I am actively engaged in research and look forward to collaborative opportunities.

My research focuses on advancing flood hazard assessment, risk analysis methodologies, and decision-support tools for critical infrastructure. I’m particularly interested in applying statistical and computational techniques to improve how we model uncertainty and communicate risk. Recent efforts have explored nonstationary flood frequency analysis, Bayesian methods, and advanced approaches for estimating failure probabilities.

I welcome opportunities to collaborate on projects that push the boundaries of applied research and bring practical value to the dam and levee safety community.

Journal Articles

  • B. Skahill, C. H. Smith, B. T. Russell, and J. F. England, “Impacts of Max-Stable Process Areal Exceedance Calculations to Study Area Sampling Density, Surface Network Precipitation Gage Extent and Density, and Model Fitting Method,” Hydrology, vol. 10(6), p. 121, 2023.

  • B. Skahill, C. H. Smith, and B. T. Russell, “Marginal Distribution Fitting Method for Modelling Flood Extremes on a River Network,” GeoHazards, vol. 4(4), pp. 526–553, 2023.

  • C. H. Smith, W. L. Fields, and N. J. Snorteland, “A New Suite of Risk Analysis Software for Dam and Levee Safety,” The Journal of Dam Safety, pp. 36–46, 2021.

  • A. D. Margo, J. N. Snorteland, C. H. Smith, and S. A. Todaro, “Assessing and addressing hydrologic risk at US Army Corps of Engineers dams and levees,” International Journal on Hydropower and Dams, vol. 21(4), 2015.

Conference Proceedings

  • C. H. Smith, “Nonstationary Flood Frequency Analysis with RMC-BestFit,” in ANCOLD Conference, (2024), Adelaide, Australia: Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD), 2024.

  • A. D. Margo and C. H. Smith, “Combining Risk Estimates Over Multiple Failure Modes,” in ANCOLD Conference, (2024), Adelaide, Australia: Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD), 2024.

  • C. H. Smith and L. W. Fields, “A New Quantitative Risk Analysis Software for Dam and Levee Safety, RMC-TotalRisk,” in ASDSO Annual Meeting, (2024), Denver, CO: Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), 2024.

  • C. H. Smith and K. Neff, “Nonstationary Flood Frequency Analysis with RMC-BestFit,” in ASDSO Annual Meeting, (2024), Denver, CO: Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), 2024.

  • A. D. Margo and C. H. Smith, “Model Frameworks for Calculating and Portraying Risk Estimates,” in USSD Annual Conference, (2023), Charleston, SC: United States Society on Dams, 2023.

  • A. D. Margo and C. H. Smith, “Moving Beyond Bulletin 17C with Bayesian Flow Frequency Analysis,” in World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, (2023), Henderson, NV: Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of American Society of Civil Engineers, 2023.

  • J. Quebbeman, S. Carney, M. Denno, and C. H. Smith, “Integrating USACE RMC-RRFT Within a Risk-Informed Framework for SQRA’s,” in USSD Annual Conference, (2023), Charleston, SC: United States Society on Dams, 2023.

  • C. H. Smith and L. W. Fields, “A New Comprehensive Risk Analysis Software, RMC-TotalRisk,” in ANCOLD Conference, (2022), Sydney, Australia: Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD), 2022.

  • A. Avance, M. Mahoney, and C. H. Smith, “Incorporating Regional Rainfall-Frequency into Flood Frequency using RMC-RRFT and RMC-BestFit,” in ASDSO Annual Meeting, (2021), Nashville, TN: Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), 2021.

  • M. Denno and C. H. Smith, “A Web-based Stochastic Rainfall-Runoff Frequency Tool for Dam and Levee Safety,” in USSD Annual Conference, (2021), United States Society on Dams, 2021.

  • J. Melliger, I. Poluektov, J. Christensen, and C. H. Smith, “Simplifying the Complex: Pool Stage-Frequency Analysis of USACE’s Largest Reservoir,” in 27th ICOLD World Congress & 89th Annual Meeting of International Commission on Large Dams, (2021), International Commission on Large Dams, 2021.

  • C. H. Smith and B. E. Skahill, “Estimating Design Floods with a Specified Annual Exceedance,” in NZSOLD ANCOLD Combined Conference, Resilient Dams for Resilient Communities, (2019), Auckland, NZ: Australian National Committee on Large Dams, 2019.

  • S. Carney, C. H. Smith, and B. Barker, “A Review of Hydrologic Hazards Calculation Frameworks,” in CEATI International’s Hydropower Conference, (2018), Tuscon, AZ: Centre for Energy Advancement through Technological Innovation (CEATI), 2018.

  • R. Sasaki, B. M. Hall, and C. H. Smith, “Evaluating the Nonlinearity in the Rainfall-Runoff Response for Extreme Rainfall Events in the Whittier Narrows Dam Watershed,” in World Environmental and Water Resources Congress, (2018), Minneapolis, MN: Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) of American Society of Civil Engineers, 2018.

  • C. H. Smith, “A robust and efficient stochastic simulation framework for estimating reservoir stage-frequency curves with uncertainty bounds,” in ANCOLD Conference, (2018), Melbourne, AUS: Australian National Committee on Large Dams, 2018.

  • B. M. Hall, C. H. Smith, and R. Sasaki, “Estimating the Inflow Design Flood for Whittier Narrows Dam with a 2D Hydrodynamic Modeling Approach,” in USSD Annual Conference, (2017), Anaheim, CA: United States Society on Dams, 2017.

  • C. H. Smith and J. F. England, “Estimating the Reservoir Stage-Frequency Curve with Uncertainty Bounds for Cherry Creek Dam using the Reservoir Frequency Analysis Software (RMC-RFA),” in USSD Annual Conference, (2017), Anaheim, CA: United States Society on Dams, 2017.

  • C. H. Smith and G. S. Karlovits, “Development of Hydrologic Hazard Curves using the Monte Carlo Reservoir Analysis Model (MCRAM) for Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechobee, FL,” in USSD Annual Conference, (2015), Louisville, KY: United States Society on Dams, 2015.

Technical Reports

  • C. H. Smith and W. L. Fields, “RMC-TotalRisk User’s Guide,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2025.

  • C. H. Smith, “RMC-TotalRisk Verification Report (DRAFT),” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2023.

  • C. H. Smith, W. L. Fields, and D. A. Margo, “RMC-TotalRisk Technical Reference Manual (DRAFT),” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2023.

  • C. H. Smith, “Improving the Economic Evaluation of Flood Risk Management Studies,” Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 2022.

  • K. I. Kelson, B. M. Hall, and C. H. Smith, “Paleoflood Analysis for Garrison Dam,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2020.

  • M. Mahoney, A. Parola, H. J., and C. H. Smith, “RMC-TR-2020-07 Trinity River Basin Flood Hazard Assessment: An Inflow Volume-Based Approach to Estimating Stage-Frequency Curves for the Trinity River Basin,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2020.

  • M. Mika, C. Pearson, C. H. Smith, and D. Moree, “Blakely Mountain Dam Flood Hazard Assessment: Bayesian Approach to Estimating Stage Frequency Curves for Blakely Mountain Dam,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2020.

  • C. H. Smith, “Verification of the Bayesian Estimation and Fitting Software (RMC-BestFit),” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, RMC-TR-2020-02, 2020.

  • C. H. Smith and M. Daughty, “RMC-BestFit Quick Start Guide,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, RMC-TR-2020-03, 2020.

  • A. Duren, M. Mahoney, C. H. Smith, and D. A. Margo, “Willamette Basin Dams Flood Hazard Analysis,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Portland District, Portland, OR, 2019.

  • C. H. Smith, M. Bartles, and M. Fleming, “RMC-TR-2018-03 An Inflow Volume-Based Approach to Estimating Stage-Frequency Curves for Dams,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2018.

  • C. H. Smith, R. Sasaki, G. S. Karlovits, B. M. Hall, and A. Parola, “RMC-TR-2018-11 Hydrologic Hazard Curve Analysis for Whittier Narrows Dam,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2018.

  • B. M. Hall, C. H. Smith, and R. Sasaki, “RMC-TR-2017-07 Probable Maximum Flood Analysis for Whittier Narrows Dam,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2017.

  • C. H. Smith, “RMC-RFA User Guide,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2017.

  • A. Sanchez, B. E. Skahill, W. A. Scharffenberg, and C. H. Smith, “CHETN-I-86 Computer-based Model Calibration and Uncertainty Analysis: Terms and Concepts,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research, Development Center, Coastal, and Hydraulics Laboratory, 2015.

  • C. H. Smith and G. S. Karlovits, “Herbert Hoover Dike: Standard Project Flood Update,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2015.

  • C. H. Smith, G. S. Karlovits, D. Moses, and A. Nelson, “Herbert Hoover Dike: Hydrologic Hazard Assessment,” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Institute for Water Resources, Risk Management Center, 2015.