Performance Evaluation of Runoff Reduction for Permeable Pavements using SWMM Model

Abstract

PURPOSES: This study aims to evaluate the runoff reduction with permeable pavements using the SWMM analysis. METHODS: In this study, simulations were carried out using two different models, simple and complex, to evaluate the runoff reduction when an impermeable pavement is replaced with a permeable pavement. In the simple model, the target area for the analysis was grouped into four areas by the land use characteristics, using the statistical database. In the complex model, simulation was performed based on the data on the sewer and road network configuration of Yongsan-Gu Bogwang-Dong in Seoul, using the ArcGIS software. A scenario was created to investigate the hydro-performance of the permeable pavement based on the return period, runoff coefficient, and the area of permeable pavement that could be laid within one hour after rainfall. RESULTS : The simple modeling analysis results showed that, when an impervious pavement is replaced with a permeable pavement, the peak discharge reduced from 16.7 m3/s to 10.4 m3/s. This represents a reduction of approximately 37.6%. The peak discharge from the whole basin showed a reduction of approximately 11.0%, and the quantity decreased from 52.9 m3/s to 47.2 m3/s. The total flowoff reduced from 43,261 m3 to 38,551 m3, i.e., by approximately 10.9%. In the complex model, performed using the ArcGIS interpretation with fewer permeable pavements applicable, the return period and the runoff coefficient increased, and the total flowoff and peak discharge also increased. When the return period was set to 20 years, and a runoff coefficient of 0.05 was applied to all the roads, the total outflow reduced by 5195.7 m3, and the ratio reduced to 11.7%. When the return period was increased from 20 years to 30 and 100 years, the total outflow reduction decreased from 11.7% to 8.0% and 5.1%, respectively. When a runoff coefficient of 0.5 was applied to all the roads under the return period of 20 years, the total outflow reduction was 10.8%; when the return period was increased to 30 and 100 years, the total outflow reduction decreased to 6.5% and 2.9%, respectively. However, unlike in the simple model, for all the cases in the complex model, the peak discharge reductions were less than 1%. CONCLUSIONS : Being one of the techniques for water circulation and runoff reduction, a high reduction for the small return period rainfall event of penetration was obtained by applying permeable pavements instead of impermeable pavement. With the SWMM analysis results, it was proved that changing to permeable pavement is one of the ways to effectively provide water circulation to various green infrastructure projects, and for stormwater management in urban watersheds.