Back to results

Virginia Tech

Vegetated Swales in Urban Stormwater Modeling and Management

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Despite the runoff reduction efficiencies recommended by various regulatory agencies, minimal research exists regarding the ability of vegetated swales to simultaneously convey and reduce runoff. This study assessed the effect water quality swales distributed among upstream sub-watersheds had on watershed hydrology. The study was also posed to determine how certain design parameters can be dimensioned to increase runoff reduction according to the following modeling scenarios: base, base check dam height, minimum check dam height, maximum check dam height, minimum infiltration rate, maximum infiltration rate, minimum Manning's n, maximum Manning's n, minimum longitudinal slope, and maximum longitudinal slope. Peak flow rate, volume, and time to peak for each scenario were compared to the watershed's existing and predevelopment conditions. With respect to the existing condition, peak flow rate and volume decreased for all scenarios, and the time to peak decreased for most scenarios; the counterintuitive nature of this result was attributed to software error. Overall, the sensitivity analysis produced results contrary to the hypotheses in most cases. The cause of this result can likely be attributed to the vegetated swale design and modeling approaches producing an over designed, under constrained, and/or over discretized stormwater management practice.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Civil Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Civil Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2012

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • White, Kyle Wallace
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Dymond, Randel L.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Moglen, Glenn E.
  • Young, Kevin D.

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-05102012-232104
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42586

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

White, Kyle Wallace. Vegetated Swales in Urban Stormwater Modeling and Management. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42586