Civil Engineering Consultant – Stormwater Management, Grading & Drainage
As a stormwater engineer, I have been asked if green infrastructure “really works.” This is because municipalities are starting to incorporate more green infrastructure into their master plans. After all, green infrastructure has the potential to provide multiple benefits to communities and the environment. What is Green Infrastructure? Green infrastructure refers to the use of … Read more
The following blog post lists some book recommendations for stormwater/water resources professionals who are seeking to enhance their knowledge. The books discussed in this article are not academic in nature, meaning this is not a list of textbook recommendations. Rather, this list of books is comprised of novels and “fun reads.” I hope these books … Read more
Traditionally, the goal of stormwater management and drainage engineering has been to convey flow away from a site as quickly as possible. Over time, the increase in impervious surfaces associated with urbanization created severe flooding and water quality issues. Planners, engineers, and scientists needed to figure out a way to design systems that provided adequate … Read more
In today’s modern world, plastics are everywhere. They are so ubiquitous that it can be difficult to imagine a time when plastic was not a part of everyday life. For this reason, it may surprise you to know that mass production of plastic did not begin until the 1950s. Since that time, plastic production has … Read more
Last year, I started a new job at a company that employs several landscape architects and landscape designers. I quickly discovered that although landscape architects receive training that is somewhat similar to civil engineering, they view the built world in a very different way. Where I am currently employed, specifically, people value permaculture and seek … Read more
The following list describes some of the equations used in many stormwater engineers’ daily work. In some cases, an engineer may not directly apply these equations in a calculation/spreadsheet exercise. Rather, they may use these equations when preparing a hydraulic model. In such cases, it is still important to understand the theory/equations behind a hydraulic … Read more
Stormwater detention has been used as a strategy for managing urban stormwater runoff since the early 1970s. Originally, detention ponds were designed for larger storm events (10-year, 25-year, 50-year, or even 10-year). By the early 1980s, stormwater detention ponds were also being designed to improve water quality, specifically suspended pollutants. The following blog post outlines … Read more