Resilience of Existing Drainage Networks to Climate Change Effects

Browne, Thomas (2021) Resilience of Existing Drainage Networks to Climate Change Effects. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

Climate change is both the observed and predicted change in global climate effected by the human use of fossil fuels, and other behaviours resulting in increased concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Among many effects from this, is included the likely change in rainfall patterns.

One of the major considerations when undertaking modern urban development, particularly lowdensity residential development typical of the Australian sub-urban landscape, is management of rainfall and the resulting stormwater. Typically, this is achieved by an underground pipe network for minor (or nuisance) events, and confinement of flows to a designated conveyance network (roads and channels) for larger events.

This project investigates the effects of climate predictions in regard to increased intensity of rainfall events, and the resilience of established minor stormwater networks in managing this.

The catchment under investigation is approximately 12 ha, located in the coastal town of Warrnambool, in South West Victoria. The catchment features a pipe network, discharging to a surface channel, and a detention feature to mitigate post-development peak flow effects. No consideration of climate change induced effects on rainfall have been considered prior to this project, in the original design.

Analysis of the catchment and existing stormwater network is undertaken using traditional simplified methods (Rational Method, single event peak flow), and more modern complex methods (runoff routing, ensemble of multiple storm events). Civil Site Design is used for creating the networks and performing the rational method analysis and geometric design, and PC-SWMM is used to perform the additional analysis. Performance of the networks is assessed according to the criteria of the original design, being underground conveyance of minor events via pipe network, and attenuation of peak discharge from the site.

The results of the analysis show that the existing piped stormwater networks are expected to perform adequately in all examined warming scenarios, with sufficient reserve capacity in the network. It is found that the detention basin will fail to attenuate peak flows associated with increased rainfall intensity, but presents an opportunity for economical mitigation of the effects.


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Item Type: USQ Project
Item Status: Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Civil Engineering and Surveying (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2021)
Supervisors: Gillies, Malcolm
Qualification: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Civil)
Date Deposited: 02 Jan 2023 22:16
Last Modified: 26 Jun 2023 03:33
Uncontrolled Keywords: climate change, rainfall, drainage, residential, catchment, stormwater, rational method analysis
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/51798

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