Untitled Quiz

Introduction to Sustainable Urban Design

• Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) aims to create sustainable cities
• Low Impact Development (LID) is a key concept in WSUD practices
• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and Best Management Practices (BMPs) are similar approaches from other regions

Terminology and Applications

• Low Impact Development (LID) is used in North America and New Zealand
• Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is used in Australia
• Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are used in the UK
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) are used in the US and Canada
• These terms all aim for ecologically-sound stormwater management.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Target

• Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
• Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) targets these goals by managing water resources in urban areas more sustainably.

Urban Sprawl and Impermeable Surfaces

• Research shows that above 10% impervious area in a watershed negatively affects stream ecosystems.
• Severe degradation can occur when impervious surface coverage exceeds 30% in a watershed.

Negative Impacts of Poor Urban Drainage

• Flash flooding
• Water contamination
• Stream scouring
• These issues are common consequences of traditional "pipe-and-pond" stormwater management methods

Hard vs. Soft Engineering

• Hard engineering involves large-scale infrastructure like pipes and channels. Its focus is on rapid runoff, diverting the water to other locations.
• Soft engineering uses nature-based strategies like rain gardens and permeable surfaces. It focuses on slowing down and filtering water.

Integrating Hard and Soft Engineering

• LID promotes a holistic approach that combines elements of both hard and soft engineering.
• This approach prioritizes water management at the source, aiming to slow and filter runoff onsite.

Low Impact Development (LID)

• LID manages rainfall onsite through a system of vegetated and distributed treatments, like infiltration, filtration, and retention.
• This contrast with traditional pipe-and-pond systems that channel runoff elsewhere.

Problems Addressed by LID

• Climate change effects like heat islands and increased rainfall intensity
• Stormwater runoff, non-point pollution, and infrastructure problems.

Environmental Impacts of LID

• LID facilities can capture 35-50% of rainfall
• Peak flow rates, frequency and duration are often reduced
• Improves water quality and quality of surrounding ecosystems

LID Implementation

• Implementation occurs through building, street design and incorporating open spaces.
• LID principles are applicable to buildings through construction
• LID principles are applicable to street design through design alternatives and open spaces

Surface Materials for LID

• Pervious paving and porous asphalt are examples of environmentally-friendly surface materials.
• These materials allow water to infiltrate into the ground.
• LID principles apply to various surface types such as parking areas, walkways, and gardens.

Parking Lot Design

• Parking lot designs are categorized from minimum to maximum ecological service.

Low Impact Streets

• Curb alternatives to manage water runoff
• Soft infrastructure to reduce flow rates (pervious paving and curb extensions)
• Planting to manage water and filter runoff

Treatment Parks

• Public parks implemented with LID principles for stormwater management.
• Integrating recreation with stormwater management.
• Providing treatment for local stormwater and other services in the area

Greenways

• Focus on maintaining natural flows in open space systems
• Facilitating ecological, social, and economic benefits

Flow Control Devices

• Flow control technologies to attenuate runoff speeds.
• Slowing concentrated runoff.
• Reducing peak flows for areas that have high flow intensities during rain events.

Underground Sand Filter

• Three-chambered system to pre-treat, filter & temporarily store first flush runoff (first flush of runoff contains higher volumes of pollutants).
• Employed for high-density, non-pervious, urban environments.

Surface Sand Filter

• Uses flow splitter, wet/dry sedimentation forebay and a sand filter bed to manage first flush runoff.

Vegetated Walls

• Passive or active systems (Active systems address air, passive systems water quality) for building/infrastructure water management in urban areas.
• Can regulate building temperature and lessen stormwater loads

Vegetated Roofs

• Collecting rainwater for use
• Reducing building temperature
• Reduced storm water runoff through evapotranspiration
• Implemented for various application scenarios (flat or sloped roofs)

Retention Pond

• Temporary storage for stormwater runoff.
• Designed to capture and filter water and store for later periods or release slowly to prevent flooding.
• Can be used on multiple scales.

Filter Strips

• Sloped areas of landscaped, vegetated medium used to reduce stormwater runoff volume
• Infiltration and filtration of runoff into the ground

Wet Vaults

• Subterranean, permanent water holding structures for stormwater runoff treatment.

Rainwater Harvesting

• Involves the collection & storage of rainwater for later use.
• Collection is implemented in various forms like rain barrels, cisterns & tanks.

Property

• A property with LID design contrasts with a conventional property.
• The property with LID can have LID lawn and parking lots with pervious paving

Greenspaces/ Parks and Greenways

• Greenways and parklands are essential to the environment.
• Integrate greenspaces into existing urban areas

Important Considerations for Design

• Consider various site-specific factors like soil type, drainage and rainfall patterns for optimal design.