Research on Integrated Stormwater Solutions
Integrated management of stormwater with multi-functional blue/green infrastructure, which targets the environmental and technical aspects (water quality and quantity/flooding), as well as socio-economic aspects is both a great opportunity, but also a great challenge.
However, this integrated approach is crucial to utilise the opportunities which multi-functional blue/green infrastructure provides, thus helping to achieve more sustainable cities and communities. This potential is underlined by the fact that integrated stormwater management, with blue/green infrastructure, can directly contribute to many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), e.g. SDGs 6 Clean Water, 9 Innovation and Infrastructure, 11 Sustainable Cities, 13 Climate action, 14 Life below water, 15 Life on Land, 3 Good health and well-being and 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth. Given the collaborative character of large parts of DRIZZLE, it also contributes to achieving SDG 19 Partnership for the Goals.
Thus, integrated research involving technical, environmental and socio-economic aspects is needed to develop knowledge on how to successfully implement integrated, multifunctional systems. Accordingly, further evaluation of blue/green infrastructures’ technical, environmental and social-economic potentials, but also limitations, is required to enable and ensure that it delivers optimally. Synergies between different aims must be identified and conflicts of interests must be explored and solved. This is the overarching aim of the theme in DRIZZLE.
Theme leader and co-leader: Godecke-Tobias Blecken och Kelsey Flanagan
Current projects
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Gully pots as pollutant sinks and sources
Gully pots are a ubiquitous dual-function component of urban drainage infrastructure, moving surface runoff to below ground piped systems and preventing large debris entering and blocking pipes. However, the need to tackle diffuse urban pollution to achieve environmental objectives has increased int...
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Cost-benefit analysis
Investments and measures in stormwater management usually have relatively long life-times and are thereby sensitive to future uncertainties (e.g. climate change, changed regulations, changed public expectations). Given the multidisciplinary, integrated character of stormwater management using blue/g...
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Multifunctional areas for snow and stormwater management in subarctic cities
Many Swedish cities are situated in cold-temperate and subarctic climate. When it comes to precipitation especially in the subarctic climate, a considerable amount during the year falls as snow.
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Green roof biodiversity and aesthetics
Both vegetation abundances and community compositions play important roles for the functions of green roofs. Examples are e.g. stormwater retention, but, given the multi-functional character of green roofs, also urban biodiversity, aesthetic appearance, etc. However, green roof vegetation can change...
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The Blue/Green/White Infrastructure concept
Qualitatively or quantitatively evaluating the multiple socio-economic benefits delivered by blue/green infrastructure is a relatively new field, but one - given the importance of delivering multiple benefits in dense cities – destined to grow in importance.
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Multi-criteria analyses of street scale Blue/Green Infrastructure
Stormwater blue/green infrastructure can be a core component in delivering sustainable cities. Besides evaluating its technical/environmental potential, a wider perspective is needed to evaluate blue/green infrastructure in a holistic way, as illustrated in the figure below.
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Sensitivity analysis for uncertainty quantification
StormTac Web is used to model stormwater quality and treatment efficiency of various stormwater control measures. Further, modelling design flows/volumes and retention to prevent flooding can be done based on the rational method. The model is widely used especially in Scandinavia when designing stor...
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Scenarios for BGI implementation on catchment scale: socio-economic assessment of benefits
Blue and Green Infrastructure (BGI) is considered to be among the most promising solutions for stormwater management in urban areas. For smooth introduction of new technologies into routine procedures, decision-makers need more information about direct and indirect benefits, provided by BGI.