Adaption to extreme rainfall with open urban drainage system: an integrated hydrological cost-benefit analysis

Qianqian Zhou, Toke Emil Panduro, Bo Jellesmark Thorsen, Karsten Arnbjerg-Nielsen

52 Citations (Scopus)
4162 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper presents a cross-disciplinary framework for assessment of climate change adaptation to increased precipitation extremes considering pluvial flood risk as well as additional environmental services provided by some of the adaptation options. The ability of adaptation alternatives to cope with extreme rainfalls is evaluated using a quantitative flood risk approach based on urban inundation modeling and socio-economic analysis of corresponding costs and benefits. A hedonic valuation model is applied to capture the local economic gains or losses from more water bodies in green areas. The framework was applied to the northern part of the city of Aarhus, Denmark. We investigated four adaptation strategies that encompassed laissez-faire, larger sewer pipes, local infiltration units, and open drainage system in the urban green structure. We found that when taking into account environmental amenity effects, an integration of open drainage basins in urban recreational areas is likely the best adaptation strategy, followed by pipe enlargement and local infiltration strategies. All three were improvements compared to the fourth strategy of no measures taken.

Translated title of the contributionAdaption to extreme rainfall with open urban drainage system: an integrated hydrological cost-benefit analysis
Original languageEnglish
JournalEnvironmental Management
Volume51
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)586-601
Number of pages16
ISSN0364-152X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2013

Keywords

  • Faculty of Science

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