Storm drain design for airports under different climate conditions

Airports play a critical role as central hubs in the international transportation network, facilitating passenger and cargo transportation, enabling rapid and efficient disaster management, and connecting travelers globally. Therefore, the continuity of operations is of great importance. One of the key factors affecting operational continuity is climatic conditions. Due to changing climate conditions, extreme precipitation events can disrupt airport operations. For this reason, airport infrastructure design must be planned with consideration of different climate scenarios. This thesis examines the design of stormwater drainage networks at airports and evaluates the potential impacts of changing climate conditions on airport infrastructure. Climate change leads to unexpected precipitation scenarios, making it necessary to analyze future precipitation patterns resulting from these changes. In particular, short-duration intense rainfall conditions are among the key scenarios that must be considered in stormwater drainage design. Airport infrastructure must be designed to withstand flood discharges that may occur during periods of precipitation anomalies. The adequacy of infrastructure capacity in climate-resilient airports against extreme rainfall can be determined through analyses based on long-term regional precipitation intensity data. According to modeling results, rehabilitation efforts are required in areas where drainage capacities are insufficient. For effective flood control, it is crucial to ensure rapid surface water drainage during extreme precipitation events, conduct regular maintenance and repairs of drainage systems, implement stormwater storage methods, and design infrastructure based on long-term precipitation data. In this thesis, the potential effects of changing climate conditions on the design of stormwater drainage networks are assessed using the case of Istanbul Airport. Before the construction phase, the topography of the airport area exhibited significant elevation differences. However, after construction, these elevation differences were minimized. The modifications in the topography have caused slight variations in the microclimatic characteristics of the airport region. Accordingly, this study will explore how airport infrastructure can adapt to various future climate scenarios. Increasing precipitation intensity and the growing frequency of extreme weather anomalies due to climate change necessitate the design of airport infrastructure with these conditions in mind. By integrating hydrology and infrastructure engineering disciplines, this research aims to investigate how airport stormwater drainage systems can be adapted to various climate scenarios. The study will include field assessments, climate data analysis, and an evaluation of different precipitation regimes in the region. Additionally, it will provide essential insights into estimating the capacity requirements of drainage systems. This research seeks to design resilient and sustainable stormwater drainage systems for airports by considering future climate scenarios, particularly in cases where historical precipitation data is insufficient. In this context, drainage systems and design approaches implemented in major airports worldwide and in Turkey to adapt to climate change have been examined. Moreover, using climate change scenarios, the expected increase in precipitation levels in future years has been analyzed, and the potential impacts of these increases on existing drainage infrastructure have been evaluated. The impact of these scenarios on drainage capacity and design has also been investigated. It is projected that peak runoff due to climate change effects will exceed 180 L/s. By analyzing changes in precipitation patterns, it will be assessed whether the designed drainage networks can accommodate flood events. The findings obtained in this study will serve as a practical guide for infrastructure engineers and planners in developing climate-resilient design strategies for airport stormwater drainage systems. KEYWORDS: Airport, Climate change, Design, Hydrology, Stormwater drainage, Sustainability.