Category: Urban Systems

Silt Fences

Silt Fences

Silt Fences

07/03/25

“How can we put up barriers to temporarily protect water bodies from construction stormwater sediment runoff?”

Construction stormwater runoff can devastate nearby water bodies. Construction operators must take best management practices to protect water bodies as part of stormwater pollution prevention plans. One approach is to build temporary Silt Fences around the perimeter of construction projects to stop sediment runoff from leaving the development area. Silt fences have a special fabric that allows water to pass through while trapping pollutants. Operators should install silt fences in trenches to keep them stabilized. 

Image credit https://globalsynthetics.com.au/

Permaculture

Permaculture

Permaculture

07/02/25

“How can we take inspiration from nature to create sustainable land management practices?”

Modern day land management in most of the world is extractive and unsustainable. Whether it’s destroying the water cycle through concretizing cities, extracting too much groundwater from aquifers to grow almonds, or cutting down forests to encourage suburban sprawl, there are so many things wrong. To build a more sustainable system, we can replicate circular processes found in nature to provide humans with the landscapes, food, energy, and other systems we need. Many circles have termed this practice Permaculture, and it holds the potential to reshape how we interact with the wider world.

Grading (Construction)

Grading (Construction)

Grading (Construction)

07/01/25

“How can we shape a landscape’s slope to suit our construction needs?”

People may want certain landscape slopes for their construction projects. For example, a developer may want to flatten out a piece of land to make the foundation more stable, or a stormwater engineer might recommend that a community build a meandering path to allow for better drainage. People can accomplish these tasks through Grading, where the land surface is reshaped to accomplish specific criteria.

Fecal Sludge

Fecal Sludge

Fecal Sludge

06/27/25

“What exactly is fecal sludge?”

People all over the world use non-sewer systems to dispose of fecal matter. This fecal matter will collect over time with other waste material and accumulate into Fecal Sludge. Fecal sludge needs proper maintenance to prevent public health issues.

Wastewater Lift Stations

Wastewater Lift Stations

Wastewater Lift Stations

06/19/25

“Why might we need to lift wastewater?”

It’s easy to move wastewater by channeling it from a higher elevation to a lower elevation. But sometimes wastewater is too low for gravity transport. Infrastructure operators can address this issue by utilizing Wastewater Lift Stations that pump wastewater upwards. This pushes wastewater to a higher elevation to allow for movement again.

Image credit: http://www.pumpsandsystems.com

Why Midwestern US Cities That Are Losing Population But Have a Resilience Plan Can Potentially Become Receiving Cities

Why Midwestern US Cities That Are Losing Population But Have a Resilience Plan Can Potentially Become Receiving Cities

Why Midwestern US Cities That Are Losing Population But Have a Resilience Plan Can Potentially Become Receiving Cities

06/16/25

“Why can midwestern US cities that are losing population but have a resilience plan potentially become receiving cities?”

Many midwestern US cities are losing population. However, the midwest is particularly advantaged when it comes to climate change in comparison to the rest of the country, and if they have a resilience plan, then there is potential for future climate adapted growth. This is Why Midwestern US Cities That Are Losing Population But Have a Resilience Plan Can Potentially Become Receiving Cities.

Watershed Democracy

Watershed Democracy

Watershed Democracy

06/12/25

“What if we were to use watershed boundaries for political boundaries?”

Most political boundaries will bisect watersheds. This makes watershed and environmental management much more difficult because multiple actors need to come together to make decisions, and communities within the same watershed are divided. So what if we were to base political boundaries on watershed boundaries? This concept, called Watershed Democracy, allows for much better water resource use, environmental management, climate adaptation, and community engagement. 

Artificial Groundwater Recharge

Artificial Groundwater Recharge

Artificial Groundwater Recharge

06/11/25

“How can we recharge groundwater supplies using human-built infrastructure?”

Infrastructure operators need to maintain groundwater supplies at sustainable levels. Sometimes, demand is so high that groundwater levels will collapse if no external intervention is taken. Infrastructure operators can undertake Artificial Groundwater Recharge using human-built mechanisms such as recycling treated wastewater and stormwater.

Garbage Patches in Ocean Gyres

Garbage Patches in Ocean Gyres

Garbage Patches in Ocean Gyres

06/02/25

“Why do country-sized garbage patches circle the oceans?”

Ocean gyres rotate water between continents like a conveyor belt. When people release garbage into the ocean, it can get sucked into this rotation. Over time, this waste has accumulated into giant Garbage Patches in Ocean Gyres. The largest by area, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, is estimated to be around twice as large as the U.S. state of Texas! These garbage patches are not continuous, solid masses, but rather similar to a mirky soup soup.

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