Sustainable urban development through an application of green infrastructure in district scale – a case study of Wrocław (Poland)

Abstract

Abstract The main goal of this article is to investigate sustainable urban development of the Central European city (Wrocław/Poland) through an environmental engineering application of SUDS (Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems) measures to managing stormwater in city sections with various land use in the same watershed area (the Ślęża River Valley). The author presents a study made in three different parts of the city (single housing district – Oporów, multihousing district – Nowy Dwór, public service district – Stadion), which were constructed in different historical periods. The analyses were supported by city masterplan, GIS software (Quantum GIS 1.7.4) and calculations made according to up-to-date specific regulations. They demonstrate the current sustainable stormwater management scenarios for areas of different land use, historical periods and function in the city. The proposed research method aims to compare sustainable urban development of the new urban district with the quarters, which had been built before the term “sustainability” became common in water and land development practice. The conducted study can be practically used as a supportive tool for urban planning authorities in Poland. The paper investigates a novel in the Polish realities method of assessment sustainability of the area through green infrastructure application in district scale.