Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) modeling supporting decision-making: A systematic quantitative review

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Feb 1;806(Pt 2):150447. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150447. Epub 2021 Sep 25.

Abstract

Decision Support Systems (DSS) for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are a valuable aid for SUDS widespread adoption. These tools systematize the decision-making criteria and eliminate the bias inherent to expert judgment, abridging the technical aspect of SUDS for non-technical users and decision-makers. Through the collection and careful assessment of 120 papers on SUDS models and SUDS-DSS, this review shows how these tools are built, selected, and used to assist decision-makers questions. The manuscript classifies the DSS based on the question they assist in answering, the spatial scale used, the software selected, among other aspects. SUDS-DSS aspects that require more attention are identified, including environmental and social considerations, SUDS trains performance and criteria for selection, stochasticity of rainfall, and future scenarios impact. Suggestions for SUDS-DSS are finally offered to better equip decision-makers in facing emerging stormwater challenges in urban centers.

Keywords: Decision support tools; Green infrastructure (GI); Optimized SUDS design; Sponge cities; Urban drainage modeling; Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD).

Publication types

  • Review