Estimation of flood risk for linear transport infrastructure using continuous simulation modelling

Abstract

Linear transport infrastructure, such as highways and railway lines, represents a challenge for conventional flood estimation practice, where owners and users of this linear infrastructure are interested in understanding the frequency and duration in the closure of individual crossings as well as links and the entire route. This paper discusses a project commissioned by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) to complete a Hydrology / Hydraulics and Economics study for a 774 km length of the Flinders Highway between Townsville and Cloncurry. The approach used continuous simulation modelling and a decision support tool to estimate the times of closure and costs of these cl..