Case Study

Arlington County Teams With AEM for Improved Flood Resilience

Arlington County expands visibility into flood conditions

Overview

Arlington County, Virginia, is working with AEM to strengthen its ability to manage flash flooding and stormwater impacts by expanding its network of high-water detection and monitoring stations across the county. Through expanded observation and real-time dashboards, they are building the foundation needed to improve roadway safety, calibrate watershed models, and support proactive infrastructure planning.

Dr. Mohammad Nayeb Yazdi,

Project Manager, OSEM

“We are implementing the system to be proactive and armed with data.”

Limited visibility into flood conditions

The Challenges

As flooding risks increased, Arlington faced critical observation gaps that made stormwater decision-making more difficult.

1. Minimal localized monitoring coverage

Arlington previously only had a single public USGS station which provided only limited understanding for how rainfall and flooding varied across the County.

2. Difficulty calibrating stormwater and flood models

The County uses advanced hydraulic modeling tools, but they needed real observation data to validate the models at the watershed level.

3. Recurring flooding at known hotspots

Major storm events in 2019 and 2021 underscored vulnerabilities in low-lying corridors like Columbia Pike, where flood depths reached several feet.

4. Reactive response driven by resident reports

Without real-time monitoring, stormwater improvements were often initiated only after flooding complaints came in.

High water detection systems integrated through AEM monitoring and alerting

The Solution

To expand real-time visibility into flood conditions, Arlington partnered with AEM to deploy monitoring and alerting capabilities at critical locations across the county.

High Water Detection to improve roadway safety

Arlington deployed High Water Detection Systems with flashers, gates, and alerts to help reduce the risk of vehicles entering flooded streets during storm events.

Localized observation data to strengthen watershed monitoring

Monitoring stations were installed near watershed outfalls and known problem areas, providing the real-world measurements Arlington needs to calibrate stormwater models with greater confidence.

Dual sensor monitoring for a more complete view of flooding

At locations like Columbia Pike, the County installed sensors both at street level and within culverts—improving situational awareness above ground and within the drainage system.

Centralized dashboards for real-time visualization and alerting

Arlington uses AEM’s monitoring and alerting software to centralize sensor data, support real-time alerts, and provide County-branded dashboards that help teams monitor conditions at critical flood-prone locations.

Proactive flood planning backed by real observation data

By expanding its monitoring network and improving access to real-time observation data, Arlington County is building a stronger foundation for safer roadways, more accurate modeling, and smarter long-term drainage investment.

Arlington’s experience demonstrates how localized observation—paired with centralized visualization and alerting—can help communities move beyond assumptions and toward more proactive, data-driven flood preparedness.

The Components