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<br />OPTIMAL SIZING OF URBAN FLOOD-CONTROL <br />SYSTEMS a <br /> <br />By Darryl W, Davis,' M, ASeE <br /> <br />II'lTROOUCTION <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Flood-control measures within urban areas frequently consist of detention <br />storage reservoirs, channel modifications,.Iand-use controls, levees, flood proof- <br />ing, and pumping facilities, A range of alternative system configurations and <br />component sizes can usually be identified that will accomplish a specific technical <br />objective, such as a specified degree of protection. The need to determine <br />the appropriate size of the components of the system has stimulated efforts <br />to formalize the analysis of tradeoffs between facilities, performance, and costs. . <br />For example, there is a combination of best sizes for each component in a <br />system that would maximize the system's net value or accomplish a performance <br />standard most efficiently. <br />The problem of determining the best sizes of a number of interrelated <br />components is not new and a large number of analytical optimization procedures <br />have been developed (1,3,5,7,9). These techniques have been quite successful <br />in areas where the objectives are well defined, and the system response to <br />the interaction of system components c.an be modeled with fairly simple <br />mathematical relationships. The application of these techniques to water resource <br />systems has been mostly by research groups operating in the case study mode <br />(analyzing others' problems) as contrasted with functioning as an integral part <br />of planning studies, A major reason for this is that water resource systems <br />are extremely complex and to define accurately the functioning of the system <br />requires detailed analysis. In addition, there is considerable uncertainty in sys.tem <br />inputs and desired outputs. Water resources planners have been reluctant to <br /> <br />"Presented at the March 26-28, 1974, Hydrologic Engineering Center Seminar on <br />Analytical Methods in Planning, held at Davis,. Calif. ' . <br />1 Chf., Planning Analysis Branch, HydrolOgiC Engrg. Center, Corps of Engrs., DaVIS, <br />Calif. <br />