Sponge City Construction Research Articles

海绵城市的建设与评估概念模型构建研究

海绵城市的建设与评估概念模型构建研究

Sponge City Construction in China: A Survey of the Challenges and Opportunities

Rapid urbanization in China has caused severe water and environmental problems in recent years. To resolve the issues, the Chinese government launched a sponge city construction program in 2015. While the sponge city construction initiative is drawing attention and is spreading fast nationwide, some challenges and risks remain. This study surveyed progress of all 30 pilot sponge cities and identified a broad array of challenges from technical, physical, regulatory, and financial, to community and institutional. The most dominant challenges involve uncertainties and risks. To resolve the issues, this study also identified various opportunities to improve China’s sponge city construction program. Based on the results, recommendations are proposed including urging local governments to adopt sponge city regulations and permits to alleviate water quality and urban pluvial flooding issues, fully measuring and accounting for economic and environmental benefits, embracing regional flexibility and results-oriented approaches, and focusing on a wider range of funding resources to finance the sponge city program. Coordination among other government agencies is critical, and this is true at all level of governments. Only through greater coordination, education, and broader funding could the sponge city program be advanced meaningfully and sustainably.

China’s sponge city construction: A discussion on technical approaches

Since 2014, China has been implementing the Sponge City Construction initiative, which represents an enormous and unprecedented effort by any government in the world for achieving urban sustainability. According to preliminary estimates, the total investment on the Sponge City Plan is roughly 100 to 150 million Yuan (RMB) ($15 to $22.5 million) average per square kilometer or 10 Trillion Yuan (RMB) ($1.5 Trillion) for the 657 cities nationwide. The Sponge City Plan (SCP) calls for the use of natural processes such as soil and vegetation as part of the urban runoff control strategy, which is similar to that of low impact development (LID) and green infrastructure (GI) practices being promoted in many parts of the world. The SCP includes as its goals not only effective urban flood control, but also rainwater harvest, water quality improvement and ecological restoration. So far, the SCP implementation has encountered some barriers and challenges due to many factors. The present paper presents a review of those barriers and challenges, offers discussions and recommendations on several technical aspects such as control goals and objectives; planning/design and construction of LID/GI practices; performance evaluation. Several key recommendations are proposed on Sponge City implementation strategy, Site-specific regulatory framework and technical guidance, Product innovation and certification, LID/GI Project financing, LID/GI professional training and certification, public outreach and education. It is expected that the successful implementation of the SCP not only will bring about a sustainable, eco-friendly urbanization process in China, but also contribute enormously to the LID/GI research and development with the vast amount of relevant data and experiences generated from the Sponge City construction projects.

Analysis of one dimension migration law from rainfall runoff on urban roof

Research was taken on the hydrology and water quality process in the natural rain condition and water samples were collected and analyzed. The pollutant were included SS, COD and TN. Based on the mass balance principle, one dimension migration model was built for the rainfall runoff pollution in surface. The difference equation was developed according to the finite difference method, by applying the Newton iteration method for solving it. The simulated pollutant concentration process was in consistent with the measured value on model, and Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient was higher than 0.80. The model had better practicability, which provided evidence for effectively utilizing urban rainfall resource, non-point source pollution of making management technologies and measures, sponge city construction, and so on.

Low impact development and sponge city construction for urban stormwater management

Low impact development and sponge city construction for urban stormwater management

The Application and Exploration of Sponge’s City Idea in Urban Planning

With the rapid development of social economy, the shortage of natural resources is becoming more and more prominent. China is a large country with a large population and a large resource base. However, the consumption rate of resources is very fast. In order to solve the problem of urban water supply the problem of China in the development of urban construction which put forward the theory of sponge city construction. As proof of practice, Sponge city construction and development, for the protection of the natural environment and water conservation has a more important significance. Based on this, this paper discusse the use of sponge city concept in urban planning and hopes to make a practical reference for future concrete work.

Inspiration of Rainwater Utilization Plan in Denmark for the Construction of Sponge City in China

This paper makes a brief introduction of the urban rainwater utilization plan in Denmark and the domestic development of the construction of Sponge City and urban rainwater in China. It points out the direction for China to move on the construction of sponge city and gives some proper advice.

Upgrading to urban water system 3.0 through sponge city construction

Facing the pressure of excessive water consumption, high pollution load and rainstorm waterlogging, linear and centralized urban water system, system 2.0, as well as traditional governance measures gradually exposed characters of water-sensitivity, vulnerability and unsustainability, subsequently resulting in a full-blown crisis of water shortage, water pollution and waterlogging. To systematically relieve such crisis, we established urban water system 3.0, in which decentralized sewerage systems, sponge infrastructures and ecological rivers play critical roles. Through unconventional water resource recycling, whole process control of pollutions and ecological restoration, system 3.0 with integrated management measures, is expected to fit for multiple purposes which involve environmental, ecological, economic and social benefits. With advantages of flexibility, resilience and sustainability, water system 3.0 will show an increasingly powerful vitality in the near future.

Discussion on Sponge City Construction under the Circumstance of Urban Waterlogging

Urban waterlogging caused by flooding hazards is becoming a severe phenomenon for the urbanization of society. To address the challenging problem of urban waterlogging, the strategy of Sponge City (SPC) was put forward. Based on the discussion of Sponge City development, this paper analyzed the Sponge City construction in Shanghai. The analysis indicates that SPC construction is helpful to improve the resilience of Northern cities to flooding disasters, with two potential associated issues: drought disaster and urban waterlogging. Sponge city can absorb rainwater during heavy rainfalls and reuse the useful water to resist drought disasters. For cities which have intensive river systems, taking advantage of river systems to quickly discharge rainwater is an effective way in the process of SPC construction. SPC construction is a long-term complicated process at the system-level. The construction of Sponge City projects should formulate and adjust specific measures to local urban conditions, rather than formulating the uniform strategy. Vigorous and effective strategies should be developed and implemented to cope with the unfavorable situations of aggravating water disasters in urban areas in China.

Traditional Urban Construction Experience of Rainwater Utilization for Beijing Sponge Urban Construction Reference

Throughout the history of Beijing urban construction, the rainwater utilization has been accompanied by the development of Beijing city. The rainwater utilization has a close connection with Beijing water system construction, landscape construction and the location change of city. This article reviewed the traditional experiences and wisdom of rainwater utilization in Beijing urban construction from Beijing ancient rainwater utilization’s dominant ideas, methods, technologies and other aspects. It also summarizes the methods and technologies of ancient rainwater guidance, storage, retention and drainage. These experiences and methods have an important reference and inspiration to modern Beijing sponge city construction.

Design of sponge city and its inspiration to landscape ecology: A case of Liaodong Bay area of Panjin City, Northeast China

With the expansion of urban area, many cities are facing urban water environment issues, i.e., water resources shortage, lack of groundwater reserves, water pollution, urban waterlogging. For resolving these urban issues, 'sponge city' was proposed in 2015 in China. Liaodong Bay area of Panjin City in Liaoning Province of China was chosen as case study. Based on 'Sponge City Construction Technology Guide: Low Impact Development Rainwater System Building (Trial)', the underlying surface and types of land use in the typical area were analyzed. Sponge city plan of the study area was designed through combining topography, hydrology, rainfall intensity and other factors, and selecting LID measures. The results showed that when the study area reached the ove-rall target control rate (the control rate of the total annual runoff was ＞75%), the subsidence greenbelt rate was 1%-31%, with a total area of 13.73 km2; the pervious pavement rate was 1%-13%, with a total area of 2.29 km2. This study could provide a case study for planning and designing of 'sponge city', proposing new ideas and methods for the research on landscape pattern and process.

Analyzing the causes of urban waterlogging and sponge city technology in China

With the rapid development of social economy in China, increased urban population, and rapid urbanization cause serious problems, for example, a heavy rain in the city inevitably leads to waterlogging, which poses a great threat to the livelihood and property security. Disaster due to urban flood is a key problem that restricts the development of urban ecology in China. The reason is the sharp increase of impermeable surface ratio in urban areas, leading to a decrease in rainfall infiltration and increase in surface runoff. To effectively solve the urban waterlogging, China proposed the construction of sponge city. This paper analyzes and summarizes the reasons for the formation of urban waterlogging, and introduces the concept of the sponge city technology to prevent waterlogging.

Creating Urban Water Resilience: Review of China’s Development Strategies “Sponge City” Concept and Practices

These years China's cities faced urban water security problem caused by natural disaster, man-made disaster, and water shortage. Back to the year 2002 until 2015 several cases were raised such as 2002 Guizhou Duyun slag water pollution, 2014 Lanzhou water benzene poisoning cases and the Han River Excessive Ammonia Pollution in Wuhan, Gansu Hui County blood cadmium poisoning cases. Meanwhile, a rainstorm hit Guangzhou in May 2010, Nanjing rainstorm 7.18, and recently Beijing 7.21 big rainstorm who killed about 79 people and Changsha 4.7 big flood in 2015. The "Sponge City" is the answer for China's water issues. Recorded In October 2013 Professor Lin Bingzhang recommend to build a "sponge city" as storm events and flood mitigation action, then in December, Secretary-General Xi Jinping at the central work conference on urbanisation talked about building a natural reservoir, natural infiltration, natural purification "sponge city." Followed the initiative, "Sponge City Construction Technology Guide - Low Impact Development Storm water system builders" had been released in 2014, project financing policy "Finance Building [2014] No. 838" has been established and until the year 2016, 30 cities has been chosen as sponge city urban construction pilot. The sponge city initiative aims to maximise water reservation and minimise the effects of drought and flooding by recycling and efficiently applying water supplies and reserves (AUSTRADE, 2016). This paper tries to elaborate the Sponge City theory and review of several practices in China's cities to create urban water resilience. This research will conduct theory development analysis, sponge city construction's practices analysis and its performance to actualize urban water resilience.

Public perceptions of and willingness to pay for sponge city initiatives in China

As a result of global climate change, urban flooding has become a global concern in recent years because of its significant negative impacts on cities. To cope with the frequent occurrence of urban flooding in recent years as well as water shortages, China has started a new nationwide initiative called Sponge City intended to increase urban resilience. This study aimed to examine public perceptions of and knowledge about urban flooding and sponge city construction, as well as the public’s willingness to support sponge cities through two options, which includes (1) paying a domestic water fee surcharge and (2) buying government-issued credit securities. We found that most respondents knew about urban flooding and sponge cities, and also supported sponge city construction. Residents believed that government grants and public-private partnerships (PPP) should be the main financial sources for sponge city construction. However, respondents also accepted 17% of the domestic water price as a surcharge to be used for sponge city construction. Meanwhile, the willingness to pay (WTP) for government-issued credit securities for sponge city construction was 55% of the average annual capital surplus. We also found that occupation, education, and income were the main factors affecting respondents’ WTP to support sponge city initiatives. Though increasing water prices by a certain amount will be acceptable to the public, a more properly designed PPP model should be considered and promoted by the government to overcome financial insufficiencies and ensure the sustainability of the sponge city initiative.

Opportunities and challenges of the Sponge City construction related to urban water issues in China

Waterlogging is one of the major water issues in most cities of China and directly restricts their urbanization processes. The construction of Sponge City is an effective approach to solving the urban water issues, particularly for the waterlogging. In this study, both the urban issues emerged at the stage of rapid urbanization in China and the demands as well as problems of Sponge City construction related with the water issues were investigated, and the opportunities and challenges for the Sponge City construction in the future were also proposed. It was found that the current stormwater management focused on the construction of gray infrastructures (e.g., drainage network and water tank) based on the fast discharge idea, which was costly and hard to catch up with the rapid expansion of city and its impervious surface, while green infrastructures (e.g., river, lake and wetland) were ignored. Moreover, the current construction of Sponge City was still limited to low impacted development (LID) approach which was concentrated on source control measures without consideration of the critical functions of surrounding landscapes (i.e., mountain, river, wetland, forest, farmland and lake), while application of the integrated urban water system approach and its supported technologies including municipal engineering, urban hydrology, environmental science, social science and ecoscape were relatively weak and needed to be improved. Besides, the lack of special Sponge City plan and demonstration area was also a considerable problem. In this paper, some perspectives on Good Sponge City Construction were proposed such as the point that idea of urban plan and construction should conform to the integral and systematic view of sustainable urban development. Therefore, both the basic theoretical research and the basic infrastructure construction such as monitoring system, drainage facility and demonstration area should be strengthened, meanwhile, the reformation and innovation in the urban water management system and the education system should also be urgently performed. The study was expected to provide a deeper thinking for the current Sponge City construction in China and to give some of suggestions for the future directions to urban plan and construction, as well as urban hydrology discipline.

Assessment of Climate Technology Demands in Chinese Sponge City

Sponge city is a development pattern used to realize natural accumulation, natural infiltration and natural purification of rainwater through urban planning and construction management. Sponge city technology is widely used as the critical approaches in natural rainwater management and it is one of the best techniques to adapt climate change events in modern cities. In the paper, we firstly reviewed background information of sponge city construction and the development, key technologies, and economic benefit analysis of stormwater management in foreign countries. Then, we analyzed the technology gap between China and developed countries in two aspects (planning design method and Low Impact Development (LID) project design). Then, we pointed out the main obstacles in sponge city technology transfer and proposed to improve the basic data sharing system and strengthen the economic return system. On the basis of sponge city planning theory and sponge city technologies, taking Shenzhen as an example, we analyzed the ideas and plans of sponge city construction in rainy areas and completed the assessment of current climate technology demands in Chinese sponge city. The study provides the basis for the improvements in sponge city construction and adaptation to climate change.

Flood Risk Zoning by Using 2D Hydrodynamic Modeling: A Case Study in Jinan City

Climate change and rapid urbanization have aggravated the rainstorm flood in Jinan City during the past decades. Jinan City is higher in the south and lower in the north with a steep slope inclined from the south to the north. This results in high-velocity overland flow and deep waterlogging, which poses a tremendous threat to pedestrians and vehicles. Therefore, it is vital to investigate the rainstorm flood and further perform flood risk zoning. This study is carried out in the “Sponge City Construction” pilot area of Jinan City, where the InfoWorks ICM 2D hydrodynamic model is utilized for simulating historical and designed rainfall events. The model is validated with observations, and the causes for errors are analyzed. The simulated water depth and flow velocity are recorded for flood risk zoning. The result shows that the InfoWorks ICM 2D model performed well. The flood risk zoning result shows that rainfalls with larger recurrence intervals generate larger areas of moderate to extreme risk. Meanwhile, the zoning results for the two historical rainfalls show that flood with a higher maximum hourly rainfall intensity is more serious. This study will provide scientific support for the flood control and disaster reduction in Jinan City.

Discussion and views on some issues of the sponage city construction in China

Sponge city has become one of the hottest topics in many industries and technology fields recently, while the current construction of sponge city in China is facing a lot of controversies with different understanding on the connotation of sponge city, as well as its construction objectives, content and practical results. Considering the water problems in the process of urbanization in China, combined with the authors' research and survey experiences, this article analyzed the concept of sponge city from the perspective of urban hydrology process. Then, a discussion was made on several issues, including construction objectives and indicators of sponge city, function development, underground rainstorm storage system and construction & management institution. Finally, a summary of the related discussions was given. Key points of this paper are that sponge city is a reshape of the urban water system and the urban living environment. Integrated functions will be a presupposition of the success in sponge city construction. Urban water system including rivers and lakes are supposed to be cores in the construction of sponge city and an overall program on the basin and city scale is especially needed. The sponge city construction must base on the advantages from multi-sectoral and cross-sectoral collaborations and need to be designed systematically.

Urban waterlogs control in China: more effective strategies and actions are needed

Urban flooding and waterlogging is becoming one of the foremost challenges in the process of rapid urbanization expansion in China. With a huge investment, the Chinese government presently is conducting a large project for the construction of “Sponge City,” aiming at the urban water disaster mitigation and efficient water management. However, the effects of present practices and actions are far beyond the expected, and a large number of troublesome and perplexing problems are waiting to be solved. It should be realized that the control of urban floods and waterlogs is a long-term and complexly systemic project, rather than a simple urban construction project. More meticulous and rational actions and policies should be taken by keeping patient, and both structural and non-structural measures are needed for the construction of Sponge City, by which the huge investment could achieve the desired targets and benefits for the mitigation of urban water disasters in China.

Approaches and Prospects for the Construction of Green Sponge City

With the improvement of Chinese social infrastructure, the speed of urbanization is also greatly accelerated. The construction of the new building is equivalent to half of the total construction of the world. If without the construction model of the sponge city, Chinese urban surface runoff will be greatly increased, which led to flooding, river water system ecological deterioration, water pollution and other issues. This paper introduces the sponge city about basic connotation, basic construction ways, technical methods and makes a new prospect the future direction of development on the urban construction of sponge. These will guide the design and concept exploration for the future development of the sponge city construction in China.