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.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Allen RG et al (1998) Crop evapotranspiration guidelines for computing crop water requirements. FAO Irrigation and drainage paper 56, Rome
Barbosa AE et al (2012) Key issues for sustainable urban stormwater management. Water Res 46:6787–6798
Chahinian N et al (2005) Comparison of infiltration models to simulate flood events at the field scale. J Hydrol 306:191–214
Che WR (2008) Annual water utilization estimation of main trees, shrubs, and lawn grass species of greenland in Beijing. Thesis for master degree of Beijing Forestry University (in Chinese)
Che W et al (2013) Enlightenment from ancient Chinese urban and rural stormwater management practices. Water Sci Technol 67(7):1474–1480
Du S (2012) Design with stormwater: landscape of integrated LID in Chinese high-density residential development. Thesis for master degree of Hong Kong University. Available at http://hub.hku.hk/bitstream/10722/196508/1/FullText.pdf?accept=1
Du P, Zheng X (2010) City drainage in ancient China. Water Sci Technol 10(5):753–764
Fang C et al (2002) Electromagnetic detention of ancient underground irrigation and drainage system in urban rainfall flood utilization. Hydropower Autom Dam Monit 26:37–41 (in Chinese)
Feng YY et al (2013) System dynamics modeling for urban energy consumption and CO2 emissions: a case study of Beijing, China. Ecol Model 252:44–52
Fletcher TD et al (2014) SUDS, LID, BMPs, WSUD and more—the evolution and application of terminology surrounding urban drainage. Urban Water J. https://doi.org/10.1080/1573062X.2014.916314
Horton RE (1939) An approach toward a physical interpretation of infiltration capacity. Trans Am Geophys Union, 20, 693–711
Hou RZ (1985) Capital city Yuan Dadu. In IHNS, CAS (Edi) The technology history of Chinese architecture. Science Press, Beijing
Hu WX (2010) Research on the development of storm water model and its application in piedmont cities. Dissertation for Master Degree, South China University of Technology
Isee System (2006) Technical document for the iThink and STELLA software. Available at http://www.iseesystems.com
IWHR (2001) Research report of underground drainage system of Tuancheng. Research Report of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWRH) (in Chinese)
Jones JE et al (2012) BMP effectiveness for nutrients, bacteria, solids, metals, and runoff volume. Stormwater, 13. http://www.stormh2o.com/SW/Articles/BMP_Effectiveness_for_Nutrients_Bacteria_Solids_Me_16214.aspx
Lai NN et al (2003) The water collecting principle of Tuancheng ancient seepage pit of Beihai park and its possible application in garden design. Beijing Gard 4:16–24 (in Chinese)
Li C (2012) Ecohydrology and good urban design for urban storm water-logging in Beijing, China. Ecohydrol Hydrobiol 12(4):287–300
Li SZ et al (2003) An introduction to the ancient rain harvesting system in Tuancheng. Beijing Water Resour 3:19–21 (in Chinese)
Liang JG et al (2010) Research on reasonable moisture content of un-burn brick before laying. Archit Technol 41(1):56–59 (in Chinese)
McHarg IL (1969) Design with nature. Doubleday/Natural History Press, Garden City, NY
MOHURD (2014) Technical manual for construction of Sponge City. Available at http://www.mohurd.gov.cn/zcfg/jsbwj_0/jsbwjcsjs/201411/W020141102041225.pdf
Monteith JL (1981) Evaporation and surface temperature. Q J R Meteorol Soc 107(451):1–27
Mou JL (2011) Design storm pattern analysis in the city of Beijing. Thesis for master degree of Lonzhou Jiaotong University (in Chinese)
Muthukrishnan S, Madge B, Selvakumar A (2006) The use of best management practices (BMPs) in urban watersheds—executive summary. In Field R, Tafuri AN, Muthukrishnan S, Madge Acquisto BA, Selvakumar A (eds) The use of best management practices (BMPs) in urban watersheds (pp 1–12). Destech Publications Inc, Lancaster, PA
Sharma D (2008) Sustainable drainage system (SUDS) for stormwater management: a technological and policy intervention to combat diffuse pollution. In: 11th international conference on urban drainage, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, 2008. Available at http://web.sbe.hw.ac.uk/staffprofiles/bdgsa/11th_International_Conference_on_Urban_Drainage_CD/ICUD08/pdfs/753.pdf
Todd NJ, Todd J (1994) From eco-cities to living machines: principles of ecological design. North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, 224p
Todd J et al (2003) Ecological design applied. Ecol Eng 20(5):421–440
Todeschini S et al (2012) Performance of stormwater detention tanks for urban drainage systems in northern Italy. J Environ Manage 101:33–45
USEPA (2000) Low impact development a literature review, EPA-841-B-00–005, Office of Water (4230), Washington, DC, 20460
Vaes G, Berlamont J (2001) The effect of rainwater storage tank on design storms. Urban water 3:303–307
Voinov A (2008) Systems science and modeling for ecological economics. Elsevier, London
Voinov A et al (2016) Modelling with stakeholders—next generation. Environ Model Softw 77:196–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.11.016
Wright KR et al (1999) Ancient machu picchu drainage engineering. J Irrig Drainage Eng 125(6):360–369
Wu QZ (1995) Research on city flood-defense in ancient China, Beijing. China Architecture & Building Press, China
Xiang WN (2013) Working with wicked problems in socio-ecological systems: awareness, acceptance, and adaption. Landscape Urban Plan 110(1):1–4
Xiang WN (2014) Doing real and permanent good in landscape and urban planning: ecological wisdom for urban sustainability. Landscape Urban Plan 121:65–69
Xu XY (1998) Simulation of storm runoff process for plain urban. J Hydraul Eng 8:34–37 (in Chinese)
Zhang L, Mitsch WJ (2005) Modelling hydrological processes in created freshwater wetlands: an integrated system approach. Environ Model Softw 20:935–946
Zhou QQ (2014) Review of sustainable urban drainage systems considering the climate change and urbanization impacts. Water 6:976–992
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
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
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0571-9_6
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0570-2
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0571-9
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)