Study on the Construction and Operation Management of Urban Drainage Systems in the Alpine Plateau Region of Tibet

Abstract

The construction and operation management of urban drainage systems in the alpine plateau region of Tibet face numerous unique challenges due to natural conditions such as high altitude, low temperatures, and frequent freeze–thaw cycles. This study systematically investigates the current status, existing problems, and underlying causes of urban drainage system development in Tibet through methods including field surveys, problem identification, operational failure analysis, and whole-process management evaluation. The results indicate that although the drainage network coverage rate in some central urban areas has exceeded 80%, it remains below 60% in certain counties and townships. In most towns, the temperature impact coefficient is lower than 0.4, while low temperatures, freeze–thaw cycles, and hypoxic conditions associated with high altitudes are identified as the primary factors affecting drainage system performance. Operational failures exhibit a cascading mechanism characterized by “pipeline freezing and structural deterioration → reduced conveyance capacity → increased equipment loading → declining treatment efficiency → overall system failure.” To address these challenges, an integrated construction and operation management framework consisting of “engineering optimization, operational reliability enhancement, intelligent operation and maintenance management, and institutional and policy support” is proposed. This study establishes a problem identification system and a whole-process management evaluation framework for drainage systems in the alpine plateau region of Tibet, providing a useful reference for the construction and operation management of drainage infrastructure in similar cold and high-altitude regions.