DiscussionEvent-based design tool for construction site erosion and sediment controls

- This paper provides additional discussion on Trenouth and Gharabaghi (2015) new models.
- Discussed new ANN model emphasis on higher prediction accuracy than better insight.
- Discussed receiving water quality guidelines driving the need for higher accuracy.
- Discussed utility of the model within the broader conceptual framework for ESC design tool.
- Clarified the small-area scale of the model applicable for soil loss and sediment yield prediction.

SummaryThis paper provides additional discussion surrounding the novel event-based soil loss models developed by Trenouth and Gharabaghi (2015) for the design of erosion and sediment controls (ESCs) for various phases of construction - from pre-development to post-development conditions. The datasets for the study were obtained from three Ontario sites - Greensborough, Cookstown, and Alcona - in addition to datasets mined from the literature for three additional sites - Treynor, Iowa, Coshocton, Ohio and Cordoba, Spain. Model performances were evaluated for each of the study sites, and quantified using commonly-reported statistics. This work is nested within a broader conceptual framework, which includes the estimation of ambient receiving water quality, the prediction of event mean runoff quality for a given design storm, and the calculation of the required level of protection using adequate ESCs to meet receiving water quality guidelines. These models allow design engineers and regulatory agencies to assess the potential risk of ecological damage to receiving waters due to inadequate soil erosion and sediment control practices using dynamic scenario forecasting when considering rapidly changing land use conditions during various phases of construction, typically for a 2- or 5-year design storm return period.