Introduction

Effective drainage is the single most critical factor influencing the longevity, stability, and safety of roads and highways, yet traditional drainage solutions often fall short in addressing the complexities of modern hydrological challenges, urban development, and climate change impacts. Innovative Drainage Systems are essential for managing stormwater runoff, preventing pavement degradation, mitigating flood risks, and enhancing environmental sustainability. This training course is meticulously designed to equip civil engineers, highway designers, hydraulic engineers, environmental specialists, urban planners, and public works professionals with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills in understanding advanced hydrological principles, mastering the design and implementation of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS/LID), exploring novel materials and technologies for drainage infrastructure, integrating green infrastructure solutions, and applying climate-resilient strategies for comprehensive water management in transportation corridors. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to design and implement state-of-the-art drainage solutions that protect road assets, minimize environmental impact, and contribute to resilient and sustainable infrastructure networks.

Target Audience

• Civil Engineers (Highway, Hydraulic, Environmental)
• Highway Designers
• Drainage Engineers
• Urban Planners
• Environmental Consultants
• Landscape Architects
• Public Works & Highway Agency Staff
• Construction Contractors (Drainage Focus)

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental principles of hydrology and hydraulics relevant to road drainage.
• Master the design of conventional road drainage components (ditches, culverts, storm sewers).
• Explore the concepts and benefits of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) / Low Impact Development (LID).
• Design and implement various SuDS/LID features in highway corridors.
• Learn about innovative materials and technologies for drainage infrastructure.
• Understand the impact of climate change on drainage design and apply resilient strategies.
• Conduct hydrological and hydraulic modeling for complex drainage systems.
• Evaluate the environmental benefits of sustainable drainage solutions.
• Develop skills in integrating drainage design with landscape and urban planning.
• Formulate comprehensive drainage management plans for road networks.
• Troubleshoot common drainage problems and identify effective mitigation measures.

Course Content

Module 1. Fundamentals of Hydrology and Hydraulics for Road Drainage

• Hydrological Cycle: Precipitation, runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration
• Catchment area delineation and characteristics
• Hydraulic Principles: Open channel flow, pipe flow, culvert hydraulics
• Manning's equation and Bernoulli's principle
• Design storm selection and rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves

Module 2. Conventional Road Drainage Components: Surface Drainage

• Roadway Cross-Section: Crown, superelevation, shoulders
• Side ditches: design, sizing, lining, and maintenance
• Medians and their role in drainage
• Curbs and gutters: types, design, and flow capacity
• Inlet design and spacing for efficient runoff collection

Module 3. Conventional Road Drainage Components: Subsurface Drainage

• Subsurface Water: Sources (groundwater, infiltration, capillary rise) and its impact on pavement
• Longitudinal drains (collector drains, French drains)
• Transverse drains and blanket drains
• Filter Design: Granular filters and geotextile filters for drainage layers
• Underdrain systems for pavement layers and subgrades

Module 4. Conventional Road Drainage Components: Cross Drainage Structures

• Culvert Design: Types of culverts (pipe, box, arch), material selection
• Hydraulic design of culverts: inlet/outlet control, headwater, velocity
• Bridge Drainage: Scuppers, deck drains, and bridge approach drainage
• Energy dissipators at culvert outlets
• Maintenance and inspection of cross drainage structures

Module 5. Introduction to Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) / Low Impact Development (LID)

• SuDS/LID Philosophy: Mimicking natural hydrological processes
• Benefits of SuDS/LID: flood reduction, water quality improvement, amenity, biodiversity
• Comparison with conventional drainage approaches
• Regulatory drivers and policy frameworks for SuDS/LID
• Overview of common SuDS/LID techniques

Module 6. Design of Permeable Pavements

• Permeable Pavement Types: Porous asphalt, pervious concrete, permeable interlocking concrete pavers
• Layer design and material specifications for permeable pavements
• Infiltration and Storage: Design for runoff volume reduction and groundwater recharge
• Maintenance requirements and clogging prevention
• Applications in parking lots, low-volume roads, and urban areas

Module 7. Bioretention Systems and Rain Gardens

• Bioretention Principles: Filtration, adsorption, biological uptake of pollutants
• Design components: planting media, drainage layer, overflow
• Plant Selection: Appropriate vegetation for bioretention
• Sizing and layout of bioretention cells in road corridors
• Maintenance and performance monitoring of bioretention systems

Module 8. Swales, Filter Strips, and Constructed Wetlands

• Vegetated Swales: Design for conveyance, filtration, and infiltration
• Filter strips: design and effectiveness for runoff treatment
• Constructed Wetlands: Types (surface flow, subsurface flow) and their role in water quality
• Design considerations for wetlands in highway landscapes
• Maintenance and ecological benefits

Module 9. Green Roofs and Living Walls in Transportation Infrastructure

• Green Roof Types: Extensive, intensive, and their application on bridge structures, bus shelters
• Benefits: stormwater retention, urban heat island mitigation, air quality
• Living Walls: Vertical greening for retaining structures and noise barriers
• Design considerations for structural support and irrigation
• Case studies of green roofs/walls in transport environments

Module 10. Innovative Drainage Materials and Technologies

• Geosynthetics in Drainage: Geotextiles, geonets, geocomposites for filtration and drainage
• Modular drainage cells and geocellular systems
• Smart Drainage: Sensors for real-time monitoring of water levels, flow, and quality
• Automated control systems for drainage infrastructure
• Advanced pipe materials and trenchless technologies

Module 11. Climate Change Impacts on Drainage Design

• Climate Projections: Understanding changes in rainfall patterns, intensity, and frequency
• Resilient Design: Adapting drainage infrastructure for extreme rainfall events
• Designing for increased flood risks and storm surge
• Incorporating uncertainty into hydrological modeling
• Case studies of climate-resilient drainage solutions

Module 12. Hydrological and Hydraulic Modeling for Complex Systems

• Modeling Software: Introduction to HEC-RAS, SWMM, HydroCAD, MIKE URBAN
• Input data preparation for drainage models
• Model Calibration: Calibrating models with observed flow data
• Simulating various design scenarios and evaluating performance
• Interpreting modeling results for design optimization

Module 13. Drainage Management Plans and Maintenance

• Drainage Asset Inventory: Mapping and condition assessment of drainage infrastructure
• Developing comprehensive drainage management plans
• Routine Maintenance: Cleaning, inspection, minor repairs
• Periodic maintenance: culvert rehabilitation, ditch reshaping
• Emergency response for drainage failures

Module 14. Environmental Benefits and Water Quality

• Pollutant Removal: Mechanisms of pollutant removal in SuDS/LID
• Water quality monitoring and assessment
• Groundwater Recharge: Enhancing aquifer replenishment
• Minimizing non-point source pollution from roads
• Regulatory compliance for stormwater discharge

Module 15. Integrated Planning and Future Trends

• Integrated Planning: Holistic approach to drainage, landscape, and urban design
• Policy integration for sustainable water management
• Digital Twins: Creating digital replicas of drainage networks for real-time management
• AI and machine learning for predictive maintenance of drainage assets
• Research frontiers in smart and resilient drainage systems.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.