The invention discloses an urban catchment potential area identification method. The method comprises the steps of firstly establishing a
digital elevation model of an area where a project is located,and using a hydrological tool for dividing catchment potential areas on the basis of the
digital elevation model; counting the area of the water catchment potential areas and encoding the water catchment potential areas; classifying the underlying surfaces of the water catchment potential areas, simulating water catchment in different rainfall recurrence periods by applying an SWMM urban rainfallflood
management model, estimating the water amount of each water catchment potential area, identifying water catchment ranges of the water catchment potential areas in the different rainfall recurrence periods, and carrying out
verification by combining Civil3D
software at the same time. The method takes the
dynamic balance of
water collection and water utilization of an urban
sponge system as aguide, takes a block as a unit to divide urban catchment potential areas, extracts the site hydrological characteristics by constructing
a site three-dimensional model, and calculates and verifies the site runoff and confluence conditions by utilizing a rain flood
management model and Civil3D
software. According to the present invention, an auxiliary tool is provided for the
sponge city planningand designing, and the scientificity and the working efficiency of the
sponge city planning and designing are improved.