Water (Oct 2021)

A Simplified Model for Predicting the Effectiveness of Bioswale’s Control on Stormwater Runoff from Roadways

  • Jianpeng Zhou,
  • Azadeh Akhavan Bloorchian,
  • Sina Nassiri,
  • Abdolreza Osouli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/w13202798
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 20
p. 2798

Abstract

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Bioswales are commonly constructed along roadways to control stormwater runoff. Many factors can affect the performance of a bioswale such as the size of the bioswale and its associated drainage area, rainfall characteristics, site conditions, soil properties, and deterioration of the bioswale’s condition over usage. Transportation agencies and engineering communities need a reliable and convenient method for predicting the effectiveness of bioswale. Although available software tools can be used to model and analyze design options, input values for a large number of variables and highly skilled modelers are required to handle these sophisticated modeling tools. The objective of this study was to develop a simplified and easy-to-use mathematical model for predicting the effectiveness of bioswales through empirical predictions of stormwater runoff as a function of four key parameters: area ratio (bioswale surface area to its drainage service area), rainfall depth, rainfall intensity, and sediment accumulation (build-up) on bioswale’s surface area. A PCSWMM model was developed to simulate the physical conditions of a field-scale bioswale. This PCSWMM tool was also used to simulate an idealized (conceptual) catchment model that represents common highway geometries and characteristics. A total of 72 scenarios were simulated on various combinations of the four studied parameters: area ratio (9%, 13%); rainfall depth (2.54, 5.08, 7.62, 10.16 cm); rainfall intensity (2.54, 5.08, 10.16 cm/h); and sediment accumulation (0, 0.25, 1.78 cm). Half of the total scenarios (i.e., 36 scenarios) were used to develop a new simplified mathematical model, and the other 36 scenarios were used to calibrate and validate this newly developed model. The analysis revealed a reasonable correlation (R2 = 0.967) between modelled predictions and PCSWMM-simulated results, indicating the newly developed mathematical model can serve as an adequate alternative for simulating bioswales’ performance for stormwater runoff control.

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