Impact of highway drainage on wetland margins

Abstract

The aim of this PhD is the development of a mimerical model tool to design and manage wetlands in relation to roads development through understanding their hydrological processes. The research is evaluating the hydraulic impact of highway being put across such wetlands (particularly blanket bogs) as well as the concept of using linear constructed wetlands as a drainage method for rainfall runoff treatment and potential pollutant attenuation. As such the research has been divided into three major parts: The first part is the development of a numerical model for a fen, which has been impacted by the nearby construction of a motorway (M7), using the HYDROS 2D finite element model. The model has been calibrated on data collected over several years and then used to understand the effects of changes in water table in the Kildare aquifer to the water supply in Pol lardstown Fen.