Abstract:
There is a growing interest among cities and civil entities in the field of sustainable design. As more projects are undertaken the benefits and potential applications are becoming more apparent. One area where great strides have been taken is in Green Infrastructure or green street design. As defined by the Committee on Science and Technologies, House of Representatives, green infrastructure is the incorporation into the transportation infrastructure of technologies that help absorb and filter excess runoff, rather than funneling it into sewer pipes. Several pilot studies in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR have found that these systems can be very successful in reducing the amount of runoff that enters sewers and filtering it naturally. These pilot studies have led to additional projects in those cities. The site is located in the downtown area of Louisville, Kentucky. The site is bordered by neighborhoods to the west, south, and east, and the Ohio River to the north. Two major interstates run along the downtown area, I-64 and I-65. The site is typical of most downtown areas, the streets are mostly one-way and laid on a north-south, eastwest grid. The research for this project consists of a literature review of green infrastructure and sustainable landscape design to determine general design guidelines. Case studies of successful projects in the Pacific Northwest were used to understand the principals of green infrastructure systems and how they have been applied. In the second part of the project GIS data was used to create a site inventory and that inventory was then analyzed to determine the best locations for green street implementation and the locations of “stormwater parks” and green plazas. The project creates a system of interconnected green streets that provide a more natural method to deal with runoff, and a more pedestrian friendly environment.
