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Measuring eco-roof mitigation on flash floods via GIS simulation

Chunlu Liu ( Deakin University, Geelong, Australia)
Yan Li ( Deakin University, Geelong, Australia)

Built Environment Project and Asset Management

ISSN: 2044-124X

Article publication date: 5 September 2016

410

Abstract

Purpose

The rapid and ongoing expansion of urbanised impervious areas could lead to more frequent flood inundation in urban flood-prone regions. Nowadays, urban flood inundation induced by rainstorm is an expensive natural disaster in many countries. In order to reduce the flooding risk, eco-roof systems (or green roof systems) could be considered as an effective mechanism of mitigating flooding disasters through their rainwater retention capability. However, there is still a lack of examining the stormwater management tool. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects on flooding disaster from extensive green roofs.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on geographical information system (GIS) simulation, this research presents a frame of assessing eco-roof impacts on urban flash floods. The approach addresses both urban rainfall-runoff and underground hydrologic models for traditional impervious and green roofs. Deakin University’s Geelong Waurn Ponds campus is chosen as a study case. GIS technologies are then utilised to visualise and analyse the effects on flood inundation from surface properties of building roofs.

Findings

The results reveal that the eco-roof systems generate varying degrees of mitigation of urban flood inundation with different return period storms.

Originality/value

Although the eco-roof technology is considered as an effective stormwater management tool, it is not commonly adopted and examined in urban floods. This study will bring benefits to urban planners for raising awareness of hazard impacts and to construction technicians for considering disaster mitigation via roof technologies. The approach proposed here could be used for the disaster mitigation in future urban planning.

Keywords

Citation

Liu, C. and Li, Y. (2016), "Measuring eco-roof mitigation on flash floods via GIS simulation", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 6 No. 4, pp. 415-427. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-07-2015-0031

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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