Green Infrastructure Modeling

2010 Regional Water Quality and Andrew Parker

Green Infrastructure Conference
Water Resources Modeling Group Director
May 13-14, 2010
Dallas, Texas

Presentation Overview
 Modeling basics
 Models and calculators
applied to green
infrastructure
 BMP design
 Site development
 Watershed

management

 Applications
 What is a model?
 A theoretical construct,
 together with assignment of numerical
values to model parameters,
 incorporating some prior observations
drawn from field and laboratory data,
 and relating external inputs or forcing
functions to system variable responses

* Definition from: Thomann and Mueller, 1987

What constitutes a model?

Input Model Output

Factor 1
Rainfall Event System
Land use
Factor 2 Response
Soil
Pollutant Buildup Stream
Pt. Source
Factor 3
Others
Why use a model or calculator?
 Applications
 Multiplescales of planning – site to watershed
 Other – TMDLs, permitting, remediation, design

 Purpose
 Determine stormwater runoff quantity (total and
peak)
 Determine pollutant load reductions and water
quality benefits
 Monetize costs and benefits
 Facilitate design

Model Categories
 Landscape models
 Runoff of water and materials on and through the
land surface
 Receiving water models
 Flow of water through streams and into lakes and
estuaries
Cr
op

Transport, deposition, and transformation in receiving

s


waters
Pa

Watershed models
st


ur
e

 Combination of landscape and receiving water

models
 Site-scale models
Ur

 Detailed representation of local processes, for

ba
n

example Best Management Practices (BMPs)

 Model Basis
 Empirical formulations
 mathematical relationship
based on observed data
rather than theoretical
relationships
 Deterministic models
 mathematical models
designed to produce system
responses or outputs to
temporal and spatial inputs
(process-based)

Model Selection
 Utility
 Ability to answer key management questions and convey results
 Relevance
 Representation of key processes
 Assumptions and limitations
 Scale of application
 Credibility
 Peer-reviewed
 Public domain
 Usability
 Availability of documentation, training, and support
 Availability and accessibility of data to run model
 Model and user interface is reliable and tested
Typical Modeling Process
(simple models may skip or leave out steps)
Modeling Approach Development
Data Collection (historic, field monitoring)
Phase I
Model Input Preparation and Configuration

Calibration
Phase II Validation
Verification
Follow-up Monitoring
Optional
Phase III Post-audit
Analysis of Alternatives/Scenarios

Simple Models and Calculators

 Common Calculation  Typical Data

Methods Needs
 Land use
 Runoff Volume
 Soil types
 Runoff Curve Number  Rainfall data
Method (TR-55)
 Small Storm
Hydrology Method
 Infiltration Models
 Peak Runoff Rate
 NRCS Unit
Hydrograph Method
 Rational Method
 Pollutant Loading
 Simple Method
 More Complicated Models
 Uses
 Can evaluate site scale to watershed scale
impacts of land use decisions
 More accurately estimate stormwater benefits
of green infrastructure
 Can be used for single-event or continuous
simulation
 Limitations
 Dataintensive
 Require specific expertise to apply

Models for Green Infrastructure

 BMP design
 Properly size and configure practices
 Evaluate effectiveness of BMP after design and

construction

 Site development
 Evaluate effectiveness of multiple practices for

hydrology and water quality

 Optimize selection and placement of practices

 Watershed management
 Analyze watershed-wide implementation
 Program evaluation
 CSO reduction
 TMDL compliance
 BMP Design
 RECARGA (University of Wisconsin-
Madison – Bioretention/Rain Gardens)
 Green Save Calculator (Green Roofs)
 CityGreen (Tree Canopy and Green
Space)

RECARGA  MATLAB application

University of Wisconsin-Madison  Design tool for
evaluating
performance of
bioretention facilities
and infiltration
basins
 Model can simulate
continuous rainfall, a
single-event, or user
specified volume

 User inputs
 Rainfall and evaporation file
 Drainage area characteristics
 Layer characteristics
 GreenSave Calculator
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
 Web-enabled tool (registration
required)
 Life-cycle costing tool used to
compare cost of green roof
with conventional roof
 Option to publish data to Case
Study database
 Modules with minimum and
optional detailed data inputs
 Roof durability
 Energy use
 Stormwater
 Heat island
 Development fees
 Sale-ability/rent-ability
 Tenant health and productivity

CityGreen
American Forests

 ArcGIS extension (not free)  Stormwater Runoff

 Analyzes ecological and economic  Runoff volume for 2-year, 24-
hour storm
benefits of tree canopy and other green
 Based on Runoff Curve
space Number (TR-55)
 Air Pollution Removal
 Pollutant removal capacity of
tree canopy and financial
benefit
 Based on US Forest Service air
pollution model
 Carbon Storage and
Sequestration
 Amount of carbon stored in
trees and annual carbon
removal
 Based on US Forest Service
model
 Site Development
 Green Values Stormwater Management Calculator
(Center for Neighborhood Technology)
 LID Quicksheet (Milwaukee, WI MSD)
Increased Complexity

 LTHIA (Local Government Environmental Assistance

Network’s Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment
Model)
 BMP-DSS (Prince George’s County, MD’s Best
Management Practice – Decision Support System)
 SUSTAIN (EPA’s System for Urban Stormwater
Treatment and Analysis Integration)

Green Values Stormwater

Management Calculator
Center for Neighborhood Technology
 Web-enabled application
 Planning tool with lot and
neighborhood level
calculations
 Hydrologic
 Financial
 Evaluates range of green
infrastructure practices
 Pre-defined or custom
inputs
 Landscape details
 Cost elements
 Integrated pop-up help
screens
 LID Quicksheet
Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

 Excel spreadsheet
 Evaluates various green
infrastructure features on a
development site to reduce
detention requirements
 Can evaluate 2-year and
100-year, 24 hour storm
events
 Practices include:
 Rain gardens
 Rain barrels
 Green roofs
 Cisterns
 Permeable pavement

Long-Term Hydrologic Impact Assessment Model

Local Government Environmental Assistance Network

 Web-enabled tool
 Quantifies impact of land use change
on water quantity and quality
 Runoff Curve Number approach
 30 years of precipitation data to

predict yearly runoff

 Event Mean Concentrations for

pollutant loading estimation

 Provides graphical and tabular runoff

volumes and associated pollutant
loads
 Five versions:
 Basic L-THIA
 Impervious L-THIA
 GIS L-THIA
 Detailed Input L-THIA
 Advanced Input L-THIA
BMP-DSS
Prince George’s County, MD

 Developed for detailed

site-scale planning and
BMP modeling
 Considers hydrology and
water quality
 Models individual BMPs
or groups of BMPs (e.g.,
at watershed scale)
 Includes post-processing
capabilities

Watershed Management
 STEPL (EPA’s Spreadsheet Tool for
Estimating Pollutant Load)
BMP-DSS
Increased Complexity

 SWMM (EPA’s Storm Water Management

Model)
 SUSTAIN
 Multiple models used collectively
STEPL Spreadsheet Model
 Spreadsheet Tool for Estimating Pollutant Load (STEPL)
 Used at the watershed level for nutrients (nitrogen and

phosphorus), sediments, and organic compounds (e.g.

biochemical oxygen demand)

 U.S. EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds - Nonpoint

Source Control Branch, Washington, DC
 Automatically customized Microsoft Excel application
 Easy-to-follow graphical interfaces
 Online STEPL input data server
 BMP calculator
 Assisting federal, state, and local organizations in reporting
estimated pollutant reductions of 319 projects to the Grants
Reporting and Tracking System (GRTS)

SWMM
 Often used to
estimate existing
loads
 Different BMP
scenarios modeled to
determine load
reductions
 Considerations
 Street sweeping
 Flow detention and
pollutant removal
 Varying hydrologic
and pollutant loading
assumptions
 Fairfax County, VA –
SWMM Application
 Creating countywide SWMM
watershed models
 Representing hydrology
 Simulating stormwater BMPs
 Creating prioritization strategy to
maximize stormwater and
environmental benefits
 Also linking SWMM to HEC-RAS
models for flood analysis

Prince George’s County, MD –

BMP-DSS Application
 Applied to Anacostia Sewershed (Washington, D.C.) to
support CSO alternative analyses
 Identified potential LID configuration scenarios
 Tested BMP selection
and placement
optimization
 Summarized the effect
of potential LID
configurations on runoff
volume and CSO inflow
reduction
 Los Angeles County, CA –
Multiple Models
 Developing comprehensive
watershed management decision
support system
 Dynamic HSPF/LSPC models for watershed

hydrology and transport of multiple pollutants

 Evaluation of storm size and return frequencies

for identification of management targets

 Dynamic simulation of BMP processes, including

both distributed LID and centralized facilities

 Optimization of the most cost-effective

combination and designs of BMPs to meet

management objectives

 Load reduction quantification to support TMDL

implementation efforts

 Cost estimates for County-wide water quality

improvement planning

System for Urban Stormwater

SUSTAIN Treatment and Analysis INtegration
U.S. EPA ORD - Edison

 A GIS-based framework designed to support decision-

making
 Evaluate and select BMPs to achieve loading targets set by a
TMDL
 Identify protective management practices and evaluate pollutant
loadings for Source Water Protection
 Develop cost-effective management options for a municipal MS4
program
 Determine a cost-effective mix of green infrastructure measures to
help meet optimal flow reduction goals in a CSO control study
 Released in November ’09
http://www.epa.gov/ednnrmrl/models/sustain/index.html
SUSTAIN Advantages
 Multi-scale application
 Detailed BMP simulation
 Cost consideration
 Optimization

Siting Tool
BMP criteria GIS data Suitable area for BMP placement
Continuous BMP Simulation
Small Medium Large

Untreated
Bypass

Attenuated
Orifice Outflow

Media Filtration
(Underdrain
Outflow)

10% Background Infiltration

Media Filtration
100% 50% Settling
Orifice Outflow
Bypass Flow
(% Treated) (% Treated) (% Treated)

Optimization

 What is
optimum?
 Minimize cost
 Maximize

pollutant flow

and/or load

reduction

 Subject to

BMP size,

selection, and

placement

constraints

 Optimization
$4.5
DRYPOND BIORETENTION
$4.0 RAINBARREL POROUSPAVEMENT
Cost Distribution ($ Million)

$3.5 Selected Simulation

$3.0

$2.5 21%
21%
$2.0 0% 0%
55%55%
24%24%
$1.5

$1.0

$0.5

$0.0
9.9%
14.1%
16.6%
18.4%
20.3%
22.1%
23.4%
24.2%
24.8%
25.7%
26.6%
27.3%
27.9%
28.5%
29.6%
30.2%
30.6%
30.8%
31.1%
31.6%
31.8%
32.1%
32.4%
32.9%
Effectiveness (% Reduction)

Thank you!

Contact Information:
Andrew Parker
andrew.parker@tetratech.com
(703)385-6000