New tools are making it possible to address the complexities associated with these water resource challenges head on. The latest technological advancements are being based on ArcHydro, the industry-adopted data model for water resources. This data model is providing a solid framework and acts as an “enabling” technology for efficient and collaborative water resource data analysis. The data model, the result of a collaboration between ESRI and Dr. David Maidment of the Center for Research in Water Resources (CRWR) at the University of Texas, gives users a standardized template, which can be used for something as basic as hydrologic data storage, or for something as complex as executing regional interoperability and data sharing between local and state agencies with joint control over water resources.

An ESRI Business Partner, PBS&J is nationally recognized in the real-world application and advancement of the ArcHydro data model. We have worked on projects around the nation, creating custom tool sets for ArcHydro and extending the model’s framework to accommodate additional, related data elements. Examples of these advancements include:

• Advancing Dr. Maidment’s “Map2Map” prototype ModelBuilder application for the direct generation of floodplain delineation from NEXRAD data.

• Using the ArcHydro data model as the basis for an enterprise database to manage flood control, natural system restoration, operations decision support, regional modeling and floodplain mapping.

• Expanding ArcHydro to accommodate those environmental data sets critical to the full assessment and analysis of a watershed.

These practical applications of the ArcHydro data model have quickly proven the value of this industry standard. PBS&J has simultaneously demonstrated our keen understanding of the model, and developed expertise related to its implementation and enhancement.

For more information about ArcHydro and PBS&J’s application of the data model, please follow the links provided below.

For consulting services related to the implementation of ArcHydro, please contact archydroinfo@pbsj.com.