Matthew Denno

Matthew Denno, a member of the RTI Center for Water Resources, specializes in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling along with the design of real-time data management systems for water managers. He has developed and calibrated large hydrologic and hydraulic models for real-time forecasting, dam break analyses, dam safety, flood inundation mapping and hazard analyses. Mr. Denno has expertise in a wide range of engineering software packages and programming languages. As a team member, he believes in breaking complex processes and systems into logical, digestible, and actionable tasks that keep the entire system in mind.

Currently, Mr. Denno is working on two data management and analysis systems that help water managers make decisions. The web-based Rainfall Runoff Frequency Tool, or RRFT, can be used to develop screening and intermediate level hydrologic hazard information for Dam and Levee Safety risk assessments. It employs a precipitation-driven approach for developing reservoir flow, volume, and stage-frequency analysis. The Water Forecast Portal offers monitoring and forecasting customized to an organization’s location or locations. Through the portal, data acquisition and analysis is streamlined and complex hydrologic forecast datasets are distilled into actionable insights.

Mr. Denno joined RTI in 2019. His past experience includes working on a large flow forecasts system in New York State. The project included monitoring network design and installation; coordination with local cooperating entities and stakeholders; data collection and processing for hydrologic model calibration; schematization and calibration of complex hydraulic models; writing software numerous tools to import and process real-time site and gridded data; integration of all models and processes into a single framework; and the configuration a forecasting interface. He was embedded at the client’s offices to assist with water management and systems operation.

He is a Licensed Professional Engineer and a Certified Floodplain Manager, and a member of the Association of State Floodplain Managers and the Association of State Dam Safety Officials.