News & Updates

Research Highlights

Evaluation of Sediment Basin Performance using Large-Scale Testing Techniques

By Michael A. Perez, Wesley N. Donald, Xing Fang and Jaime Schussler

Published: April 2022

20-spr2-001
 
Most Feasible and Effective Installation (MFE-I) during sediment-laden flow introduction

 

This project evaluated the performance of standard and modified temporary sediment control basins through controlled, large-scale testing at the Auburn University - Stormwater Research Facility (AU-SRF). Modifications to the standard basin design included geotextile lining, upstream forebay, surface skimmer, porous flow baffles, and flocculant application. Performance was evaluated through measured sediment retention and turbidity reduction parameters.

Results and Recommendations

Results
Discharge turbidity, a measure of relative water clarity leaving the basin, was plotted against time in the figure below. Turbidity samples were recorded for the two hours following the first fill period to examine the performance of the basin immediately following a storm event. Samples were also recorded for the 48 hours following the second fill to evaluate the basin during extended dewatering. Sediment retention was quantified in the channel / forebay area when applicable, and bays 1-4. The sediment yield, or sediment discharged from the basin, is shown in gray in the figure below.

Discharge Turbidity for Basin Configurations

Discharge turbidity for basin configurations

Sediment Capture in Basin

Sediment Capture in Basin

 

Recommendations & Implementation

The following recommendations should be considered based on research findings:

  • Limit site disturbance and stabilize areas surrounding sediment basins;
  • Direct inflow to a defined and stabilized conveyance channel;
  • Adopt treatments included in the MFE-I as standard practice, with geotextile lining extending up to the ditch check practice upstream of the forebay;
  • Construct auxiliary spillways on undisturbed ground where feasible to minimize embankment erosion potential;
  • Apply flocculant on sites with fine-grained soils, or where less
    than 80% of suspended sediment is expected to settle;
  • Provide designers, contractors, and inspectors with training for adopted basin techniques.
    In addition to recommended design guidance, a spreadsheet-based tool was developed to aid in in-channel sediment basin implementation. The user can choose to input channel geometry, desired dewatering system and time, inflow hydrograph, site soil gradation, and expected water temperature in the basin environment. The tool outputs numerical tabulations and graphs related to basin stage, storage, discharge, particle settling, and suggested application of flocculant, and can be accessed at  https://aub.ie/stormwatertools

 

Final Report

Summary

 

 

/images/news/allan-david.jpg

David named associate dean for research

5/29/24 7:45 AM

Allan David has been named associate dean for research for Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, according to an announcement by Dean Mario Eden.

/images/newsroom/segun-osibodu-web.jpg

Civil and Environmental Engineering doctoral student receives fellowship from American Concrete Institute

4/23/24 11:30 AM

Segun Osibodu, doctoral student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been awarded a 2024-2025 Fellow for the American Concrete Institute.

/highway-research-center-3.jpg

Auburn's Highway Research Center makes Alabama’s transportation system better

3/21/24 9:30 AM

The HRC — part of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering — is leading the charge in Alabama and the United States to ensure industry professionals have the latest technologies and guidelines for designing, constructing and maintaining highways and bridges.

/andy-nowak-pci-2.jpg

Civil and Environmental Engineering Chair named 2024 PCI Fellow

2/21/24 2:30 PM

Andy Nowak, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Auburn University, was recently named a Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) 2024 Fellow.

/images/news/alabama-transportation-conference-3.jpg

Auburn hosts 67th annual Alabama Transportation Conference

2/20/24 9:00 AM

The two-day Alabama Transportation Conference (ATC) had a significant Auburn Family feel to it. Not only did the Auburn University Transportation Research Institute (AUTRI) host the conference, but Auburn faculty opened the conference, presided over the luncheons, gave presentations and closed the program.

/images/news/alabama-transportation-conference-pre.jpg

Auburn prepares to host 67th Annual Alabama Transportation Conference

1/29/24 12:00 PM

As a leader in transportation research and workforce development, Auburn University's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is once again at the forefront, with eight faculty members serving on the 67th Annual Alabama Transportation Conference (ATC) Program Committee. The ATC Program Committee is chaired by Anton Schindler, the Mountain Spirit Professor of Civil and Environmental engineering and director of the Auburn University Highway Research Center.

/images/_wide/1280-Template---News-Headshot---ACI-Award-Group.jpg

CEE graduate, faculty recognized for structural engineering excellence

11/14/23 11:00 AM

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) Board of Direction recently presented the Mete A. Sozen Award for Excellence in Structural Research to Andy Nowak, chair of Auburn University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Robert W. Barnes, professor in civil and environmental engineering and Victor Aguilar Vidal, an assistant professor in civil engineering at the Universidad de Concepción in Concepción, Chile who earned a master’s degree in civil engineering from Auburn in 2018 and a doctorate in civil engineering in 2020.

/images/news/eden-mario.jpg

Auburn University appoints Mario Eden as its new dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

4/14/23 2:00 PM

Following a national search, Mario Eden, the Joe T. and Billie Carole McMillan Professor and chair of Auburn University’s Department of Chemical Engineering, has been named as the 14th dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, according to an announcement by Interim Provost Vini Nathan.

/images/_wide/forjer.png

Auburn hosts 66th annual Alabama Transportation Conference

2/16/23 12:00 PM

On Feb. 6, approximately a thousand federal and state highway personnel, road building contractors, general contractors, heavy construction contractors, utility contractors, county engineers, consulting engineers, construction material vendors, researchers, professional society representatives and university faculty members converged on Montgomery to share advances in transportation planning, design, construction, operations and maintenance, same as they have for the past 66 years.

/images/_wide/cropped-32.jpg

Auburn University Transportation Research Institute shines at 2023 TRB Meeting

2/9/23 4:14 PM

Auburn University's leading and broad transportation research, education and technology transfer portfolio was once again front and center at the 102 annual Transportation Research Board (TRB) conference held Jan. 8-12 in Washington, D.C.

/images/_wide/lamondia-team.jpg

AUTRI wins national CUTC 2022 Technology Transfer Leadership Award

1/30/23 12:00 PM

The Auburn University Transportation Research Institute (AUTRI) was awarded the Council of University Transportation Center‘s (CUTC) 2022 Technology Transfer Leadership Award at the CUTC Annual Awards Banquet held Jan. 6 in Washington D.C. in conjunction with the 102nd Annual Transportation Research Board (TRB) Meeting. On hand to accept the award were associate civil and environmental engineering professor Jeffrey LaMondia and AUTRI Director Laurence Rilett.

/images/news/david-allan.jpg

David named acting associate dean for research

6/1/22 11:45 AM

Allan David has been named as the Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering’s acting associate dean for research.

/images/_wide/ben-bowers.jpg

Civil and environmental engineering professor joins NAPA carbon emissions task force

2/21/22 12:00 PM

Civil engineering assistant professor Benjamin Bowers is one of just three academics invited to join a one-year-old National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) taskforce aimed at achieving zero net carbon emissions by 2050. 

/images/_wide/kay-ivey-and-larry-rilett.jpg

Auburn hosts 65th annual Alabama Transportation Conference

2/17/22 3:00 PM

"Very few states have a transportation conference this comprehensive and impactful. That Auburn University has been able to successfully host this for so long speaks to the leading role we have established in transportation research and outreach." 

/images/_wide/trb.jpg

Auburn Engineering transportation expertise on full display at 2022 TRB conference

1/7/22 12:00 PM

The national influence of Auburn's new Transportation Research Institute (AUTRI) will be on full display next week in front of thousands of transportation professionals.  

/images/_wide/will-bryan-autonomous.jpg

Auburn autonomous racing team to compete at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

1/5/22 11:00 AM

Nineteen universities from around the world, including Auburn, will compete as nine race teams in the second installment of the Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC ) Friday, Jan. 7, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Held in conjunction with the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the event will be the first high-speed, head-to-head autonomous racecar competition in history.

/images/news/indy_car_preview.jpg

Auburn Engineering to compete in ground-breaking Indy Autonomous Challenge

10/22/21 8:09 AM

Auburn's Autonomous Tiger Racing team is gearing up to compete in the ground-breaking Indy Autonomous Challenge on Saturday.

/images/_wide/resilience.jpg

NOAA awards Auburn team $1.5M to research resilient transportation infrastructure

9/16/21 12:00 AM

As part of its highly competitive Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has selected an interdisciplinary team of Auburn University researchers to lead a $1.539M project to address increasingly critical needs necessary for resilient infrastructure.

/images/_wide/atr-team.jpg

Auburn autonomous racing team makes history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway

9/7/21 3:00 PM

Last month, Auburn Engineering’s world-renowned autonomous vehicle research program literally lapped the competition — and made history in the process.

/images/_wide/larry-rilett.jpg

#GINNing Podcast: The expert behind the wheel at AUTRI

8/6/21 2:00 PM

Larry Rilett, director of the newly established Auburn University Transportation Research Institute (AUTRI), discusses what drew him to the job on the latest episode of the award-winning #GINNing Podcast

/images/_wide/asel-dedication.jpg

Auburn dedicates $22 million state-of-the-art Advanced Structural Engineering Laboratory

6/11/21 5:00 PM

Auburn University dedicated the new standard for structural engineering research laboratories today.

/images/_wide/laurence-rilett-nebraska-award.jpg

Incoming Auburn transportation director honored by University of Nebraska-Lincoln

3/30/21 3:06 PM

Laurence Rilett, the incoming director of the Auburn University Transportation Research Institute, has earned one of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s highest faculty honors, the Innovation, Development and Engagement Award. Rilett joins Auburn later this year as the inaugural director of the Transportation Research Institute .

/images/_wide/transportation-conference.jpg

Auburn goes virtual with 64th annual Alabama Transportation Conference

2/23/21 12:00 AM

Despite its virtual format, organizers say the 64th Alabama Transportation Conference held Feb. 9-11 was as successful as any in recent memory.

/images/news/rilett.jpg

Auburn University taps Rilett to lead Transportation Research Institute

2/22/21 6:00 AM

Laurence Rilett, one of the nation's foremost transportation thought leaders, has been tapped to lead Auburn University's newly established Transportation Research Institute.

/images/_wide/eng_-_tri_1280.jpg

Auburn University establishes Transportation Research Institute

2/17/21 2:20 PM

As the Southeast’s leader in transportation research and education, Auburn University is taking another step forward with the announcement of the formation of the Auburn University Transportation Research Institute.

/news/2021/schindlerasce-1.jpg

Civil and Environmental engineering professor to receive ACI leadership award

2/16/21 12:00 AM

Anton Schindler, Mountain Spirit Professor of structural engineering and Highway Research Center director, has been awarded the 2021 American Concrete Institute (ACI) Delmar L. Bloem Distinguished Service Award for outstanding leadership performed by Schindler to ACI’s Technical Committee 237. 

/images/_wide/sdite-lamondia-zhou-xu-xue.jpg

Auburn civil engineering researchers awarded best paper for third consecutive year

9/30/20 10:49 AM

A team of Auburn University civil engineering researchers were recently awarded first place in the 2020 Southern District Institute of Transportation Engineers (SDITE) Best Member Technical Paper competition for their paper, “Impact of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles on Highway Trust Fund in Alabama,” which is now published in the Transportation Research Record.

/images/news/covid19only.jpg

Auburn's combined commencement ceremonies postponed indefinitely

7/27/20 4:13 PM

In the absence of planned ceremonies, Auburn is still prepared to welcome and celebrate graduates and guests who have already planned to travel to Auburn for the Aug. 8 weekend.

/images/news/civilroadlandslide.jpg

Auburn civil engineering team assists ALDOT with U.S. 231 landslide

2/18/20 2:25 PM

A team of Auburn University civil engineering graduate students and researchers is gaining real-world, hands-on experience that will benefit a community south of Huntsville after a landslide closed a section of U.S. 231 on top of Brindlee Mountain.

/images/news/altransportationconferencegraphic.jpg

Auburn Engineering leads 63rd Annual Alabama Transportation Conference

2/4/20 10:55 AM

As an institutional leader of transportation research and workforce development, Auburn University’s Department of Civil Engineering has taken the lead to organize and develop the 63rd Annual Alabama Transportation Conference. The conference, which takes place Feb. 11-12 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center, will welcome nearly 1,000 federal and state highway personnel, road building contractors, general contractors, heavy construction contractors, utility contractors, county engineers, consulting engineers, construction material vendors, researchers, professional society representatives and university faculty members.

/images/news/schindlerasce.jpg

Civil engineering professor named ASCE fellow

11/13/19 4:25 PM

A faculty member in the Department of Civil Engineering was recently named a fellow by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Board of Direction.

/images/news/acascholars.jpg

Civil engineering students sweep ACIA scholarships

9/20/19 9:00 AM

Three students in the Department of Civil Engineering were recently awarded scholarships from the Alabama Concrete Industries Association.

/images/news/wrongwaygrant.jpg

Civil engineering professors awarded grant to study wrong-way driving

7/9/19 11:00 AM

Each year, nearly 400 people are killed as a result of wrong-way driving on freeways, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration. That’s why a pair of Auburn University professors in the Department of Civil Engineering have been awarded a grant to study wrong-way driving solutions.

/images/news/David-Roueche-.png

Civil engineering professor talks tornado safeguards on NPR

3/11/19 8:30 AM

Auburn University engineering professor David Roueche tells NPR's Michel Martin simple fixes could help reduce the loss of life when tornadoes, like the one that struck last week, hit mobile homes.

/images/news/structurallaboratory.jpg

Auburn constructing $22 million Advanced Structural Testing Laboratory

2/15/19 11:55 AM

Auburn University is taking another giant step as the Southeast's leader in structural engineering research and instruction through the construction of a $22 million Advanced Structural Testing Laboratory.

/images/news/alabama-transportation-conference.jpg

Auburn leads upcoming 62nd Annual Alabama Transportation Conference

2/10/19 8:00 PM

As an institutional leader of transportation research and workforce development, Auburn University’s Department of Civil Engineering has taken the lead to organize and develop the 62nd Annual Alabama Transportation Conference. The conference, which takes place Feb. 12-13 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel at the Convention Center, will welcome nearly 1,000 federal and state highway personnel, road building contractors, general contractors, heavy construction contractors, utility contractors, county engineers, consulting engineers, construction material vendors, researchers, professional society representatives and university faculty members.