ENGINEERING TEAM PROJECT (MCB 3053)

PROPOSAL

GROUP 69
PROJECT: POROUS ASPHALT OVERFLOW
PREVENTION SYSTEM
Supervisor : DR. HASSAN SOLEIMANI
Team Leader : GAN YVONNE (PE)

18121

Members
:
MUHAMMAD ARIF BIN NASRUDIN (ME)

18173

MUHAMMAD AIMAN NAIM BIN AHMAD SUKRI (CHE) 18509

HAIZER BIN KHAIZY (CV)

18371

NORSAFWAN BIN NORDIN (CHE)

18337

SEPTEMBER 2015
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI PETRONAS
32610 BANDAR SERI ISKANDAR, PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN, MALAYSIA

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Abstract

2.0 Problem Statement

3.0 Project Objectives

4.0 Background Study

5.0 Design Approach / Methodology

5.1 Procedures

6-8

5.2 Plan and Schematic Flow Process of the Project

5.3 Hardware / Tools and Software

10

6.0 Project Management

6.1 Task Allocation and Activities

11

6.2 Schedule / Gantt Chart

12-13

7.0 References

14

1.0 ABSTRACT
Floods in Malaysia are usual natural disasters which strike almost every year during the
monsoon season between October and February due to seasonal storms. This causes damages to
the public infrastructure, roads and bridges and may even lead to injuries and sacrifice in lives.
This eventually costs the state government billions of ringgit to remedial the aftermath of flood.
On the other hand, water withdrawal on our "Blue Planet" is increasing annually due to
advancement in technology and growing population. Water is a crucial resource for survival of
mankind. So, we explore this issue by finding solutions for both problems and combining them to
achieve a win-win situation. The project is kicked-off by researching and discussing ways to
improve the drainage system by improving conventional tar roads which repel water. Through
investigation, we have discover a permeable pavement technology which can soak up flood waters
during regular downpours which is Porous Asphalt Technology. The absorbed water will go
through filtration treatment process which then can be used for domestic purposes. Looking at a
larger scale, we believed that this project will solve the flood issue and the demand of water
resources.

2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Water covers about 70% of Earth while the other 30% consists of land. It shows that water
is very important in our life but it has its limit. The shortage or excess of water demand can cause
many problems to the nature. Floods, low percentage of clean water supply and road accidents are
some examples of those problems.
First and foremost, the major natural disaster that is related to water is flood. Floods are
caused by the overflow of water when there is poor drainage system or piping system. In addition,
clogging of the water system are also one of the main causes of flooding which usually happen in
Malaysia due to some irresponsible parties. Besides that, monsoon season in October to March is
a worrying issue that affects the East Coast states like Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang with the
highest possibility of flood each year.
Secondly, the problem that occurs in our country is low percentage of clean water supply.
Scientifically, all living creatures need a certain amount of water for life. Human beings need a
minimum of 8 glasses which equal to approximately 1.9 litre of clean water for a healthy diet.
Apart from that, plants need water for photosynthesis to release oxygen into the atmosphere.
However when flood occurs, the amount of clean water will drop abruptly. This will affect the
lifestyle of all living creatures as they will have difficulty due to the contamination of water.
Last but not least, road accidents increases exponentially during rainy seasons. The rain will
create puddles on the road and vehicles would experience hydroplaning where the tyres lost contact with
the road when the water causes a tyre to lift up off the ground slightly. Thus, water puddles will affect

the cars control and cause road accidents in Malaysia.

3.0 PROBLEM OBJECTIVES

1. To minimize the causes of flooding that happens in Malaysia by improving the drainage
system.
2. To improve the water intake system for the sources of treated water supply to increase the
production amounts of clean water for domestic and industrial uses.
3. To prevent the increment of road accidents by deter the formation of water puddles on
roads especially at highway.

4.0 BACKGROUND STUDY

The idea of having high porosity of asphalt pavements have been established in the 1970s,
by a group of researchers at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, as an alternative to impervious
surfaces such as pavements and roofs that create overflow which washed away dirt and debris into
waterways and streams. This innovation alters the standard bituminous asphalt to a group of
reduced and screened aggregate fines, particles approximately smaller than 600 , which
surprisingly allows water to pass through it. It is stated that the void space of porous asphalt is
approximately 16%, if compared to conventional asphalt.
The concept is simple. The water from rains or storms are guided to drain slowly through
the porous asphalt and into the stone bed, which finally infiltrates gradually into the soil. A porous
pavement is well explained as one that simply letting water to trench through the pavement
structure. The technology is actually well suited to be implant at the parking lot areas, alongside
its ability to provide a cost-effective and attractive parking lots, with a longer life span and
simultaneously offer storm water management systems that stimulate infiltration and enhance
water quality. Moreover, studies shown that the porous paving systems could help in confiscating
4

undissolved nutrients from runoff for about range of 65% to 85% and also up to 95% of sediment
enclosed in runoff.
The asphalt has been used on the highways in the United States for decades, acting as a
friction course to reduce spray, skidding and noise. As stated in the website of National Asphalt
Pavement Association (NAPA) United States, the special features in the porous asphalt make it
more expensive than conventional construction. However, it comes to a point where these costs
are affordable than the costs to eliminate abundance of elements of standard storm-water
management systems, granting porous asphalt pavement as the less-expensive option. Most of the
present studies mainly focus on the advancement of this compound, yet very few realize that the
system should be further prolong in order to escalate the breadth of its advantages to the fullest.
Therefore, our project basically affirms on an extension of the current system that utilize
collected drained water from the porous asphalt pavement, to be rehash for domestic purpose, after
going through several water treatment process. Further reference have been made from numerous
studies and it is believed that this project is adequate to upsurge benefits and benedictions towards
mankind.

5.0 DESIGN APPROACH/METHODOLOGY

Diagram 5.0: A schematic diagram showing how the concept works.

5.1 PROCEDURES
During the monsoon season in Malaysia, some states in the East Coast will face heavy
flood which impact the people and the structural integrity of the affected area which may be caused
by bad drainage system that overflows and thus accumulates rainwater on the road and soil. To
prevent from the drain to overflow and at the same time reducing slippery roads, we came up with
a concept called Porous Asphalt Overflow Prevention System (PAOPS) to increase the water
intake into the drainage system which significantly reduces the accumulated water on the road.
Furthermore, clean water is hard to obtain during flood and by having this concept, water collected
6

from the drainage system will be treated thus increases the percentage of clean water for domestic
use.
This concept is designed to let the water to be absorbed directly from the surface of the
road made of porous asphalt. The layers needed for the road are 4 inches thick of porous asphalt
followed by another layer of 4 inches deep of fine gravel in order to smoothen the surface of the
big gravel layer of about 4 inches thick above the soil. The water will flow into the spaces in
between the porous compound and passes through the layers of fine and big gravel.
The big gravel has another fundamental function which is to act as a strong foundation to
build the road. This will help to make the road more compact and will not easy to fracture when
there is heavy load being applied. In the interest of improving the current road and drainage system,
a steel wire mesh will be placed which acts as a barrier between the big gravel and the drains. A
similar concept can be seen on gabion wall which is a retaining wall made of stacked stones and
tied with wire. Water which passes through the space between the gravels will flow into the drains
and proceed to the storage tank before being treated.
By using the additional volume of water collected, we can increase the percentage of clean
water after undergoing the treatment process. The process will need to pass through mixing,
coagulation/flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection process. After all the necessary
treatment process has been done, the water can then be used for the public.

The first step of the water treatment is the mixing process. Source water stored in the
storage area always contain unwanted organic materials such as fine slits and clay therefore once
it arrives at the plant, the pH is controlled and water is rapidly mixed with aluminium sulphate
(alum) and coagulant aids (polymers) to the rapid mix basin where they are mixed at a fast rate
during coagulation process. It is just to ensure an instantaneous and evenly distributed mix
7

throughout the chamber so that all parts of the water will be equally treated as it will assist the
impurities to stick together to form larger particles called floc.

The next step is the sedimentation process which is to ease the removal of floc. At the
sedimentation basins, water will flow slowly in order to let the big and heavier particles to settle
down to the bottom of the basin. In order to remove the particles, water will need to flow through
a filter which consists of layers of sand and gravel and followed with crushed anthracite. By having
the suspended impurities collected, it will improve the effectiveness of the disinfection process.
Filters would need to be washed routinely and this process is called backwashing.

Finally, before the water enters the distribution system, it will need to be disinfected to
make sure that any disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites are destroyed. A reactive
chemical like chlorine is used to maintain the residual concentration as it will guard against
possible biological contamination in the water system. The water can now be stored in a tank and
distributed in a domestic area.

5.2 PLAN AND SCHEMATIC FLOW PROCESS OF THE PROJECT

Start

First Meeting and Ice Breaking

Session

Design Specification

Topic Selection by Group Members

Based On Themes Given

Prototype Fabrication

NO
Prototype
Model Work
Successfully?

Define Objectives and Problem

Statement

YES
Discussion on the Working Model
for the Concept

Presentation and Exhibition

Select the name of the concept

Final Report

Topic Approved
by Supervisor
and Coordinator?

NO

End
YES
A

5.3 HARDWARE/TOOLS AND SOFTWARE

No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

Name
Cellophane Tape
Fine & Coarse
Gravel
Nails & Screws
Perspex
Plastic Container
Plastic Tube
Plasticine
Plywood
PVC pipe
Soil
Styrofoam
Syringe
Toothpick
Tube valve
Wire mesh
Wood

Description
To join the plastic tubes
To make the layers for the road model

Estimated Cost (RM)

3

To join the wood and Perspex

Used in the building of the model container
Store water to simulate flood action
Acts as the drainage system
To make soft joints between surfaces
Used in the building of the model container
Acts as the drainage system
Acts as the earth soil for the road model
Acts as the porous asphalt
To produce water pressure
To connect solid materials for the model
To prevent water from counter-flow
The metal net that separates big gravel layer
and the drain
Used in the building of the model container
ESTIMATED TOTAL
Table 5.1 List of Hardware

No
1
2
3

Name
Hand Tools
Electric Drill
Hot Glue Gun

Description
To build the model container
To create holes for the screws
To fill any gaps and prevent water leakage
Table 5.2 List of Tools

No
1
2

Name
AutoCAD
Microsoft Office

Description
Used for drawing of model in 2D and 3D
Used for documentation, poster designing, data analysis
Table 5.3 List of Software Used

10

3
25
5
4
2
50
25
5
10
1
2
5
50
190

6.0 PROJECT MANAGEMENT

6.1 TASK ALLOCATION AND ACTIVITIES
Supervisor
DR. HASSAN SOLEIMANI

Project Director
GAN YVONNE (PE)

Plans and manages weekly meetings.

Monitors the progress of project.
Designates tasks and coordinates all
departments.
In charge in direct communication
with supervisor.
Leads the research activities.

Assistant Project Director

MUHAMMAD ARIF BIN NASRUDIN (ME)

Secretary
MUHAMMAD AIMAN NAIM BIN AHMAD
SUKRI (CHE)

Assists project director in planning

weekly agenda.
Guides the development of project.
Responsible in conducting research in
mechanical part of the project.
Design the layout and analysis of
prototype.

Treasurer
HAIZER BIN KHAIZY (CV)

Keeps record of all group activities.

Writes the minutes of meetings.
Records data and any errors in experiment.
Applies the knowledge of Chemical
Engineering on the prototype.

Research and Development

NORSAFWAN BIN NORDIN (CHE)

Manages the project account flow and

settlement of project claim.
Estimates the project budget and make
sure the prototype is within the budget.
Prototype designing and construction.
Provides support in Civil Engineering
field and beyond.

11

Leads the research activities and

analyses the strength of materials used.
Ensures research is in accordance with
project flow.
Deals with composition in chemicals of
materials used.
Administers logistics for the project.

6.2 SCHEDULE / GANTT CHART

Seminar I (ETP briefing)

Seminar II
Group organization and
brainstorming
Research on topic
Consult supervisor
Data collection for proposal
Seminar III
Draft proposal submission
Finalize proposal
Proposal submission
Lab safety briefing
Seminar IV
Work on progress report
Design solution
Cost analysis
Fabrication of prototype
Purchase tools and materials
Construct prototype
Progress report due
Submission of Form 03
Prototype testing
Poster designing
Consult supervisor
Final check on prototype
Evaluation of Fabrication
Poster & Product Demo &
Presentation assessment
(PRESEDEX)
SEDEX

1
23/9

10

11

12

30/9
1/10

5/10
7/10
9/10
13/10
14/10
21/10

4/11
11/11

25/11
3/12

9/12
12

13

14

Submission of claim breakdown

form & receipts
Submission of peer evaluation
form
Submission of final report

16/12
23/12
23/12

13

7.0 REFERENCES
Fenstepnuss. (2009, August 2). Retrieved October 7, 2015, from
http://varstepdy.blogspot.my/2009/08/demografic-of-malaysian-traffic.html
Quirky Questions: Do I really need to drink 8 glasses of water a day? (2015, June 19). Retrieved
October 7, 2015, from http://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/daily-water-intake

14