"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Urban Systems
Soil Stabilization
09/21/25
“How can we protect soil against erosion and stormwater runoff?”
Soil is vulnerable to erosion and runoff, leading to water body pollution and disturbed geology. But if we can protect the soil’s foundation through stabilization measures. These Soil Stabilization techniques are an important part of stormwater and geotechnical management, making them a requirement for stormwater pollution prevention plans.
Stormwater Sediment Traps
09/20/25
“How can we use simple engineering techniques to filter sediment out of stormwater?”
Stormwater can pick up sediment from construction sites, roads, and other surfaces it travels across. This sediment can pollute waterbodies, clog pipes, and harm natural water systems. So how can we use our engineering mindsets to stop the overflow of sediment? Well, we know that when runoff with sediment is slowed down, the sediment will eventually settle to the bottom. And we also know that once the sediment and water are separated, we can use an outlet to drain the filtered water. So, what if we were to design a pit that traps water, settles sediment, and removes the excess water? Well, this is the idea behind Stormwater Sediment Traps. Stormwater sediment traps are an effective way to remove sediment from runoff, and may be used to satisfy stormwater pollution prevention plans. Sediment traps also require maintenance to remove excess sediment buildup.
Image credit: https://www.mkbcompany.com/
Engineer of Record
09/18/25
“Why do project designs need a licensed engineer to sign off?”
Preparing construction plans is always a risky endeavor. You need to make sure all weaknesses are addressed, all steps work functionally, and that everything is up to code. One way to minimize project risk is to hire a qualified engineer to prepare and carry out designs. This Engineer of Record signs off on design/construction documents to signify their responsibility for success. In the U.S, becoming an engineer of record typically involves obtaining a professional engineering license.
Linear Infrastructure
09/14/25
“Can we unify linear geometry infrastructure under a single name?”
Physical infrastructure comes in a multitude of shapes and sizes. Many come in linear geometries, such as canals, pipelines, railways, and powerlines. This Linear Infrastructure must contend with strenuous logistical coordination and bureaucratic hurdles for implementation.
Precast Porous Concrete Panels
09/12/25
“What makes NYC’s new porous concrete panels so special?”
Most cement panels block pervious surfaces, drastically increasing the chances of flooding during storm surges. To ameliorate this, NYC is making a new type of concrete panel that has a special concrete mix with a high void content that allows for some permeability. These Precast Porous Concrete Panels, or PCPPs, enable water to enter and sink into the permeable surfaces below, reducing stormwater runoff, ponding probability, and heat island effects. These new panels can potentially drastically reduce NYC’s already overbuilt environment’s chance of getting overwhelmed by floods and heatwaves. However, these new panels can also allow harmful chemicals to seep into the ground and have lower strength than regular concrete. NYC guidelines recommend that these panels not be installed on trucking routes, principal arterial roadways, industrial zones, significant underground utility corridors, or existing bike lanes/crosswalks.
Image credit: https://www.nycstreetdesign.info/
Pluvial Flooding
09/11/25
“How can we classify floods caused by stormwater buildup over surfaces?”
Floods can happen in a myriad of different ways. When storms occur and rainwater overwhelms urban drainage capacity, Pluvial Flooding breaks out. Pluvial flooding can develop into intense flash floods that wreak havoc on surrounding infrastructure. Urban planners and environmental engineers need to develop careful consideration for pluvial flooding in city operations.
Compound Flooding
09/10/25
“What happens when two types of flooding happen at once?”
There are multiple styles of flooding. For example, riverine flooding leads to river banks getting inundated, coastal flooding brings ocean tides over previously dry land, and stormwater flooding results in rainwater engulfing surfaces with runoff. Compound Flooding occurs when multiple of these flooding types interact together. Infrastructure planners must account for compound flooding in their work. For example, a sea wall may protect from coastal storm surge, but it can also trap stormwater inside, leading to ponding and all of the issues that come with it.
Fall Lines
09/09/25
“How do we define the border between an upland region and a coastal plain?”
Upland regions like mountains may give way to coastal plains because of long-term erosion. Fall Lines delineate the border between the mountains and the coastal plains. Rivers traversing fall lines typically turn into rapids or waterfalls because of the sudden change in gradient. One of the most famous fall lines is the Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line.
Image credit: https://lilyzhang8.weebly.com/
Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line
09/08/25
“What marks the end of the eastern coastal plain in the U.S.?”
The US Eastern Seaboard from New York City down to Georgia is dominated by the Atlantic coastal plain. The Atlantic Seaboard Fall Line escarpment marks the border between the coastal plain and the foothills of Appalachia. Around this border are some of the most populous cities in the Eastern US, such as Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Richmond. Rivers going through this fall line usually develop rapids or waterfalls when they reach the border, making cross-border navigation difficult. Many cities were settled along the Atlantic Seaboard fall line because they could trade with cities above and below the rapid descent of their rivers.
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