Environmental · Stormwater
Neighborhood Stormwater Runoff Study
Intermediate 3 weeks 20-30 hours
Estimate peak runoff for a real parking lot or campus with the Rational Method, then design green infrastructure to reduce it.
Major
Environmental
Focus area
Stormwater
Total hours
20-30 hours
What you'll need
- Software only - Excel, Google Earth Pro (free), NOAA Atlas 14 rainfall data (free)
Steps
- Pick a site like a parking lot, school campus, or shopping center.
- Measure areas by surface type in Google Earth Pro.
- Calculate a weighted runoff coefficient.
- Pull rainfall intensities for the 10-year and 100-year storms from NOAA Atlas 14 and calculate Q = CiA.
- Propose 2 or 3 green infrastructure changes and recalculate runoff.
- Document the before and after results for your portfolio.
What to photograph for your portfolio
- Site area outlines
- runoff calculation sheet
- before and after runoff chart
- green infrastructure sketch
Resume bullet starters
Copy one, then swap in your own numbers.
Calculated 10-year and 100-year peak runoff for a [X]-acre site using the Rational Method and NOAA Atlas 14 data
Proposed green infrastructure changes projected to reduce peak runoff by [X]%
Quantified results with [insert your result, such as removal percentage, accuracy, strength, or cost savings] and summarized findings in a technical report
Skills you'll show off
HydrologyRational Methodarea takeoffsspreadsheet engineeringgreen infrastructure