Design and construction of a pilot prototype of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SuDs) for flood control in Panama

Abstract

Urban flooding in Panama affects thousands of people annually and generates millions in losses, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and climate change. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to promote the transition from traditional drainage systems to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) through the design and construction of a pilot-scale prototype for flood risk reduction in urban environments. The implementation of this prototype aims to innovate in climate adaptation tools that support multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The methodology was developed in two stages: analysis of the hydraulic behavior of a traditional drainage model and design and digitization of the prototype. The results include a SUDS prototype represented in a bioretention area with four layers: three soil layers (gravel, silica sand, loam-sand mixture, and mulch) as a filtration medium, and an outer layer of vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) vegetation. Additionally, an experimental rain simulator was assembled as a complementary tool to reproduce controlled rain events, evaluate hydrological performance, and validate the efficiency of the prototype under simulated conditions in future stages of the project.