Drainage design manages water flow and prevents flooding in public and private construction projects. Methods include open and closed channels, culverts, and detention ponds. Hydrological studies and flow studies are used to determine pipe diameter and culvert size.
Drainage design might include open or closed channels, culverts, detention ponds, and other methods to control stormwater while protecting the soil. As a branch of civil engineering, drainage design is typically required in all public and private construction projects to manage water flow as flood protection. The drainage design could also be used by backyard gardeners when building an irrigation system.
Detention or recharge docks address potential damage to land, property, and water quality. These basins hold storm runoff and allow it to slowly seep into the land instead of cascading downstream. Detention basin drainage design typically uses annual rainfall studies to determine the size of the pond and how much water it should collect. These reservoirs not only help control flooding, but could prevent soil erosion and sediment movement that could contaminate streams and rivers.
Closed drainage systems typically appear in heavily populated urban areas. Underground sewers and water pipes carry rainwater and wastewater to treatment plants. Drainage devices are built into the curbs and gutters to manage storm runoff while keeping the streets clear for use. Some drainage plans use grates built into the pavement to manage water.
Highway drainage plans in rural areas look for ways to divert water from the sidewalk to improve visibility and safety for motorists. Drainage systems could be built in the median or via earth dams at roadsides. These dams form a natural gutter to collect surface water until it seeps into the ground.
Open ditches adjacent to highways are another form of drainage design used by road engineers. These ditches could divert water from the road to wetlands or open fields and can be stabilized with various materials. Channels could be lined with vegetation or concrete, and is generally desired on slopes where erosion could occur.
The design standards aim to prevent aquaplaning on highways from pools of standing water. Engineers determine how much splashing could occur during the rainy season and how it affects visibility and driver safety. The average speed over various portions of the highway could be used in drainage design plans. Engineers use mathematical formulas to determine roadway grade when preparing drainage plans.
Drainage design typically requires hydrological studies that use computer models to measure rainfall amounts. Engineers use flow studies to determine peak flow velocity and water depth. The formulas can be used to determine pipe diameter or culvert size to handle expected storm water. Some regions employ different standards for 10-year, 50-year, and 100-year flood conditions by examining historical records.
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