Category: Engineering

Water Squares

Water Squares

Water Squares

01/14/24

“How can we have squares that can both hold floodwater and act as a community space?”

When we think of flood control systems, we often imagine interventions that do not allow for anything beyond their own uses. But this can take away valuable space for events that may only happen for 2% of the time. But what if we were to create interventions that allowed for public use during dryer times? Well, the Dutch have come up with systems known as Water Squares. A water square, or Waterplein in Dutch, is a pool that hold water during flood times and act as public spaces during others. These designs hold the potential to radically transform how people live in the new climate paradigm.

Image credit stormwater.wef.org

Why Increasing the Number of Wars in the World Leads to Increased Carbon Emissions

Why Increasing the Number of Wars in the World Leads to Increased Carbon Emissions

Why Increasing the Number of Wars in the World Leads to Increased Carbon Emissions

01/13/24

“Why does increasing the number of wars in the world lead to increased climate emissions?”

War operates on moving machinery. This machinery emits CO2 during operation. This can be from airplanes flying, weapon manufacturing, or shipping arms across ocean vessels. Increasing the number of wars will increase these operations. This is Why Increasing the Number of Wars in the World Leads to Increased Carbon Emissions.

Why Housing in Informal Settlements is Often More Prone to Collapse During Flooding

Why Housing in Informal Settlements is Often More Prone to Collapse During Flooding

Why Housing in Informal Settlements is Often More Prone to Collapse During Flooding

01/11/24

“Why is housing in informal settlements more prone to collapse during flooding?”

Housing in informal settlements is built without respect to codes. Some of these codes include provisions for protection against flood events. This means that when floods occur the homes often collapse from the might of the water. This is Why Housing in Informal Settlements is Often More Prone to Collapse During Flooding.

Using Geospatial Data to Pinpoint Flood Hazards for New Developments

Using Geospatial Data to Pinpoint Flood Hazards for New Developments

Using Geospatial Data to Pinpoint Flood Hazards for New Developments

01/09/24

“How can we use geospatial data to pinpoint flood hazards for new developments?”

New developments have to look out for a multitude of variables. Flood hazards are one of them. Whether it be contoured slopes or climate-induced rainfalls, urban planners, communities, and developers must consider this. One way to ensure safety is to computationally analyze how floods can impact the site through geospatial data. This is how Using Geospatial Data to Pinpoint Flood Hazards for New Developments can lead to great benefits.

Why Installing Better Air Filters in Buildings Helps People With Lung Conditions

Why Installing Better Air Filters in Buildings Helps People With Lung Conditions

Why Installing Better Air Filters in Buildings Helps People With Lung Conditions

01/06/24

“Why does installing better air filters in buildings help people with lung conditions?”

People with lung conditions can have adverse reactions to air-borne pollutants such as particulate matter. Installing better air filters in buildings can reduce the internal pollution of a space. This is Why Installing Better Air Filters in Buildings Helps People With Lung Conditions.

Plastic Trash Bag Recycled Components Mandates

Plastic Trash Bag Recycled Components Mandates

Plastic Trash Bag Recycled Components Mandates

01/04/23

“Why can mandating plastic components in trash bags help the environment?”

Plastic trash bags are ubiquitous in many parts of the world. However, their difficult degradability makes them very pollutive. One way to solve this is to mandate trash bags be composed of a certain percentage of recycled trash bags. For example, California mandates trash bags be made up of 10% recycled plastics. This is how Plastic Trash Bag Recycled Components Mandates can reduce pollution.

Why Governments Should Subsidize Community Design Centers

Why Governments Should Subsidize Community Design Centers

Why Governments Should Subsidize Community Design Centers

01/02/24

“Why should governments subsidize community design centers?”

Community Design Centers provide pivotal services for community members who aren’t represented well in the design process. However, these operations can come at significant financial and time costs to the professionals involved. Since community design centers do not rely on large capital flow from their communities, external funding can make things much easier and smoother. Governments are required to operate in the interest of their residents, so it would make sense for them to step in. This is Why Governments Should Subsidize Community Design Centers.

Community Design Centers

Community Design Centers

Community Design Centers

01/01/24

“What are community design centers?”

Top-down master planning approaches typically exclude marginalized communities from the design process. These communities can use planning and design skills to advocate against their continued exclusion. Community Design Centers fill this gap by providing technical planning design and working with communities to build a better future together. Community design center work can range from architectural design to cost estimation to project management. 

Why Absorbing Stormwater Runoff Can Prevent River Pollution

Why Absorbing Stormwater Runoff Can Prevent River Pollution

Why Absorbing Stormwater Runoff Can Prevent River Pollution

12/31/23

“Why can absorbing stormwater runoff prevent river pollution?”

Stormwater runoff can transport pollutants to nearby bodies of water, such as rivers, leading to said bodies of water becoming tainted. Implementing stormwater-absorbing solutions can prevent the movement of this waste, thereby keeping rivers clean. This is Why Absorbing Stormwater Runoff Can Prevent River Pollution