Interpretation of Radar and Rain Gauge Measurements for Sewer System Modeling
Srinivas Vallabhaneni, Baxter E. Vieux, Steve Donovan, and Susan Moisio
Urban Drainage 2002 112, 231 (2002)
This paper describes the approach used to assess and improve a rain gauge network for calibration of radar rainfall input to the System Wide Model (SWM) for the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) of Greater Cincinnati. High spatial/temporal resolution rainfall data is necessary for model development, calibration, and operation. Combining areal estimates of rainfall from radar and point estimates from gages produces a better estimate of the spatial distribution than either system alone. Field tests and historical analysis of gauge accumulations from MSD's rain gauge network are discussed in relation to sewer system modeling. The findings related to various tests of the network are presented. Twenty-nine storms are analyzed using radar and gauge rainfall using the network. Systematic and random errors are quantified and related to calibration of radar rainfall for modeling activities.