Urban drainage efficiency evaluation and flood simulation using integrated SWMM and terrain structural analysis

A method for evaluating urban drainage system efficiency and simulating pluvial flooding is presented, incorporating rainwater inlet limitations through an integrated SWMM and terrain structural analysis (the corrected model). The corrected model is calibrated using data from two flood events and compared to an overflow model (non-corrected, without considering inlet restrictions) under the same conditions to assess its performance. The results show that the relative error of the flood peak in simulations ranges from 0.27 % to 2.80 %, while the Nash efficiency coefficient ranges from 0.3184 to 0.9504, indicating reasonable accuracy and significant comparability to the overflow model. Drainage efficiency evaluation reveals significant variation among drainage units, decreasing with increasing rainfall until surface depressions fill, after which surface drainage improves notably. This highlights the critical role of surface drainage in overall system efficiency and flood dynamics. Furthermore, two types of urban storm-induced floods are identified: infiltration excess and saturation excess floods. Modeling all floods as saturation excess may lead to substantial misestimations, stressing the need for accurate modeling that accounts for drainage unit characteristics. Understanding urban flood mechanisms is essential for improving modeling accuracy and optimizing drainage system design and flood management strategies. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.