Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Many cities in America aren’t well integrated into the natural landscape, becoming more susceptible to harmful weather conditions, such as erosion[1] and flooding[2]. While there is always a risk of storms dealing a great deal of damage to properties, infrastructure, and people, urban areas with minimal to no natural soil spaces run the risk of experiencing flooding due to the overtaxing of storm drains. Plants and soil in higher concentrations form a natural infiltration sink for water, absorbing it and preventing more intense flooding. So long as there are more green spaces and infrastructure like these in urban areas, the amount of flooding will be inversely proportional to the amount of infiltration[3].

The Green Stormwater Project

This application is designed to bring greater awareness of green spaces in urban areas. If more people advocated for the establishment of green stormwater infrastructure, the chances of cities investing in furthering the total amount of these spaces would increase. The main users of this app will be highschoolers, who will be encouraged to seek out and document already existing green infrastructure in their cities using an interactive map. It is our hope that this hands-on process will facilitate an active user-base for the time it is online and make learning about green infrastructure fun.

What are some examples of green stormwater infrastructure

Trees lining city streets, public parks, rain gardens, run-off wetlands, and forests or other natural areas directly outside cities are some prominent examples of green spaces[4].

Why not invest in more storm drains over green spaces?

Green infrastructure is a more cost-effective method of preventing flooding while working in concert with already existing drains. That’s thanks to dirt’s natural ability to filter harmful pollutants from runoff, ensuring the local watershed stays cleaner[5]. Green spaces have the added benefit of adding more beauty to the city.

Who can make an account?

At first only the original groups of high school students will have access to make accounts for the app, but there are plans for it to be opened to everyone if the app gains enough traction outside of its original scope.

Can the app be used in low cellular data environments?

Making a non-cellular required app is outside of our scope, and data will be collected from cities, which have the best access to cell towers, so a connection is both required and simple to get so long as the user has a service provider.

What if someone submits inappropriate data?

Depending on the offense and if the offense is repeated, our scientist and commissioner, Dr. Jessica Alger, and the teachers of the students have the ability to remove students or other users that have been engaging in misconduct on the site.

Are account names public?

For the original build they will be, as teachers will need to know if all of their students are using the app. In the final build available to the general public, this information will be scrubbed and original student accounts will be deleted or anonymized, depending on if the student wants to use it afterwards.

[1]. https://www.ecologicalimprovements.com/blog/erosion-in-urban-landscapes-managing-soil-erosion-in-cities-and-metropolises#:~:text=Soil%20erosion%20in%20urban%20areas,incidents%2C%20and%20compromised%20infrastructure%20stability.

[2]. https://www.wxyz.com/weather/forecast/todays-forecast/metro-detroit-forecast-wettest-weather-since-september (related photos): https://www.wxyz.com/weather/flooding-hits-grosse-pointes-detroit-livonia-garden-city-and-more

[3]. https://eudl.eu/pdf/10.4108/eai.22-10-2019.2292391

[4]. https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/what-green-infrastructure

[5]. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-dirt-cleans-water/