Base Level Engineering (BLE) is an automated riverine hydrologic and hydraulic modeling approach that builds on lessons learned to produce a base line understanding of a community’s flood risk.
Base Level Engineering (BLE) creates flood data through an automated process. It combines detailed ground elevation data with the flood hydrologic and hydraulic engineering models. Engineering models from a BLE analysis produce data that meet FEMA’s standards for flood risk analysis and mapping. BLE analyses can cost-effectively cover large areas (e.g., an entire county or a watershed). Base Level Engineering is an effective way to map areas that presently have no flood hazard maps or have only hard copy FIRMs that are very dated.
The results of the analyses—including flood elevations—help communities learn more about their floodprone areas. BLE data do not replace a community’s Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM). However, they can help communities identify previously unknown flood-prone areas. They can also provide flood elevations in Zones A and D. A FIRM does not show Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) in those zones.
This webinar will provide information on how BLE data are developed and how one FEMA region is providing access to BLE data. The webinar will also provide information on how the State of Kansas is developing statewide 2D BLE data, what they currently use it for, and how they plan to use it going forward. In addition, this webinar will highlight how some communities are adopting BLE in their local ordinances and using the data as regulatory data to make floodplain management decisions.
Presenters:
- Alan Lulloff, PE, CFM - ASFPM Flood Science Center
- Diane Howe, CFM - FEMA Region VI Risk MAP Lead
- Joanna Rohlf, GISP, CFM - Kansas Flood Mapping Coordinator
- Whit Monague, Engineer Supervisor DSFPM - Arkansas Natural Resource Commission
Agenda:
- Webinar Logistics - Kevin Currie, ASFPM
- Introduction - Alan Lulloff
- BLE data - what it is and how Region VI is providing access - Diane Howe
- Kansas BLE data development and uses - Joanna Rohlf
- Using BLE data as regulatory data for floodplain management - Whit Monague
- Questions/Discussion
Slides: Base Level Engineering
Recording: Base Level Engineering
Q & A: Base Level Engineering
Note: Viewing the recording of this webinar is not eligible for CECs.
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