3D model to study silt pattern in drains

Owing to hitches arising due to silt deposition in stormwater drains, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has come up with a long-term scientific approach to deal with it.

The Palike will soon implement a new three-dimensional model to study the pattern of silt. The idea is to make sure that the silt is removed continuously after every rain so that it does not accumulate and become a long-lasting problem.

The pattern of the silt will be studied based on “the depth of water”, where the water levels will be calculated before and after rains of every stormwater drains using sensors. The sensors will be installed in all the stormwater drains.

“It is called 3D model as the flow pattern of the water, including length, depth and height will be studied. The depth of drains varies with silt deposition. We will measure the water level of the drains before and after rains using sensors. Example, if there is a 25mm rainfall in Jayanagar, we will check how much water has flown in every stormwater drain of that area, and analyse the depth after that. The percentage of the silt deposition will be calculated and will be removed manually or with excavators,” said a BBMP official said.

“This model will enable us to know about the amount of silt in every drain, and help us prepare to deal with any disasters including flooding, backflow etc,” he added. The corporation is in talks with a private firm regarding the project.

The Palike recently come up with “flood alert and control system” to identify stormwater reaching dangerous levels leading to flooding at critical locations in coordination with the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.