Classification methodology for Sustainable Flood Retention Basins

This paper recommends a rapid classification methodology for Sustainable Flood Retention Basins to control runoff in a temperate climate. Particular emphasis is given towards vegetated retention basins in Baden (Germany). The most important groups of variables were of engineering, environmental and land use nature. The classification methodology can be used by urban and landscape planners to determine the type of Sustainable Flood Retention Basin based on a total sum of weights obtained for 34 qualitative or quantitative variables. The following six types of Sustainable Flood Retention Basins (SFRB's) were defined: Hydraulic Flood Retention Basin, Traditional Sustainable Flood Retention Basin, Sustainable Flood Retention Wetland, Aesthetic Flood Retention Wetland, Integrated Flood Retention Wetland and Natural Flood Retention Wetland. The methodology was developed with a general database (approximately 460 basins) and a very detailed database (24 basins). Most of the thoroughly researched SFRB of the latter database are Traditional Sustainable Flood Retention Basins. The most important variables for Baden were Elevation, Dam Existance, Flotsam, Forest, Dam Length and Vegetation. These variables were applied to determine the type of Sustainable Flood Retention Basin (predominantly used for hydraulic purposes) with an error of <8% in comparison to the application of all 34 variables.