Importance of hydrologic simulation for LIDs and BMPs design using HEC-HMS: A case demonstration

Abstract

Best management practices (BMPs) and the Low impact development (LIDs) is water management tools used to mitigate hydrological impact resulting from unpremeditated urbanization. For the proper functioning of the LID and BMP features the volume of the runoff generated, peak runoff rate before and after the installation, need to be accessed. Modeling by comparing different developmental scenarios helps to characterize the impact of BMPs and LIDs practices on the surface runoff. Therefore, this paper describes a modeling approach to predict the performance of these BMPs and LIDs in an existing hydrological model. This type of modeling approach is important to understand the long-term operation of the watershed post-development plan. A single rainfall event in May 2013 has been modeled and the characteristics graphs such as outflow, precipitation, runoff, infiltration have been analyzed. Run-off volume after retrofitting infiltration trench has decreased by 351m3 at the outlet with an increase of 39 L/s in peak discharge. Time series study of reservoirs depicts low performance of infiltration trench at latter phase of rainfall event. This leads with a rational that infiltration trench cannot result favorable for longer rainfall events unless underlying soil has superior geo-technical properties with low level water table. Results manifest the benefits of using hydrologic modeling software to understand the watershed hydrology.