SEMINAR

RESEARCH GUIDE PRASHANT

PROF. SHOEB ALAM SATYA
SHRISHTI
 “APPLICATION OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE TO MANAGE THE STORM WATER FLOODING IN URBAN CONTEXT
CAUSED DUE TO THE IMPULSIVE AND RAPID URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT “

This research aims to examine the application of green infrastructure in

addressing stormwater flooding in urban areas impacted by impulsive
and rapid infrastructure development.
Unplanned urban expansion often leads to increased impervious
surfaces, which prevent water infiltration and overwhelm drainage
systems, heightening the risk of floods.
The study will assess how green infrastructure solutions such as:-
green roofs,
permeable pavements,
bioswales,
urban wetlands,
can effectively reduce surface runoff, enhance water absorption, and
manage flood risks.
Green infrastructure will explore how integrating these nature-based
solutions into urban planning can improve flood resilience and support
sustainable urban growth.

This study will also highlight challenges and best practices in implementing green infrastructure amidst rapid urbanization.

By analysing successful case studies and practical implementations, the research aims to provide actionable insights into how cities
can adopt green infrastructure to manage stormwater sustainably, promoting both environmental and socio-economic benefits.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIALISATION

Urban areas, with their dense infrastructure, impervious

surfaces, and often limited natural drainage systems, are
particularly vulnerable to stormwater f looding.

With increase in urban development and industrialisation

in the area use of construction material led to increase in
the built structure resulting an increase in grey
infrastructure (the human engineered structure mostly
comprising of concrete structure) this has only resulted in
making earth surfaces impermeable in nature affecting
the overall soil composition and reducing the ground
water level.
Emerging problems in urban context like flooding,
increase in temperature also known as the heat island
effect, shortage of drinking water, infrastructure damage
are many such issues being faced.
 HEAT ISLAND EFFECT GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN BUILT AND
NATURAL SPACES IS NECESSARY.
Heat island affect is when urban areas are warmer than the
Green infrastructure plays a crucial role in handling the problems arising
surrounding rural areas due to the absorption and retention of
due to population increase in urban areas and providing implementations
heat by buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. This effect
for water recharge which contributes to sustainable water management
is most noticeable during the summer and winter, when winds
and address water scarcity issues
are weak, and under block conditions.

Green infrastructure refers to natural or engineered systems that mimic

natural processes to manage water and provide additional environmental
benefits. The concept of green infrastructure is based on the idea that
maintaining the ecological system and incorporating biodiversity and
ecological mechanisms into territorial planning and implementation can
benefit human societies.
Following measures include rain garden, bio retentions and bio swales
such measures only help to improve the ground water level and reduce
situations like urban flooding these measures are based on the concept
of sponge city which can be implemented to increase ground water level
and reduce issues like urban flooding, heat island effect.
 SPONGE CITY USING A VARIETY OF TECHNIQUES
Sponge city is an urban area which has been designed to
cope with excess rainfall using a variety of techniques.
Simply reducing the number of hard surfaces and
increasing the amount of absorbent land, particularly green
space, can make a significant difference in reducing the
severity and frequency of flooding events. Supplementing
this approach with efficient channeling and storage
systems can help to counter the frequency of water
shortages, which can be particularly acute in large cities.

The practice of sponge city has already been implemented

in countries like China, Netherlands, Sweden, New York.
This concept is being covered in union governments
sponge city mission covering 15 cities of Andhra Pradesh

Sponge city was first introduced by Chinese government

after the flooding of Beijing city in 2012 in order to tackle
the issue of urban flooding and rain water run-off.
Implementing the research of Harvard based landscape
architect professor Kongjian Yu this strategy is the fastest
rolling out norm for urban design in the country.
RATIONALE
Urban areas around the world are increasingly facing the challenge of
stormwater flooding, which is being made worse by the rapid and
unplanned growth of urban infrastructure.
As cities grow and become more densely populated, natural land, such
as soil and vegetation, is replaced with impervious surfaces like
concrete and asphalt.
These materials do not allow water to soak into the ground, reducing
natural water absorption.
As a result, more water runs off the surface during rainfall,
overwhelming traditional stormwater drainage systems. This causes
flooding that is both more frequent and severe.

. Green spaces are often lost or reduced, which diminishes the natural
ability of an area to absorb and manage rainwater.
This reduces the city's resilience to climate-related events, such as heavy
rainfall.
Additionally, stormwater flooding can damage buildings and
infrastructure, cause significant economic losses, and create public health
risks by contaminating water supplies and increasing pollution levels.
Green infrastructure (GI) offers a more sustainable
approach to managing stormwater in cities. GI uses
nature-based solutions like green roofs, permeable
pavements, rain gardens, and urban wetlands to
absorb, filter, and slow down stormwater runoff.
These systems not only manage water but also
provide multiple other benefits.

The application of green infrastructure in the urban

context offers multiple benefits :-
flood management.
It enhances urban biodiversity,
mitigates the urban heat island effect,
improves air and water quality,
and contributes to the aesthetic and recreational
value of cities.

Furthermore, with growing concerns over climate change, the role of green infrastructure in building climate-resilient cities is becoming
increasingly relevant.
With the increasing threat of climate change, the
role of green infrastructure in building climate-
resilient cities is becoming more critical. GI can
help cities adapt to more intense and frequent
rainfall events while promoting sustainable
urban development.

However, despite its potential, green infrastructure is not widely implemented in rapidly urbanizing areas. There are challenges to its
adoption, such as lack of awareness, policy support, or funding. This makes it necessary to study how effective GI is in different urban
environments and identify the barriers to its widespread use. Strategies are also needed to integrate green infrastructure into urban planning
frameworks, ensuring that future development considers both environmental sustainability and resilience to climate impacts.
 OBJECTIVE:

Assessing the need for a comprehensive approach to

water management in urban cities considering the
interconnected nature of water scarcity, f looding,
pollution, and habitat loss.
Exploring the implementation of green infrastructure at
various spatial scales, ranging from small-scale
projects like rain gardens to large-scale regional green
networks.
Examining the future of green infrastructure and
sponge cities in future with relation to urban context
and fulfilling the required developmental goals.
Application of green infrastructure to manage the
storm water flooding in urban context caused due to
the impulsive and rapid urban infrastructure
development .
METHODOLOGY TO IMPLEMENT SPONGE CITY IN URBAN CONTEXT
The implementation phase begins with small-scale pilot projects. These
projects allow for testing design concepts and gathering data on their
effectiveness before broader application. By adopting a phased
development approach, cities can gradually adapt and scale solutions
based on real-world performance and community feedback.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Establishing performance metrics enables planners to assess the
effectiveness of various features, focusing on aspects such as water
retention capacity, biodiversity levels, and community usage.

ADAPTATION AND SCALING

Ongoing monitoring and community feedback help identify areas for
improvement, ensuring that the sponge city remains responsive to
evolving urban challenges. Successful strategies can then be scaled up
and integrated into broader urban development plans, enhancing the
overall resilience of the city.

INTEGRATION WITH URBAN DESIGN

The sponge city approach requires a holistic view of urban planning, integrating land use, transportation, and green infrastructure. This
interconnectedness leads to more sustainable and livable cities.
 BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH INVESTMENT IN SPONGE CITIES AND GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE:
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
Green infrastructure enhances storm quality of the water by lowering
the silt, undesirable minerals, and other impurities transported by
runoff from impervious surfaces.
Keeping runoff in lawns and decreasing the flow velocity from the
watershed area decreases the danger of soil bed erosion.
Reduced flow rates also alleviate pressure on downstream streams.
By diverting runoff to irrigate the plants, the demand for human
watering is reduced, and soil moisture increases.

SOCIAL BENEFITS:
Landscape design helps define the character and identity of a city.
Trees and greenways contribute significantly to temperature decreases in cities.
Through shadowing and Green cover promotes outdoor activities such as
walking, cycling, and other forms of enjoyment.
Vegetation reduces air pollution and helps to alleviate the impact of climate
change.
Trees purify the atmosphere by removing nitrous and carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide sulphur dioxide, and ozone.
ECONOMIC BENEFITS:
Green infrastructure minimizes building cooling demand by lowering regional temperatures and shading building surfaces.
Green infrastructure, such as storm drains and drainage pipelines, complements grey infrastructure and extends its life.
Green infrastructure on streets slows runoff, alleviating strain on stormwater management systems and saving maintenance costs.
Street trees and greenways provide aesthetic value and a vital local amenity.
TYPES OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE:

DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION:
With this simple mechanism, rooftop drainage pipelines are rerouted from
draining rainwater into rainstorm sewers to rainwater barrels, cisterns, or
accessible regions. It can also hold rainstorm water or permit it to infuse into
the soil. Urban towns with mixed sewer methods may help the most from
downspout disconnection.

PLANTER BOXES:
Urban rain basins with upright surfaces and closed or open bottoms are planter
boxes. They catch and absorb runoff from roadways, sidewalks, and parking lots
and are typically seen in downtown locations. Planter boxes are an excellent
technique to decorate city streets and are ideal for regions with limited space.
RAINWATER HARVESTING:
Reservoirs slow runoff and collect rainwater for later use, reducing stormwater pollution. The systems range from a
backyard rain barrel to a large building cistern and ground-level pits, aquifers, and even dew and fog capture nets. These
kinds of methods have been used all around the world. Rain gardens are more miniature, shallow, sunken planting areas
that catch rainwater runoff from roofs, sidewalks, and sidewalks. They are also referred to as Bio retention cells, and they
are intended to diminish storm water contamination by mimicking the natural methods water flows greater than and is
absorbed into the ground.
PERMEABLE PAVEMENTS:
Rainwater infiltrates, is treated, and is stored where it falls on permeable pavements. Permeable concrete, porous asphalt, or permeability
interlocked pavers can all be used. Where land levels are high and floods or ice are an issue, this method could be very cost-effective.

ALLEYS AND GREEN STREETS:

Green routes and alleys are developed by including eco-friendly infrastructure features into
their plan to hoard and strain storm water. Pavements, bioswales, planter boxes, and
saplings are just a few of the components that are able to be incorporated into a street or
alley design
BIOSWALES:
Vegetation or mulch is used to slow and purify stormwater flows in bioswales,
frequently found along the curb and in parking areas

Bioswales are linear, vegetated ditches that manage stormwater runoff by

collecting, filtering, and soaking it into the ground. They are also known as
vegetated swales, grass swales, or filter strips.
Bioswales are similar to rain gardens but are designed to handle more runoff
from larger areas, such as parking lots and streets. They have more complex
design features, such as: Layers of soil and gravel, Perforated pipe
underdrains, Overflow structures, and Sloped base.

Bioswales have many benefits,

including:
Removing pollution and debris
Recharging groundwater
Reducing erosion
Stabilizing soil
Slowing runoff
Absorbing runoff
Providing shelter and food for local
wildlife
Combating the urban heat island effect
 GREEN PARKING:

Numerous different types of green infrastructure can be flawlessly incorporated into parking zones. Rain gardens and
drainage systems can be placed in medians, then all along the parking lot periphery, and rigid pavements can be placed
in areas of a lot. When included in a parking lot, these elements also help to lessen the heat island effects on improving
walking ability in the neighbourhood.
GREEN ROOFS:
Green covers are made up of growing vegetation
and media that allow rainwater to infiltrate and
stored water to evaporate. They are incredibly
cost-effective in densely populated locations with
high land values and on giant industrial or office
towers with significant stormwater control costs.

LAND CONSERVATION:
Preserving open places and susceptible natural locations
within and adjoining a city and offering leisure activities
for city people can help reduce the water quality and flood
impacts of urban runoff. Riparian areas, wetlands, and
steep hillsides are examples of natural places that should
be prioritised in this endeavour.
 The Conclusion Of This Report

In conclusion, the application of green infrastructure is essential to managing

stormwater flooding in urban areas impacted by rapid and impulsive infrastructure
development. By integrating natural systems like rain gardens, bio-retentions, and the
sponge city concept, cities can enhance water absorption, reduce impermeable
surfaces, and mitigate flooding risks, addressing urban flooding, water shortages, and
the heat island effect requires integrating green infrastructure into urban planning.
Implementing natural systems for water management helps recharge groundwater,
reduce flooding, and mitigate temperature increases, supporting the resilience of
rapidly growing urban areas. Green infrastructure not only addresses stormwater
challenges but also promotes sustainable urban growth, improving resilience to
environmental stressors.
THANK YOU