Developing synthetic sewer pipe system for data-scarce domains in application for urban flood modeling

Abstract In urban flood modeling, the accuracy of surface and subsurface flow calculations greatly depends on the parameterization of the drainage system. Incorporating the influence of the sewer pipe system is, therefore, integral to accurately simulating urban inundation during short-duration rainfall events. However, obtaining comprehensive data on sewer systems in developing countries is currently challenging. To mitigate this situation, we propose a method for developing a synthetic sewer network to supplement the representation of the sewer system in urban flood models, particularly in data-scarce domains. The model implements the concept of shallow water equation for surface flow and a 1D slot model for pipe flows with an interaction equation between them. We compare case studies with and without discharge interaction between the surface and hypothetical sewer system for the 2020 flood event in an urban subcatchment within the Marikina Basin, Philippines. Results show that the synthetic sewer pipe integration can capture the urban flood propagation more appropriately. Information such as flood depth and pipe flow discharge can aid in identifying flood-prone areas where sewer system parameters may require modifications. The proposed method can be used as an alternative to performing high-resolution urban flood simulations with limited availability of sewer network data.