Low Impact Development: A Sustainable Approach to Stormwater Management

Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone ProjectThis capstone aims to assess the viability of implementing Low Impact Development (LID) as a sustainable alternative to conventional stormwater management systems. Conventional stormwater management systems are expensive, can cause pollution, and waste stormwater runoff that could otherwise be used as a resource. The goal of this study will be to assess LID as a stormwater management technique and identify the most important features and techniques to consider using in future implementation of LID projects. This was accomplished through the review of research pertaining to stormwater management, conventional stormwater management systems, and LID features and techniques. Four case studies of projects that implemented various LID features and techniques were reviewed. A ranking system was developed in an effort to assess and analyze the various components of each case study’s project design and performance. After applying the ranking system to the case studies, it was determined that the most influential and impactful features and techniques included bioretention areas, bioswales, and the incorporation of large amounts of native vegetation.This item is part of the Sustainable Built Environments collection. For more information, contact http://sbe.arizona.edu