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Hydrology
Special Issues
Advances in Urban Hydrology and Stormwater Management
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Advances in Urban Hydrology and Stormwater Management

A special issue of Hydrology (ISSN 2306-5338). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrological and Hydrodynamic Processes and Modelling".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 7668

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Shirley Gato-Trinidad

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil and Construction Engineering, School of Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn 3122, Australia
Interests: water resources management; water demand forecasting and modelling; green infrastructures (rainwater tanks; constructed wetlands)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Upaka Rathnayake

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, Faculty of Engineering and Design, Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland
Interests: watershed modeling; hydrology; urban water management; climate adaptation; AI-driven engineering solution
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Kuok King Kuok

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering and Science, Faculty of Engineering, Computing & Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Kuching 93350, Sarawak, Malaysia
Interests: flood forecasting using artificial neural networks models; imputation of missing data using artificial intelligence; filter membrane development; impact of climate change to hydrology; derivation of equatorial soil loss equation; low impact development; sustainable water supply; detention drain using stormwater module

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the global growing population and urbanization, the expansion of our growth centers is sometimes unplanned or uncontrolled. As of 31 July 2024, the current world population is 8.1 billion according to the most recent United Nations estimates (Worldometer). As of 2022, it is estimated that over half (55 per cent) of the population is living in urban areas, a figure projected to rise to 70 per cent by 2050. The effects of these urban developments on hydrology and stormwater management are significant enough not to be ignored. Traditionally, managing stormwater in urban areas involves collecting rainwater through gutters into sewer systems which is known as “end of pipe treatment” with massive discharges. With increasing impervious surfaces due to urbanization, alternatives have been developed including decentralized systems. However, these systems are often sized for design storms and incapable of handling major storms, resulting in flood damages. Given the effects and impacts of climate change and the frequency of extreme rainfall events, new and appropriate hydraulic designs of these alternative systems are needed. There is an urgent need to collect data to calibrate the parameters used in design and modeling. Are our current modeling approaches still valid when it comes to modeling the impact of climate change? Are the default parameters in our modeling approaches developed based on historical records appropriate to model the impact of climate change and increase impervious surfaces? While dealing with hydrology and water quality separately, is there a way to integrate hydrology and water quality to better manage urban stormwater? Can the current flood mapping in urban areas reflect urbanization and changing rainfall intensities and storm durations? Can our current stormwater management design guidelines incorporate the changing climate and urban landscape? Are green and blue infrastructures the way to manage stormwater in increasingly populated urban areas?   

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) to provide insights into innovative research and developments on urban hydrology and stormwater management as we face issues brought about by increasing population, droughts, changing urban landscape, and climate change.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

  • Urban hydrology;
  • Urban drainage system modeling;
  • Sustainable urban drainage system;
  • Green infrastructure and flood mitigation;
  • Best practice guidelines on flood estimation and climate change;
  • Approaches to modeling change;
  • Innovative technologies on drainage systems and flood management;
  • Data analytics applications for drainage systems and flood management;
  • GIS applications for drainage systems and flood management;
  • Drainage basins and runoff calculations and methodologies;
  • Hydrologic design for water excess management.

Submitted studies may be focused on data collection, management, and reliability; may involve the numerical modeling of physical processes; or finally, may propose technical solutions for problems at stake. Problem-oriented, interdisciplinary studies will significantly add value to this Special Issue.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Shirley Gato-Trinidad
Prof. Dr. Upaka Rathnayake
Dr. Kuok King Kuok
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Hydrology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • urban hydrology
  • stormwater management
  • green infrastructure
  • flood modeling and mitigation
  • urban drainage modeling
  • GIS

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2230 KiB  
Article
Seismic Performance Assessment of Gravity Dams for Urban Flood Risk Mitigation Using the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method (SBFEM)
by Min-koan Kim and Dai Xu
Hydrology 2025, 12(8), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12080209 - 10 Aug 2025
Viewed by 243
Abstract
Rapid urbanization and climate change have intensified urban flood risks, necessitating resilient upstream infrastructure to ensure metropolitan water security and effective flood mitigation. Gravity dams, as critical components of urban flood protection systems, regulate discharge to downstream urban areas. Gravity dams are critical [...] Read more.
Rapid urbanization and climate change have intensified urban flood risks, necessitating resilient upstream infrastructure to ensure metropolitan water security and effective flood mitigation. Gravity dams, as critical components of urban flood protection systems, regulate discharge to downstream urban areas. Gravity dams are critical for regulating flood discharge, yet their seismic vulnerability poses significant challenges, particularly under compound effects involving concurrent seismic loading and climate-induced elevated reservoir levels. This study introduces a novel seismic analysis framework for gravity dams using the scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM), which efficiently models dam–water and dam–foundation interactions in infinite domains. A two-dimensional numerical model of a concrete gravity dam, subjected to realistic seismic loading, was developed and validated against analytical solutions and conventional finite element method (FEM) results, achieving discrepancies as low as 0.95% for static displacements and 0.21% for natural frequencies. The SBFEM approach accurately captures hydrodynamic pressures and radiation damping, revealing peak pressures at the dam heel during resonance and demonstrating computational efficiency with significantly reduced nodal requirements compared to FEM. These findings enhance understanding of dam behavior under extreme loading. The proposed framework supports climate-adaptive design standards and integrated hydrological–structural modeling. By addressing the seismic safety of flood-control dams, this research contributes to the development of resilient urban water management systems capable of protecting metropolitan areas from compound climatic and seismic extremes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Hydrology and Stormwater Management)
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17 pages, 3175 KiB  
Article
Impact of Different Building Roof Types on Hydrological Processes at the Urban Community Scale
by Chaohui Chen, Hao Hou, Yongguo Shi, Ping Zhao, Yao Li, Yong Wang, Yindong Zhang and Tangao Hu
Hydrology 2025, 12(6), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12060154 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 542
Abstract
As urbanization accelerates and urban hydrological cycles evolve, roof typology emerges as a pivotal role in water retention capacity and drainage efficiency. To systematically evaluate the influence of various roof types on urban hydrological processes, this study designed four distinct catchment scenarios: Thiessen [...] Read more.
As urbanization accelerates and urban hydrological cycles evolve, roof typology emerges as a pivotal role in water retention capacity and drainage efficiency. To systematically evaluate the influence of various roof types on urban hydrological processes, this study designed four distinct catchment scenarios: Thiessen Polygon Scenarios (TS), Roof Type Consideration Scenarios (RS), Full Flat-Roof Scenarios (FS), and Full Pitched-Roof Scenarios (PS). This study employed the Urban Flood Intelligent Model (UFIM) to simulate urban flooding scenarios, utilizing precipitation data from 21 August 2024 combined with four distinct return periods (1a, 5a, 10a, and 20a) as hydrological inputs. The results show that roof types significantly affected hydrological processes in urban communities. Flat roofs accumulate water and drain slowly, making it easy to form larger areas of accumulated water during peak rainfall periods, thereby increasing the risk of urban flooding. Pitched roofs drain quickly but experience a brief rise in water level during peak hours due to rapid drainage. Based on these insights, priority should be given to the use of sloped roof design in areas prone to accumulated water to accelerate drainage. In areas requiring runoff mitigation, the strategic integration of flat roofs with green roofs enhances rainwater retention capacity, thereby optimizing urban hydrological regulation and bolstering flood resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Hydrology and Stormwater Management)
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26 pages, 9116 KiB  
Article
Automated Calibration of SWMM for Improved Stormwater Model Development and Application
by Hossein Ahmadi, Durelle Scott, David J. Sample and Mina Shahed Behrouz
Hydrology 2025, 12(6), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12060129 - 25 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1403
Abstract
The fast pace of urban development and increasing intensity of precipitation events have made managing urban stormwater an increasingly difficult challenge. Hydrologic models are commonly used to predict flows and assess the performance of stormwater controls, often based on a hypothetical yet standardized [...] Read more.
The fast pace of urban development and increasing intensity of precipitation events have made managing urban stormwater an increasingly difficult challenge. Hydrologic models are commonly used to predict flows and assess the performance of stormwater controls, often based on a hypothetical yet standardized design storm. The Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) is widely used for simulating runoff in urban watersheds. However, calibration of SWMM, as with all hydrologic models, is often plagued with issues such as subjectivity, and an abundance of model parameters, leading to delays and inefficiencies in model development and application. Further development of modeling and simulation tools to aid in design is critical in improving the function of stormwater management systems. To address these issues, we developed an integration of PySWMM (a Python wrapper (tool) for SWMM) and Pymoo (a Python package for multi-objective optimization) to automate the SWMM calibration process. The tool was tested using a case study urban watershed in Fredericksburg, VA. This tool can employ either a single-objective or multi-objective approach to calibrate a SWMM model by minimizing the error between prediction and observed values. This tool uses performance metrics including Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE), Percent Bias (PBIAS), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) Standardized Ratio (RSR) for both single-event and long-term continuous rainfall-runoff processes. During multi-objective optimization calibration, the model achieved NSE, PBIAS, and RSR values of 0.73, 17.1, and 0.52, respectively; while the validation period recorded values of 0.86, 13.1, and 0.37, respectively. Additionally, in the single-objective optimization test case, the model yielded NSE values of 0.68 and 0.73 for the calibration and validation, respectively. The tool also supports parallelized optimization algorithms and utilizes Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to dynamically update SWMM model parameters, accelerating both model execution and convergence. The tool successfully calibrated the SWMM model, delivering reliable results with suitable computational performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Hydrology and Stormwater Management)
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24 pages, 3815 KiB  
Article
Using High-Resolution Flood Hazard and Urban Heat Island Maps for High-Priority BGI Placement at the City Scale
by Stefan Reinstaller, Albert Wilhelm König and Dirk Muschalla
Hydrology 2025, 12(5), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12050125 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 915
Abstract
This study presents a general workflow for creating a priority map for blue–green infrastructure (BGI) placement at the city scale, incorporating model-based benefit analysis. This workflow generates a BGI priority map, combining flood hazard and urban heat island maps, that guarantees multi-functional requirements [...] Read more.
This study presents a general workflow for creating a priority map for blue–green infrastructure (BGI) placement at the city scale, incorporating model-based benefit analysis. This workflow generates a BGI priority map, combining flood hazard and urban heat island maps, that guarantees multi-functional requirements are met. This approach was applied at a small study site in Feldbach, Austria. In the second part, we used the priority map generated to implement six BGI strategies in an integrated 1D-2D urban flood model and a semi-distributed hydrological model at high-priority and low-priority locations. The use of the efficiency index (EImod) enabled a multi-objective assessment. The results indicate that all the strategies led to a higher EImod when implemented in high-priority locations compared to low-priority locations. Our findings demonstrate that priority maps support decision making regarding where strategies should be implemented, providing remarkable benefits for water management objectives. Additionally, the findings highlight the importance of incorporating potential flooding areas to enhance prioritisation regarding flood hazard indicators. In future assessments, economic parameters, such as cost considerations, should also be integrated in order to optimise BGI placement efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Hydrology and Stormwater Management)
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10 pages, 599 KiB  
Article
Study on the Stage Method of the Water Environmental Capacity Flood Season in the Ningxia Section of the Yellow River
by Yu Song and Hongrui Wang
Hydrology 2025, 12(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology12010010 - 8 Jan 2025
Viewed by 904
Abstract
The rational use of the water environmental resources of the main stream of the Yellow River, which is the mother river of the Chinese nation, and the control of and reduction in water environmental pollution, especially in relation to water quality safety, have [...] Read more.
The rational use of the water environmental resources of the main stream of the Yellow River, which is the mother river of the Chinese nation, and the control of and reduction in water environmental pollution, especially in relation to water quality safety, have become important issues that must be considered in Ningxia’s economic and social development. Due to the influence of monsoons, river runoff in most of the river basins in China is mainly concentrated in the flood season, and its distribution is extremely uneven within and among years. Therefore, an analysis of the seasonal change law of heavy rainfall and flooding and a scientific and rational staging of the flood season can fully demonstrate the comprehensive benefits of the river and also address the inevitable need to master and utilize the capacity of the water environment. In this study, the abundant, level, and absent year division of the Ningxia section of the main stream of the Yellow River was carried out using the percentage of parity and the guarantee rate methods. Several commonly used flood periods staging methods were studied, and their applicable conditions were preliminarily analyzed. The research results not only provide a reference for the relevant management departments, a decision-making basis for rational planning, and the scientific and appropriate development of river basins but they also have scientific research significance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Hydrology and Stormwater Management)
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19 pages, 3323 KiB  
Article
Nature-Based Solutions (NbSs) to Improve Flood Preparedness in Barcelona Metropolitan Area (Northeastern Spain)
by Carlos Sánchez-García, Óscar Corvacho-Ganahín, Albert Santasusagna Riu and Marcos Francos
Hydrology 2024, 11(12), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11120213 - 9 Dec 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2607
Abstract
This paper presents a novel study of the Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) approach to analyze and propose mitigation measures for extreme floods. The study area is the Llobregat River in Catalonia, which crosses urban areas. We have selected one section in the final stretch [...] Read more.
This paper presents a novel study of the Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) approach to analyze and propose mitigation measures for extreme floods. The study area is the Llobregat River in Catalonia, which crosses urban areas. We have selected one section in the final stretch of 4.5 km in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The section has suffered several damages in the last floods (e.g., 2016, 2018 and 2019), and we propose measures to reduce flood risk. Therefore, we proposed the following three specific objectives: (a) the identification of critical areas in the river stretches; (b) the identification of NbS opportunities and utilities; and (c) the mitigation measures in concrete areas from NbSs. The effectiveness of a NbS is based on the 2D simulation of the Gloria flood event (20–21 January 2020) with HEC-RAS software (version 6.0) for the better management of stormwater, and it is influenced by design and placement aspects; however, the better use of NbSs can improve flood mitigation and enhance urban resilience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Urban Hydrology and Stormwater Management)
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