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Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) monitoring is very often intrusive and need onsite personnel to be carried out. The application of remote sensing in SuDS still is an area for further development, especially in vegetation-based techniques, representing a gap in the field. This research proposes an exploratory method combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images data and onsite measurements to develop models of performance. Linear regression models were obtained for the computing of the soil moisture using the following variables: backscatter coefficient (σ°), temperature, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and topographic wetness index (TWI), reaching medium to high values for its predictive capacity, ranging from 0.53 and 0.66 using σ° and temperature. The most influential variable was found to be the temperature. This investigation opens the path for future research in the use of remote sensing tools in vegetation-based SuDS monitoring with homogeneous plant species, highlighting the need for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highway Filter Drains (HFD) are one of the most utilised drainage systems for roads, being considered as an environmental solution for sustainable drainage in transport infrastructures. However, little research has been done to understand their performance, representing a significant knowledge gap. This article therefore determines the hydraulic and clogging response of 3 different HFD designs in the laboratory; one standard design with British Standard Type B aggregate, and 2 new designs including a geotextile located at 50 mm and 500 mm depth from the surface of the HFD structure in order to assess the effect of the geotextile. The laboratory models were initially subjected to 9 rainfall scenarios with 3 rainfall intensities (2.5, 5 and 10 mm/h) and 3 storm durations (5, 10 and 15 min). Subsequently, the equivalent of 2-years’ worth of pollutants were added to test possible clogging issues under the highest intensity rainfall event, corresponding to a 1 in 1 year return period for the West Midlands, UK. No clogging issues were found in any of the models although the majority of the sediments were concentrated in the first 50 mm of the HFD profile, with higher percentages (>90% of the sediment added) in those models with an upper geotextile. Location of the geotextile significantly influenced (p-value = 0.05) the hydraulic performance of the HFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on an evaluation of the properties of a novel structure known as OASIS® which was designed at Coventry University as an enhancement of the commercially available geotextiles when incorporated in the permeable pavement system (PPS). The impact on the hydraulic behaviour of a PPS was analysed through the study of infiltration rate, throughout the PPS and time required to reach the steady-state stage behaviour of the water within the PPS, under extreme rainfall intensities of 100 mm/hr, 200 mm/hr and 400 mm/hr, corresponding to a 100-year return period rainfall over a duration of 15 min in different parts of the world. The result indicated that the novel structure provides an extra benefit when incorporated in PPSs, delaying peak flow of a rainfall event by retaining and storing great volumes of water within its structure. These additional benefits are especially important under extreme rainfall events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]