A decision support system for optimum selection and placement of sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) in arid and semi-arid region

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Almalki, Abdulrahman Seraj (2020). A decision support system for optimum selection and placement of sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) in arid and semi-arid region. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The sustainable management of stormwater runoff in urban areas has been a key subject of interest in recent years, leading to the introduction of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), such as green roofs and permeable pavements as an alternative to traditional grey infrastructure approaches. SUDS offer many benefits such as stormwater runoff and quality control, improved air quality, reduced temperatures and other social benefits. However, the most significant challenges of SUDS implementation is the inherent complexity in the determination of the most effective SUDS type and their optimum location due to various local and regional variations in catchment and climate parameters. Due to limited application of SUDS in arid and semi-arid regions (ASARs), there is lack information regarding their effictiveness and financial cost.

This research describes the development of a decision support system (DSS) for optimum selection and placement of SUDS for urban stormwater management in ASARs. A Survey was conducted to identify the suitable type of SUDS for ASARs and also the costs of building and maining them. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) model was developed and calibrated for an urban study watershed in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The SWMM model was then connected to the Borg Multi-objective Evolutionary Algorithm to build the DSS also refered to as the SUDS-optimisation-framework. The DSS is capble of identifying optimum SUDS type and location based on the trade-off curves of two objectives: cost and runoff volume reduction. DSS was used to deterime optimum SUDS type and location in the study site for different scenarios of climate, land conditions and related SUDS constraints.

Based on the outcomes of a survey, four types of SUDS practices, namely, green roofs (GRs), permeable pavements (PPs), rain gardens (RGs), and bio-retentions (BRs), were selected. The Permeable pavement was identified as the most frequently selected SUDS option across all scenarios. The results also indicated an average stormwater runoff volume reduction of 17% across all scenarios. SUDS where found to have the most impact on the reduction of peak flow and runoff volume of 15.5% and 20%, respectively, in scenario 10: where a 100-year rainfall and SUDS option 1. SUDS option 1 involved application of SUDS options, PP, BR and RG without restriction, and along with application of GRs to all commercial and government buildings but no GRs on residential buildings. The outcome of this study highlighted that future climate change is likely to have a significant impact on urban stormwater management in Jeddah City and, thus, is a significant factor which needs to be incorporated into the development of stormwater management systems to ensure that they are sustainable.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):