GBU College Logo
Sign in with GBU Microsoft

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS: AN ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES USING PHYSICAL MODELS

Proceedings on Engineering Sciences | 2026

Paper Details

Authors: Oñate-Valdivieso F.; Oñate-Paladines A.; Jimenez D.

DOI: 10.24874/PES08.01B.018

Journal: Proceedings on Engineering Sciences

Year: 2026

Publisher: Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac

Document Type: Article

Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access

Cited by: 0

Abstract

Uncontrolled urban growth has intensified soil impermeabilization due to the expansion of infrastructure such as roads, buildings, and parking lots, reducing the infiltration capacity of rainwater. This leads to an increase in surface runoff, accelerating the accumulation of flows in rivers and urban drainage systems, thereby increasing the frequency and intensity of floods. To alleviate the burden on drainage systems, stormwater management alternatives can be implemented, which, when integrated into the urban environment, help reduce surface runoff by enhancing infiltration. In this study, a physical rain-runoff model was used to evaluate the performance of three stormwater management alternatives under design storms with various return periods. The results showed that the efficiency of each alternative varied between a 40% and 100% reduction in the peak flow of the flood hydrograph, with a decrease in runoff time ranging from 10% to 60%. Finally, it was observed that the efficiency of the alternatives declined as storm duration increased. © 2026 Published by Faculty of Engineeringg.

Keywords

Floods; Physical Rain-Runoff Model; Stormwater Management Alternatives; Urban Environment; Urban Growth