The blue-green infrastructure approach to storm water management introduces new city planning opportunities, enabling a city landscape with more green areas. Designing storm water solutions in the form of SuDS is never a stand-alone procedure: it requires the full attention and co-operation of citizens and stakeholders in the urban planning process. There are many examples of potential benefits:
- Transport infrastructure has to meet a multifunctional role. Raised roadways or embankments serve not only as a subgrade for various transport lines, they are also part of flood protection.
- The street becomes a multifunctional conveyance system, combining traffic, a pedestrian zone, utilities conduit and waterway for retaining, storing and draining storm water.
- The idea of minimizing environmental pollution, by city transport diversification for example, brings different traffic to the city. Heterogeneous ecological city transport, including active mobility in everyday life, is a great opportunity for building green streets, relaxing zones for pedestrians, parks and for implementation of protective storm water measures.
- With proper consideration in the urban planning process, SuDS can also be used to help reduce heavy traffic by making foot and bike mobility more attractive, and thus alleviate vehicle traffic. For example, SuDS can be used to create more enjoyable, cleaner and safer streets.
- Using green belts, pedestrian safety can be improved by separating vehicles from pedestrians, controlling movements of pedestrians, leading them to pedestrian crossings, and slowing traffic by narrowing road sections.
The above-mentioned facts emphasise once again the basic idea that careful planning on the level of storm water protection, optimal utilization of storm water and its overall integration into city infrastructure helps in building a better place to live.
Read full report: For more information, conclusions, citations, and many additional examples, please refer to the full report: FROM THREAT TO OPPORTUNITY – REVALUATING STORM WATER MANAGEMENT IN URBAN AREAS