Effects Of Low Impact Development Research Articles

Effects of Low-Impact Development on Urban Rainfall Runoff under Different Rainfall Characteristics

Effects of Low-Impact Development on Urban Rainfall Runoff under Different Rainfall Characteristics

Low-Impact Development Effects on Aquifer Recharge Using Coupled Surface and Groundwater Models

AbstractLow impact development (LID) is promoted as a sustainable management practice for stormwater in urbanized catchments. While the positive effects of LID features on surface water hydrology a...

Modeling the Spatial and Seasonal Variations of Groundwater Head in an Urbanized Area under Low Impact Development

Increasing impervious land cover has great impacts on groundwater regimes in urbanized areas. Low impact development (LID) is generally regarded as a sustainable solution for groundwater conservation. However, the effects of LID on the spatial-temporal distribution of groundwater are not yet fully understood. In this case study, a coupled Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and Finite Element Subsurface FLOW system (FEFLOW) model was used to simulate surface and groundwater flow in an urbanized area in Shenzhen, China. After verification, the model was used to analyze the spatial-seasonal variations of groundwater head and hydrological processes under different LID scenarios. The results indicate that if the runoff from 7.5% and 15% of impervious area is treated by LID facilities, the annual surface runoff decreases by 5% and 9%, respectively, and the spatial average groundwater head relative to sea level pressure increases by 0.9 m and 1.7 m in the study area, respectively. The rise in groundwater head generally decreases from the recharge zones to the discharge zones surrounded by the streams and coastal waters. However, the groundwater head change is determined not only by the location in the catchment, but also by the hydraulic conductivity of underlying aquifer and LID infiltration intensity. Moreover, LID significantly enhances groundwater recharge and aquifer storage in the wet seasons; in turn it increases aquifer release and groundwater discharge in the dry seasons. However, LID has the potential to increase the risk of groundwater flooding during wet seasons in areas with poor aquifer drainage capacity and shallow groundwater depth. The findings from this study provide the basis for further assessing the benefit and risk of LID infiltration for groundwater supplementation in the urbanized areas.

Stochastic modelling of the hydrologic operation of rainwater harvesting systems

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are an effective low impact development practice that provides both water supply and runoff reduction benefits. A stochastic modelling approach is proposed in this paper to quantify the water supply reliability and stormwater capture efficiency of RWH systems. The input rainfall series is represented as a marked Poisson process and two typical water use patterns are analytically described. The stochastic mass balance equation is solved analytically, and based on this, explicit expressions relating system performance to system characteristics are derived. The performances of a wide variety of RWH systems located in five representative climatic regions of the United States are examined using the newly derived analytical equations. Close agreements between analytical and continuous simulation results are shown for all the compared cases. In addition, an analytical equation is obtained expressing the required storage size as a function of the desired water supply reliability, average water use rate, as well as rainfall and catchment characteristics. The equations developed herein constitute a convenient and effective tool for sizing RWH systems and evaluating their performances.

Rainfall Runoff Mitigation by Retrofitted Permeable Pavement in an Urban Area

Permeable pavement is an effective low impact development (LID) practice that can play an important role in reducing rainfall runoff amount in urban areas. Permeable interlocking concrete pavement (PICP) was retrofitted in a tremendously developed area of Seoul, Korea and the data was monitored to evaluate its effect on the hydrology and stormwater quality performance for four months. Rainfall runoff was first absorbed by different layers of the PICP system and then contributed to the sewage system. This not only helps to reduce the runoff volume, but also increase the time of concentration. In this experiment, different real rain events were observed and the field results were investigated to check the effectiveness of the PICP system for controlling the rainfall runoff in Songpa, Korea. From the analysis of data, results showed that the PCIP system was very effective in controlling rainfall runoff. Overall runoff reduction performance from the PCIP was found to be around 30–65% during various storm events. In addition, PICP significantly reduced peak flows in different storm events which is very helpful in reducing the chances of water-logging in an urbanized area. Research results also allow us to sum up that retrofitted PICP is a very effective approach for rainfall runoff management in urban areas.

Urban stormwater runoff thermal characteristics and mitigation effect of low impact development measures

Abstract Thermal pollution has become a severe environmental problem in China, but studies on thermal characteristics of urban stormwater runoff are scarce. The thermal enrichment of runoff from typical land surfaces was assessed during 2012–2014 in Beijing and Shenzhen, China. The temperature of stormwater runoff from rooftops, grass surfaces and different types of road surfaces was investigated under different rainfall conditions. The mitigation effects of low impact development (LID) measures were also evaluated. Impervious asphalt or concrete surfaces store and transfer heat, and were found to cause thermal enrichment of runoff from the start of a rainfall event. In addition to surface types, pre-event weather conditions and rainfall intensity influenced runoff temperature. The pervious surface of open graded friction course (OGFC) pavement postponed the time of peak runoff temperature. The retention volume of bioretention cells resulted in thermal energy mitigation by directing runoff into the soil and vegetative cover. The grass swales showed effective reduction of runoff temperature by approximately 1–2°C compared to asphalt, concrete and marble pavements. Therefore, LID measures, such as OGFC porous pavements, bioretention cells and grass swales, can mitigate the thermal impacts of urban stormwater runoff and alleviate resulting ecological problems.

Cumulative Effects of Low Impact Development on Watershed Hydrology in a Mixed Land-Cover System.

Low Impact Development (LID) is an alternative to conventional urban stormwater management practices, which aims at mitigating the impacts of urbanization on water quantity and quality. Plot and local scale studies provide evidence of LID effectiveness; however, little is known about the overall watershed scale influence of LID practices. This is particularly true in watersheds with a land cover that is more diverse than that of urban or suburban classifications alone. We address this watershed-scale gap by assessing the effects of three common LID practices (rain gardens, permeable pavement, and riparian buffers) on the hydrology of a 0.94 km2 mixed land cover watershed. We used a spatially-explicit ecohydrological model, called Visualizing Ecosystems for Land Management Assessments (VELMA), to compare changes in watershed hydrologic responses before and after the implementation of LID practices. For the LID scenarios, we examined different spatial configurations, using 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% implementation extents, to convert sidewalks into rain gardens, and parking lots and driveways into permeable pavement. We further applied 20 m and 40 m riparian buffers along streams that were adjacent to agricultural land cover. The results showed overall increases in shallow subsurface runoff and infiltration, as well as evapotranspiration, and decreases in peak flows and surface runoff across all types and configurations of LID. Among individual LID practices, rain gardens had the greatest influence on each component of the overall watershed water balance. As anticipated, the combination of LID practices at the highest implementation level resulted in the most substantial changes to the overall watershed hydrology. It is notable that all hydrological changes from the LID implementation, ranging from 0.01 to 0.06 km2 across the study watershed, were modest, which suggests a potentially limited efficacy of LID practices in mixed land cover watersheds.

Evaluation of the Effect of Low Impact Development on the Subbasin-based Stormwater Reduction

Evaluation of the Effect of Low Impact Development on the Subbasin-based Stormwater Reduction

Green infrastructure and its catchment-scale effects: an emerging science.

Urbanizing environments alter the hydrological cycle by redirecting stream networks for stormwater and wastewater transmission and increasing impermeable surfaces. These changes thereby accelerate the runoff of water and its constituents following precipitation events, alter evapotranspiration processes, and indirectly modify surface precipitation patterns. Green infrastructure, or low-impact development (LID), can be used as a standalone practice or in concert with gray infrastructure (traditional stormwater management approaches) for cost-efficient, decentralized stormwater management. The growth in LID over the past several decades has resulted in a concomitant increase in research evaluating LID efficiency and effectiveness, but mostly at localized scales. There is a clear research need to quantify how LID practices affect water quantity (i.e., runoff and discharge) and quality at the scale of catchments. In this overview, we present the state of the science of LID research at the local scale, considerations for scaling this research to catchments, recent advances and findings in scaling the effects of LID practices on water quality and quantity at catchment scales, and the use of models as novel tools for these scaling efforts.

Evaluating the Effects of Low Impact Development Practices on Urban Flooding under Different Rainfall Intensities

Low impact development (LID) is an important control measure against extreme rainfall events and is widely applied to relieve urban flood disasters. To investigate the effects of LID practices on flooding control under different rainfall scenarios, this paper constructs a rainfall–runoff model based on the storm water management model (SWMM) for a typical residential area in Guangzhou, China. The model is calibrated by using observed rainfall and runoff data. A total of 27 rainfall scenarios are constructed to simulate the change characteristics before and after the LID practices. Also, the projection pursuit method based on a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is used to assess the flooding characteristics. The results show that the constructed rainfall–runoff model can closely reflect the relationship between rainfall and runoff, with all Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients of efficiency (NSE) exceeding 0.7. It was found from the simulation and assessment of the constructed rainfall scenarios that the changes in rainfall characteristics have a considerable impact on the constructed drainage system and that LID practices can properly control the floods. However, with an increase in rainfall peak coefficient, intensity or duration, the control effects of LID tend to reduce. Particularly in the scenario of relatively high rainfall intensity, the impact of rainfall duration and the rainfall peak coefficient on the LID practices is minor.

Evaluating Various Low-Impact Development Scenarios for Optimal Design Criteria Development

Low-impact development (LID) practices as a new approach to urban stormwater management have demonstrated their positive effects through the reduction of surface runoff volumes and pollutant loadings in a substantial amount of research. The effectiveness of LID practices can be affected by various LID conditions such as type, location, and area. Cost is also an important factor to be considered in the evaluation of LID effects. This study presented the optimal LID conditions that can achieve targeted reduction goals with minimal cost, and analyzed the effectiveness of LID practices under optimal LID conditions and the consequential cost on a watershed scale. To determine cost-effective LID conditions, three types of LID practices (rain gardens, rainwater harvesting tanks, and permeable pavements), two locations (residential and commercial areas), and percent allocation of LID practices were considered. Manual optimization was conducted under those LID conditions for five targeted reduction goals which were set for surface runoff and nutrient loadings. The results provided various configurations of cost-effective conditions in treating the targeted goals, and represented the impacts of the optimized LID conditions on the effectiveness of LID practices and the consequential cost. The present study could ultimately assist regulators in establishing proper watershed-scale strategies of LID conditions for effectively managing watersheds.

Evaluating the Impact of Low Impact Development (LID) Practices on Water Quantity and Quality under Different Development Designs Using SWAT

The effects of Low Impact Development (LID) practices on urban runoff and pollutants have proven to be positive in many studies. However, the effectiveness of LID practices can vary depending on different urban patterns. In the present study, the performance of LID practices was explored under three land uses with different urban forms: (1) a compact high-density urban form; (2) a conventional medium-density urban form; and (3) a conservational medium-density urban form. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used and model development was performed to reflect hydrologic behavior by the application of LID practices. Rain gardens, permeable pavements, and rainwater harvesting tanks were considered for simulations, and a modeling procedure for the representation of LID practices in SWAT was specifically illustrated in this context. Simulations were done for each land use, and the results were compared and evaluated. The application of LID practices demonstrated a decrease in surface runoff and pollutant loadings for all land uses, and different reductions were represented in response to the land uses with different urban forms on a watershed scale. In addition, the results among post-LIDs scenarios generally showed lower values for surface runoff and nitrate in the compact high-density urban land use and for total phosphorus in the conventional medium-density urban land use compared to the other land uses. We suggest effective strategies for implementing LID practices.

Developing a multi-scale modeling system for resilience assessment of green-grey drainage infrastructures under climate change and sea level rise impact

Multi-scale modeling analysis is often required for comprehensive resilience assessment of urban drainage infrastructures to account for global climate change impact and local watershed response. The goal of this study was to develop a multi-scale modeling platform for drainage infrastructure resilience assessment in a coastal watershed. The model employs scale-dependent informatics, including hydroinformatics, climate informatics, and geoinformatics, to support a comprehensive hydrodynamic stormwater and hydrologic model, called the Interconnected Channel and Pond Routing Model. Low Impact Development (LID), deemed as green drainage infrastructure, was adopted and assessed in the Cross Bayou Watershed, Florida. The Cross Bayou Canal is the grey infrastructure, which dissects the watershed and connects both Tampa Bay and Boca Ciega Bay on its northeastern and southwestern ends, respectively. Modeling scenarios are driven by watershed-scale rainfall/runoff, coastal high tide, and global sea level rise, respectively or collectively, to evaluate the green-grey drainage infrastructure system in response to current and future coastal flood hazards predicted for year 2030. The quantitative resilience metrics, such as peak inflow reduction at flood zone, were chosen to reflect storms that pose threats to the watershed, now and in the future year 2030, for climate change scenarios derived by the Statistical Downscaling Model. Results indicate that the effectiveness of LID depends on the rainfall type being considered, such as convective storm versus frontal rain, and sub-daily rainfall patterns, as well as a groundwater table analysis.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Low Impact Development by Bio-retention and Cistern System for Tianjin, Northern China

Assessing the Effectiveness of Low Impact Development by Bio-retention and Cistern System for Tianjin, Northern China

Modeling flood reduction effects of low impact development at a watershed scale

Low impact development (LID) is a land development approach that seeks to mimic a site's pre-development hydrology. This study is a case study that assessed flood reduction capabilities of large-scale adoption of LID practices in an urban watershed in central Illinois using the Personal Computer Storm Water Management Model (PCSWMM). Two flood metrics based on runoff discharge were developed to determine action flood (43 m3/s) and major flood (95 m3/s). Four land use scenarios for urban growth were evaluated to determine the impacts of urbanization on runoff and flooding. Flood attenuation effects of porous pavement, rain barrel, and rain garden at various application levels were also evaluated as retrofitting technologies in the study watershed over a period of 30 years. Simulation results indicated that increase in urban land use from 50 to 94% between 1992 and 2030 increased average annual runoff and flood events by more than 30%, suggesting that urbanization without sound management would increase flood risks. The various implementation levels of the three LID practices resulted in 3–47% runoff reduction in the study watershed. Flood flow events that include action floods and major floods were also reduced by 0–40%, indicating that LID practices can be used to mitigate flood risk in urban watersheds. The study provides an insight into flood management with LID practices in existing urban areas.

INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID) ON SURFACE RUNOFF AND TSS IN A CALIBRATED HYDRODYNAMIC MODEL

The land development and increase in urbanization in a watershed affect water quantity and water quality. On one hand, urbanization provokes the adjustment of geomorphic structure of the streams, ultimately raises peak flow rate which causes flood; on the other hand, it diminishes water quality which results in an increase in Total Suspended Solid (TSS). Consequently, sediment accumulation in downstream of urban areas is observed which is not preferred for longer life of dams. In order to overcome the sediment accumulation problem in dams, the amount of TSS in streams and in watersheds should be taken under control. Low Impact Development (LID) is a Best Management Practice (BMP) which may be used for this purpose. It is a land planning and engineering design method which is applied in managing storm water runoff in order to reduce flooding as well as simultaneously improve water quality. LID includes techniques to predict suspended solid loads in surface runoff generated over impervious urban surfaces. In this study, the impact of LID-BMPs on surface runoff and TSS is investigated by employing a calibrated hydrodynamic model for Sazlıdere Watershed which is located in Istanbul, Turkey. For this purpose, a calibrated hydrodynamic model was developed by using Environmental Protection Agency Storm Water Management Model (EPA SWMM). For model calibration and validation, we set up a rain gauge and a flow meter into the field and obtain rainfall and flow rate data. And then, we select several LID types such as retention basins, vegetative swales and permeable pavement and we obtain their influence on peak flow rate and pollutant buildup and washoff for TSS. Consequently, we observe the possible effects of LID on surface runoff and TSS in Sazlıdere Watershed.

INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID) ON SURFACE RUNOFF AND TSS IN A CALIBRATED HYDRODYNAMIC MODEL

The land development and increase in urbanization in a watershed affect water quantity and water quality. On one hand, urbanization provokes the adjustment of geomorphic structure of the streams, ultimately raises peak flow rate which causes flood; on the other hand, it diminishes water quality which results in an increase in Total Suspended Solid (TSS). Consequently, sediment accumulation in downstream of urban areas is observed which is not preferred for longer life of dams. In order to overcome the sediment accumulation problem in dams, the amount of TSS in streams and in watersheds should be taken under control. Low Impact Development (LID) is a Best Management Practice (BMP) which may be used for this purpose. It is a land planning and engineering design method which is applied in managing storm water runoff in order to reduce flooding as well as simultaneously improve water quality. LID includes techniques to predict suspended solid loads in surface runoff generated over impervious urban surfaces. In this study, the impact of LID-BMPs on surface runoff and TSS is investigated by employing a calibrated hydrodynamic model for Sazlıdere Watershed which is located in Istanbul, Turkey. For this purpose, a calibrated hydrodynamic model was developed by using Environmental Protection Agency Storm Water Management Model (EPA SWMM). For model calibration and validation, we set up a rain gauge and a flow meter into the field and obtain rainfall and flow rate data. And then, we select several LID types such as retention basins, vegetative swales and permeable pavement and we obtain their influence on peak flow rate and pollutant buildup and washoff for TSS. Consequently, we observe the possible effects of LID on surface runoff and TSS in Sazlıdere Watershed.

Long-Term Simulation of the Effect of Low Impact Development for Highly Urbanized Areas on the Hydrologic Cycle in China

Long-Term Simulation of the Effect of Low Impact Development for Highly Urbanized Areas on the Hydrologic Cycle in China

Evaluating Retention Capacity of Infiltration Rain Gardens and Their Potential Effect on Urban Stormwater Management in the Sub-Humid Loess Region of China

Recognized as an effective low impact development (LID) practice, rain gardens have been widely advocated to be built with urban landscaping for stormwater runoff reduction through the retention and infiltration processes; but the field performance and regional effect of rain gardens have not been thoroughly investigated. In this paper, we presented a four-year monitoring study on the performance of a rain garden on stormwater retention; hydrological models were proposed to predict the potential effect of rain gardens on runoff reduction under different storms and the future urban development scenarios. The experimental rain garden was constructed in a sub-humid loess region in Xi’an, China; it has a contributing area ratio of 20:1 and depth of 15 cm. During the study period, we observed 28 large storm events, but only 5 of them caused overflow from the rain garden. The flow reduction rate for the overflow events ranged from 77 to 94 %. The runoff coefficient from the contributing area (RC) was reduced to less than 0.02 on annual basis, and 0.008 over the four years average. Field observations also showed that infiltration rate remained stable during the operation period. The predictions based on the future landuse and storm variability of the study area showed that by converting a small fraction of the city land area into rain gardens, the negative hydrological effect from expansion of impervious area can be reduced significantly. The challenge, however, lies in how to plan and build rain gardens as an integral part of the urban landscape.

Developing A Framework for Low-Volume Road Implementation of Pervious Concrete Pavements

Pervious concrete pavement is one of the promising pavement technologies, as it can help overcome traditional pavement environmental impacts, assist with stormwater management, and provide an effective low impact development solution. There are many benefits associated with pervious concrete pavement such as assisting with water filtration, absorbing heavy metals and reducing pollution. The most significant aspect, which draws the attention of environmental agencies and cities and municipalities, is its ability to reduce storm water runoff. Pervious concrete is documented as the paramount solution in storm water management by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Though it has been used in the southern United States for years, the practice of using pervious concrete is more recent in northern climates where freeze thaw is observed. In Canada, several pervious concrete parking lots have been constructed over the past few years. However barriers exist for implementing the technology, as designers are not always fully informed on the various functional and structural design considerations. In this paper, a framework is developed to identify how pervious concrete can be integrated into low-volume infrastructure. This paper also summarizes the structural performance and drainage characteristics of pervious concrete parking lots constructed in various provinces of Canada, demonstrating the viability of pervious concrete for low-volume northern applications.