Real-time urban drainage system modelling using weather radar rainfall data

This paper introduces an urban drainage system (UDS) modelling approach cal led RHINOS (Real-time urban Hydrological Infrastructure and Output modellin g Strategy) developed specifically for use in predictive real-time control (RTC) applications. RHINOS uses quantitative distributed rainfall forecasts to predict pipe flows at locations throughout the pipe network. The paper highlights, with the use of a case study, the contribution weather radar sy stems can make to the RTC of UDS. The RHINOS procedure differs from existin g urban hydrological modelling approaches in several ways including: (i) th e way in which the UDS is represented; (ii) the parameter identification/es timation algorithm, and (iii) the techniques developed for flow prediction. RHINOS has been developed to produce supplementary information to any sewe r telemetry system and enable global predictive control strategies to be im plemented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail rights reserved.