Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Publication
    An evaluation of urban flood estimation methodologies in Ireland
    (Wiley and Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), 2010-03) ; ; ;
    This paper summarises the findings of a study to evaluate the use in Ireland of the different flood estimation methodologies that can be applied to urban or urbanising catchments. The study, undertaken as part of the Office of Public Works‟ (OPW) Flood Studies Update programme, comprised both quantitative (posted questionnaires) and qualitative research (focus groups) targeting a range of organisations involved with planning and design issues pertaining to urban flooding. A total of 291 questionnaires was circulated. Of these, 100 were returned, equating to a response rate of 34%. Results indicate that formulae and methods for determining runoff rates in urban and urbanising catchments are being applied very generally without due consideration being given to the statistical foundation underlying the methods. The resulting inconsistencies in estimated runoff rates highlight the need for National Guidance for flow estimation in urban and urbanising catchments in Ireland.
    Scopus© Citations 4  3983
  • Publication
    Urban drainage in Ireland - embracing sustainable systems
    The current approach to stormwater management in Ireland requires that outflows from new developments are restricted to greenfield values that would have occurred prior to development. This typically involved the use of holding tanks constructed within developments to attenuate stormwater from where it was released at a reduced rate via a control structure to a nearby drainage network or watercourse. Improved drainage policies now require that sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) are used to meet this objective. This study presents an evaluation of perceived issues that may impede the adoption of new policies. The findings are based on surveys and focus groups of practitioners involved with the planning and design of drainage systems. Although the study indicates that benefits of SuDS are reasonably well understood, their use, for many reasons, has remained less popular. Concerns with ongoing maintenance and long-term responsibility of SuDS remain impediments to the embracing of these systems in drainage strategies.
      1728Scopus© Citations 18
  • Publication
    Designing for surface water runoff control : end-user requirements in Ireland
    Since 1975, flood estimation in Ireland has generally followed methods as outlined in the Flood Studies Report (Natural Environment Research Council, 1975). An update of this for conditions in the Republic of Ireland commenced in 2005 and included research in Urban Catchment Flood Analysis. To inform this work, a scoping study of issues relating to flooding caused by urban runoff was undertaken by a team from the Centre for Water Resources Research at University College Dublin and some of the findings are described in this paper. It focussed on quantitative and qualitative research methods (self-completion questionnaires and Focus Groups) to review the methods of flood estimation for urbanised catchments currently in use in Ireland. It assessed the nature of deficiencies associated with urban-runoff control and identified achievable and realistic objectives for further research. A questionnaire was developed around a number of key themes pertaining to flooding caused by urban runoff and circulated to 291 stakeholders in target sectors that ranged from Engineering Consultancies to Academic Institutions. A total of 100 questionnaires were returned giving a 34% response rate. The study found; (i) a proliferation of methods are used in practice resulting in significant differences between the estimates; (ii) some methods are sometimes being used for inappropriate spatial scales; (iii) there is a lack of clear guidance on the use of the methods and/or associated software packages; (iv) there is little appreciation of the uncertainties associated with the methods and (v) there are significant deficiencies in some of the basic information available. A list of recommendations was produced, to guide the commissioning of future research to improve the methods available to designers.
    Scopus© Citations 1  1089
  • Publication
    Water quality monitoring during the construction of the M3 motorway in Ireland
    The M3 motorway in Ireland was constructed between the years 2007 and 2010. The motorway crosses the River Boyne, which is a designated salmonid water under the EU Freshwater directive, and its tributaries. The paper describes the measures taken to mitigate any potential impacts which the road scheme might have had on the aquatic environment and the water quality of the Boyne watercourses before-, during- and post-construction. The success of the mitigation measures undertaken is assessed by: (a) comparing pre-construction, during-construction and post-construction water quality data, (b) comparing measured water quality with relevant standards, (c) comparing water quality data upstream and downstream of river crossings, (d) the establishment of a pilot-scale real-time water quality monitoring station at the downstream end of the works before discharge into the river Boyne. The study concluded that the measures taken have been successful in minimising the water quality impacts associated with the road scheme.
    Scopus© Citations 7  1405