Effect of Spatial Resolution in Modeling Stormwater Runoff for an Urban Block
Publication: Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 21, Issue 11
Abstract
This study assesses the role of spatial resolution in hydrologic and hydraulic models by means of two models developed at different resolutions for an urban block using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s stormwater management model (SWMM). The first is a high-resolution model, in which distinct elements are represented as individual hydrologic response units (HRU). The second is a low-resolution model, in which the entire block is represented as a single HRU. Flow observations during five storms were used to calibrate the models, while a separate set of six storms was used to assess their performance. The high-resolution model was found to systematically underestimate peak flows, whereas the performance of the low-resolution model was found to be dependent on the type of storm. Overall, the two models displayed similar accuracy according to most metrics, thus justifying modeling at high resolution only in those cases where a detailed representation is necessary.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge Omar Khader and Kim DiGiovanni for conducting the initial site visits, collecting all the observed data and devising a preliminary model. Much gratitude is given to Hugh Gordon who assisted with the program code. The authors also would like to extend special thanks to New York State Office of the Attorney General for funding the research and the following co-collaborators: Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and HydroQual, Inc.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Volume 21 • Issue 11 • November 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 17, 2015
Accepted: Dec 30, 2015
Published online: Jul 12, 2016
Published in print: Nov 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Dec 12, 2016
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