Design green infrastructure prototypes in already developed urban areas
Aim
Adapt a prototype of green infrastructure to be integrated into the urban area already built, through in-situ knowledge of the problems and analysis of the socio-economic and biophysical context.
Description
Prototypes serve to promote green infrastructures by showing how they work in a real-life context, contributing to the search for solutions to problems on site, integrating needs and priorities of involved and/or affected actors. The potential for replication to other sites and dissemination of results is sought.
To design green infrastructure prototypes, a co-design process is proposed, allowing for new knowledge and practices adapted to the specific context where they are to be implemented. It is proposed that this process be participatory and transdisciplinary, particularly as it takes place in the framework of “retrofitting”, which refers to the design of a new infrastructure that is integrated into an already developed urban area.
Identify and define specific design factors that influence or determine the final design of green infrastructures, in order to adapt or adapt them to the implementation site and the functionalities to be promoted.
SEE-URBAN-WATER: integrates technical principles of green infrastructure for stormwater management with the knowledge generated in the co-design process related to three design factors: urban landscape configuration, existing drainage configuration and social perception and acceptance.
The following factors are suggested:
1.1 Analyse the configuration of the urban environment:
Conduct a biophysical site analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tools, fed with field data to identify potential locations for green infrastructure implementation, making measurements and observations (See Process Guidance: Area Analysis and Data Collection)
SEE-URBAN-WATER: Identification of potential areas for green infrastructure through on-site measurements (detailed example in Tanja Fluhrer’s Master Thesis). This factor determines the area to place the prototype in the already developed environment and defines the maximum dimensions. The image shows the urban green spaces in Siglo XXI, Flores, CR.
1.2 Characterise existing infrastructure
Identify and characterise existing infrastructure on the site that can be integrated/complemented/adapted with green infrastructure. This allows to define where green infrastructure can be built and how it can be integrated into the already developed urban area (See Guidance: Identify the runoff system and its characteristics)
SEE-URBAN-WATER identified the distribution and behaviour of local runoff within the study area and the effects derived from local management (See Guide: Identifying the runoff system and its characteristics). This factor determines the hydraulic and functional design of the prototype, makes it possible to define the adaptations of the prototype for integration into the existing drainage system and helps to establish the water inlets and discharges. The image shows the analysis of existing storm drainage in Siglo XXI, Flores, CR.
1.3 Inclusion of social perceptions
Analyse social/community perceptions of the infrastructure to be proposed, taking into account residents’ knowledge, needs, concerns and priorities.
Understand the accepted “norms”, social habits and customs at the implementation site.
SEE-URBAN-WATER: In the SUW pilot area, the proposed infrastructure should not create a barrier to vehicular access to houses. Tool: Participatory observation of social dynamics, car counts, interviews. This factor helps to determine the type of green infrastructure that is appropriate for the site. Community acceptance of certain types of infrastructure limits its design and implementation, e.g. avoiding infrastructure with permanent surface water bodies.
2. Gathering knowledge on green infrastructure design and construction
Gather information and knowledge of the design and construction of green infrastructure for urban water management from design guides or manuals or other literature sources. Limit to the type of potential site infrastructure identified in the guide “Identify the potential of the selected laboratory area to implement green infrastructure in already developed urban areas”
3. Integrate the knowledge generated from the design factors of the implementation area with the green infrastructure design guidelines
Define the technical design of the prototype to be proposed by integrating the different types of knowledge collected through the previous steps.
SEE-URBAN-WATER integrated the knowledge generated on design factors and proposes as an example a retention system integrated into the existing pavement, adapted for greywater filtration.
Results
Technical and operational design of a green infrastructure prototype adapted to the proposed social and biophysical urban context, describing its location and functionality.
Rules
Encouraging citizen and community participation from the design stage is essential to ensure the sustainability of the infrastructure to be implemented.
Always take community “norms” into consideration. For example, the prioritisation of security.
Propose prototypes that maximise the different benefits that green infrastructure promotes in practice, seeking the multifunctionality of the infrastructure and the location of the site. For example, for recreation and wastewater treatment.
The construction area and prototype design should be inclusive, providing access to different sectors of the community. For example, allowing people of different ages to visit.
Scopes and challenges
Limitations related to the level of residents’ acceptance of new infrastructure, due to existing customs, habits and communal norms.
Uncertainties caused by lack of knowledge of investment costs and long-term costs for maintenance and operation of infrastructure.
References and Additional Information
Ejemplos de cómo se ha implementado esta guía:
Tesis de Maestría (en ingles) de Jana Rose (TU Prints)
Publicaciones científicas sobre los resultados de la aplicación de esta guía:
Publicación de Tanja Fluhrer, Fernando Chapa y Jochen Hack. A Methodology for Assessing the Implementation Potential for Retrofitted and Multifunctional Urban Green Infrastructure in Public Areas of the Global South. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/1/384
Publicación Maria Perez-Rubí y Jochen Hack. Co-design of experimental nature-based solutions for decentralized dry-weather runoff treatment retrofitted in a densely urbanized area in Central America. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-020-01457-y
Publicación Fernando Chapa, Maria Perez-Rubí y Jochen Hack. Experimenting Transition to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems—Identifying Constraints and Unintended Processes in a Tropical Highly Urbanized Watershed. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/12/3554
