Abstract
Ancient Chinese cities have implemented a number of outstanding projects in unique local landscapes that still currently remain in use, and some of these ideas are similar to recent modern projects. An example of successful ecological engineering is the Tuancheng drainage system in Beijing. The present study presents a technical analysis of this drainage system and describes a hydrological model for a one-time rainstorm event and one-year water balance using the Stella® platform. The results demonstrate that the drainage criteria were reasonable and that the implementation was exceptional. One of the excellent designs is the underground circular C-shaped drainage system in the terrace, where at each turning point, there is a pit to collect rainwater. In addition, the inverted paving of the trapezoidal brick on the surface and soil improvements largely contributed to the rapid infiltration of rainwater. During an intense rainstorm, the system effectively attenuated stormwater and increased the infiltration proportion. In 1965, with only 226 mm of rainfall, this system retained 27 mm more water in the soil. The Tuancheng drainage system is an excellent example combining drainage and storage, ground and underground, and gray and green infrastructure to create a hydrological landscape functionally equivalent to natural conditions. Exploring ancient wisdom and using the ideas of our ancestors could help us contribute to more effective and efficient strategies to address the issues of urban stormwater management.
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Zhang, L., Yang, Z., Voinov, A., Gao, S. (2019). Nature-Inspired Stormwater Management Practice: The Ecological Wisdom Underlying the Tuanchen Drainage System in Beijing, China, and Its Contemporary Relevance. In: Yang, B., Young, R. (eds) Ecological Wisdom. EcoWISE. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0571-9_6
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