Development of probabilistic ecohydrologic models for green infrastructure systems

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Green infrastructure mainly uses vegetation and soils and includes urban forests, streams and riparian zones, green roofs, green walls and other low impact development practices, parks and gardens, stormwater management ponds and wetlands. Sustainable communities incorporate green infrastructure into their water supply, stormwater and wastewater management systems. Urban ecohydrologic models which effectively simulate the soil-plant-atmosphere interactions are necessary for the planning, design and operation of green infrastructural systems. Currently there are few such models available and there is also a lack of interdisciplinary research linking urban hydrology with terrestrial and aquatic ecology. The proposed research aims at developing urban ecohydrologic models to assist in the design and maintenance of green infrastructure. ******My previous research focused on urban stormwater management. I have developed and applied both probabilistic and deterministic hydrologic models for studying different stormwater control measures (SCMs). Many of these SCMs are also considered as green infrastructure. However, the earlier models for the SCMs simulate only the hydrologic and hydraulic processes that affect their flood and runoff volume control performances. The detailed soil-plant-atmosphere interactions are not considered due to differences in temporal scales of interest. In the short term, I will seek to incorporate the modelling of soil moisture dynamics and simulate the plant evapotranspiration in much more detail. Biomass production and vegetation water use will be quantified so that the other environmental benefits provided by some types of SCMs (e.g., bio-retention systems, grass swales, green roofs, etc.) can also be quantified. ******In the longer term, more complete urban ecohydrologic models will be developed to quantify not only the flood and runoff volume control effects of green infrastructure but also its other environmental benefits such as increase in ecosystem carrying and absorbing capacities, reduction in urban heat island effects, and increase in resilience of a community against different kinds of natural hazards. Environmental sustainability is highly desirable but its quantification remains a challenge. The proposed research will contribute in combating this challenge. ******Escalating urbanization and increasing reliance on the economic value of cities make the development and application of urban ecohydrologic models urgently needed. The proposed research will greatly improve our modelling capabilities and contribute to the solution of many of the remaining interdisciplinary problems. Findings from the proposed research will also benefit urban agriculture and vegetable gardening which are gaining popularity across Canada.