Digital DRAIN. An integrated dual urban drainage model

Apr 03, 2024

In recent years, a new comprehensive approach to urban drainage planning and management has emerged, known as dual-flow. This approach addresses both the quantity and quality of water, as well as surface and sewer network flow, and their impact on final receiving bodies. To address these challenges, modelling and analysis tools that consider this flow coupling are required. The main objective of the Digital RAIN project (DRAIN) is to develop an open-source and free modelling tool, integrated into a GIS environment, to evaluate hydraulic behaviour and the effects of pollution on urban drainage. Additionally, it will include specific modules for implementing sustainable urban drainage systems and for analysing adaptation to climate change.

Led by two civil engineering companies (ABM and CIVILE), in collaboration with the Flumen Research Institute at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and the Geama group at the Universidade da Coruña, the project aims to combine hydraulic modelling expertise with GIS software development. This innovative project aligns with the guidelines of RD1290-2021 in Spain, which require comprehensive mathematical modelling of drainage networks, cities, and receiving environments, as well as annual assessment of pollution discharge. DRAIN will provide an operational open-source tool that will enable companies to comply with environmental regulations, benefiting both service providers and recipients related to the integral water cycle.
Funding: The project “DRAIN - Digital RAIN. An Integrated Urban Drainage Model” (CPP2021-008756) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities/Agencia Estatal de Investigación/10.13039/501100011033/ and by the "European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR: Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan for Spain