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Group 4 - Yiamen Alkharsah / Nasser Al-Hababi / Mohammed Al-Hail / Ali Al-Majid / Ali Abdulla /
Hamad Shan
Engl 210
Dr. Naqaa Abbas
Subject: Storm-water Run-off
February 29, 2024

Group 4 - Problem Statement

Introduction - Nasser Al-Hababi

There have always been numerous problems related to sewage in the State of Qatar, especially
regarding rainwater drainage. Qatar is located in the desert of the northern hemisphere, where the
climate is characterized by rare rainfall (FAO,2008). However, sudden heavy rainfall can lead to
floods and significant damage to buildings, highways, and tunnels. This issue is complex as the
damage from floods can escalate, leading to human casualties. For example, the flood in Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia, in 2009 claimed many lives, as mentioned by the Saudi Press Agency. Naturally, it
is crucial to address this issue to prevent such outcomes. As shown in Figure 1, water is seen
flowing in the streets resulting from the rainfall in the drainage network. The main reason is the
failure of the water drainage network to absorb the amounts of rainwater whenever rainstorms
occur throughout the country. The importance of addressing this issue lies in both human safety
and the country's efforts to advance towards sustainability. The inability to achieve effective
stormwater management is considered a hindrance for a country in achieving one of the key
pillars of its 2030 vision.

Figure 1: Streets Water Flowing

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Purpose - Ali Abdulla

This report aims to find ways to reduce the damage and flooding caused by heavy rain that
usually occurs in Qatar. These rains cause an overflow that leads to flooding, which can lead to
significant traffic disruptions and substantial property damage. The cause of these problems is
that Qatar's drainage systems and infrastructures were built for the rain they usually expect to
receive yearly. However, the rain Qatar has received over the years has increased more than
expected due to recent climate changes that have led to overflowing drainage systems and
damaging properties, which have caused many issues for the country. Throughout this report, the
main objective is to find ways to help nullify the issues that Qatar is facing due to the heavy rain.
These solutions should help reduce the damages and floods based on the current weather
expectations. These types of solutions can be remodeling the drainage system based on the
current weather expectations, improving the infrastructure to minimize the damages it will
receive from rainfall, and many more, which will be discussed in further detail throughout this
report. These methods help stabilize Qatar when facing heavy rain, which can be economically
beneficial by reducing the damage it causes.

Objective - Hamad
To measure if this objective will be met, The walkability/ability of vehicles to drive over roads
can be measured. This will be a score from 0 to 10. A high score means that almost no water
puddles are present fulfilling the objective as rainwater has been discharged into the drainage
system. On the other hand, areas which have a low score on walkability/ability of vehicles to
pass over means that it requires some more work to control the stormwater run-off. Another
method to measure if these objectives have been achieved is to map the areas of flood from
previous rain and then map it after current/latest rain. Through this method, a comparison can be
made to see if the chance of flooding due to rain has decreased in those specific areas. It is
necessary to measure the objectives stated above to know if the state of Qatar progresses in
minimizing floods and toward meeting the national vision 2030.

Scope - Ali Al-Majid

Our scope is to understand the factors that intensified the rainfall and flooding issues in Doha
especially during the unexpected heavy rain, in November 2023. This event has sparked
concerns about Qatar's preparedness to handle weather conditions, which seem to be exacerbated
by climate change and rapid urban growth. Our focus is on exploring the reasons behind these
challenges, delving into the vulnerabilities exposed when floodwaters overwhelmed the city
streets. This incident disrupted life. Highlighted deficiencies in Doha’s infrastructure
underscoring the importance of investigating how climate change and urban expansion are
affecting stormwater management effectiveness.

At the core of our investigation is an examination of climate patterns that are changing rain
distribution with an interest in determining whether Qatar’s increased rainfall aligns with trends
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or if it is more localized. The recent surge in flood events prompts a look at how global warming
and local environmental shifts may have amplified the impacts of these rains. Additionally we
seek to analyze how Doha’s rapid urban growth, driven by its growing economy and population
has influenced land usage and consequently impacted existing systems.

Doha is facing challenges, with flooding due to its development and the impact of climate
change. The irregular rainfall, believed to be influenced by climate changes, is causing issues for
infrastructure that was not designed to handle conditions. As Doha rapidly grows impermeable
surfaces are created, leading to increased runoff and putting pressure on drainage systems. The
combination of changing climate patterns and urban expansion is significantly contributing to the
city's growing flood vulnerability prompting a need for effective urban planning solutions
resilient to these challenges.

Figure 2: Satellite Data to Measure the Depth of Flooding, in Doha After the November 2023 Rainfall .

To show how severe the flooding was Figure 2 displays a flood depth map of Doha based on
satellite data. It shows the areas most impacted by the floodwaters using colors to indicate water
depth. From blue, for areas to red for depths over 0.9 meters, where the flood posed a serious
threat to buildings and people. This visual representation vividly portrays the extent and severity
of the flooding making it a valuable resource, for city planners and decision makers looking to
create infrastructure.

Previous and Current Research - Mohammed Al-Hail

Qatar has struggled with sewage and rainwater drainage owing to its desert environment
and little rainfall (FAO, 2008). The drainage systems in Qatar have considerable hurdles
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when they are confronted with unexpected severe downpours, despite the fact that rain
falls from time to time. These problems are made more complex by climate change,
which modifies precipitation patterns and increases the frequency and intensity of rainfall
(World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal). This weather change affects Qatar's
infrastructure and urban resilience.

During the flood that occurred in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2009, which resulted in the loss
of life and substantial property damage (Saudi Press Agency, 2009), the severity of poor
drainage infrastructure was brought into striking relief. Due to climate change, Qatar's
drainage system fails to handle increased rainfall (Al-Sharq, 2023). Because of this, there
has been an increase in the number of cases of floods and damage to infrastructure, which
presents substantial difficulties to the development and safety conditions of the nation.

Figure 3: shows the annual rainfall in Qatar

these issues have been addressed by developing drainage networks to increase capacity
and resilience. In the case of the airport drainage network, for instance, a comparison
between the years 2016 and 2021 shown in figure 3 implies how the capacity of rainfall
has changed, which reflects efforts to offset the effects of higher rainfall . Despite these
changes, drainage concerns must be upgraded to limit harm.
In a nutshell, Qatar is confronted with ongoing drainage problems that are brought about
by changes in rainfall patterns that are caused by climate change. While some of the
reduction that has been achieved through previous efforts to develop drainage
infrastructure, more changes are required to guarantee the country's ability to respond to
changing weather conditions.
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Current Research:
The goal of current research projects is to find creative ways to meet Qatar's changing
drainage [Link] as , Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS), influenced by
worldwide trends, provide potential improvements (World Bank Climate Change
Knowledge Portal). Regarding improving Qatar's drainage system, Malaysia's bio-
ecological
drainage system that blends in with the scenery is one example (PDF) Sustainable Urban
Drainage System (SUDS) - Malaysian experiences.
Also, methods that combine urban planning and climate science are becoming more
popular. Figure 2 shows how satellite data maps flood-prone regions for targeted actions
and infrastructure design (Al Mamoon, 2020). These advances help us comprehend
Qatar's drainage issues and make evidence-based decisions.
In conclusion, Qatar's drainage infrastructure is being improved by worldwide standards,
technology, and multidisciplinary cooperation. These activities attempt to reduce high
rainfall, increase resilience, and assure climate-resilient urban growth.

User Needs
1. an excessive amount of water must be handled by the drainage system without
risking structural damage or waterlogging, ensuring the safety of the citizens and
residents as shown in Figure 1 that the rain capacity was more than the drainage
system that was built.

2. When the drainage system is being built, citizens and residents expect very little
interruption to their daily routines and expect a high maintenance of the drainage
system after its build avoiding disruption to the educational system, emergency
services, and infrastructure

3. It is essential to make sure that drainage infrastructure is easily accessible and does
not endanger the safety of vehicles or pedestrians. There is a growing need for
sustainable drainage systems that include water conservation and has a positive
impact on the environment rather than damaging and harming the environment

For the design constraints, it is very relative to the user needs as the intersection between
them requires prioritizing features and functionalities that address important issues like
flood avoidance, safety, and sustainability, the government has to be able to meet those
user needs while also keeping up with the constraints which are limits set to building the
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drainage system, overpassing those limits can cause heavy economical damage or
casualties within the city.

Design Constraints

1. Qatar's arid climate presents challenges, as rainfall is infrequent but can be intense.
The drainage system must be designed to handle sudden downpours effectively.
We must understand how often it rains in Qatar. Rainfall in Qatar amounts to 75.2
mm (3 in) a year, or 6.3 mm (0.3 in) every month, and that’s during Winter
season. However, rainfall is year-round high compared to Malaysia, with an
average of 3,085.5 millimeters (mm) each year. There is also 200–350 mm of
precipitation on average per month.
2. In order to reduce expenses and disturbances, coordination with the current
infrastructure—which includes buildings, roads, and utilities—is important. Any
drainage project must adhere to construction rules, environmental standards, and
city regulations.
3. In order to accommodate Qatar's rapidly increasing population density and land
development due to its rapid urbanization and expansion, planning for the
country's future growth and development requires the creation of a drainage
system that can adapt and change with the nation's vision.

4. The successful completion of a drainage system in Qatar may be restricted by the

availability of resources including land, supplies, and skilled labor. Solutions need
to consider potential limitations as well as the availability of resources.

References
[1] Ministry of Municipality and Environment. (n.d.). Project Details. Retrieved from
[Link]
pid=446&affid=3&Category=Infrastructure+Projects
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[2] Stantec. (n.d.). Qatar Integrated Drainage Master Plan. Retrieved from
[Link]
master-plan

[3] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2008).
AQUASTAT Country Profile – Qatar. Rome, Italy: FAO.

[4] Saudi Press Agency. (2009, December 8). Number of deaths in Jeddah floods rose to
117. Saudi Press Agency. Retrieved from [Link]

[5] Al Mamoon, A. (2020). Flood Risk Assessment and Protection Guidelines for
Infrastructure Planning in Qatar. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Civil
Infrastructure and Construction (CIC 2020), Doha, Qatar, February 2-5, 2020. Ministry of
Municipality and Environment. DOI: [Link]

[6] Rainfall/ precipitation in Doha, Qatar. (n.d.). Rainfall in Doha, Qatar Average
Precipitation and Wet Days. Retrieved from
[Link]
%20(3,of%20rainfall%20(precipitation)%20occurs.

[7] World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. (n.d.-a). Climatology | Climate
Change Knowledge Portal. Retrieved from
[Link]
historical#:~:text=Rainfall%20also%20remains%20high%20year,mm%20in
%20November%20and%20December.

[8] Youssef, A. M., Abu-Abdullah, M. M., AlFadail, E. A., Skilodimou, H. D., &
Bathrellos, G. D. (2021). The devastating flood in the arid region a consequence of
rainfall and dam failure: Case study, Al-Lith flood on 23th November 2018, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia. Z. Für Geomorphol, 63, 115-136.

[9] Al-Sharq. (2023, October 27). Ashghal: The rain that fell on Qatar was more than the
design capacity of roads and tunnels. Al-Sharq.

[10] (PDF) Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) - Malaysian experiences. (n.d.).
Retrieved from
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[Link]
em_SUDS_-_Malaysian_Experiences