New Topic Research Proposal

Sustainable Stormwater Management: Paving the Way to a Greener Future

Summary and Statement of Proposed Project

We are living in a time in which sustainability and green design is becoming more desired by the general public, but most of this desire and development is focused on the residential aspect.  To truly make an impact on the environment we have to start directing more attention to sustainable roadways and parking; more specifically, sustainable stormwater management.  In this project I intend to search for and study various sustainable storm water management methods and tools in order to create the most environmentally beneficial and feasible parking lot possible at lot ‘S’ at Thompson Rivers University.

Purpose

I will research, in depth, various practices and tools used in sustainable stormwater management such as permeable pavers, bioretention swales/ditches, soil amendments, engineered soil, and many other techniques that are used all over the world. 

I will use my new gained knowledge to put together a plan to create the most suitable and feasible sustainable parking lot possible at lot ‘S’ at Thompson Rivers University.

A well designed sustainable parking lot would reduce the heat island effect, improve recharge of the groundwater, maximize green space and oxygen production, reduce greenhouse emission, and minimize maintenance.  It would also be aesthetically pleasing and would help Thompson Rivers University set an example for others to follow.

Goals and Objectives of the Project

I would like to meet with local Civil technology firms to discuss what measures are currently being taken to improve sustainability in Kamloops, as well as discuss possible ways to improve future developments of our city’s roadways and parking lots.

I hope to meet with the TRU Environmental Advisory Committee to discuss my plans for lot ‘S’ on campus and the possibility of transforming my ideas into reality.

Methodology and Analytical Approach

·    I will research academic sources in the topics of sustainable stormwater management, sustainable urban planning, city planning, low impact development, landscape architecture, and environmental restoration.

·    I will research existing sustainable parking lots around the world and make contact with the planners and developers to discuss the pros and cons(if any) of the methods used.

·    I will contact local developers and planners to discuss currently used methods as well as what methods could be used in the future to create a more sustainable city here in Kamloops.

·    I will calculate the amount of storm water that currently gets to the city’s storm water system from lot ‘S’, and then compare it to a calculated amount that would come from my possible sustainable lot.  If successful, little or no water should get to the city’s stormwater system.

·    I will develop a detailed site plan and section of lot ‘S’ with all of the improvements in place.

Related Information

In the book Building the Ecological City(White, 2002), the many negative effects of vast amounts of stormwater getting flushed through the city’s water system are greatly explained.  This will help me to better explain the need for change to planners and developers.

In  the book Introduction to Stormwater: Concept, Purpose and Design(Ferguson, 1998), the fundamental knowledge of stormwater and its behaviour is explained in great detail.  I will use the knowledge found in this book to better understand storm water and how it will react to certain methods that I plan to study.

Dissemination of Work

My work done throughout this research project will be made available to the public by way of:

·    An online blog that I will continually update with progress reports

·    Possible presentations at relevant conferences

·    Presentations to appropriate people in the industry, i.e. city planners, developers, etc.

·    Possible implementation into a real project if ultimately successful with goals

References Cited

White, R.R. (2002) Building the ecological city.

Cambridge, England: Woodhead.

Ferguson, B. K. (1998) Introduction to stormwater: concept, purpose and design.

New York, NY, USA: Wiley

Academic Sources

Figueres, C.M., Tortajada, C., & Rockstrom, J. (Eds.) (2003) Rethinking water management: innovative approaches to contemporary issues.                                                                   

 London, UK: Earthscan.

James, W., Irvine, K.N., McBean, E.A., & Pitt, R.E. (Eds.) (2004) Effective modelling of urban water systems.

Guelph, Ontario, Canada: CHI.

Marsalek, J., Sztruhar, D., Guilianelli, M., & Urbonas, B. (Eds.) (2003) Enhancing urban environment by upgrading and restoration.

Dordecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer.

Stephenson, D. (2005) Water services management.

London, UK: IWA.

Dunnett, N., & Hitchmough J. (Eds.) (2004) The dynamic landscape.

London, UK: Spon Press.

Margolis, L., & Robinson, A. (2007) Living systems: innovative materials and technologies for landscape architecture.

Berlin, Germany: Birkhauser.

Miller, D., & de Roo, G. (Eds.) (2004) Integrating city planning and environmental improvement: practicable strategies for sustainable urban development.                       

Aldershot, Hants, England; Burlington, VT, USA: Ashgate.

Farr, D. (2008) Sustainable urbanism: urban design with nature.                                        

 Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley.

Contribution of the Project to my Academic Goals and Objectives

My academic objective is to graduate from the Architectural and Engineering Technology program at Thompson Rivers University, and eventually obtain employment in the Civil Technology field.  I truly believe that the knowledge I gain from this project will give me a great advantage when seeking employment after graduation, as sustainability is becoming essential to our planets future.