Modeling Stormwater Flooding in Proctor Creek & the Atlanta University Center

Team: Ashish Shrestha, Chris Kennedy, Timon McPhearson, David Iwaniec, Anna Kramer

Partners: EcoAction, Atlanta Regional Commission, WaWa, Kresge Foundation, Georgia State University

Urban flooding in Atlanta, intensified by climate change and expanding impervious surfaces, presents increasing risks to infrastructure and communities. To address these challenges, the Urban Systems Lab (USL) at The New School, in partnership with local stakeholders, is conducting a flood hazard exposure study focused on the Proctor Creek watershed—an area historically impacted by pluvial flooding. The study emphasizes technical support for risk mitigation and advocates for green infrastructure interventions, especially near critical sites like the Atlanta University Center and Mercedes Benz Stadium.

Using HEC-RAS 2D hydrodynamic modeling, the study simulates flooding under multiple rainfall scenarios informed by NOAA Atlas 14 data, including short-duration high-intensity storms and prolonged rainfall events. The model integrates high-resolution spatial data and is validated against past flood imagery. Key outputs include flood depth and extent maps that can guide emergency response planning, infrastructure design, and climate resilience strategies across diverse socio-economic and infrastructural contexts within the watershed.