Our current and recent projects on green stormwater infrastructure:
Monitoring and assessment of green stormwater infrastructure hydrologic, energy, and nutrient performance
Green stormwater infrastructure is one infrastructure approach to reduce runoff in the built environment. Runoff reduction through evapotranspiration and infiltration can also provide co-benefits of reduced temperatures and nutrient uptake. We are creating a modeling and monitoring framework to quantify how green stormwater infrastructure can transform stormwater into local benefits, as part of the Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine (Great Lakes ReNEW) led by Current.
Funding: National Science Foundation
Creating a green infrastructure solutions toolkit for rural climate resiliency
Current municipal stormwater infrastructure is insufficient for flood management in an uncertain climate future. We are developing a green stormwater infrastructure decision support tool to inform new development proposals in rural communities of Illinois. This tool accounts for soil composition and local context to predict runoff reduction from nature-based solutions. We are also creating sample stormwater ordinances to enhance green stormwater infrastructure adoption.
Modeling the effects of green stormwater infrastructure implementation on urban hydrology and urban heat islands
Widespread local-scale installation of green stormwater infrastructure can change urban hydrology and urban heat island effects in cities. We are using large earth system models to simulate widespread installation of green stormwater infrastructure in urban areas globally to assess the runoff reduction and heat mitigation impacts under different future climates.
Funding: Center for Infrastructure Resilience in Cities as Livable Environments; Illinois Water Resources Center
Quantifying the hydrologic performance of green infrastructure to mitigate urban flooding
Green stormwater infrastructure has been lauded as a multi-benefit approach to addressing urban flooding issues. However, the performance of green infrastructure is highly variable, depending on factors as diverse as antecedent soil moisture, soil type, and placement within the existing network. Our research uses a reliability analysis framework to quantify and evaluate green infrastructure within the context of the energy-water nexus and the broader urban environment.