Our current and recent projects on green stormwater infrastructure:

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.

Funding: Center for Advanced Climate Solutions

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.

Funding: Illinois Water Resources Center; Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant