Project Title: Development Of Soil Classification With Respect To Infiltration Capacity For Major Cities In Malaysia
 

Funder: Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment

(IRPA 09-02-05-1031 EA 001)

Duration: April 2002 to September 2005

Researchers:

• Prof. Nor Azazi Zakaria <redac01@eng.usm.my>

• Assoc. Prof. Aminuddin Ab Ghani <redac02@eng.usm.my>

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rozi Abdullah <cerozi@eng.usm.my>

• Mohd Fazly Yusof <redac10@eng.usm.my>

• Chang Chun Kiat <redac10@eng.usm.my>

The objectives of the study are: 

• To establish geotechnical and hydrological data base  for major cities in Malaysia

• To classify Malaysian soil according to infiltration coefficient

Abstract:

Urbanization, eliminating natural storages of the watershed and changing permeable surface to impermeable surface such as pavement and buildings roof, leads to rapid increment in peak flow and runoff volume during rainfall events. Consequently, flash floods happen in urban areas during a short duration rainfall.  Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (DID) has introduced in year 2000 the application of “on-source control” approach to solve current flood problems in urban areas in Malaysia.  Infiltration system is one of methods that have been proposed in Urban Stormwater Management Manual for Malaysia (MSMA) to control peak flows and runoff volume.

The size of infiltration system and time for emptying the system are sensitive to infiltration coefficient (Zakaria et al., 2003). Hence, any uncertainty in the selection of infiltration coefficient value may lead to significant inaccuracy in the design of the system. However, infiltration coefficient is highly dependent on the in-situ soil condition. Factors influencing the infiltration rate include the condition of the soil surface and its vegetative cover, the properties of the soil (such as porosity and hydraulic conductivity), the current moisture content of the soil and the soil strata.

Unfortunately, database on infiltration coefficients for local soil conditions have not been established yet. Without this database, designs have to be based on infiltration coefficient developed by others (such as USCS soil classification for USA) which may not be applicable for Malaysian soil at all. In fact, a comprehensive and systematic database of soil classification with respect to its infiltration capacity for major cities in Malaysia is essential not only for infiltration system designs but also for studying the applicable and effectiveness of infiltration system to control floods in both the technical and economical aspects.

Based on the results of the infiltration tests that were carried out, infiltration maps were plotted for Butterworth and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Engineering Campus, Nibong Tebal. The maps were plotted according to the infiltration capacity of soil type for each area (Fazly et al., 2005).

Selected Publications:

• Zakaria, N.A., Ab. Ghani, A., Abdullah, R., Mohd Sidek, L. & Ainan, A. (2003). Bio-Ecological Drainage System (BIOECODS) for Water Quantity And Quality Control, International Journal of River Basin Management, International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research (IAHR), Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 237-251.  ISSN 1571-5124 <download>
   

• Yusof, M. F., Zakaria, N. A., Ab. Ghani, A., Abdullah, R. & Chang, C.K. (2005). Infiltration Study for Urban Soil: Case Studies – Butterworth and Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia. XXXI IAHR Congress: Water Engineering for the Future - Choice and Challenges, 11-16 September, Seoul, Korea, pp. 1154-1162.  ISBN: 8987898245  <download>

Study Area (a) Butterworth (b) USM Engineering Campus

   
Soil Sampling Using Hand Auger

 
Field Infiltration Test Using Double Ring Infiltrometer
 

 
(a) USM Engineering Campus                                                            (b) Butterworth
Infiltration Curves
 

Infiltration Test Result for Butterworth

Infiltration Test Result for USM Engineering Campus

 
(a) Butterworth                                                        (b) USM Engineering Campus
Infiltration Map