A novel method for the classification of urban areas in terms of rainwater drainage potential

This article presents a method that allows for the assessment and classification of the suitability of urban areas for the installation of infiltration basins and trenches to improve rainwater drainage. The proposed method utilizes commonly available archival data regarding soil lithology and permeability, vadose zone characteristics, and aquifer depth. The algorithm considers the aforementioned factors along with the characteristics of the study area to determine rainwater infiltration potential. The developed model, named DIS, incorporates the key factors: depth of water table (D), impact of vadose zone (I) and soil media (S). On the basis of the DIS index values, five assessments of terrain suitability for rainwater management were proposed. It is suggested that a DIS index value below 1 indicates no possibility of water draining into the ground, whereas DIS index values above 2.5 suggest optimal conditions for the construction of infiltration basins and trenches. The algorithm was further applied to analyze the spatial variation of the DIS index across an urban area employing geostatistical methods and GIS techniques. The DIS method can be applied to rainwater management at both local and regional scales to support urban planners and developers in decision making processes.