Climate adaptation on Amicisvej

The climate adaptation project on Amicisvej is a clear example of how a few additions from SmartBrønd's system can make a big difference in getting the most out of an installation's volume.

A difficult water balance

Beneath Amicisvej lies one of the larger climate adaptation projects in Frederiksberg. The installation comprises 9 underground basins with a combined volume of more than 650 m³ of stormwater capacity.

The project's location and design pose challenges, however. The system sits below metal covers as well as the road surface, and is split across multiple basins at different levels and sizes. These conditions make it difficult to assess the water balance during a rainfall event.

Sensor data unlocks insight

To understand how the installation was performing, SmartBrønd first installed a water level sensor in the system's manhole. The sensor delivered valuable data and revealed that utilisation rate and water volume were extremely low.

During a rainfall event in November 2023 that delivered 60 mm of rain, the project on Amicisvej captured only around 47 m³ — roughly seven percent of the total volume.

Below is a graphical representation of the actual data from that event.

Amicisvej without flow regulator

The graph shows that even at larger rainfall events, the project captured only small volumes of stormwater.

The maximum utilisation rate (the dot on the curve) is just 7.22 percent of total capacity.

The solution: an adjustable flow regulator

The new insight from the water level sensor made it clear: the project's installed volume held substantial untapped potential.

In May 2024, SmartBrønd installed an adjustable flow regulator in the project's manhole. With a single change, the underground basins now retained the captured stormwater instead of letting it run quickly into the sewer. The project's full volume could finally be put to use.

The figure below shows how the project performs after the adjustable flow regulator was installed.

Amicisvej with adjustable flow regulator

The graph shows how the project, with an adjustable flow regulator installed, retained large volumes of stormwater following a cloudburst event in September 2024.

The water was released slowly and in a controlled manner over several days to avoid overloading the sewer system.

Adjustable flow regulator

The flow regulator is easy to adjust and equipped with an overflow pipe that lets water reach the sewer if the project's volume is full.

SmartBrønd's water level sensor delivers the data needed to set both the correct outflow rate and the correct overflow height. The sensor performs daily inspections and can raise alerts if any operational issue arises.

When the system needs to be re-tuned, it only takes a single person to adjust the regulator and the overflow pipe.

The image shows a manhole with the adjustable flow regulator installed. The system consists of the flow regulator, an overflow pipe and the water level sensor.

The project's evolution

With a simple installation of SmartBrønd's adjustable flow regulator, the climate adaptation project on Amicisvej now serves a fundamentally new purpose.

The graph below shows a complete historical overview of the project's performance, both before and after the adjustable flow regulator. The data clearly shows how the installation's ability to handle stormwater changed after the regulator was added in May 2024.

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