Abstract
Green infrastructure (GI) is viewed as a sustainable approach to stormwater management that is being rapidly implemented, outpacing the ability of researchers to compare the effectiveness of alternate design configurations. This paper investigated inflow data collected at four GI inlets. The performance of these four GI inlets, all of which were engineered with the same inlet lengths and shapes, was evaluated through field monitoring. A forensic interpretation of the observed inlet performance was conducted using conclusions regarding the role of inlet clogging and inflow rate as described in the previously published work. The mean inlet efficiency (meanPE), which represents the percentage of tributary area runoff that enters the inlet was 65% for the Nashville inlet, while at Happyland the NW inlet averaged 30%, the SW inlet 25%, and the SE inlet 10%, considering all recorded events during the monitoring periods. The analysis suggests that inlet clogging was the main reason for lower inlet efficiency at the SW and NW inlets, while for the SE inlet, performance was compromised by a reverse cross slope of the street. Spatial variability of rainfall, measurement uncertainty, uncertain tributary catchment area, and inlet depression characteristics are also correlated with inlet PE. The research suggests that placement of monitoring sensors should consider low flow conditions and a strategy to measure them. Additional research on the role of various maintenance protocols in inlet hydraulics is recommended.
Highlights
IntroductionAs cities grow, existing infrastructure will become increasingly stressed, with potential negative impacts on the environment, including habitat losses
This paper provides a forensic interpretation of the potential role of apron slopes, inlet clogging, and inflow rate in determining monitored inlet efficiency, applying insights and conclusions presented in the previous study, Shevadel et al (2020) [16]
The microclimate varies within the city, and precipitation characteristics such as intensity, duration, start time, and total depth vary from one site to another
Summary
As cities grow, existing infrastructure will become increasingly stressed, with potential negative impacts on the environment, including habitat losses. Rapid urbanization and extreme weather due to climate change can increase water-related challenges such as flooding, groundwater exploitation, scarcity, and pollution [1]. For this reason, restoration and improvement of urban infrastructure is already one of the 14 nationally and internationally recognized grand challenges for engineering (NAE, 2008) [2]. Urban infrastructure needs to be smart, sustainable, and resilient to various stressors found in today’s cities. Urban water management is a crucial component in the planning of sustainable cities, especially in the context of population growth and urbanization. The urban drainage system is an essential component of a city’s infrastructure, with direct implications for flood control, stormwater management, and public health. Its rapid rate of implementation is currently outpacing the rate at which research comparing the performance of alternative designs has been performed [3], and there is a great need for research documenting how different kinds of GI perform under a range of precipitation [4,5] and site conditions
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