Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
A socio-technical model to explore urban water systems scenarios
Fjalar J de Haan1, Briony C Ferguson, Ana Deletic
1Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. fjalar.dehaan@monash.edu
Summary
This study introduces a socio-technical model for urban water systems, focusing on social and institutional factors. The model explores future scenarios for water servicing solutions, aiding in understanding system transitions.
Area of Science:
- Urban planning and water management
- Systems theory and modeling
- Social sciences and infrastructure studies
Background:
- Urban water systems involve complex interactions between technical infrastructure and societal factors.
- Existing models often overlook the socio-technical dynamics crucial for system transitions.
- Understanding these dynamics is key to addressing diverse water-related societal needs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and present a socio-technical model for analyzing urban water systems.
- To explore the influence of social and institutional factors on water servicing solutions.
- To generate exploratory scenarios of urban water system development and transitions.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of the Multi-Pattern Approach theory in a software model.
- Parameterization of urban water systems using vectors of servicing solution influence.
- Development of an exploratory model to produce multiple future scenarios from initial conditions.
Main Results:
- The model successfully parameterizes urban water systems based on servicing solution influence.
- Initial tests using a drainage example demonstrate the model's capability to generate diverse scenarios.
- The socio-technical approach highlights the interplay between social dynamics and water infrastructure.
Conclusions:
- The developed socio-technical model offers a novel framework for understanding urban water system evolution.
- The exploratory nature of the model accounts for inherent uncertainties in social dynamics.
- This approach provides valuable insights for planning and managing future urban water services.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Design Example: Designing a Residential Plumbing System
The design of residential plumbing systems requires carefully evaluating water demand, flow rates, and pressure dynamics to ensure both efficiency and reliability. The nature of water flow within pipes is defined by its Reynolds number, which classifies flow as either laminar (smooth) or turbulent.
01:30Typical Model Studies
Fluid mechanics model studies often utilize scaled-down systems to predict fluid behavior in full-scale environments, such as river flows, dam spillways, and structures interacting with open surfaces. Maintaining Froude number similarity in river models is crucial, as it replicates surface flow features like wave patterns and velocities.
01:21Multiple Pipe Systems
Multipipe systems consist of complex configurations of interconnected pipes designed to transport fluids efficiently across intricate networks. They are essential in engineering applications requiring precise control over flow distribution, pressure, and head loss. They are categorized into series, parallel, loop, and network configurations, each distinguished by unique flow characteristics and applications.
Series Configuration
In a series configuration, fluid flows sequentially from one pipe...
Series Configuration
In a series configuration, fluid flows sequentially from one pipe...
01:12Modeling and Similitude
Scaled modeling is a fundamental technique in engineering, enabling the study of large and complex systems by creating smaller, manageable replicas that recreate critical characteristics of the original. In hydrology and civil infrastructure, for example, scaled models of dams help analyze water flow, turbulence, and pressure. This method allows for accurate predictions of real-world behavior within a controlled environment, significantly reducing the cost and time involved in full-scale...
01:21Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
Scaled hydraulic models of dam spillways provide a practical way to replicate and study the intricate flow dynamics of these structures. Often built to a 1:15 ratio, these models allow for observing critical water behavior, such as velocity distribution, flow patterns, and energy dissipation.
01:27Design Example: Design of an Irrigation Channel
Trapezoidal channels are widely used in irrigation systems due to their cost-effectiveness and efficiency in conveying water. Trapezoidal channels feature a flat bottom and sloping sides, making them stable and easier to construct compared to other shapes. The bottom width and side slope ratio are determined based on the required flow capacity and site conditions. The side slope is kept gentle for unlined channels to prevent soil erosion.Hydraulic parameters in channel design include the flow...