Auckland, New Zealand experienced a devastating flood resulting in loss of life, property, and financial struggles for many. This event highlights the urgent need for individuals, governments, and organizations to work together in finding solutions to address the global climate change crisis and mitigate its impacts, including the implementation of flood-resilient infrastructure and urban design to minimize damage caused by extreme weather events.
Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is an integrated approach to urban water management that balances the needs of people, environment, and socio-economic outcomes, and promotes sustainable and resilient cities through green infrastructure solutions, reuse of water, and policy implementation. By integrating WSUD into urban planning and infrastructure, cities can move towards a more sustainable future and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
Auckland is a thriving and busy city with a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant economy. However, like many other metropolises, Auckland faces several environmental and social challenges. To address these challenges, we need to launch a major initiative to green up the city. Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), aims to create a greener, safer, and happier community by improving the quality and availability of green spaces and promoting sustainable water management practices.
WSUD aims to reduce the negative impacts of urbanization on water resources through minimizing runoff and treating it using green infrastructure solutions. This can be achieved through a range of methods such as rain gardens, permeable pavements, green roofs, and rainwater harvesting, which help to protect and improve water quality by reducing the amount of pollutants that can enter waterways.
The classic movie "Back to the Future" has always been a favourite for many of us. Who wouldn't want to hop into a time-travelling Delorean and explore different eras? But as much as we love the idea of travelling through time, we don't have a real-life time machine to change the past. That's why it's more important than ever to focus on building a better future by preserving the environment.
A successful WSUD project requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders, including local government, landscape architects, contractors, landscape suppliers, and research institutes.
There are many approaches to creating resilient landscapes, site-specific design stands out as one of the most effective. Considering the specific requirements of each site individually is important when designing a landscape. Each site has unique characteristics that need to be taken into account.
Wrapping up this chapter on Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), we must take action now to plan for a greener future. The concept of WSUD and Sponge Cities have been widely discussed in recent years, and it is clear that we need to start implementing their principles to create a more sustainable and resilient urban environment.
A raingarden is a great way to help the environment and the health of our local waterways while also creating a self-watering garden in your backyard. Can you create a rain garden yourself? Absolutely! With a little guidance, homeowners can construct a raingarden. But be prepared to sweat!
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In New Zealand, the number of green roofs is significantly lower compared to the international rate. For instance, it is estimated that around 10% of German roofs have been "greened." Countries like Germany, Australia, Canada, and USA have already introduced policies and incentives to promote green roofs, but New Zealand is yet to follow suit.
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As Kiwis grapple with the effects of climate change, innovative solutions are required to mitigate its impact. One such solution that has gained traction in recent times is the concept of carbon sequestration. The process involves capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in mediums like soil and biochar, which can effectively reduce the concentration of carbon in the air.
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Instead of hauling away excavated soil, is it more sustainable and cost-effective to reuse it onsite? ScapeSpec has been undergoing research and development to expand the way we view onsite stock piles. Creating opportunities for cost reductions, site-specific ecodiversity and carbon reduction.
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