Urban Drainage Modelling for
Management of Urban
Surface Water
Birgitte Lilholt Sørensen
Institute of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology
and Environmental Technology, SDU Life Cycle
Engineering, University of Southern Denmark,
Odense M, Denmark
Article Outline
Glossary
Definition of the Subject
Introduction
Development of Challenges in Urban Surface
Water
Designing Sewer Systems
Modelling Flow on the Surface
Modelling of Water Transport in the Sewer
System
Future Directions
References
Glossary
Catchment The area where all the rainwater naturally drains toward the same point (outlet)
Drainage Surface water coming from rain either
drains (percolates) into the (permeable) ground
or runs off to the location in the area with the
lowest point of elevation. The water which does
not drain requires transporting away from the
catchment premises. The task of designing
sewer systems for that purpose is called drainage
Percent imperviousness The average percent of
an area considered impervious for drainage of
rain
Sewage Wastewater from households or industry
transported in sewer pipes
Surface runoff The water which runs off the
surface and does not drain into the ground is
termed surface runoff
Definition of the Subject
Management of urban surface water frames the
challenge of managing surface water in different
contexts for the benefit of people and the environment. Water is part of the global circle of life
(hydrological cycle) and is imperative for survival. However, excess water in developed areas
presents a challenge to people and the environment. Managing water resources requires an
understanding of the hydrological cycle and its
fluctuations [1]. The knowledge of the water
cycle base on how the water moves through the
soil, underground, or via stream, river, sea and air.
Water originating from rain, streams, snowmelt, ground, sea, etc. and flowing into areas of
human activity requires sensible management to
the extent possible and should not result in damage to people, infrastructure, animals, and environment. For example, it may be the aim to design
sewer systems to contain surface water generated
during severe rain events or dikes constructed for
protecting people, environment, and infrastructure from rising sea level. Water management,
when applied to the benefit of humans and nature,
is an exciting challenge for urban surface water
management. Water, when appropriately managed, can create areas of high value along its
shores and add to recreation and biodiversity.
Urban drainage modelling is one approach to
analyzing the water transport and flow of surface
water from severe rain events, snowmelt, rising
sea level, etc. Urban drainage modelling allows
assessing and thereby helping determine the best
approach to managing the water flow for the benefit of people and the environment [2].
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
M. E. Goodsite et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Sources, Statistics and Health Effects,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0596-7_1075
Originally published in
R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC,
part of Springer Nature 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_1075-1
229
Management of Urban
Surface Water
Birgitte Lilholt Sørensen
Institute of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology
and Environmental Technology, SDU Life Cycle
Engineering, University of Southern Denmark,
Odense M, Denmark
Article Outline
Glossary
Definition of the Subject
Introduction
Development of Challenges in Urban Surface
Water
Designing Sewer Systems
Modelling Flow on the Surface
Modelling of Water Transport in the Sewer
System
Future Directions
References
Glossary
Catchment The area where all the rainwater naturally drains toward the same point (outlet)
Drainage Surface water coming from rain either
drains (percolates) into the (permeable) ground
or runs off to the location in the area with the
lowest point of elevation. The water which does
not drain requires transporting away from the
catchment premises. The task of designing
sewer systems for that purpose is called drainage
Percent imperviousness The average percent of
an area considered impervious for drainage of
rain
Sewage Wastewater from households or industry
transported in sewer pipes
Surface runoff The water which runs off the
surface and does not drain into the ground is
termed surface runoff
Definition of the Subject
Management of urban surface water frames the
challenge of managing surface water in different
contexts for the benefit of people and the environment. Water is part of the global circle of life
(hydrological cycle) and is imperative for survival. However, excess water in developed areas
presents a challenge to people and the environment. Managing water resources requires an
understanding of the hydrological cycle and its
fluctuations [1]. The knowledge of the water
cycle base on how the water moves through the
soil, underground, or via stream, river, sea and air.
Water originating from rain, streams, snowmelt, ground, sea, etc. and flowing into areas of
human activity requires sensible management to
the extent possible and should not result in damage to people, infrastructure, animals, and environment. For example, it may be the aim to design
sewer systems to contain surface water generated
during severe rain events or dikes constructed for
protecting people, environment, and infrastructure from rising sea level. Water management,
when applied to the benefit of humans and nature,
is an exciting challenge for urban surface water
management. Water, when appropriately managed, can create areas of high value along its
shores and add to recreation and biodiversity.
Urban drainage modelling is one approach to
analyzing the water transport and flow of surface
water from severe rain events, snowmelt, rising
sea level, etc. Urban drainage modelling allows
assessing and thereby helping determine the best
approach to managing the water flow for the benefit of people and the environment [2].
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2021
M. E. Goodsite et al. (eds.), Air Pollution Sources, Statistics and Health Effects,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0596-7_1075
Originally published in
R. A. Meyers (ed.), Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC,
part of Springer Nature 2019, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_1075-1
229