"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Urban Systems
Storm Drain Inlet Filtration Units
11/17/24
“How can we attach filters to storm drains?”
Storm drains carry floodwaters away from cities to a dumping source. However, pollution from the city, such as debris or runoff, may enter the storm drain and harm the environment. People can install Storm Drain Inlet Filtration Units to keep these in place.
Image credit https://oldcastleinfrastructure.com/
Environmental Impact Assessments
11/04/24
“How can we evaluate the environmental impacts of projects?”
Governments and institutions carry out construction projects. These are bound to have environmental impacts. The scale of these impacts can be measured through Environmental Impact Assessments, where professionals review the impacts of all possible projects compared to doing nothing at all.
Why Rainstorms Exacerbate the Public Health Hazard of Polluted Waterways
11/03/24
“Why do rainstorms exacerbate the public health hazard of polluted waterways?”
Polluted waterways are a nuisance. They produce vile odors, look bad, and can be dangerous to enter. When rainstorms occur, they cause the waterway to expand and flood the surrounding area, exacerbating danger. This is Why Rainstorms Exacerbate the Public Health Hazard of Polluted Waterways.
Why Recently Restored Wetlands Do Not Offer as Much Ecosystem Services as Older Wetlands
11/02/24
“Why don’t recently restored wetlands offer as much ecosystem services as older wetlands?”
Restoring wetlands helps environments recover from the ravages of industrialization. However, these zones are less ecologically developed than older wetlands given that the latter have been operating continuously for upwards of millions of years. This is Why Recently Restored Wetlands Do Not Offer as Much Ecosystem Services as Older Wetlands.
How to Daylight a Stream
10/28/24
“How do we restore a buried stream?”
People bury streams for a variety of reasons. This can cause flooding issues and habitat destruction. Later, people may want to restore the stream. Restoring, or daylighting a stream can be accomplished by removing artificial impediments like pavements and culverts, recreating the former ecosystem, and applying maintenance techniques. This is How to Daylight a Stream.
Ecosystem Improvement Compensation
10/27/24
“How can we compensate people for improving ecosystems?”
Ecosystem services monetarily quantify the value an ecosystem provides. If someone improves an ecosystem, then under this framework they theoretically raise the ecosystem value. Some governments may want to implement Ecosystem Improvement Compensation by paying people who make ecosystems better.
Ecosystem Services
10/26/24
“How can we categorize the benefits that ecosystems have to humans?”
Ecosystems provide a wide range of benefits to people. It ranges from trees providing oxygen to beaches providing enjoyment. These supports can be categorized as Ecosystem Services. Thinking about ecosystems as providing services can elucidate how people need them for their lives.
Why Cities Bury Streams
10/24/24
“Why do cities bury streams?”
Cities often develop by streams. But sometimes they see these streams as a nuisance since they flood and block “developable” space. This is Why Cities Bury Streams.
Daylighting (Streams)
10/23/24
“How can we restore streams that were buried?”
Streams are often buried by urban development, which leads to flood issues and ecological devastation. We can use Daylighting, or stream restoration to unearth streams and help heal the world.
Isaac's Science Blog 