Configuring Green Infrastructure for Urban Runoff and Pollutant Reduction Using an Optimal Number of Units

Green infrastructure (GI) has been regarded as an effective intervention for urban runoff reduction. Despite the growing interest in GI, the technical knowledge that is needed to demonstrate their advantages, cost, and performance in reducing runoff and pollutants is still under research. The present paper describes a framework that aims to obtain the optimal configuration of GI (i.e., the optimal number of units distributed within the catchment) for urban runoff reduction. The research includes an assessment of the performance of GI measures dealing with pollution load, peak runoff, and flood volume reduction. The methodological framework developed includes: (1) data input, (2) GI selection and placement, (3) hydraulic and water quality modelling, and (4) assessing optimal GI measures. The framework was applied in a highly urbanized catchment in Cali, Colombia. The results suggest that if the type of GI measure and its number of units are taken into account within the optimisation process, it is possible to achieve optimal solutions to reduce the proposed reduction objectives with a lower investment cost. In addition, the results also indicate a pollution load, peak runoff, and flood volume reduction for different return periods of at least 33%, 28%, and 60%, respectively. This approach could assist water managers and their stakeholders to assess the trade-offs between different GI.

[1]  Zoran Kapelan,et al.  Multi-objective rehabilitation of urban drainage systems under uncertainties , 2014 .

[2]  S. Muthukumaran,et al.  Optimal Sizing of Green Infrastructure Treatment Trains for Stormwater Management , 2016, Water Resources Management.

[3]  Bo Yang,et al.  Green Infrastructure Design for Stormwater Runoff and Water Quality: Empirical Evidence from Large Watershed-Scale Community Developments , 2013 .

[4]  Bernard A Engel,et al.  Optimal selection and placement of green infrastructure to reduce impacts of land use change and climate change on hydrology and water quality: An application to the Trail Creek Watershed, Indiana. , 2016, The Science of the total environment.

[5]  C. Shackleton,et al.  How important is green infrastructure in small and medium-sized towns? Lessons from South Africa , 2017, Landscape and Urban Planning.

[6]  Zoran Vojinovic,et al.  Multi-objective Evaluation of Urban Drainage Networks Using a 1D/2D Flood Inundation Model , 2018, Water Resources Management.

[7]  Albert S. Chen,et al.  Methodological Framework for Analysing Cascading Effects from Flood Events: The Case of Sukhumvit Area, Bangkok, Thailand , 2018 .

[8]  David Butler,et al.  Evaluation of functional resilience in urban drainage and flood management systems using a global analysis approach , 2017 .

[9]  Guangtao Fu,et al.  A framework to support decision making in the selection of sustainable drainage system design alternatives. , 2017, Journal of environmental management.

[10]  Arash Massoudieh,et al.  A flexible modeling framework for hydraulic and water quality performance assessment of stormwater green infrastructure , 2017, Environ. Model. Softw..

[11]  Margaret J. Eppstein,et al.  Minimization of cost, sediment load, and sensitivity to climate change in a watershed management application , 2013, Environ. Model. Softw..

[12]  A simple regionalization approach as an alternative to obtain rainfall data in a tropical and ungauged catchment , 2016 .

[13]  Roland K. Price,et al.  Modelling floods in urban areas and representation of buildings with a method based on adjusted conveyance and storage characteristics , 2013 .

[14]  Damir Brdjanovic,et al.  Evolutionary and Holistic Assessment of Green-Grey Infrastructure for CSO Reduction , 2016 .

[15]  A. Galvis,et al.  Validation of the Three-Step Strategic Approach for Improving Urban Water Management and Water Resource Quality Improvement , 2018 .

[16]  Roland K. Price,et al.  Multiobjective Evolutionary Approach to Rehabilitation of Urban Drainage Systems , 2010 .

[17]  S. Weesakul,et al.  Combining Co-Benefits and Stakeholders Perceptions into Green Infrastructure Selection for Flood Risk Reduction , 2018 .

[18]  Varuni Jayasooriya,et al.  Tools for Modeling of Stormwater Management and Economics of Green Infrastructure Practices: a Review , 2014, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution.

[19]  S. Weesakul,et al.  Combining Ecosystem Services with Cost-Benefit Analysis for Selection of Green and Grey Infrastructure for Flood Protection in a Cultural Setting , 2016 .

[20]  Bahram Saghafian,et al.  Hydrology and Earth System Sciences Multi-objective Optimization for Combined Quality–quantity Urban Runoff Control , 2022 .

[21]  A J Saul,et al.  Flooding in the future--predicting climate change, risks and responses in urban areas. , 2005, Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research.

[22]  M. Legras,et al.  Performance of vegetated swales for improving road runoff quality in a moderate traffic urban area. , 2016, The Science of the total environment.

[23]  Kalyanmoy Deb,et al.  A fast and elitist multiobjective genetic algorithm: NSGA-II , 2002, IEEE Trans. Evol. Comput..

[24]  A. Mailhot,et al.  Design criteria of urban drainage infrastructures under climate change. , 2010 .