforms
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As with most dune fields, the White Sands Dune Field in New Mexico forms in a wind regime that is not unimodal. In this study, crescentic dune shape change (deformation) with migration at White Sands was explored in a time series of five LiDAR‐derived digital elevation models (DEMs) and compared to a record of wind direction and speed during the same period. For the study period of June 2007 to June 2010, 244 sand‐transporting wind events occurred and define a dominant wind mode from the SW and lesser modes from the NNW and SSE. Based upon difference maps and tracing of dune brinklines, overall dune behavior consists of crest‐normal migration to the NE, but also along‐crest migration of dune sinuosity and stoss superimposed dunes to the SE. The SW winds are transverse to dune orientations and cause most forward migration. The NNW winds cause along‐crest migration of dune sinuosity and stoss bedforms, as well as SE migration of NE‐trending dune terminations. The SSE winds cause ephemeral dune deformation, especially crestal slipface reversals. The dunes deform with migration because of differences in dune‐segment size, and differences in the lee‐face deposition rate as a function of the incidence angle between the wind direction and the local brinkline orientation. Each wind event deforms dune shape, this new shape then serves as the boundary condition for the next wind event. Shared incidence‐angle control on dune deformation and lee‐face stratification types allows for an idealized model for White Sands dunes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

ACS Style

Anine Pedersen; Gary Kocurek; David Mohrig; Virginia Smith. Dune deformation in a multi-directional wind regime: White Sands Dune Field, New Mexico. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 2015, 40, 925 -941.

AMA Style

Anine Pedersen, Gary Kocurek, David Mohrig, Virginia Smith. Dune deformation in a multi-directional wind regime: White Sands Dune Field, New Mexico. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 2015; 40 (7):925-941.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Anine Pedersen; Gary Kocurek; David Mohrig; Virginia Smith. 2015. "Dune deformation in a multi-directional wind regime: White Sands Dune Field, New Mexico." Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 40, no. 7: 925-941.