Category: Urban Systems

Blue Roofs

Blue Roofs

Blue Roofs

12/18/25

“How can we develop roofs designed to store rainwater during storms?”

Rainwater during storms will fall on roofs before moving to the ground. If too much water is dumped on the ground, then it might overwhelm local infiltration capacity and flood the area. So what if we were to develop roofs that could hold rainwater during storms and then slowly release and/or evaporate it once the storm has passed? Well, this is the concept behind Blue Roofs. Blue roofs are an excellent asset for flood control. Reducing the intensity of stormwater can decrease the occurrence of combined sewer overflows and increase water conservation.

Image credit: https://abg-geosynthetics.com/

MS4 Outfalls

MS4 Outfalls

MS4 Outfalls

12/14/25

“What are the outflow points for MS4 systems?”

MS4 systems separate wastewater from stormwater. The wastewater is sent to filtration units, while the stormwater is churned into water bodies. The outflows of these areas are termed MS4 Outfalls. Regulatory agencies like the NYC DEP take steps to ensure MS4 outfalls are safe for the surrounding community. 

Pavers (Architecture)

Pavers (Architecture)

Pavers (Architecture)

12/13/25

“How can we use small blocks to make beautiful architectural surfaces?”

There are many opportunities for different materials for architectural surfaces. One includes blocks that join together called Pavers. Pavers have discrete spaces between them to make them more modular and allow water to flow between them. Pavers come in all different shapes, sizes, and materials to make for beautiful customization. People can use pavers for a multitude of reasons, from roads to green roof decorations to garden spaces.

Inlet Protection

Inlet Protection

Inlet Protection

12/12/25

“Why do we need to protect sewer inlets during construction activity?”

Construction activity uproots sediment. This sediment can enter sewer inlets and destabilize piping systems and water bodies. One way to prevent this is to provide temporary Inlet Protection to the site. Construction operators have multiple inlet protection solutions at their fingertips, ranging from filter socks to silt fences to sediment traps. Inlet protection is usually a required component of following through a stormwater pollution prevention plan.

Image credit: https://colonial-materials.com/

Site Connection Proposals

Site Connection Proposals

Site Connection Proposals

12/11/25

“How do new buildings and major renovations in NYC detail how they will connect to the sewer system?”

New York City is the largest and most complex city in the United States. Furthermore, it’s located in a humid climate prone to major storms. Consequently, the sewer system is of vital importance to the city. New developments and major renovations in NYC are required to submit plans detailing how they will connect to the sewers using designs, flow calculations, pipe types, and city infrastructure impact. These Site Connection Proposals must be approved by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations (BWSO). Site connection proposals are critical to maintaining NYC’s public infrastructure safety.

Sewer Operations Volume

Sewer Operations Volume

Sewer Operations Volume

12/10/25

“How can we represent how much stormwater runoff from a building will enter the sewers at peak storm time?”

New buildings can generate large amounts of stormwater runoff if they increase impervious surface. This can overwhelm sewers if they’re not attenuated. To manage this, New York City has developed a concept called Sewer Operational Volume. Sewer operations volume is a volume that must be accounted for to attenuate the flow of a 10-year storm to the city sewers. Sewer operations volume is only met if you restrict flow to the maximum release rate for the site. Regulating sewer operations volume is critical for NYC to protect its residents from the worst impacts of climate change.

Utility Excavation Color Codes

Utility Excavation Color Codes

Utility Excavation Color Codes

12/09/25

“How do utilities mark where their underground infrastructure is during excavation?”

Utility infrastructure is often underground, such as sewer pipes and electric power lines. This means that during construction excavation, people need to mark where the existing infrastructure is to avoid damage. The American Public Works Association has developed Utility Excavation Color Codes to visually indicate on-site locations of infrastructure, such as red for power lines or blue for potable water. Utility operators are obligated to mark their infrastructure location using paint and/or flags in their assigned colors. Utility excavation color codes help protect construction professionals and the general public from preventable accidents.

Image credit: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/

Road Interchanges

Road Interchanges

Road Interchanges

12/07/25

“How can roads cross each other while changing height?”

Road junctions allow people to cross from one road to another. But sometimes it’s not wise to allow for crossings at the same height, such as when people have to load onto freeways. One way to do this is to build a Road Interchange where crossings happen at grade separation. Separating roads at different heights allows vehicles to cross roads without stopping.

Soil Boring Logs

Soil Boring Logs

Soil Boring Logs

12/06/25

“How do we encode soil conditions from a soil boring test?”

Engineers perform soil boring tests to understand subsurface properties. This information is categorized into Soil Boring Logs. Soil boring logs detail the subsurface lithology, rock density, grain size, and moisture content. Soil boring logs also provide information on groundwater and aquifers encountered in the drilling process.