Mitigating urban rainstorm waterlogging disasters in China through enhanced vegetation coverage and sponge city construction

In light of the frequent occurrence of extreme weather events such as rainstorm-induced waterlogging, which have had severe impacts on people's production and daily lives, how to more effectively respond to these natural disasters to ensure sustainable urban human development has become a critical research topic that requires urgent attention.This study focuses on the mitigation measures for urban rainstorm waterlogging disasters, using Erdao District in Changchun City, Jilin Province, as a case area. Hydrodynamic methods, waterlogging models, infiltration coefficient calculations, and drainage capacity inversion methods are employed to construct a model simulating the mitigation process of urban rainstorm waterlogging for different land use types. The study emphasizes that increasing vegetation coverage and expediting the construction of sponge cities are crucial measures for alleviating urban rainstorm waterlogging disasters in China. The results indicate that: (1) Underlying surfaces limited to bare land, cultivated land, construction land, and roads result in severe rainstorm waterlogging in the study area, posing significant threats to residents' safety, property, and traffic; (2) When the underlying surface is vegetation, it has a certain mitigating effect on rainstorm waterlogging, but insufficient vegetation cover in residential areas reduces its effectiveness.; (3) The scenario where the underlying surface comprises bare land, cultivated land, construction land, and roads demonstrates effective mitigation of rainstorm waterlogging; (4) The optimal mitigation effect for rainstorm waterlogging occurs when the underlying surface includes bare land, cultivated land, construction land, roads, and vegetation, showcasing the synergy between vegetation and sponge city construction.Based on this study, scientific evidence is provided for the prevention and mitigation of urban disasters, and technical support is offered for the sustainable development of cities. Moreover, the research emphasizes the importance of clarifying zoning standards in urban planning, mandating the implementation of green infrastructure, and enhancing public acceptance through demonstration projects, thereby providing references for the practical application of sponge city construction.