GIS IN QUANTIFICATION OF SURFACE RUNOFF AND

SIZING OF WATER STORAGE UNIT

R.Boopathi1, a and K. Kirankumar2,b
1.2
L & T ECC, EDRC Chennai, India
a
boopathir@lntecc.com , b kirankk@lntecc.com

Keywords: GIS – Geographical Information system, DEM (Digital Elevation Model), SRTM (“Shuttle
Radar Topography Mission”
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to identify the contributing catchment area (or adjacent catchments of study
area) of existing abandoned quarry which are located adjacent to Chennai. This activity is
performed by using Hydrology tools of Geo Information System. The possibility of storing rain
water in abandoned quarry and possibility of re-utilization are examined and such findings through
these examinations are also presented.

Introduction
Large demand of blue metals (aggregates) resulted in quarrying hillocks at kadaperi, Trisoolam,
Tiruneermalai, Pallavaram and its adjacent area of southern sub urban of Chennai. Based on the
collected information depth of quarry varies from 20 feet to 200 feet. The sources said at least one
hundred ponds were created in these abandoned quarries in Tambaram Taluk and the volume of
rainwater stored in them is huge. The water collected cannot be utilized directly which requires
minimum treatment before the public usage.

Quantification of catchment area and surface water flow direction are the two essential parameters
that are being used to compute storage capacity / inflow of the water storing unit. Manual
computation of catchment area is a time consuming and tedious process. Through a case study
present, explains the effective and efficient way of using Hydrology tools of GIS technology for
computing surface runoff and examining the adequacy of abandoned quarries (proposed water
storing unit).

This study is made based on the article published in Hindu dated 03.01.2006 “Quarries turn into
reservoirs” [1].

Methodology

1. General
Elevation details of the ground level with respect to MSL, Rainfall data and Land use / land
cover information of the study area are the basic input parameters used for this analysis. In the
present case study elevation information of SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission) data was
used as a primary input data for all spatial analysis. ESRI ArcGIS software along with spatial
analysis extension was used to integrate and analyze all the spatial data. Rainfall data of the nearest
weather station was collected and strange table value [4] was referred to find Runoff Flow (mm). To
compute the imperviousness factor of the study area land use / land cover factor is considered.
Enough care has been taken to consider the factors like Evaporation / other losses, Average
consumption, etc., to compute the capacity of the water storing unit.

2. Input Data
a. Topographic data
Topographic data in the form of a Digital Elevation Model in a Raster format is the primary
requirement to be able to use Hydrologic tools in software like ArcGIS Spatial Analyst.

The “Shuttle Radar Topography Mission” (SRTM) obtained elevation data on a near global scale to
generate the most complete high-resolution digital topographic database of Earth at 90 m resolution.
SRTM consisted of a specially modified radar system that flew onboard the Space Shuttle
Endeavour during an 11-day mission in February of 2000. SRTM used a technique called
Interferometry. It deployed two antennae, a main antenna onboard the space craft that sent down
RADAR beams and another on an extended mast that received the waves that bounced off the
Earth’s surface. The two images taken from different vantage points of the same area, i.e. from two
antennae allowed scientists to determine the height of the Earth’s surface.

b. Average Daily Rainfall Data

Daily average rainfall data are collected from the year of 1980 to 2006 in order to estimate the
surface runoff.

3. Design Steps

The most common digital data of the shape of the earth's surface is cell-based digital elevation
models (DEMs). This data is used as input to quantify the characteristics of the land surface. The
design steps involved in creating watershed map is presented in the Fig-1. Raster data utilized to
make cell based digital elevation model is presented in Fig – 2. Direction in which water would
flow based on elevation is presented in Fig no.3. Based on the flow direction how the flow
accumulation is happening is presented in Fig No.4. Errors in the data are corrected by using sink
and fill tools.

Fig 1 HYDROLOGICAL MODELING FLOWCHART

(Source from help.arcgis.com [2])
 Fig-2 DEM - Raster Data

Fig
Fig-3 Flow Direction Basis [3]
 Fig 4 – Determining the accumulation of flow [2]
4. Delineating Watersheds
To determine the contributing area, a raster representing the direction of flow must first be created
with the Flow Direction tool. The pour points for the watershed will be the junctions of a stream
network derived from flow accumulation. The output is a raster of the watersheds.
The step by step raster images of this study inputs and output images like DEM, Flow direction,
flow accumulation, water shed are presented in the Fig 5, 6, 7 & 8.

FIG 5 DEM – RASTER MAP FIG 6 FLOW DIRECTION RASTER

 Chennai
Bypass
Road

Adyar River
NH45

FIG 7 WATERSHED
(POUR POINT LOCATED AT ADAYAR RIVER AND QUARRY AREA BASED ON
FLOW ACCUMULATED RASTER)
 ADYAR RIVER
PROPOSED
LINKING

THIRUNEERMALAI QUARRY

CHENNAI BYPASS ROAD

FIG 8 LOCATION DRAWING OG QUARRY, RIVER AND CONNECTIVITY DETAIL

Capacity estimation of abandoned quarry

Based on the obtained rainfall data runoff flow in mm are arrived by using and computed catchment
area the runoff value are estimated and presented below,

Table 1: Storage capacity estimation of abandoned quarry

Flow Evaporation
Catchment Runoff Cumulativ Nett. Flow
Sl. in & other Cumulative
Month Area Flow e Flow available
No MLD losses @ Flow (ML)
(Hectare) (mm)* (ML) (ML)
(ML) 30% (ML)
1 1 1023.99 0.14 1.408 1.408 0.422 0.986 0.986
2 2 1023.99 0.44 4.480 5.888 1.344 3.136 4.122
3 3 1023.99 0.10 1.024 6.912 0.307 0.717 4.838
4 4 1023.99 0.12 1.195 8.107 0.358 0.836 5.675
5 5 1023.99 0.40 4.053 12.160 1.216 2.837 8.512
6 6 1023.99 1.05 10.795 22.954 3.238 7.556 16.068
7 7 1023.99 0.63 6.400 29.354 1.920 4.480 20.548
8 8 1023.99 0.78 7.979 37.333 2.394 5.585 26.133
9 9 1023.99 0.89 9.088 46.421 2.726 6.362 32.494
10 10 1023.99 5.58 57.130 103.551 17.139 39.991 72.485
11 11 1023.99 5.48 56.106 159.656 16.832 39.274 111.759
12 12 1023.99 1.96 20.096 179.752 6.029 14.067 125.826
Note ML-Million Liters
Since the quarry is located in highly elevated area, obtained contributing catchment area directly to
the quarry is less. Adyar River is passing adjacent to the Quarry. Hence Adyar river catchment area
at nearby location of the study area is calculated and runoffs are estimated. By making small check
dam structure and tapping through pipe or open channel from Adyar River and connecting to
abandoned quarry near Thiruneermalai area about 180ML of water can be collected cumulatively in
a year and around 125ML can be used after losses. Around 2 to 2.5km pipe line is to be laid against
the gradient about 1-3.5m depth to connect Adyar River and Quarry. Averagely about 340cum of
water can be supplied to the people those who are living adjacent to the quarry after necessary
treatment. Based on the approximate calculations it is expected that around 275ML of water can be
stored in the existing quarry.

Summary
A complete study is required for all the abandoned quarries to evaluate the possibility of re-
utilization of excavated hillock area. This case study is covers only 1 Quarry similarly a study is
required to be conducted for all the abandoned quarries. After completion of detailed topography
study, geo-technical study, water quality analysis, and benefit-cost analysis the present study can be
implemented

References
[1] K. Manikandan, article published in Hindu dated 03.01.2006 “Quarries turn into reservoirs”

[2] ArcGIS Resource Centre website

[3] http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/REM402/secure/pdf_slides/Arc-GIS_Hydrology_Tools2.pdf

[4] Engineering Hydrology by Mr.K.Subramanya