Efficient design of road drainage systems

Abstract

Excess surface water on roadways due to storm events can cause hazardous scenarios for traffic. The design of efficient road and transportation facility drainage systems is a major challenge. Different approaches to limit excess surface water can be found in the drainage design standards of different countries. This document presents a method based on hydraulic numerical simulation and the assessment of grate inlet efficiency using the Iber model. The method is suitable for application to design criteria according to the regulations of different countries. The presented method facilitates sensitivity analyses of the performance of different scupper dispositions through the total control of the hydraulic behavior of each of the grate inlets considered in each scenario. The detailed hydraulic information can be the basis of different solution comparisons to make better decisions and obtain solutions that maximize efficiency.