Hydrological Processes in Urban Environments

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land–Climate Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 17805

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Geography, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Interests: surface hydrology; surface-groundwater interaction; hydrological processes; diffuse pollution modelling
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Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City 402, Taiwan
Interests: hydro-climatic modeling and forecasting; regional catastrophe modeling and risk assessments; integrated and interdisciplinary climate risk assessments; GIS and remote sensing applications; sustainability and environmental management
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Guest Editor
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Manoa, HI 96822, USA
Interests: watershed hydrology; hydrological modeling; ecological modeling; landscape ecology; stream ecology

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Guest Editor
Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 106, Taiwan
Interests: hydrological disaster prevention; unsaturated hydrology; water resources management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Present and future challenges posed by climate change and the growth of the number of people living in urban areas lead to the need to find new ways to manage the development of cities, in order to mitigate not only floods, but also threats such as water supply security, pollution, etc. Therefore, understanding the hydrological processes in urban environments is an important scientific and practical issue. This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview and a discussion platform for recent advances and trends under development. I encourage you to submit an original research article, review, or technical note to this Special Issue of Land on hydrological processes in urban environments.

This Special Issue has two objectives: improving the knowledge of hydrological processes in urbanized areas and contributing to the development of new methods, strategies and technologies for the management of urban waters.

Urban catchments are typically characterized by a flashier nature of the hydrological response compared to natural catchments, as they are influenced by the interactions between impervious/impermeable surfaces, the built environment, the basin size, drainage connectivity, and the stormwater management infrastructure (e.g., low impact development, detention ponds, etc.). In addition, the heterogeneity of land uses and underground characteristics influences all the processes in the water cycle, including rainfall (influenced by urban heat island effect), surface runoff, the infiltration and movement of water in soils/rain gardens, interactions between surface water and groundwater, evapotranspiration, etc. Smart cities using water in smart ways will influence the water cycle as well. Moreover, water quality issues also have crucial importance, with research required on the behavior of various contaminants in urban runoff and their impacts on the receiving environment. Nature-based solutions, e.g., constructed wetlands, on-site gravel contact treatment, etc., are applied to remove pollutants. All of these interactions between water processes and the various elements of urban catchments constitute many research directions, which deserve to be studied in a more in-depth manner.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Topics of research may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Urban hydrologic and hydraulic processes;
  • Urban flooding and risk management;
  • Assessment of scenarios and the effect of climate change on hydrological processes in urban environments;
  • Integrated system (e.g., hydrologic/ecological/social/economic system interactions) modeling and monitoring;
  • Water security and scarcity in urban environments;
  • Evaluation of water ecosystem services in urban environments.

Well-documented case studies and applications are also welcome, but should contribute to the broader understanding of urban hydrological processes.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Tsung-Yu Lee
Dr. Chia-Jeng Chen
Dr. Yin-Phan Tsang
Dr. Shao-Yiu Hsu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Land 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 2600 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 runoff
  • urban hydrology
  • urban water cycle
  • low-impact development
  • urban heat island effect
  • urban irrigation
  • urban stormwater management
  • urban water management

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 5294 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Spatial-Temporal Clogging Evolution in a Meso-Scale Lysimeter
by Jui-Hsiang Lo, Qun-Zhan Huang, Shao-Yiu Hsu, Yi-Zhih Tsai and Hong-Yen Lin
Land 2022, 11(9), 1518; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11091518 - 08 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1359
Abstract
When surface water infiltrates soil, the fine soil particles carried in water gradually clog soil pores and form a low-permeability soil layer. Clogging impacts the variations in pore water pressure heads in soil and effective hydraulic conductivity. However, few studies have connected field [...] Read more.
When surface water infiltrates soil, the fine soil particles carried in water gradually clog soil pores and form a low-permeability soil layer. Clogging impacts the variations in pore water pressure heads in soil and effective hydraulic conductivity. However, few studies have connected field measurements of pore water pressure heads to clogging in soil. This study proposed a diagram to demonstrate the relationship between the normalized pore water pressure head (λ) and effective hydraulic conductivity (Keff) based on a conceptual 1-D vertical infiltration model. The coevolution of λ and Keff indicated the occurrence of clogging and its location relative to the pore-pressure measurement point. We validated the λ-Keff diagram based on a series of numerical simulations of infiltration experiments in a lysimeter. The simulation results showed that the proposed diagram not only indicated the occurrence of clogging but also the development of the unsaturated zone beneath the upper clogging layer. Furthermore, we used a diagram to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in permeability in a lysimeter during three cycles of physical infiltration experiments. The experimental data presented with λ-Keff diagram indicated cracking on the soil surface, and clogging gradually developed at the bottom of the lysimeter. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Processes in Urban Environments)
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17 pages, 12874 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Effect of the Location and Design of Retention Ponds on Flooding in a Peri-Urban River Catchment
by Stephen J. Birkinshaw and Vladimir Krivtsov
Land 2022, 11(8), 1368; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081368 - 22 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2206
Abstract
In order to reduce the flooding risk in urban and peri-urban river catchments, retention ponds or wet detention ponds are often used. However, there has been little work that uses distributed hydrological modeling to consider their optimum location and design in order to [...] Read more.
In order to reduce the flooding risk in urban and peri-urban river catchments, retention ponds or wet detention ponds are often used. However, there has been little work that uses distributed hydrological modeling to consider their optimum location and design in order to reduce the flood risk in a river catchment. This work considers two existing and two potential ponds in the 22.8 km2 Braid Burn catchment, Edinburgh, Scotland. Using the Shetran physically based distributed hydrological model, the effect of these ponds on the river discharges for eight measured rainfall events and two design rainfall events is considered. The results show the larger Blackford pond is best at reducing the peak discharge at the catchment outlet. The other three ponds are designed to be almost the same. The potential pond in the upper part of the catchment reduces the peak discharge at the outlet; the pond in the middle at Oxgangs makes little difference to the peak discharge, while the potential pond in the lower part of the catchment increases the peak discharge at the outlet. These results show that when considering flood risk, the location of a retention pond within a river catchment is important, and it can make the flooding worse at the outlet if it is located in the wrong location. This work suggests the pond should be located in the upper part of the catchment, although the ideal location will depend on the catchment’s shape and lag time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Processes in Urban Environments)
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20 pages, 3701 KiB  
Article
Evaluation and Improvement Measures of the Runoff Coefficient of Urban Parks for Sustainable Water Balance
by Jinkwan Son and Taegeun Kwon
Land 2022, 11(7), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11071098 - 18 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2668
Abstract
As the impermeable sidewalk area increases in urban areas, diverse problems related to water occur. The purposes of this research were to increase the rainwater infiltration rate through water balance analysis and estimate the runoff coefficient according to land cover types in urban [...] Read more.
As the impermeable sidewalk area increases in urban areas, diverse problems related to water occur. The purposes of this research were to increase the rainwater infiltration rate through water balance analysis and estimate the runoff coefficient according to land cover types in urban parks. The regression equations and runoff coefficients relative to the rainwater infiltration rate were estimated according to the land cover types and applied to eight urban parks. In the results of the experiment, the runoff coefficient was 0.245 for vegetation areas, 0.583 for permeable sidewalks, 0.963 for sidewalk blocks, and 1.000 for impervious sidewalks, which had 100% outflow. The results show that the vegetation area in urban parks is significantly related to rainfall–runoff, infiltration, and evapotranspiration. The average of eight urban parks was 126.52 mm, indicating that 11.80% of the rainfall was recharged into groundwater. Additionally, the average runoff rate was 498.56 mm, indicating that 46.52% was leaked externally. Therefore, it is suggested to decrease the impermeable sidewalk areas in urban parks. Additionally, extending the waterway, swamp, and gravel sidewalk areas is suggested. Urban parks should be developed in order to contribute to hydrological control through the water balance in urban land use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Processes in Urban Environments)
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16 pages, 4216 KiB  
Article
Hydrological Cycle Performance at a Permeable Pavement Site and a Raingarden Site in a Subtropical Region
by Chi-Feng Chen, Jhe-Wei Lin and Jen-Yang Lin
Land 2022, 11(6), 951; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060951 - 20 Jun 2022
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 2159
Abstract
Low-impact development (LID) structures are widely used to mitigate urbanization impacts on hydrology. The performances of such structures are strongly affected by field conditions, such as the ratio of LID area to drainage area and rainfall properties, such as rainfall intensity. In this [...] Read more.
Low-impact development (LID) structures are widely used to mitigate urbanization impacts on hydrology. The performances of such structures are strongly affected by field conditions, such as the ratio of LID area to drainage area and rainfall properties, such as rainfall intensity. In this study, onsite continuous monitoring was performed at a permeable pavement site and a raingarden site in Taipei, Taiwan, to determine their water retention and groundwater recharge potential under subtropical weather. In addition, the verified Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) was used to illustrate the annual performance on the hydrological cycle. Based on one year of monitoring, data on 41 and 24 rainfall events were obtained at the permeable pavement and raingarden sites, respectively. The ratio of the permeable pavement area to the total drainage area was 36.0%, and this ratio was 15.9% for the raingarden. The results showed that the average runoff reduction rate was 14.7% at the permeable pavement site, and 98.3% of the rainfall was retained in the raingarden and an underground storage tank. The validated model showed that the permeable pavement site experienced 45.3% outflow, 31.6% evaporation, and 23.1% infiltration annually. For the raingarden with an underground storage tank, 91.4% of the annual rainfall infiltrated and was stored, with only 4.1% outflow. According to the observed rainfall event performance and the simulated annual performance, the permeable pavement and raingarden performed well in subtropical regions. Pavement that was approximately 1/3 permeable in a drainage area increased infiltration by approximately 20%, and a raingarden with a sufficient underground storage tank preserved over 90% of the rainfall. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Processes in Urban Environments)
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10 pages, 2678 KiB  
Article
How Does the Effect Fade over Distance? An Inquiry into the Decay Pattern of Distance Effect on Property Values in the Case of Taipei, Taiwan
by Lin-Han Chiang Hsieh
Land 2021, 10(11), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10111238 - 12 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1624
Abstract
It is generally accepted that the perception of homeowners towards certain potential risks or amenities fades as distance from the risk or amenity increases. This study aims to illustrate the distance–decay pattern with an appropriate mathematical function. Distance–decay functions and parameters that yield [...] Read more.
It is generally accepted that the perception of homeowners towards certain potential risks or amenities fades as distance from the risk or amenity increases. This study aims to illustrate the distance–decay pattern with an appropriate mathematical function. Distance–decay functions and parameters that yield the minimum residual sum of squares (RSS) for a given regression model are considered to be the optimal approximation for the pattern of decay. The effect of flood risk and mass rapid transit (MRT) accessibility on residential housing prices in Taipei, Taiwan, are used as examples to test the optimization process. The results indicate that the type of distance function affects both the significance and the magnitude of the regression coefficients. In the case of Taipei, concave functions provide better fits for both the flood risk and MRT accessibility. RSS reduction is up to 10% compared to the blank. Surprisingly, the impact range for the flood risk is found to be larger than that for MRT accessibility, which suggested that the impact range of perception for uncertain risks is larger than expected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Processes in Urban Environments)
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Review

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19 pages, 2054 KiB  
Review
Riverine Plastic Pollution in Asia: Results from a Bibliometric Assessment
by Walter Leal Filho, Cagdas Dedeoglu, Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis, Amanda Lange Salvia, Jelena Barbir, Viktoria Voronova, Ismaila Rimi Abubakar, Arvo Iital, Karin Pachel, Fredrik Huthoff, Ayyoob Sharifi, Peter J. Yang, Maris Klavins and Victoria Omeche Emanche
Land 2022, 11(7), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11071117 - 21 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5333
Abstract
Rivers are important ecosystems, vital to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of humans and other species. Despite their environmental, social, and economic importance, current use of rivers is unsustainable, due to a combination of solid waste and high levels of pollutants. Plastic [...] Read more.
Rivers are important ecosystems, vital to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of humans and other species. Despite their environmental, social, and economic importance, current use of rivers is unsustainable, due to a combination of solid waste and high levels of pollutants. Plastic materials are among the most predominant of such pollutants. Based on the need for additional research in this area, this study examines pressures put to rivers and explores trends related to riverine plastic pollution, with a focus on Asia. Apart from the bibliometric analysis, and relying on the collected information, examples describing the drivers of riverine plastic pollution in a sample of Asian countries are described, outlining the specific problem and its scope. Among some of the results obtained from it, mention can be made to the fact that much of the literature focuses on plastic pollution as a whole and less on one of its most significant ramifications, namely microplastics. Additionally, there is a need related to data availability on riverine plastic data and improving the understanding of transport mechanisms in relation to riverine plastic emission into the ocean. The results from this study illustrate the significance of the problems posed by plastic waste to Asian rivers and point out the fact that there are still significant gaps in respect of regulations and standards, which prevent improvements that are highlighted in this study. Based on the results of this bibliometric assessment, specific measures via which levels of riverine plastic pollution may be reduced are presented, bringing relevant new insights on this topic beyond the existing reviews. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrological Processes in Urban Environments)
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