Integration of GIS and HEC-HMS for sustainable drainage structure modeling

An effective approach to addressing the challenges of overload in urban drainage systems is the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) with hydrological modeling software. In this context, the primary objective of this study was to integrate QGIS with HEC-HMS and apply them to the design of sustainable drainage structures. QGIS was employed to obtain the physiographic characteristics and land use information for the region of interest. Conversely, HEC-HMS was used to perform the water balance for the selected area, aiming to determine the drainage system's flow capacity and the buffering effect provided by a detention basin. The integration of QGIS and HEC-HMS was applied in a specific case study in the municipality of Viçosa, in the state of Minas Gerais. The results of this study highlighted the existing drainage system's inability to handle high flow rates and indicated that implementing a detention basin could help mitigate this issue. The investigated methodology proved to be extremely valuable, allowing professionals involved in the design of urban drainage systems to use it, thereby improving the response capacity and resilience of cities in the face of extreme precipitation events.