Introduction
The green infrastructure sub-project focuses on the potential of urban green-blue interventions in mitigating the effects of pluvial flooding. This topic is covered through research, field testing and stakeholder engagement. The research focuses on green infrastructure as part of the urban drainage network, and how it can contribute to more flood resilience. Field testing is done via full-scale testing of both permeable pavement and rain garden facilities throughout New Orleans. This topic is concluded via a workshop in which the possibilities as well as points of improvement of green infrastructure are discussed with stakeholders.
The objective was not only testing the hydrological performance of infrastructure facilities, but also to analyze existing green infrastructure in terms of design, maintenance and cost effectiveness. These findings provide valuable insight in the infiltration capacity of various facilities for both dry and wet conditions, and indications for design and maintenance improvements.
Green infrastructure as part of urban drainage
This multidisciplinary study aims to increase flood and drought resilience in New Orleans by integrating technical adaptation measures in the built environment. The development of a design framework and detailed design interventions follows from a vulnerability analysis that focuses on the different capacities of the built environment in dealing with weather events of various magnitudes. For this analysis, the threshold (preventing damage), coping (mitigating damage), recovery (recovering from damage) and adaptive (flexibility to change) capacities of the built environment are investigated. The analysis shows that subsiding soils and ageing infrastructure leave the city unprepared to increasing climatological extremes. A main conclusion from this research is that the flood and drought resilience of New Orleans can be best increased by introducing open water in the urban environment. These findings are consolidated in new hydrological framework and urban design for New Orleans. The proposed design offers a high potential of meeting the required water storage capacity, with the intention to reintroduce the lost identity of wetlands to the suburbs of New Orleans. Typological and urban design across scales aim to integrate water system elements into the urban fabric, and to merge a new water-based urban environment with traditional desired American neighborhood qualities. |
Click on the image for higher resolution version. |
Testing and monitoring
In October 2022 the team conducted a field testing campaign. A total of 27 tests have been carried out between rain gardens and permeable pavement facilities. The tests were done using a full-scale inundation method, in which the infiltration capacity is determined over a larger area than regular ring-infiltrometer tests. |
Click on the image for higher resolution version. |
Workshop optimization of green infrastructure
The research and field test results are to be discussed and integrated in a final stakeholder workshop on green infrastructure in New Orleans. This workshop is yet to take place.
Documents
| Topic | Link to document |
|---|---|
| Green infrastructure as part of urban water management (Rooze, 2020). | |
Nature Base Solutions in New Orleans: Opportunities and limitations (2022). | |
The Long-Term Hydraulic Efficiency of Green Infrastructure under Sea Level: Performance of Raingardens, Swales and Permeable Pavement in New Orleans (Land, 2023). | |
Comparing severe drought and heat experiences from the Netherlands and New Orleans towards a more climate resilient delta (van den Oever, 2019). | |
| ClimateScan: mapping of green infrastructure facilities and test results. |
