Geographic information systems, decision support systems, and urban storm-water management

The application of geometric information system (GIS) technology to the fie ld of urban stormwater modeling is reviewed. Then a GIS application in urba n storm-water management is presented at a neighborhood scale. The neighbor hood scale application includes a GIS, a database, a storm-water system des ign template, and an optimization capability for screening alternatives. Th e area and soil-type based Soil Conservation Service (SCS) method is used f or calculating runoff from GIS information. Using economic analysis to comp are the cost of controls, including the opportunity cost of land for land i ntensive controls, the optimal mix of best management practice (BMP) contro ls was found using linear programming. Finally, a single site example is pr esented illustrating the value of GIS tools to provide more complex on-site hydrologic analysis.