Neil Weinstein, P.E., ASLA, AICP, MASCE, ENV SPThe Low Impact Development Center, [email protected]
Emily Clifton, [email protected]
Learning Outcomes
Be able to state the economic, societal, and environmental needs for more sustainable infrastructure and understand the relationships among them
Understand current practices and be able to address gaps in the integration of principal infrastructure systems through application of the practices and guiding principles
Address the major sustainability challenges to primary infrastructure systems through practical application of the guiding principles
3.3
Module Three – Outline
1. Planning Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities
2. Sustainable Infrastructure Goals
3. Principal Infrastructure Systems: Transportation and Energy
4. Principal Infrastructure Systems: Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Waste Management, Communication
3.4
Sustainable Infrastructure Planning serves to provide and maintain physical infrastructure
(public works and utilities) to enable
communities to function properly and reliably for the foreseeable future.
Planning Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities
3.5
Focuses on the infrastructure systems themselves, and involves the adequacy of such systems to:
Planning Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities (cont.)
3.6
1. Serve future populations
2. Meet identified public service needs, which may be diverse
3. Remain functional
4. Be supported by continuing, reliable financial resources
5. Lie lightly on the land
What does this mean? Ensuring that land (and related air, materials and water
resources) can accommodate human habitats, support natural ecosystems, and adapt to climate
change
Why are we repeating it? Because it’s important
Other Resources ASCE – Fundamentals of
Sustainable Engineering
“Lie Lightly on the Land”
3.7 ASLA Green Infrastructure Resource Guide
2013 Report Card ranks the adequacy of US infrastructure systems as a “D+” (up from a “D” in 2009)
ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
3.8
Report Card 2013 GRADESAviation D
Bridges C+
Dams D
Drinking Water D
Energy D+
Hazardous Waste D
Inland Waterways D-
Levees D-
Ports C
Public Parks & Recreation C-
Rail C+
Roads D
School D
Solid Waste B-
Transit D
Wastewater D
America’s Infrastructure
GPA = D+
Estimated Investment Needed by 2020
$3.6 Trillion
Five key solutions:1. Increase leadership
2. Promote sustainability and resilience
3. Develop national and regional infrastructure plans
4. Address life-cycle costs
5. Increase and improve infrastructure investments
ASCE’s Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
3.9
Course Outline
1. Planning Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities
2. Sustainable Infrastructure Goals
3. Principal Infrastructure Systems: Transportation and Energy
4. Principal Infrastructure Systems: Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Waste Management, Communication
3.10
To meet the needs for economic, societal, and environmental sustainability by: Meeting the ongoing needs for natural resources,
industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter and effective waste management, and at the same time protect and improve environmental quality
Ensuring resiliency by designing infrastructure with sustainable practices to protect the natural environment and withstand both natural and man-made hazards, and mitigate and adapt to climate change, to ensure that future generations can use and enjoy what we build today
Sustainable Infrastructure Goals
3.11
Planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure (includes buildings) is about 1/8 of the GDP
President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal Program in the 1930s
Sustainable Infrastructure and Economy
3.12
National Park Service
Goals for Providing Sustainable Economic Opportunities: Encourage “green” industries and “green”
jobs that lie “light on the land” Wind farms, solar power, ocean power, other
local power (geothermal, biomass, small wind, solar, landfill gas, etc.)
Energy conservation industries such as building insulation, energy efficient windows and doors
Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) Recreation and tourism industries
Sustainable Infrastructure and Economy
3.13USGS
Sustainable Economic Opportunities Goals (cont.): Make the most of local industries that require less transportation
costs, energy, and time Locally grown agricultural products Other local raw materials and natural resources that can
be turned into finished products locally (wood products, e.g.)
Work with “heavy impact” indus- tries to mitigate adverse impacts Agriculture Mining Off-shore oil drilling Power Generation
Sustainable Infrastructure and Economy
3.14
Coal Power Plant, Baltimore. Joanna Woerner, IAN
Until late 20th century, community building and economic development focused on suburban development, amplifying social and economic inequalities Infrastructure planning siting decisions areas with low
land values, floodplains, close proximity to power plants, landfills disproportionately affecting the poor
Least Cost Imperative = Social and physical rehabilitation costs were ignored
Certain communities not engaged
Social Equity and Health
3.15
Disadvantaged or underrepresented groups include: Low income citizens Elderly Ethnic minorities Social minorities Handicapped Children Future generations
Social Equity and Health
3.16
Rooftop Garden
Health Concerns Health Air, water, and vector‐borne
diseases Obesity Malnutrition Physical fitness Quality of life, emotional wellbeing
Social Equity and Health
3.17
San Mateo, CA
Goals to Improve Social Equity and Health: Transform urban vacant lots into park-like gardens that
catch stormwater runoff and improve the social and economic fabric of neighborhoods historically lacking green space
Address health disparities by advancing environmental justice (i.e., fair and equal treatment to all) and improving community social interaction
Improve access and participation in government Improve access to basic services
Social Equity and Health
3.18
Pollution by human habitation is occurring faster than natural abilities to regenerate, resulting in a massive loss of benefits: Fish and fishing industries and wildlife habitats
as abundant sources of food Clean water bodies for water supply as
well as healthy habitats for fish, wildlife, and/or recreation
Raw materials for fuel, paper/lumber, and construction aggregate materials
Clean air
Environmental Sustainability
3.19
Factors contributing to decline:1. Urbanization pollution from sewage & runoff
2. Agriculture, animal husbandry, and unmanaged/ unregulated forest harvesting
3. Inefficient fuel combustion
Environmental Sustainability
3.20
Platt Avenue in West Haven, Connecticut, April 23, 2006. Christopher Zurcher
How could a focus on green infrastructure provide better economic, social, and environmental benefits?
Study Question
3.21
See: References #1 and 2 (end slides)
Course Outline
1. Planning Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities
2. Sustainable Infrastructure Goals
3. Principal Infrastructure Systems: Transportation and Energy
4. Principal Infrastructure Systems: Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Waste Management, Communication
3.22
Effective, Efficient, Sustainable Transportation: Effective:
1. Personal mobility, accessibility, & safety are well served
2. Goods moved in a timely, reliable manner
3. Economic development needs are met
4. Human social, cultural, and recreational needs are met
Efficient: Transportation infrastructure and services are
affordable, and life cycle costs are optimized
Sustainable: Air and water quality, and wetland footprints are as small as possible,
designed for the long-term, socially equitable, and with secured funding
Infrastructure System: Transportation
3.23
Local government planning authorities: Zoning, subdivision, tree cutting/grading/building permits, issue permits, public water/sewer hook-ups which are essential
Local public works agencies: Local departments, transit agencies, local social services agencies
Regional organizations: Federally required metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), metropolitan air quality boards, Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs), Areawide Agencies on the Aging (AAAs)
State Agencies: State DOTs, specialized agencies, state legislature
Multi-State Transportation Corridor Coalitions: NAFTA
Federal Government: Grant-makers, Amtrak, Maritime
Transportation Players: A Complex Picture
3.24
Single-mode Funding available for intermodal integration, but there is little flexibility on how funds are spent; MPOs and Corridor Coalitions who help to coordinate funds are not fully effective
Federal Transport Funding is lacking
Environmentally Sustainable Transportation Systems take time to build
Federal Leadership is limited for rail systems and multi-state corridors, but there are new initiatives for planning high-speed rail and freight systems
Performance Management measures to track progress are limited, but there are new efforts to improve these measures and their use
Transportation: Sustainability Challenges
3.25
Improved Planning: Coordinated across scales to ensure uniformity and address the five sustainability challenges, with established performance targets to be monitored over time
Threshold Performance Indicators, broken into: Service Measures Efficiency Measures Environmental Performance Workflow Efficiencies
Transportation: Emerging Practices
3.26
Transportation: Threshold Performance Indicators
Service Measures Mobility/Accessibility Trip Reliability Congestion Relief
Efficiency Measures Costs per Trip Remaining Service Life Investment Gaps
Environmental Performance Miles Traveled/Unit Energy Avg. Fuel Mileage Air Quality Non-Attainment/Yr Pollution Violations/Yr Carbon Footprint Wetlands Impact Amt. Land Developed Avg. Size of Contiguous Land Amt. Impervious Surface Stormwater Runoff vs. Recycled Volumes Wildlife Habitat/ Species Impacts
Workflow Efficiencies: No. of Change Orders No. of Requests for Info (RFIs) RFI Turn-Around % Project Costs from Rework Cost Over/Under Runs Schedule Reduction
3.27
The world is reliant upon adequate, economical, healthy, safe, and reliable energy
In addition to aesthetics, these are the socially sustainable
requirements for energy infrastructure
Infrastructure Systems: Energy
3.28
1992 Energy Policy Act: Markets allowed to develop across state boundaries, giving freedom to choose
Demand-supply model: Utilities provide electricity wherever it is required, with costs of new infrastructure shared by all of the utility’s customers Limited consumer incentive to reduce energy use, since increased
use covers capital investments Reducing use, however, allows utilities to postpone building new
facilities
Energy Infrastructure: Current Practices
3.29
Energy: Sustainability Challenges
3.30
Reliability: Provide energy when and where it is required for
quality of life, economic activity, and safety Increase resilience as damaging storms become
more severe and frequent Bring utility electricity delivery systems into the 21st
century (smart grids)
Efficiency: Maximize the useful energy from a given amount of
resource
Economy: Provide energy at an affordable cost
Environmental Impacts: Lead and mercury contamination from coal
combustion Carbon emissions from fossil fuel burning Pollution in river runoff from mining Toxic pollution from nuclear waste
Environmental Miscounting Energy costs don’t account for cost of restoring
the environment or eliminating polluted byproducts
Dependence on Imported Fuel
Energy: Sustainability Challenges
3.31
Waste Heat, methane, and greenhouse gas recovery
programs are becoming drivers in energy policy Hazardous waste from newer technologies
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), nuclear
Systems Preservation to increase design life
Passive Energy Systems to reduce or eliminate demand for energy generation
Energy: Sustainability Challenges
3.32
Energy Efficiency Can Reduce Demand Largest, most economical energy source Planning practices:
Directly Address energy efficiency in the system’s life cycle “Enable” energy efficiency in other infrastructure systems (e.g.,
permit reflective and green roofs, make windy sites available for wind power generation)
Energy Conservation Can Reduce Demand Through Behavior Change Planning practices:
Allow for alternative technologies, conservation programs, and incentives to reduce demand
Energy use disclosure programs
Energy: Emerging Practices
3.33
Alternative Technologies Planning practices:
Energy storage capabilities for buildings, communities Provide facilities, sites for sequestration, etc. Net zero building
Decentralized Energy Generation Where energy is generated and used within the
planning area Helps with load leveling and load shedding
Financial Incentives, Regulatory Address marketplace failures An important aspect of planning for sustainable
communities and infrastructure
Energy: Emerging Practices
3.34
Energy: Performance Indicators
Systems Indicators: End-of-use energy from
local generators to outside region (ratio)
% total energy used from imported fuels
Tons GHG emitted for total energy used
Total energy consumed to produce 1 unit energy (for different technologies)
Outcome Indicators Total energy used by
sector Local wealth accrued
through onsite energy generation
GHG emitted per unit energy generated
% energy lost Waste generated per unit
energy generated3.35
Course Outline
1. Planning Infrastructure for Sustainable Communities
2. Sustainable Infrastructure Goals
3. Principal Infrastructure Systems: Transportation and Energy
4. Principal Infrastructure Systems: Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, Waste Management, Communication
3.36
Sustainability Challenge: >70% of all water use worldwide is for
irrigation, and attempts to limit irrigation can lead to limits on food production
Demand for water doubles every 21 years, while water tables are falling
Emerging Practices: Designing systems that minimize
water’s overall use and leaking Utilizing recycled water and rainwater
onsite
Infrastructure System: Water
3.37
Sustainability Challenge: Upgrades have not kept up with the pace of urbanization
facing cities, nor is planned infrastructure spending enough
Infrastructure System: Wastewater
3.38
Emerging Practices:More emphasis on alternative disposal methods
to supplement and augment traditional systemsDecrease need for extensive piping; emphasis on
local capture and treatment
Infrastructure System: Wastewater
3.39
Sustainability Challenge: Many urban systems have not kept pace with increased
demands or maintenance and repairs Combined systems still exist
Emerging Practices: Integrating LID
concepts into existing practices and regulations
Infrastructure System: Stormwater
3.40
Emerging Practices: Concepts such as “waste-to-energy,” “zero-waste industrial
complexes,” and “up-cycling” are redefining the manner in which waste is viewed and handled
Waste disposal now focuses on minimizing waste at all stages of the use of materials
Performance Measures: % of waste diverted to composting Presence of hazardous waste in stormwater and sewage effluents % of electronic waste recovered for reuse or recycling Energy expended per unit waste to transfer it to landfill
Infrastructure System: Waste Management
3.41
Evolving Infrastructure: Development of smart grids depends entirely on
communication infrastructure, a vital part of smart buildings
Utilization of technology to tweak offsite electrical use, reroute traffic, etc.
Infrastructure System: Communication
3.42
Why is innovation in infrastructure important to a community’s livelihood?
Study Question
3.43
See: References #1, 2, and 4 (end slides)
Aging infrastructure, the provision of new infrastructure for a growing population, vulnerability – all pose major infrastructure challenges
Each system’s life cycle involves planning and procurement, design and construction, performance monitoring, and renewal. For each phase, multiple research challenges exist. These include the impact of new technologies, incorporation of sustainable materials, modeling and retrofitting for deterioration effects, asset management and the impact of extreme loads, climate change and the carbon economy.
Tracking performance/measuring sustainability is important for scenario modeling, system management, and engaging the public in quantitative goal-setting
“Smarter,” sustainable infrastructure is vital for the creation of strong urban centers, as well as economic, social, and environmental wellbeing
Review
3.44
1. ASCE, 2010. Planning Infrastructure to Sustain America. www.asce.org/uploadedFiles/Sustainability_-_New/Resources/PLANNING%20INFRASTRUCTURE%20TO%20SUSTAIN%20AMERICA%20100915-2.pdf
2. ASCE 2013 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. www.asce.org/reportcard
3. CNT and American Rivers, 2010. The Value of Green Infrastructure. www.cnt.org/repository/gi-values-guide.pdf
4. National Council on Public Works Improvement, 1988, Fragile Foundations: A Report on America's Public Works, Final Report to the President and Congress (Washington, DC: National Council on Public Works Improvement, February 1988)
Recommended Readings
3.45