Evaluation of Green Infrastructure as a Means to Mitigate Increased Stormwater Volumes in Disadvantaged Communities

Flooding in the United States, exacerbated by factors like increased urbanization and inadequate stormwater management systems, has grown in frequency and intensity, impacting both social and economic aspects. Extreme events, not limited to hurricanes and superstorms, have caused significant damage, as evidenced by a record-breaking rainfall event in St. Louis in 2022. The rise in flooding is attributed to urban development's expansion and impervious surfaces, leading to exponential stormwater runoff volumes that strain existing infrastructure. A potential solution to mitigate this issue is the adoption of green infrastructure, encompassing practices that mimic natural drainage systems like green spaces, trees, and vegetation. However, disadvantaged communities, often with high minority populations and poverty rates, remain inadequately shielded from flooding's environmental and public health repercussions, including pollutant mobilization and various health risks. As a result, there is a pressing need for improved evaluation and the implementation of green infrastructure, especially in areas affected by transportation-based flood events, to reduce the impact on these vulnerable communities. The research project will encompass a comprehensive approach which includes assessments of stormwater impacts on United States transportation corridors over the past decade and involves the evaluation of the frequency and intensity of these events. Additionally, the project aims to determine the level of urbanization in affected areas, investigate the socio-economic status of residents within these regions, appraise the existing green infrastructure status, and formulate recommendations for the implementation of green infrastructure solutions along transportation corridors to alleviate the adverse effects of stormwater on affected communities.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $74005
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Environmentally Responsible Transportation Center for Communities of Concern

  University of Missouri Kansas City
  Kansas City, Missouri  United States  64110
• Performing Organizations:

  Tennessee State University

  Nashville, TN  United States  37209
• Principal Investigators:

  Armwood, Catherine

  Resch-Gardiner, Andrea

• Start Date: 20230601
• Expected Completion Date: 20240531
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drainage; Floods; Health; Runoff; Socioeconomic factors; Trees; Underserved communities; Vegetation
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Hydraulics and Hydrology; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01895683
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Environmentally Responsible Transportation Center for Communities of Concern
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Oct 9 2023 2:36PM