The Stormwater Testing Facility has completed a variety of research projects. This page highlights recently completed and ongoing projects.
Sediment basins are used to temporarily detain sediment - laden stormwater prior to leaving a construction site to facilitate sediment capture. Using lessons learned from construction site sediment basin studies, the stormwater lab operates two large - scale sediment basins that allow researchers to perform controlled tests to improve and evaluate the performance of various treatments and configurations employed within a sediment basin.
Large-Scale Performance Evaluation of Various Woven Silt Fence Installations under Nebraska Highway Conditions BG Roche, MA Perez, WN Donald, JB Whitman Water 16 (6), 877
2024
Efficacy of Undisturbed Vegetated Buffers in Capturing Suspended Sediment B Roche, MA Perez, WN Donald, JB Whitman Transportation Research Record 2677 (10), 180-190
2023
Improving the Design and Performance of Double-Row Sediment Barriers Used During Highway Construction JB Whitman Transportation Research Record, 1-12
2022
SILTspread: Performance-Based Approach for the Design and Installation of Silt Fence Sediment Barriers L Liu, MA Perez, JB Whitman, WN Donald, WC Zech Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 147 (10), 04021041
2021
Practical Silt Fence Design Enhancements for Effective Dewatering and Stability JB Whitman, MA Perez, WC Zech, WN Donald Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 147 (1), 04020039
2021
Full-Scale Performance Evaluations of Innovative and Manufactured Sediment Barrier Practices JB Whitman, WC Zech, WN Donald Transportation Research Record 2673 (8), 284-297
2019
Improvements in Small-Scale Standardized Testing of Geotextiles used in Silt Fence Applications JB Whitman, WC Zech, WN Donald Geotextiles and Geomembranes 47 (5), 598-609
2019
Full-Scale Performance Evaluations of Various Wire-Backed Nonwoven Silt Fence Installation Configurations JB Whitman, WC Zech, WN Donald, JJ LaMondia Transportation Research Record 2672 (39), 68-78
2018
Performance Evaluations of Three Silt Fence Practices Using a Full-Scale Testing Apparatus RA Bugg, W Donald, W Zech, M Perez Water 9 (7), 502
2017
Improvements in Standardized Testing for Evaluating Sediment Barrier Performance: Design of a Full-Scale Testing Apparatus RA Bugg, WN Donald, WC Zech, MA Perez Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 143 (8), 04017029
2017
Field Evaluation of Silt Fence Tieback Systems at a Highway Construction Site WC Zech, JS McDonald, TP Clement Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction 14 (3), 105-112
2009
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Various Types of Silt Fence Installations to Control Sediment Discharge from Highway Construction Sites WC Zech, JL Halverson, TP Clement ASCE Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 13 (6), 497-504
2008
Intermediate-Scale Experiments to Evaluate Silt Fence Designs to Control Sediment Discharge from Highway Construction Sites WC Zech, JL Halverson, TP Clement Journal of Hydrologic Engineering 13 (6), 497-504
2008
Development of Silt Fence Tieback Design Methodology for Highway Construction Installations WC Zech, JL Halverson, TP Clement Transportation Research Record 2011 (1), 21-28
2007
Flocculants facilitate the process of coagulation and flocculation of very fine suspended soil particles (i.e., clay and silt) when the removal rate of suspended sediment needs to be increased beyond the ability of simple gravitational sedimentation. Our researchers are evaluating best practices for the passive application of flocculants on construction sites to enhance the performance of traditional erosion and sediment control practices. Our researchers have also evaluated the use of advanced approaches, including lamella settlers and electrocoagulation, to enhance the performance of stormwater treatment technologies.
Optimum Dosage and Product Selection Guidance for Flocculant Usage in Construction Stormwater Treatment B Kazaz, MA Perez, WN Donald, X Fang, JN Shaw
2023
Assessment of Polyacrylamide Concentration in Construction Stormwater Runoff Using an ASTM D6459 Rainfall Simulator C Manning, M Perez, W Donald
2023
Detection of Residual Flocculant Concentrations in Construction Stormwater Runoff
2022
Development and Evaluation of Lamella Settlers Combined with Electrocoagulation for Treating Suspended Sediment
2022
State-of-the-Practice Review on the use of Flocculants for Construction Stormwater Management in the United States
2021
Evaluation of Lamella Settlers for Treating Suspended Sediment
2020
The stormwater lab has 13 rainfall simulators build on 3:1 and 4:1 slopes. The simulators are built on 40 ft x 8 ft plots consisting of clay, loam, and sand soils. Rainfall simulators are used to evaluate various erosion control practices that are used to protect slopes from rainfall - induced erosion.
Comparison of Erosion Control Products Using an ASTM D6459 Rainfall Simulator: Insights and Suggestions
2023
Soil Loss Risk Analysis for Construction Activities
2022
Evaluation of Hydromulches as an Erosion Control Measure Using Laboratory-Scale Experiments
2020
Design of a Pressurized Rainfall Simulator for Evaluating Performance of Erosion Control Practices MD Ricks, MA Horne, B Faulkner, WC Zech, X Fang, WN Donald, MA Perez
2019
Cost Effectiveness of Erosion Control Covers During Vegetation Establishment Under Simulated Rainfall
2015
Laboratory-Scale Evaluation of Anionic Polyacrylamide as an Erosion and Sediment Control Measure on Steep-Sloped Construction Sites
2012
Sediment barriers are used to treat sheet flow runoff by removing sediment primarily through sedimentation and, to a lesser degree filtration. The stormwater lab has the capability of evaluating sediment barriers at full scale using a 20 ft wide test apparatus.
Large-Scale Performance Evaluation of Various Woven Silt Fence Installations under Nebraska Highway Conditions BG Roche, MA Perez, WN Donald, JB Whitman
2024
Efficacy of Undisturbed Vegetated Buffers in Capturing Suspended Sediment B Roche, MA Perez, WN Donald, JB Whitman
2023
Improving the Design and Performance of Double-Row Sediment Barriers Used During Highway Construction JB Whitman
2022
SILTspread: Performance-Based Approach for the Design and Installation of Silt Fence Sediment Barriers L Liu, MA Perez, JB Whitman, WN Donald, WC Zech
2021
Practical Silt Fence Design Enhancements for Effective Dewatering and Stability
2021
Full-Scale Performance Evaluations of Innovative and Manufactured Sediment Barrier Practices JB Whitman, WC Zech, WN Donald
2019
Improvements in Small-Scale Standardized Testing of Geotextiles used in Silt Fence Applications JB Whitman, WC Zech, WN Donald
2019
Full-Scale Performance Evaluations of Various Wire-Backed Nonwoven Silt Fence Installation Configurations JB Whitman, WC Zech, WN Donald, JJ LaMondia
2018
Performance Evaluations of Three Silt Fence Practices Using a Full-Scale Testing Apparatus
2017
Improvements in Standardized Testing for Evaluating Sediment Barrier Performance: Design of a Full-Scale Testing Apparatus
2017
Field Evaluation of Silt Fence Tieback Systems at a Highway Construction Site
2009
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Various Types of Silt Fence Installations to Control Sediment Discharge from Highway Construction Sites WC Zech, JL Halverson, TP Clement
2008
Intermediate-Scale Experiments to Evaluate Silt Fence Designs to Control Sediment Discharge from Highway Construction Sites WC Zech, JL Halverson, TP Clement
2008
Development of Silt Fence Tieback Design Methodology for Highway Construction Installations WC Zech, JL Halverson, TP Clement
2007
Storm drain inlet protection practices minimize sediment transport by temporarily impounding runoff before entering storm drain inlets, allowing suspended sediment to settle. The Stormwater Lab has two full - scale apparatuses to evaluate inlet protection practices for highway median applications and for curb and gutter applications. Evaluations have been performed to gain insight to the performance, durability, and maintenance needs of inlet protection practices. Evaluations included enhancement of installation methods for commonly employed practices. Test parameters were designed to mimic expected field conditions, allowing researchers to improve the installation of current practices and evaluate performance.
Evaluating Sediment Removal Efficiency of Catch Basin Inserts as a Post-Construction Water Quality Tool on Roadways
2024
Design and Construction of Full-Scale Testing Apparatus for Evaluating Performance of Catch Basin Inserts DL Basham, WC Zech, WN Donald, MA Perez
2019
Installation Enhancements to Common Inlet Protection Practices Using Large-Scale Testing Techniques MA Perez, WC Zech, WN Donald, X Fang
2015
Methodology for Evaluating Inlet Protection Practices Using Large-Scale Testing Techniques MA Perez, WC Zech, WN Donald, X Fang
2015
Check dams are used throughout highway construction to facilitate ponding and reduce velocity within channels to minimize erosion. Proper installation is required for these practices to perform as intended. Research studies have been conducted to evaluat e the performance of various practices and to optimize installation methods to enhance performance.
Hydraulic Evaluation of Wattle Encasement Materials JE Clampitt, MA Perez, J Blake Whitman, WN Donald, JJ LaMondia
2023
Hydraulic Performance Evaluation of Wattles used for Erosion and Sediment Control JB Whitman, JC Schussler, MA Perez, L Liu
2021
Field Evaluation of Wattle and Silt Fence Ditch Checks JC Schussler, B Kazaz, MA Perez, J Blake Whitman, B Cetin
2021
Hydraulic Method to Evaluate the Performance of Ditch Check Practices and Products WN Donald, WC Zech, X Fang, MA Perez
2016
Evaluation and Modification of Wire-Backed Nonwoven Geotextile Silt Fence for use as a Ditch Check WN Donald, WC Zech, MA Perez, X Fang
2016
Comparative Evaluation of Wattle Ditch Checks Composed of Differing Materials and Properties WN Donald, WC Zech, X Fang
2015
Ditch Check Installation Evaluations of Wheat Straw Wattles Used for Velocity Reduction WN Donald, WC Zech, X Fang, JJ LaMondia
2013
Evaluation of Wheat Straw Wattles for Velocity Reduction in Ditch Check Installations WN Donald, WC Zech, X Fang, JJ LaMondia
2013
Unmanned aerial vehicles are remote sensing tools capable of acquiring high resolution spatial and sensing data that can assist in site inspections of stormwater practices on construction sites. Our researchers have performed studies on active construction sites using commercially available UAVs to assess applications and capabilities of enhancing the site inspection and construction monitoring proc esses.
Exploring the Integration of Unmanned Aerial System Technologies into Stormwater Control Inspection Programs
2023
Deep Learning-Based Object Detection for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs)-Based Inspections of Construction Stormwater Practices B Kazaz, S Poddar, S Arabi, MA Perez, A Sharma, JB Whitman
2021
Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Conduct Site Inspections of Erosion and Sediment Control Practices and Track Project Progression MA Perez, WC Zech, WN Donald
2015
Decade of Research in Review at the Auburn University Stormwater Research Facility
2022
Transferring Innovative Erosion and Sediment Control Research Results Into Industry Practice MA Perez, WC Zech, WN Donald, R Turochy, BG Fagan
2019
Design Methodology for the Selection of Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control Practices Based on Regional Hydrological Conditions
2016
