Oral Abstract Details

Author(s):
XUANXUAN LUO

Affiliation:
AUBURN UNIVERSITY MASTER OF LANDSCAPE ATCHITECTURE

Presentation Type:
Oral

Topic Area:
Ecosystem impacts on human communities (e.g., human health, economic well-being, political action)

Abstract Text:
My planning project is based on a theory of using vegetated facilities to manage storm water runoff and creating a natural and livable environment in Mobile City, AL. Part of Dauphin Street and Mobile Bay are selected as the typical sites for my planning intervention to make green system melting into the city pattern. My planning intent focuses on how to create a green system to manage stormwater in a more effective, economic and sustainable way. The basic method of my planning is using a theory of Natural Drainage Systems (NDS) which is constituted by green streets network to manage stormwater. Traditional approach which combined sewage and stormwater pipes is not healthy for the watershed or economic development. Green streets are designed by using planted swales adjacent to sidewalk or roadway pavement to simulate the work of pipes. This system attempts to mimic the natural system to decrease runoff and also purify stormwater. The approach is used in many different ways; include green roofs, permeable sidewalks, and rain gardens. In the first place, I got to know about what sustainable design is through case studies. Next Geographic Information System (GIS) help me find out how the land form appears, the land using situation and some existing conditions of stromwater flow in Mobile City. Also, I crate a model with the software of Sketchup about my site to show the specific details. My design retrofits stormwater facilities between driveway locations and while providing more on-street parking. Vegetated curb extensions or sidewalk stormwater planters are the most common types of green streets. These facilities can collect stormwater runoff and allow water to soak into the ground as soil and vegetation filtering pollutants. Because of the limited width of Dauphin Street, stormwater facilities were placed on only one side of the street with a shed profile directing runoff to the landscape features. Additional stormwater that is generated from Dauphin Street will be collected into the pipes underneath and transferred to the rain garden which is on my main site. Also, I chose plants that can effectively absorb toxic components from stormwater pollutants such. In addition to treating stormwater, green streets help calm traffic, improve pedestrian safety, and add green space to neighborhoods. The east end of Dauphin Street is my main design site. Due to the railway and highway break the integrated relation of commercial district and waterfront, there is no strong bonding between city fabric and the site. I added a bridge to connect the two parts, which is designed by putting infrastructures on it, so the landscape will be connected as a whole. This project reflects general planning of a green infrastructure system for the city of Mobile, AL. The next step of this project is the development of specific techniques and details while considering the feasibility of economic factors and finding a practical way to realize the goal.