The Mitigating Efficacy of Multi-Functional Storage Spaces in Alleviating Urban Floods across Diverse Rainfall Scenarios

Abstract

With accelerated urbanization and escalating severity and frequency of extreme precipitation events, urban flooding has become increasingly prevalent, posing significant threats to human life and economic well-being. Given the scarcity of land resources, the integration of flood mitigation measures into public spaces, particularly in the form of multi-functional storage spaces (MFSs), emerges as an effective strategy for rainwater retention. To assess the efficacy of MFS, a coupled modeling framework, comprising the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and the LISFLOOD-FP hydrodynamic model, was employed in the study. Under rainstorms of varying design characterized by diverse return periods and peak rainfall intensity locations, the study simulated and compared the performance of low-impact-development (LID) strategies, MFS, and a combined approach utilizing both LID and MFS (ALL). The findings indicate that the performance of these strategies significantly varies under diverse rainfall intensity and peak coefficients. Specifically, as the return period increases, the reduction rates of the three projects gradually diminish. For lower return periods (P ≤ 10), the order of reduction effectiveness was LID < MFS < ALL; whereas, for higher return periods (P ≥ 20), the order was LID < ALL < MFS. LID exhibited superior performance under low return periods with an early-peak-rainfall position, and under high return periods with a mid-peak position. MFS and the ALL approach achieved the most significant reduction effects under early-peak-rainfall positions. LID may introduce uncertainties into the performance of MFS during rainfall events with higher return periods and peak coefficients. The outcomes of this research offer valuable technical insights that can inform urban planning strategies and enhance the design of flood mitigation measures in urban environments.