Ph.D. Student in Environmental Engineering and Water Resources, Hydrometeorology Research Group, Princeton University (2009-2013 expected)
M.S.E. Civil Engineering, The University of Michigan Ann Arbor (2001-2005)
B.S.E. Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Michigan Ann Arbor (2005)
Room: E310 Engineering Quad
Phone: 609-258-5324
Email: dbwright@princeton.edu
Webpage: Hydrometeorology Research Group
Research Areas
- Environmental Engineering and Water Resources
Research Interests
My research efforts at Princeton University center around flood risk assessment and management in urban areas. Central to flooding is rainfall, which is projected to change significantly and unpredictably in a warming climate, but can also be altered by the urban microclimate. To understand flood risk, we must also be able to characterize the impact of land-use and infrastructure on rain once it has reached the ground. Thus, urban flooding presents challenging linkages between climate, weather, and the local built environment. Understanding these linkages is crucial in determining impacts and developing adaptation and mitigation strategies. I am pursuing a range of studies to improve the measurement and prediction of extreme rainfall and how it interacts with the urban environment in ways that can lead to catastrophic flooding.
City-level actors, such as the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, have risen to the forefront of climate change action. While national governments debate emissions reductions commitments, municipalities are forced to make long-term choices on costly water and energy investments that are based on an incomplete understanding of the future climate and its local impacts, as well as future regulatory and economic regimes. I am very interested in issues of land-use and infrastructure policy, in addition to the science and engineering questions of urban flooding.
Research interests:
- Weather extremes, adaptation, infrastructure design and the built environment in a changing climate
- Flood risk assessment and mitigation
- Multi-sensor precipitation estimation
Professional interests and experiences:
- Design, rehabilitation, and operation of small hydroelectric plants
- Hydraulic design and floodplain analysis
- Economic and technical feasibility assessment of hydroelectric plants
- Design, construction, and management of water distribution systems
- Appropriate sanitation technology in developing countries
Memberships:
- American Geophysical Union
- American Society of Civil Engineers
- American Water Resources Association
- Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society
- Engineers Without Borders
- Engineers for a Sustainable World
Updated: December 17, 2012
