Drainage systems for roads and sidewalks: a practical example

Construction & Civil Engineering

Študent: Melani Predan

Melani Predan is a graduate of the Construction & Civil Engineering study programme at Academia, College of Short-Cycle Higher Education. She successfully defended her thesis paper in January 2025.

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Diploma paper Melani Predan

When constructing roads and other transportation infrastructure, a significant amount of attention must be dedicated to drainage. Drainage is a crucial process for managing water in areas where we aim to prevent water stagnation, flooding, erosion, and other negative effects of stormwater.

Recently, heavy and prolonged downpours have become an increasing problem, causing water to accumulate on road surfaces, which in turn endangers the safety of road users, negatively impacts the environment, and damages road infrastructure.

Therefore, it is important to understand both the causes and consequences of ineffective drainage, as well as the benefits provided by proper drainage systems.

To manage drainage effectively, the appropriate drainage system must be selected. There are many types of drainage systems, each with its own advantages, which allow for proper water drainage. These systems must be implemented correctly and to a high standard to meet environmental needs.

By constructing high-quality drainage systems, we can save costs that would otherwise be spent on cleaning or renovating the systems. Maintenance is crucial for ensuring the functionality and long-term operation of the systems.

Today, the market offers various pipes made from different materials, each with distinct properties. Not all materials are suitable for every environment or system. This paper presents a comparison of different types of pipes used in drainage systems, focusing on PVC and polyester pipes.

The advantages and disadvantages of both types are analyzed from various perspectives. This comparison provides insight into which type of pipe is most suitable for a specific project and how to select the best solutions for sustainable drainage systems.

Each project is unique, making direct comparison difficult. This thesis is based on a project I was involved in: the construction of a pedestrian crossing and sidewalk with drainage in Rače. When implementing a drainage project, we must study it in detail and, based on our findings, choose the most suitable drainage system to ensure water runoff from the road surface.

This will ensure the safety of all road users and extend the lifespan of the transportation infrastructure.


 

Diploma paper Melani Predan

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Diploma paper Melani Predan

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