Category: Urban Systems

Common Plan of Development

Common Plan of Development

Common Plan of Development

01/03/26

“How can we build a large project in multiple distinct phases?”

Large construction projects often need to comply with stringent size-based regulations. Developers might subvert this by breaking up a large project into multiple sub-projects. To prevent this, U.S. governmental regulatory authorities will define projects with the same owner/developer completed in the same larger development plan as part of a Common Plan of Development. Permits will use the acreage of the total common plan of development to ensure construction operators meet planning requirements, such as stormwater pollution prevention plans.

Right of Way Dedication

Right of Way Dedication

Right of Way Dedication

01/02/26

“How can property owners transfer their land to use for public infrastructure?”

Public infrastructure such as roads and canals often relies on access to a legal right of way. Without this, parts of a municipality might not be accessible to the general public. One way property owners can increase the amount of public right of way is through a Right of Way Dedication. This involves transferring land from the property owner to the government agency to use for infrastructure. Property owners might use right-of-way dedications as leverage in land-use negotiations with government agencies.

Drawdown Time (Detention Tanks)

Drawdown Time (Detention Tanks)

Drawdown Time (Detention Tanks)

01/01/26

“How long does it take for detention tanks to empty their stored water?”

Detention tanks hold stormwater and release it slowly over time to prevent flooding. The amount of time it takes to empty the detention tanks, also known as the Drawdown Time, is dependent on a variety of factors, such as the volume of filtration, orifice area, acceleration due to gravity, and maximum hydraulic head above the orifice centerline. Detention tank drawdown is vital for hydrological engineering calculations. 

image credit: https://www.polymaster.com.au/

Certificate of Occupancy

Certificate of Occupancy

Certificate of Occupancy

12/29/25

“How do NYC buildings show they comply with the legal uses allowed?”

Buildings in NYC are used for all sorts of purposes, ranging from dense multistory residential to industrial wastewater operations. Before people can occupy a building after construction or major redevelopment, the building owner must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the NYC department of Buildings by paying all fees to all related departments, all relevant violations have been solved, and other city agencies send all necessary approvals. Certificates of occupancy ensure that NYC regulations are met and the city functions well.

Temporary Stabilization

Temporary Stabilization

Temporary Stabilization

12/23/25

“How can construction operators temporarily stabilize soils when they’re pausing construction?”

Soils are disturbed during construction activity. While site maintenance can prevent erosion, sometimes you want to pause construction activity. When this happens, you will want to temporarily stabilize the soil to keep the soil from eroding. Temporary Stabilization offers the quick fixes needed to prevent site degradation. Temporary stabilization measures are usually quick to deploy but do not last permanently.

Image credit: https://texaserosionsupply.com/

Surface Stabilization

Surface Stabilization

Surface Stabilization

11/22/25

“What can we do to prevent soil from eroding away?”

Soil is foundational for human life on this planet. Whether it’s for growing crops or managing construction projects, humans modify soil to meet the needs of the day. Sometimes soil needs altering to make it able to hold it in place and keep wind, water, and other forces from eroding it. These strategies are commonly referred to as Surface Stabilization. Surface stabilization applications range from strengthening soil to support new structures to planting trees to keep sediment from spilling into waterways. 

Image credit: https://www.superiorgroundcover.com/

Concrete Washouts

Concrete Washouts

Concrete Washouts

12/21/25

“How do we dispose of leftover concrete at the end of a construction workday?”

Concrete is a vital part of modern-day construction activity. But what do we do with the spare concrete leftover at the end of a construction workday? If we don’t do anything with it, we risk polluting soil and waterways. Well, what if we wash concrete out of all tools and chutes and place the waste into a special disposal container? Well, this is the Concrete Washout process, and it’s how construction operators ensure they don’t harm the surrounding environment and community with concrete waste.

Image credit: https://outpak.com/

Dry Wells

Dry Wells

Dry Wells

12/20/25

“How can we create underground storage chambers that infiltrate stormwater into the earth?”

Stormwater can overwhelm any municipality, whether it’s in the Borneo rainforest or the Kalamari Desert. People need a way to manage it as it enters. So what if we were to use a pipe to collect stormwater from a roof or catchment basin, place it in an underground tank filled with filtering aggregate material punctured by void spaces for the water, and encase it in a semi-permeable structure that allows water to infiltrate out? Well, this is the idea behind Dry Wells. Dry wells can mitigate stormwater flooding and help recharge nearby aquifers. Operators should install dry wells away from low hydroconductive soils, high groundwater table aquifers, polluted sites, and building foundations.

Image credit: https://gloverlandscapes.com/

Turbidity Curtains

Turbidity Curtains

Turbidity Curtains

12/19/25

“How can we use floatable curtains to prevent turbidity from spreading in bodies of water?”

Sediment runoff from construction activities can spike turbidity levels in nearby bodies of water. Once enough sediment breaches into a body of water, it can envelop everything. So what if we were to build a floating curtain barrier to contain the turbidity to a single place? Well, this is the idea behind Turbidity Curtains. Turbidity curtains have three parts: a top floatable piece, a protective skirt in the middle that prevents turbidity from spreading, and a ballast at the bottom to stabilize the curtain. We can apply turbidity curtains to a variety of situations beyond construction activity, from aquaculture to oil spill containment.

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