Review of Changes in the Second Edition of MSMA (Part I)

- Design Storm Computation

Ir. Dr. Quek Keng Hong B.E. (civil), M.Eng.Sc, Ph.D. (NSW), PE
Managing Director, MSMAware Sdn Bhd
Email: drquek@msmaware.com

Ir. Dr. Quek Keng Hong has a PhD and a Masters degree in water resources from the

University of NSW, Australia. Dr. Quek is a consulting engineer by practice and

specialises in the field of urban drainage and hydrology. He has conducted many training

workshops and seminars on MSMA. Dr. Quek is currently a committee member of the

Water Resources Technical Division (WRTD).

1. Introduction

The magnitude and temporal distribution of design storm has significant impact on the

sizing of any drainage structure because it affects the shape of the peak discharge

hydrograph which is derived from storm and used in the sizing of such structure.

This paper reviews the changes in the design storms and temporal patterns in the first and

second editions of MSMA- referred to herein as MSMA (2000) and MSMA (2011),

respectively. MSMA is an acronym for the Manual Saliran Mesra Alam (the Urban

Stormwater Management Manual for Malaysia) published by the Department of

Irrigation and Drainage (D.I.D, 2000 and 2011).

The design storms are computed using the IDF formulas from the first and second

editions of MSMA for a study catchment in Kuala Lumpur and the results compared. The

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objective is to determine the changes in design rainfall intensities between the first and

second editions of MSMA. Similarly, the temporal patterns were computed following the

first and second editions of MSMA and the results compared.

2. Design Storm, Temporal Pattern and Areal Reduction Factor

2.1 Design Storm Computation

In this section, the theories of design storm in both editions of MSMA (2000 and 2011)

are covered. Chapter 2 of MSMA (2011) now supersedes Chapter 13 of MSMA (2000).

2.1.1 Derivation of IDF Curves using MSMA (2000)

In the first edition, the following polynomial equation (Equation 13.2 in MSMA, 2000) is

fitted to the published IDF curves for the 35 major urban centres in Malaysia:

ln( RI t ) a b ln(t ) c (ln(t ))2 d (ln(t ))3 (1)

where

R
It is the average rainfall intensity (mm/hr) for ARI R and duration t

R is the average return interval (years)

t is the duration (minutes)

a to d are fitting constants dependent on ARI.

The fitted coefficients for the IDF curves for all the major cities are given in Appendix

13.A of MSMA (2000). Equation 1 is strictly applicable to rainfall duration of 6 hours or

less. For short duration of less than 30 minutes in MSMA (2000), the design rainfall depth Pd

(mm) is given by:

2
 Pd P30 FD ( P60 P30 )
(2)

where

d is the short duration (min)

P30 and P60 are the 30 min and 60 min rainfall depths (mm), respectively, obtained from

the published polynomial curves.

FD is the adjustment factor for storm duration based on Table 13.3 and Figure 13.3 of

MSMA (2000).

2.1.2 Derivation of IDF Curves using MSMA (2011)

In MSMA (2011), the following empirical equation (Equation 2.2) was fitted to the IDF

data for 135 major urban centres in Malaysia:

T
i (3)
d
where

i is the Average rainfall intensity (mm/hr)

T is the Average return interval (years) for ARI of between 0.5 and 12 months and 2 and

100 years.

d is the Storm duration (hours) where d is between 0.0833 and 72 hours.

, , and are the fitting constants dependent on the raingauge location. Refer Table

2.B1 in Appendix 2.B of MSMA (2011).

2.1.3 Evaluation

The following changes were noted:

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1 In the second edition, the formula for computing the IDF data has changed from a

polynomial formula to an empirical equation.

2 The storm intensities have changed due to the changes in the formula used.

3 In the first edition, the data used were up to about 1983 or 1990. For instance, the data

used for the Federal Territory was only up to 1983 in MSMA (2000). However, in the

second edition, the data used were more up-to-date, close to the year of publication.

4 In the first edition, the IDF data were available only for 35 major urban centers. In the

second edition, however, this has been increased to 135 major urban centers.

5 In MSMA (2000) the IDF formula is applicable for storm duration of 30 minutes to 6

hours, whereas in MSMA (2011), the formula is applicable between 5 min and 72

hours. In MSMA (2000), for duration of less than 30 minutes, a short duration formula

is required.

6 The IDF data in MSMA (2011) covers longer storm durations from 5 minutes to 72

hours and the lower range ARI of 0.5 to 12 months compared to MSMA (2000) which

covers storm ARI from only 2 to 100 years.

7 In MSMA (2000) the whole of Kuala Lumpur is represented by one IDF curve. But in

MSMA (2011), it involves 14 stations covering different parts of Kuala Lumpur. The

same is noted for the stations in all states. For example, in Selangor there are now ten

stations.

8 MSMA (2011) covers the IDF data of 12 states and federal territory in Peninsular

Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak are not covered. In MSMA (2000), the two East

Malaysian states are covered.

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2.2 Storm Temporal Pattern

This is covered in Chapter 13 of the first edition and Chapter 2 of the second edition. In

MSMA (2000), Appendix 13.B gives the design temporal patterns for east and west coast

of Peninsular Malaysia. For East Malaysia, it recommends the use of temporal patterns

for east coast of Peninsula.

In MSMA (2011), the temporal patterns to be used for a set of durations are given in Appendix

2.C for the following five regions: (i) Region 1- Terengganu and Kelantan, (ii) Region 2-

Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Selangor and Pahang, (iii) Region 3- Perak, Kedah, Pulau

Pinang and Perlis, (iv) Region 4- Mountainous Area and (v) Region 5- Urban Area (Kuala

Lumpur). The changes are evaluated as follows:

1 MSMA (2011) provides the temporal pattern for storm duration of up to 72 hour

compared to MSMA (2000) at only 6 hour.

2 MSMA (2000) divides the temporal pattern for east and west cost of Peninsular

Malaysia. MSMA (2011), on the other hand, divides the whole peninsula into five

regions as described above.

3 In MSMA (2011), no mention of temporal pattern for East Malaysia- but in MSMA

(2000), it is recommended that the temporal pattern for east coast of Peninsula be

used for Sabah and Sarawak.

4 MSMA (2011) recommends smaller time intervals for above 60 minutes.

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2.3 Areal Reduction Factor

Areal reduction factor (ARF) is given in Table 13.1 of MSMA (2000) but not in MSMA

(2011). Literature in hydrology generally agree that ARF should be applied to convert

point intensity to catchment average and it is not correct to ignore ARF for larger

catchments. Hence it is recommended that the same procedure for computing ARF as

given in MSMA (2000) should be applied to MSMA (2011).

3. Case Study

The design storm estimates are compared using the IDF formulas from the first and

second edition for a major urban center in Malaysia- Kuala Lumpur. The objective is to

determine the changes in design rainfall due to differences in the IDF formulas and

temporal patterns.

3.1 Design Storm

1 The IDF curves were computed using Equation 1 for Kuala Lumpur for duration of

more than 30 minutes as plotted as shown Figure 1.

2 Equation 3 was applied to the 14 stations in Kuala Lumpur (see Table 1). The results

for Station No. 3116004 was plotted as shown in Figure 2 for ARI of 2 to 100 years

and 0.5 to 12 months.

3 Figure 3 is a plot of the IDF data for MSMA (2000) and the 14 stations in MSMA

(2011) for ARI of 100 years. It is noted the design storms estimated using MSMA

(2011) scattered on both sides of the IDF curve using MSMA (2000).

4 For shorter durations, the design storms for MSMA (2011) can be 26% (Station 13)

higher than the estimate based on MSMA (2000).

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5 For long duration of say 72 hours, the reverse is true: the MSMA (2011) estimates

can be up to 36% (Station 6) lower than those using MSMA (2000).

6 For medium durations of between 15 to 700 min, the estimates using MSMA (2011)

were mostly higher than those estimated using MSMA (2000). In the study, out of 14

stations, 10 of them (or 71%) were higher than the MSMA (2000) curve, while the

remaining 4 stations (or 29%) were lower than the first edition estimates.

7 It is concluded that the design storms estimated based on MSMA (2011) for Kuala

Lumpur can be up to about 26% higher than MSMA (2000) for duration below 700

minutes, for 71% of the stations.

3.2 Temporal Patterns

The design temporal patterns from the first and second editions of MSMA for Kuala

Lumpur are compared in this section. The objective is to determine the differences in

temporal patterns associated with the two procedures. The results are as follows:

1 The temporal patterns for 15, 30, 60, 180 and 360 minutes for MSMA (2000) and

(2011) are compared by plotting them on the same graphs.

2 The differences in the hyetographs are compared in terms of their shapes and

magnitudes.

3 The temporal pattern for 15 minute durations for MSMA (2011) is lower than that for

MSMA (2000) for the first half but rises above the latter after that as shown in Figure

4. Similar patterns were observed for the 30, 60, 180, 360 minute duration storms.

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Table 1 Summary of Stations in Kuala Lumpur (After Table 2.B1 in MSMA, 2011)

Station No. Station ID Station Name

1 3015001 Puchong Drop, Kuala Lumpur
2 3116003 Ibu Pejabat JPS
3 3116004 Ibu Pejabat JPS1
4 3116005 SK Taman Maluri
5 3116006 Ladang Edinburgh
6 3216001 Kg. Sg. Tua
7 3216004 SK Jenis Keb, Kepong
8 3217001 Ibu Bek. KM16, Gombak
9 3217002 Emp Genting Kelang
10 3217003 Ibu Bek. KM11, Gombak
11 3217004 Kg. Kuala Seleh, H. Klg
12 3217005 Kg. Kerdas, Gombak
13 3317001 Air Terjun, Sg Batu
14 3317004 Genting Sempah

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 IFD CURVE FOR KUALA LUMPUR (1951-1990) (MSMA 2000)

1000

100
INTENSITY (MM/HR)

10

1
10 100 1000 10000

DURATION (MINUTES

2 5 20 50 100

Figure 1 IDF for Kuala Lumpur (MSMA 2000)

Rainfall Intensity Frequency Duration Curve for KL

(Station No: 3116004) (MSMA, 2011

1000
Rainfall Intensity (mm/hr)

100

10

1
1 10 100 1000 10000
Storm Duation (min)

0.05 YR (0.5 MTH) 0.5 YR (6 MTH) 1 YR (12 MTH) 2 YR 5 YR

10 YR 20 YR 50 YR 100 YR

Figure 2 IDF for Kuala Lumpur (MSMA 2011) (Station No. 3116004)

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 1000
Rainfall Intensity (mm/hr)

100

10

1
1 10 100 1000 10000
Storm Duration (min)

0 (MSMA 2000) 1 (MSMA 2011) 2 (MSMA 2011) 3 (MSMA 2011)

4 (MSMA 2011) 5 (MSMA 2011) 6 (MSMA 2011) 7 (MSMA 2011)
8 (MSMA 2011) 9 (MSMA 2011) 10 (MSMA 2011) 11 (MSMA 2011)
12 (MSMA 2011) 13 (MSMA 2011) 14 (MSMA 2011)

Figure 3 Comparison of Estimated Rainfall Intensity Frequency Duration Curves for

Kuala Lumpur between MSMA 2000 & 2011 (ARI. =100 YR)

0.600
0.500
Storm Duration

0.400
0.300
MSMA 1
0.200
MSMA 2
0.100
0.000
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5
No of Block

Figure 4 Comparison of Temporal Patterns between MSMA (2000) and MSMA (2011)
(15 Minutes)

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4. Conclusions

The results of the study in this paper are summarised as follows:

1. For durations of between 15 to 700 min, the IDF estimates using MSMA (2011) were

mostly higher than those estimated using MSMA (2000). In the study, out of 14 stations,

10 of them (or 71%) were higher than the MSMA (2000) curve, while the remaining 4

stations (or 29%) were lower than the first edition estimates.

2. It is concluded that the design storms estimated based on MSMA (2011) for Kuala

Lumpur can be up to about 26% higher than MSMA (2000) for duration below 700

minutes, for 71% of the stations.

3. The temporal patterns for 15, 30, 60, 180 and 360 minute durations for MSMA (2011) are

generally lower than those for MSMA (2000) for the first one-third duration but rise

above the latter for the remainder.

4. Areal reduction factor (ARF) is given in MSMA (2000) but not in MSMA (2011). It is

recommended that the procedure given in MSMA (2000) should be applied for MSMA

(2011) to account for the catchment averaging effect of point precipitation.

5. References

Drainage and Irrigation Department (1975) Urban Drainage Design Standards and Procedures

for Peninsular Malaysia. Planning and Design Procedure No. 1. Ministry of Agriculture,

Malaysia.

Drainage and Irrigation Department (1976) Flood Estimation for Urban Areas in Peninsular

Malaysia. Hydrological Procedure No. 16. Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia.

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Drainage and Irrigation Department (2000) Urban Stormwater Management Manual for

Malaysia Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia.

Drainage and Irrigation Department (2010) Review and Updated the Hydrological

Procedure NO. 1- Estimation of Design Rainstorm in Peninsular Malaysia December,

Prepared by NAHRIM.

Drainage and Irrigation Department (2011) Urban Stormwater Management Manual for

Malaysia (Manual Saliran Mesra Alam Malaysia), second edition.

Quek K. H. (2015) Review of Changes in the Estimation of Design Storm in the First and

Second Editions of MSMA, Submitted for publication in the Journal of IEM, December

2015.

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