Multidisciplinary Approach for a Solution to Floods in Sampathé District (Thiès-Est, Senegal)

Abstract

In recent years (2003), Senegal has been confronted with many urban flooding problems that have become recurrent due to the configuration of its settlement. This is due to galloping population growth, climate change and a lack of planning and rainwater drainage networks. To fix these phenomena, Senegalese government has initiated rainwater drainage programs. In the city of Thiès, particularly in Sampathé district, flooding problem is a reality that is observed during every winter period. It is within this framework that we have proposed a project for the design and dimensioning of a rainwater evacuation network in Sampathé. The network will be integrated into a Geographic Information System for efficient management of project. This study involved identifying flood zones, determining geotechnical characteristics of the soil, and exploiting rainfall data in order to propose a storm water drainage network that will be integrated into a database management system. Thus, we carried out topographical and geotechnical studies, then designed and dimensioned the drainage network, and finally set up a geographic information system. At the end of this project, we designed a sewerage network consisting of two primary pipelines, four secondary pipelines, one tertiary pipeline, ninety-two manholes and a retention basin. To manage the network, we set up a geographic information system to geolocate various elements for rapid intervention in the field in event of a problem, make requests, generate thematic maps, and perform spatial analyses for good decision-making.