Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts

David Kelly; Lynne Barbara Jack

Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts

School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

Records of observed weather show that rainfall is becoming heavier and more variable.Projections of future climate change suggest that, not only will rainfall become morefrequent and intense, the number of extreme rainfall events will increase overall. Thiswill undoubtedly place significant pressure on the capacity of property-based rainwaterdrainage systems in preventing water ingress to the building and in avoiding localisedflooding. However, at present there remains limited guidance on how climate changeimpacts should be incorporated into the design of these systems. The stark reality isthat if rainfall events change as expected due to climate change, then property-basedrainwater drainage systems that were built in the past, or which are currently beingdesigned, may not have adequate capacity in the future. Adaptive measures aretherefore needed in order to ensure these systems have the flexibility to cope withchanging rainfall patterns and to minimise their vulnerability to extreme rainfall events.This research evaluates the effectiveness of various adaptive measures through theanalysis of the performance of a case study site in Edinburgh using numerical modellingtechniques. First, by using gutter overtopping as an indicator of failure, a systemspecificrainfall intensity threshold is defined, against which future exceedance isassessed within the context of the UK Climate Projections 2009. System under-capacityis found to increase, in most cases, by up to two or three times under varying futureclimate change scenarios. However, appropriate system adaptation measures, such asincreasing gutter depth, increasing pipe diameter, or installing a green roof are found toprovide sufficient additional capacity and system flexibility to either minimise orcompletely avoid system failure. Through only minor system adjustment, plannedadaptation measures are shown to have the potential to enhance the future resilience ofproperty-based rainwater drainage systems.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of CIB W062 38th International Symposium on Water Supply and Drainage For Buildings
Subtitle of host publication	27th-30th August 2012 Edinburgh, Scotland
Editors	K. De Cuyper, L. B. Jack
Publisher	CIB: International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction
Pages	131-142
Number of pages	12
Publication status	Published - 27 Aug 2012
Event	38th International Symposium CIB W062 on Water Supply and Drainage for Buildings 2012 - Edinburgh, United Kingdom Duration: 27 Aug 2012 → 30 Aug 2012

Conference

Conference	38th International Symposium CIB W062 on Water Supply and Drainage for Buildings 2012
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Edinburgh
Period	27/08/12 → 30/08/12

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

Kelly, D., & Jack, L. B. (2012). Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts. In K. De Cuyper, & L. B. Jack (Eds.), Proceedings of CIB W062 38th International Symposium on Water Supply and Drainage For Buildings : 27th-30th August 2012 Edinburgh, Scotland (pp. 131-142). CIB: International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction.

Kelly, David ; Jack, Lynne Barbara. / Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts. Proceedings of CIB W062 38th International Symposium on Water Supply and Drainage For Buildings : 27th-30th August 2012 Edinburgh, Scotland. editor / K. De Cuyper ; L. B. Jack. CIB: International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction, 2012. pp. 131-142

@inproceedings{42c1dbc4f8ac4da5b2f5713e93699854,

title = "Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts",

abstract = "Records of observed weather show that rainfall is becoming heavier and more variable.Projections of future climate change suggest that, not only will rainfall become morefrequent and intense, the number of extreme rainfall events will increase overall. Thiswill undoubtedly place significant pressure on the capacity of property-based rainwaterdrainage systems in preventing water ingress to the building and in avoiding localisedflooding. However, at present there remains limited guidance on how climate changeimpacts should be incorporated into the design of these systems. The stark reality isthat if rainfall events change as expected due to climate change, then property-basedrainwater drainage systems that were built in the past, or which are currently beingdesigned, may not have adequate capacity in the future. Adaptive measures aretherefore needed in order to ensure these systems have the flexibility to cope withchanging rainfall patterns and to minimise their vulnerability to extreme rainfall events.This research evaluates the effectiveness of various adaptive measures through theanalysis of the performance of a case study site in Edinburgh using numerical modellingtechniques. First, by using gutter overtopping as an indicator of failure, a systemspecificrainfall intensity threshold is defined, against which future exceedance isassessed within the context of the UK Climate Projections 2009. System under-capacityis found to increase, in most cases, by up to two or three times under varying futureclimate change scenarios. However, appropriate system adaptation measures, such asincreasing gutter depth, increasing pipe diameter, or installing a green roof are found toprovide sufficient additional capacity and system flexibility to either minimise orcompletely avoid system failure. Through only minor system adjustment, plannedadaptation measures are shown to have the potential to enhance the future resilience ofproperty-based rainwater drainage systems. ",

author = "David Kelly and Jack, {Lynne Barbara}",

year = "2012",

month = aug,

day = "27",

language = "English",

pages = "131--142",

editor = "{De Cuyper}, K. and Jack, {L. B.}",

booktitle = "Proceedings of CIB W062 38th International Symposium on Water Supply and Drainage For Buildings",

publisher = "CIB: International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction",

note = "38th International Symposium CIB W062 on Water Supply and Drainage for Buildings 2012 ; Conference date: 27-08-2012 Through 30-08-2012",

}

Kelly, D & Jack, LB 2012, Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts. in K De Cuyper & LB Jack (eds), Proceedings of CIB W062 38th International Symposium on Water Supply and Drainage For Buildings : 27th-30th August 2012 Edinburgh, Scotland. CIB: International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction, pp. 131-142, 38th International Symposium CIB W062 on Water Supply and Drainage for Buildings 2012, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 27/08/12.

Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts. / Kelly, David ; Jack, Lynne Barbara.
Proceedings of CIB W062 38th International Symposium on Water Supply and Drainage For Buildings : 27th-30th August 2012 Edinburgh, Scotland. ed. / K. De Cuyper; L. B. Jack. CIB: International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction, 2012. p. 131-142.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts

AU - Kelly, David

AU - Jack, Lynne Barbara

PY - 2012/8/27

Y1 - 2012/8/27

N2 - Records of observed weather show that rainfall is becoming heavier and more variable.Projections of future climate change suggest that, not only will rainfall become morefrequent and intense, the number of extreme rainfall events will increase overall. Thiswill undoubtedly place significant pressure on the capacity of property-based rainwaterdrainage systems in preventing water ingress to the building and in avoiding localisedflooding. However, at present there remains limited guidance on how climate changeimpacts should be incorporated into the design of these systems. The stark reality isthat if rainfall events change as expected due to climate change, then property-basedrainwater drainage systems that were built in the past, or which are currently beingdesigned, may not have adequate capacity in the future. Adaptive measures aretherefore needed in order to ensure these systems have the flexibility to cope withchanging rainfall patterns and to minimise their vulnerability to extreme rainfall events.This research evaluates the effectiveness of various adaptive measures through theanalysis of the performance of a case study site in Edinburgh using numerical modellingtechniques. First, by using gutter overtopping as an indicator of failure, a systemspecificrainfall intensity threshold is defined, against which future exceedance isassessed within the context of the UK Climate Projections 2009. System under-capacityis found to increase, in most cases, by up to two or three times under varying futureclimate change scenarios. However, appropriate system adaptation measures, such asincreasing gutter depth, increasing pipe diameter, or installing a green roof are found toprovide sufficient additional capacity and system flexibility to either minimise orcompletely avoid system failure. Through only minor system adjustment, plannedadaptation measures are shown to have the potential to enhance the future resilience ofproperty-based rainwater drainage systems.

AB - Records of observed weather show that rainfall is becoming heavier and more variable.Projections of future climate change suggest that, not only will rainfall become morefrequent and intense, the number of extreme rainfall events will increase overall. Thiswill undoubtedly place significant pressure on the capacity of property-based rainwaterdrainage systems in preventing water ingress to the building and in avoiding localisedflooding. However, at present there remains limited guidance on how climate changeimpacts should be incorporated into the design of these systems. The stark reality isthat if rainfall events change as expected due to climate change, then property-basedrainwater drainage systems that were built in the past, or which are currently beingdesigned, may not have adequate capacity in the future. Adaptive measures aretherefore needed in order to ensure these systems have the flexibility to cope withchanging rainfall patterns and to minimise their vulnerability to extreme rainfall events.This research evaluates the effectiveness of various adaptive measures through theanalysis of the performance of a case study site in Edinburgh using numerical modellingtechniques. First, by using gutter overtopping as an indicator of failure, a systemspecificrainfall intensity threshold is defined, against which future exceedance isassessed within the context of the UK Climate Projections 2009. System under-capacityis found to increase, in most cases, by up to two or three times under varying futureclimate change scenarios. However, appropriate system adaptation measures, such asincreasing gutter depth, increasing pipe diameter, or installing a green roof are found toprovide sufficient additional capacity and system flexibility to either minimise orcompletely avoid system failure. Through only minor system adjustment, plannedadaptation measures are shown to have the potential to enhance the future resilience ofproperty-based rainwater drainage systems.

M3 - Conference contribution

SP - 131

EP - 142

BT - Proceedings of CIB W062 38th International Symposium on Water Supply and Drainage For Buildings

A2 - De Cuyper, K.

A2 - Jack, L. B.

PB - CIB: International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction

T2 - 38th International Symposium CIB W062 on Water Supply and Drainage for Buildings 2012

Y2 - 27 August 2012 through 30 August 2012

ER -

Kelly D , Jack LB. Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts. In De Cuyper K, Jack LB, editors, Proceedings of CIB W062 38th International Symposium on Water Supply and Drainage For Buildings : 27th-30th August 2012 Edinburgh, Scotland. CIB: International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction. 2012. p. 131-142

Adaptation of a property-based rainwater drainage system to accommodate climate change impacts

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

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