TranStar roadway flood warning system

The Houston District implemented the TranStar Roadway Flood Warning System to provide real-time information on roadway flooding conditions. By integrating rainfall and stream elevation data from multiple sensors, the system identifies areas most at risk of potential flooding and shares accurate information with the public and operators through traffic maps and a mobile app. This approach improves safety by helping drivers avoid hazardous areas and supports better decision-making during severe weather events. The innovation enhances regional and interagency coordination and provides a scalable model for statewide deployment.

Challenge

Severe weather events, such as hurricanes, create dangerous roadway flooding conditions that make travel unsafe and difficult to manage. In Southeast Texas, limited real-time insight into flooding conditions made it challenging for drivers, emergency responders, and transportation officials to make informed decisions, coordinate effectively during emergency events, and maintain situational awareness as conditions changed. Without timely and accurate flood condition information, road users faced increased risks and difficulty making informed decisions to avoid flooded roadways. Agencies also struggled to respond effectively to rapidly changing conditions.

Solution

The district implemented a flood warning system that integrates real-time data from rainfall and stream elevation sensors with traffic information to identify areas where roadway flooding is likely to occur. The system displays this information through an interactive map and mobile application, allowing users to view current conditions. The solution also supports automated threshold detection to highlight areas exceeding flood levels and provides critical information to both the public and first responders.