TraceAir | Introducing Stormwater Drainage Reports: Simplifying Site Drainage Management for Homebuilders and Land Developers

Flooded driveways and soggy backyards are more than just a homeowner’s nightmare—they’re a costly risk for homebuilders too. Proper lot slopes are critical to avoiding stormwater issues that can delay projects, lead to expensive repairs, and ultimately impact homeowner satisfaction. Our new Stormwater Drainage Reports are designed to help homebuilders and land developers proactively identify drainage risks, verify slopes, and document site conditions, keeping projects on schedule and reducing the chance of costly rework. Stay ahead of potential issues with insights tailored to real-world needs.

Stormwater Drainage Reports: What’s Included?

Stormwater Drainage Reports include both the Closed Depressions and Slope Reports, providing essential tools for proactive drainage management. With visual overlays and detailed analysis, this suite enables teams to identify low-lying areas at risk of water accumulation and verify slope compliance with design standards. Here’s how each report supports your project:

Closed Depressions Report: Identify Potential Flood Zones Early

The Closed Depressions Report is a powerful visual tool that pinpoints low areas on the digital elevation model (DEM) with no natural outlets, where stormwater is likely to accumulate. By factoring in installed stormwater drains, it provides a complete view of potential pooling zones. Color-coded by depth, this report offers a quick, intuitive overview of flood risks, clearly highlighting areas that may need further attention. Delivered as an overlay file, it serves as a critical reference throughout the construction process, helping teams proactively manage drainage concerns as the project advances.

Quickly visualize potential pooling areas with color-coded depth indicators on the Closed Depressions Report, ensuring proactive stormwater management across your site.

‍Use Cases for the Closed Depressions Report:

• Quickly Assess the Entire Site: Get an immediate overview of areas where stormwater might accumulate, allowing you to prioritize problem spots early and inform team discussions about drainage and mitigation.
• Pinpoint High-Risk Zones for Detailed Analysis: Identify low areas for closer inspection with TraceAir’s Surface Comparison, Cross-Section, Distance, and Slope tools. These tools allow you to precisely measure elevations and slopes in high-risk zones, helping you understand the scope of potential drainage issues.
• Record Grading Compliance and Documentation: Before utility crews begin excavation, confirm that grading aligns with design specifications and accounts for potential water accumulation. This ensures that roads and other key areas are graded correctly, helping to prevent disruptions, costly repairs, and SWPPP violations related to drainage.

Slope Report: Verify Compliance with Design 

The Slope Report is a comprehensive tool that measures slope percentages at key points across the site—such as lot lines, driveways, lot-to-curb, and lot-to-road paths—and compares them to design grade (DG) requirements. By confirming slope compliance, this report helps prevent drainage issues, erosion, and potential HOA disputes. Delivered as both an overlay file and a downloadable detailed PDF, it provides a clear visual of slope compliance across the site and serves as a reliable documentation record, simplifying communication and accountability among teams.

Verify slope accuracy across key site points—like lot lines, driveways, and road paths—with the Slope Report, ensuring alignment with design grade requirements.

Use Cases for the Slope Report:

• Confirm Slopes Before Handover: Validate that all slopes meet DG requirements before transferring the project to vertical construction teams or beginning utility installations. If grading is disturbed during subsequent work, this report can be used to hold responsible contractors accountable and document the condition of the site before handover.
• Ensure HOA Slope Compliance: HOAs often enforce specific slope requirements. Use the Slope Report to confirm compliance, avoiding costly disputes, unexpected fines, and drainage issues tied to inadequate grading.
• Identify Unintended Drainage Patterns: Verify that no unplanned water drainage paths have emerged that could impact site safety, property values, or the structural integrity of finished lots.
• Resolve Problematic Areas: For slopes that don’t meet compliance standards, teams can collaboratively address issues using Exhibits, applying tools like the Slope Report, Surface Comparison, Cross-Section, Distance, and Slope to propose optimal corrective actions. Utilizing Exhibits fosters a proactive, team-based approach in TraceAir that helps maintain compliance and promotes sustainable development practices.

With TraceAir’s Stormwater Drainage Reports, you can tackle stormwater drainage issues head-on, supporting efficient site planning and proactive management. This suite of tools empowers homebuilders and land developers to make data-driven decisions, prevent costly disruptions, and ensure that their projects meet high standards of quality and compliance.

Ready to enhance your projects stormwater management? Current users, reach out to your dedicated account manager to add this feature. New to TraceAir? Schedule a demo to learn how our simple yet powerful software transforms site management with tools designed to streamline every stage of your project and drive success.