Urban flood simulation based on the SWMM model

L Jiang,Y Chen,H Wang

doi:10.5194/piahs-368-186-2015

L Jiang, Y Chen + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5194/piahs-368-186-2015

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Abstract

Abstract. China is the nation with the fastest urbanization in the past decades which has caused serious urban flooding. Flood forecasting is regarded as one of the important flood mitigation methods, and is widely used in catchment flood mitigation, but is not widely used in urban flooding mitigation. This paper, employing the SWMM model, one of the widely used urban flood planning and management models, simulates the urban flooding of Dongguan City in the rapidly urbanized southern China. SWMM is first set up based on the DEM, digital map and underground pipeline network, then parameters are derived based on the properties of the subcatchment and the storm sewer conduits; the parameter sensitivity analysis shows the parameter robustness. The simulated results show that with the 1-year return period precipitation, the studied area will have no flooding, but for the 2-, 5-, 10- and 20-year return period precipitation, the studied area will be inundated. The results show the SWMM model is promising for urban flood forecasting, but as it has no surface runoff routing, the urban flooding could not be forecast precisely.

Highlights

China is a nation with the fastest urbanization in the past decades, its urban population grew by over 50% in 2011 (Fang et al, 2011), and is still steadily increasing
There are urban hydrological models which can deal with underground pipeline flow and even surface runoff flow, and determine inundation conditions, such as ILLUDAS model (Terstriep et al, 1974), SWMM model (Cole et al, 1976), TR-55 model (USDA, 1986), Inforworks model (Koudelak et al, 2008), and the STORM model (Wiles et al, 2002)
The study was carried out in Dongguan City in southern China; the results shows the SWMM model is promising for urban flood forecasting

Summary

Introduction

China is a nation with the fastest urbanization in the past decades, its urban population grew by over 50% in 2011 (Fang et al, 2011), and is still steadily increasing. There are urban hydrological models which can deal with underground pipeline flow and even surface runoff flow, and determine inundation conditions, such as ILLUDAS model (Terstriep et al, 1974), SWMM model (Cole et al, 1976), TR-55 model (USDA, 1986), Inforworks model (Koudelak et al, 2008), and the STORM model (Wiles et al, 2002). These models have been widely used in urban flood planning and management, but not used so much in urban flood forecasting

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