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

The application of geometric information system (GIS) technology to the field of urban stormwater modeling is reviewed. Then a GIS application in urban storm-water management is presented at a neighborhood scale. The neighborhood scale application includes a GIS, a database, a storm-water system design template, and an optimization capability for screening alternatives. The area and soil-type based Soil Conservation Service (SCS) method is used for calculating runoff from GIS information. Using economic analysis to compare the cost of controls, including the opportunity cost of land for land intensive controls, the optimal mix of best management practice (BMP) controls was found using linear programming. Finally, a single site example is presented illustrating the value of GIS tools to provide more complex on-site hydrologic analysis.