Stormwater and Low Impact Development

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Dr. Jennifer Drake's research program will contribute towards the next generation of sustainable stormwater infrastructure. Low impact development (LID) aims to restore and maintain natural flow paths and water balances using blue (detention systems), green (vegetated systems), and grey (conventional minor and major stormwater systems) infrastructure. The realization of LID's promised outcomes - more sustainable and resilient communities - faces substantial challenges, including lack of data, uncertainty in outcomes, and system complexities. The goals of this research program are to learn from past LID successes/failures, improve LID technologies for the unique conditions of Canadian communities, and promote holistic design with performance verification. Urban flooding, a multi-billion-dollar challenge for Canadians, is caused by an increased area of hard surfaces due to urbanization, outdated and undersized stormwater infrastructure, and increased extreme weather associated with climate change. The proportion of the global population exposed to flood risk is growing. Space is limited in urban centres, and it is challenging to meet the ambitious, but necessary, stormwater management objectives of LID (naturalized water balances, flood control, and water quality management) in practice. Experience tells us that decision makers, designers, and other stakeholders are often required to combine the three types of stormwater infrastructure. However, these stakeholders continue to face a scarcity of technical literature, design guidance, and regulatory frameworks to address how these systems can best be integrated.This research program will facilitate sustainability, flood resilience, and climate change adaptation for urban populations, while addressing the problems faced by decision making and design communities. It is original and novel because it is the first to simultaneously address all forms of stormwater infrastructure. The innovative and holistic methodology will advance LID technologies, ensuring that integrated stormwater systems are well designed, constructed, and maintained to address stormwater management objectives both today and in the uncertain future. The proposed program will provide trainees with the critical knowledge and expertise in stormwater management design, operations, and maintenance that is necessary for the next generation of researchers and professionals to address the global climate crisis and increasing risk of urban floods.