Applicability of SWMM Model for Urban Flood Forecasting: A Review

Abstract

Urbanization, the major goal for the emerging economies, with which come the major concerns, flood conditions being one of them. The huge losses of infrastructure and lives have alarmed us with the need to tackle this situation in an effective and sustainable manner. Flood forecasting and its management is the only sail through the narrow gap between the disasters and prosperity. Precipitation is the major component of the hydrologic cycle and the primary source of runoff. The perennial concretization increases runoff and overwhelms the drainage networks leading to flooding condition. When overflows exist, it becomes difficult to reproduce the actual flood extents using traditional techniques. Detailed hydrological and hydraulic modelling is undertaken for urban storm water and wastewater catchments to assess network performance and develop remediation ideas. On the basis of the review of the present research works, availability, feasibility, user-friendliness and effective output of the analysis, we have selected SWMM to put a review about. The study is accomplished analyzing a number of research works using the most underrepresented modelling software, USEPA’s open source, and freeware Storm Water Management Model (SWMM 5.1). This review outlines the technical capabilities and functionalities of SWMM from different works by experienced researchers and engineers of qualified backgrounds.

Keywords: Run off, urbanization, SWMM model, urban storm water, hydraulic, hydrological