Coupling Field Observations and Geographical Information System (GIS)-Based Analysis for Improved Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) Performance

Tone M. Muthanna, Edvard Sivertsen, Dennis Kliewer and Lensa Jotta
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Tone M. Muthanna: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Edvard Sivertsen: SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, 7465 Trondheim, Norway
Dennis Kliewer: SINTEF Building and Infrastructure, 7465 Trondheim, Norway
Lensa Jotta: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: Urbanization and increased precipitation volumes and intensities due to climate change add pressure to the urban drainage system, resulting in increased flooding frequencies of urban areas and deteriorating water quality in receiving waters. Infiltration practices and the use of blue green infrastructure, also called Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), can limit, and, in some cases, reverse the effects of urbanization. However, adequate infiltration capacity is an essential parameter for the successful implementation. In this paper, a Geographical Information System (GIS)-based hydrology analysis for SUDS placements is coupled with field measurements using Modified Phillip Dunne infiltrometer tests. The case study area is the expansion of the campus at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) over the next decade. Infiltration in urban soils can be highly heterogenous over short distances. When comparing measured infiltration rates with physical characteristics of the soils showed that the physical characteristics are not a good indication of the infiltration potential in urban soils with a large degree of compaction. The results showed that measuring the infiltration potential combined with flow path analysis can greatly enhance the benefits of blue green infrastructure, with an up to 70% difference in area required for SUDS solutions for managing 90% of the annual precipitation.

Keywords: GIS; drainage lines; SUDS; infiltration; field measurements; green campus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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