WEES Seminar Fall 2025:
Brianna Corsi and Will DeRosset
Brianna Corsi and Will DeRosset
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering
Transportation hydraulics is focused on understanding and managing the interaction between rivers and infrastructure such as bridges, culverts, roadways, and utilities. This presentation explores the multifaceted role of hydraulic engineers, emphasizing the importance of designing resilient infrastructure like roadways and bridges within a dynamic river environment. We will also examine how human activities affect river behavior and complicated infrastructure design.
The presentation outlines key engineering goals, including public safety, environmental stewardship, infrastructure resilience, community protection, and economic considerations. It also delves into the applied science behind river mechanics and how the principles of hydrology, fluvial geomorphology, hydraulics, and sediment transport are applied to complex, real-world problems. We will also give examples real-world engineering problems to illustrate the complexity of designing and managing infrastructure for extreme events.
Brianna Corsi is a hydraulic engineer at Ayres with nearly a decade of experience supporting the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) with high-profile technical guidance and research as well as working with DOTs across the country on transportation hydraulics projects. She was a key contributor to the revisions of the FHWA HEC-23 “Bridge Scour and Stream Instability Countermeasures” manual, collaborating with a select team to expand and update national guidance on bridge scour and stream stability. Brianna’s work on HEC-23 includes developing new design guides and integrating risk-based, data-driven approaches, as well as advancing nature-based solutions for bridge protection. Her expertise in hydrologic studies, hydraulic modeling, bridge scour analysis, and countermeasure design directly supports FHWA’s mission to provide safe, resilient infrastructure. Brianna’s technical skills span HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, SRH-2D, ArcGIS Pro, and Civil3D, making her a trusted resource for both manual development and project delivery.
Will deRosset is a national leader in bridge hydraulics, scour, river engineering, and post-flood recovery, with more than 27 years of experience. As a subject matter expert and instructor for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Highway Institute (NHI), Will has played a pivotal role in advancing transportation hydraulics across the country. He has served as a technical lead and co-author for several key FHWA hydraulic design manuals, including HDS-7 (Hydraulic Design of Safe Bridges), HEC-23 (Bridge Scour and Stream Instability Countermeasures), and HEC-20 (Stream Stability at Highway Structures), and has contributed to the development of FHWA’s 2-Dimensional Hydraulic Modeling for Highways in the River Environment manual.
Will’s FHWA experience includes developing and presenting NHI training courses nationwide, such as Stream Stability and Scour at Highway Bridges, Countermeasure Design for Bridge Scour and Stream Instability, and Hydraulic Design of Safe Bridges. He has been recognized with multiple Instructor of Excellence awards from the NHI for his engaging and effective teaching style. Will’s expertise spans 1- and 2-dimensional hydraulic modeling, sediment transport, channel rehabilitation, and the design of innovative countermeasures to enhance infrastructure resiliency following wildfires and floods. His work with Ayres has helped provide engineers and bridge owners with the tools and knowledge needed to address complex hydraulic challenges and support the safety and longevity of the nation’s transportation infrastructure.
