Green Rainwater Infrastructure implementation in high density urban areas
Shijia Zhang, MLWS 2024
As urbanization continues to reshape our cities the increase of impervious surfaces poses significant challenges. Traditional stormwater infrastructure typically aims to quickly drain water from city centers. In contrast, green infrastructure is an emerging approach to water management that focuses on protecting, restoring, or mimicking the natural water cycle. This approach allows for more effective management of urban stormwater and rainwater, improves water quality, and also helps address urban heat island effects, reduce flood risks, and tackle other urban challenges, improve urban green spaces and overall city livability. However, some highly developed cities like Vancouver, the impervious surface is dramatically high. One of the biggest challenges is finding space. In a city where every square inch counts, figuring out where to put green roofs, permeable pavements, and rain gardens isn't easy. It requires creative thinking and strategic planning to carve out areas for these green solutions amidst the concrete jungle. This project is aimed to determine how GRI being may effectively implemented in a developed city were much of the streets/lanes are covered by impervious surfaces.
