Research on Integrated Stormwater Solutions
Integrated management of stormwater with multi-functional blue/green infrastructure (also known as Nature Based Solutions, NBS) targets the environmental and technical aspects (water quality and quantity/flooding), as well as socio-economic aspects. It provides 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.
Multi-functionality is not achieved automatically. 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 socio-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 this research theme in DRIZZLE.
Theme leader and co-leader: Godecke-Tobias Blecken och Kelsey Flanagan
Sensitivity analysis for uncertainty quantification
StormTac Web models stormwater quality, treatment, and flows using the rational method. It is widely used in Scandinavia for stormwater assessments and facility design.
Cost-benefit analysis
Stormwater investments last long and face future uncertainties like climate change and new rules. Their multidisciplinary nature makes integrated assessment challenging.
Green roof biodiversity and aesthetics
Vegetation cover and composition are key for green roof functions like stormwater retention, biodiversity, and aesthetics, but changes over time can affect these functions.
Scenarios for BGI implementation
Blue and Green Infrastructure (BGI) is considered to be among the most promising solutions for stormwater management in urban areas
The Blue/Green/White Infrastructure concept
Evaluating socio-economic benefits of blue/green infrastructure is new but crucial, especially in dense cities where multifunctionality is key.
Multi-criteria analyses of street scale Blue/Green Infrastructure
Blue/green infrastructure supports sustainable cities, but holistic evaluation beyond technical and environmental aspects is needed for true sustainability.
Gully pots as pollutant sinks and sources
Stormwater inlets drain runoff and block debris from pipes. They can also capture urban sediments and pollutants, increasing their importance in environmental management.
Multifunctional areas for snow and stormwater management
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.