The Green Experiment: Cities, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, and Sustainability

Christopher Chini,Kelsey Schreiber,Joshua Peschel,Ashlynn Stillwell,James Canning

doi:10.3390/su9010105

Christopher Chini, Kelsey Schreiber + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su9010105

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Abstract

Green infrastructure is a unique combination of economic, social, and environmental goals and benefits that requires an adaptable framework for planning, implementing, and evaluating. In this study, we propose an experimental framework for policy, implementation, and subsequent evaluation of green stormwater infrastructure within the context of sociotechnical systems and urban experimentation. Sociotechnical systems describe the interaction of complex systems with quantitative and qualitative impacts. Urban experimentation—traditionally referencing climate change programs and their impacts—is a process of evaluating city programs as if in a laboratory setting with hypotheses and evaluated results. We combine these two concepts into a singular framework creating a policy feedback cycle (PFC) for green infrastructure to evaluate municipal green infrastructure plans as an experimental process within the context of a sociotechnical system. After proposing and discussing the PFC, we utilize the tool to research and evaluate the green infrastructure programs of 27 municipalities across the United States. Results indicate that green infrastructure plans should incorporate community involvement and communication, evaluation based on project motivation, and an iterative process for knowledge production. We suggest knowledge brokers as a key resource in connecting the evaluation stage of the feedback cycle to the policy phase. We identify three important needs for green infrastructure experimentation: (i) a fluid definition of green infrastructure in policy; (ii) maintenance and evaluation components of a green infrastructure plan; and (iii) communication of the plan to the community.

Highlights

Cities are not static; they are constantly in a state of flux [1]
We propose urban experimentation as the means to promote the sociotechnical system of green infrastructure and a regime shift in stormwater management
We present six requirements of an urban experimental framework and discuss them in relation to green infrastructure plans proposed by cities

Summary

Introduction

Cities are not static; they are constantly in a state of flux [1]. Within the past decade, global citizenship shifted from a predominantly rural population to a majority of the Earth’s citizens living in urban environments [2]. Sustainability agendas in cities are part of sociotechnical transitions, and require long-term policy consideration [4]. The current shift to sustainable development is a major objective and driving force for urban planning and policy [6] One of these sustainability agendas occurs due to large amounts of impervious areas associated with cities, creating persistent stormwater concerns. Practices in the 20th century created a sociotechnical regime of a gray stormwater system with gutters, pipes, and concrete spillways to collect and remove stormwater as quickly as possible from the city [7] This practice is often not a sustainable solution, leading to combined sewer overflows, basement flooding, and polluted runoff. Along with long-term policies, these challenges create opportunities for short term experiments to complement sustainability initiatives and facilitate transitions toward a sustainable future [4]

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