Olsson has received a 2026 Engineering Excellence Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Louisiana for the Upper Barataria Risk Reduction Modeling project. The project was honored in the Studies, Research, and Consulting Engineering Services category.

The Upper Barataria Risk Reduction project aims to protect Louisiana communities from hurricane-related flooding. Olsson served as the hydraulic modeling subconsultant, providing the technical foundation for a flood protection system designed to reduce risk for an estimated 370,000 people across seven Louisiana parishes and lower flood exposure for more than 25,000 community assets.

"We're proud to have provided the analysis and technical modeling guidance that informed such an important investment in Louisiana's future."

Olsson developed and calibrated a basin-wide hydraulic model covering approximately 2,800 square miles of coastal wetlands, canals, and bayous. The team evaluated how storm surge, waves, rainfall, tides, levees, floodwalls, and drainage features interact during hurricanes, while also accounting for future conditions such as sea level rise, land subsidence, and changing coastal vegetation.

"This project challenged our team to translate the complex forces that drive coastal flooding into practical engineering solutions that can help protect communities for generations to come," said Ranjit Jadhav, technical expert and project manager. "We're proud to have provided the analysis and technical modeling guidance that informed such an important investment in Louisiana's future."

Among the project's innovations was a storm-screening methodology that enabled the team to evaluate 100 synthetic hurricane scenarios and identify the storms most critical to the design. Olsson also paired basin-wide hydraulic modeling with detailed three-dimensional modeling of a proposed floodgate system, allowing engineers to understand both regional flood behavior and site-specific hydraulic conditions.

"It’s very rewarding knowing our modeling work will help communities become more resilient to future storms," Jadhav said. "Better understanding flood risks and data mean safer, more prepared communities in a region that lives with the threat of hurricanes every year."

The modeling program informed the design of a flood protection system estimated at $1.6 billion and designed to reduce expected annual damages under both current and future coastal conditions. The project demonstrates how advanced engineering analysis can help communities prepare for increasingly complex flood risks while building confidence in long-term resilience investments.

The Engineering Excellence Awards recognize projects that demonstrate exceptional achievement, innovation, and value while addressing important client and community needs. The project will be honored at the ACEC Award Gala in Baton Rouge in November.