Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Urban stormwater management is a critical aspect of sustainable urban development, with increasing challenges posed by climate change and urbanization. Green infrastructure has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate the adverse impacts of stormwater runoff in urban areas. This thesis aims to assess the effectiveness of green infrastructure in urban stormwater management through a comprehensive study that integrates theoretical frameworks, empirical research, and practical applications. The introduction provides a background to the study, highlighting the significance of sustainable stormwater management practices in urban environments. The problem statement underscores the current challenges faced in stormwater management and the potential of green infrastructure as a solution. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the performance of green infrastructure in reducing stormwater runoff, improving water quality, and enhancing urban resilience. The literature review in Chapter Two synthesizes existing studies on green infrastructure and stormwater management, covering topics such as types of green infrastructure, design considerations, performance assessment methods, and case studies of successful implementations. The review identifies gaps in the literature and sets the foundation for the empirical research conducted in this thesis. Chapter Three outlines the research methodology, including the study design, data collection methods, and analytical techniques employed. The methodology integrates quantitative and qualitative approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of green infrastructure in managing stormwater in urban contexts. Key components of the methodology include site assessments, monitoring of stormwater runoff, water quality analysis, and stakeholder interviews. Chapter Four presents a detailed discussion of the findings from the empirical research, focusing on the performance of green infrastructure in reducing stormwater runoff volumes, improving water quality parameters, and enhancing urban sustainability. The results highlight the strengths and limitations of different green infrastructure practices, providing insights for future research and practical applications. The conclusion in Chapter Five summarizes the key findings of the study and their implications for urban stormwater management. The thesis concludes with recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and practitioners to enhance the integration of green infrastructure into stormwater management strategies, promoting sustainable and resilient urban environments. Overall, this thesis contributes to the growing body of knowledge on green infrastructure and urban stormwater management, offering valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers striving to address the challenges of urbanization and climate change in contemporary cities.

Thesis Overview

The project titled "Assessment of the effectiveness of green infrastructure in urban stormwater management" aims to investigate and evaluate the impact and efficiency of green infrastructure in managing stormwater within urban environments. Stormwater management is a critical aspect of urban planning and sustainability, as urbanization continues to increase, leading to challenges related to flooding, water pollution, and degradation of natural habitats. Green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavements, and bioswales, offers sustainable solutions to mitigate these issues by mimicking natural hydrological processes and promoting infiltration, evapotranspiration, and storage of stormwater. The research will begin with a comprehensive review of existing literature on green infrastructure and stormwater management, highlighting the principles, benefits, and challenges associated with the implementation of green infrastructure in urban settings. The literature review will also explore case studies and best practices from various cities around the world where green infrastructure has been successfully integrated into stormwater management strategies. Following the literature review, the research methodology will be outlined, detailing the approach and methods used to assess the effectiveness of green infrastructure in managing stormwater. This will include data collection techniques, site selection criteria, sampling methods, and data analysis procedures. The research will involve field investigations, surveys, and possibly modeling techniques to quantitatively evaluate the performance of green infrastructure in reducing stormwater runoff and improving water quality. The findings of the research will be presented and discussed in Chapter Four, where the effectiveness of different types of green infrastructure in urban stormwater management will be analyzed. The discussion will include comparisons between traditional grey infrastructure and green infrastructure in terms of cost-effectiveness, environmental benefits, and long-term sustainability. The results will also highlight any limitations or challenges encountered during the research process and provide recommendations for future research and practical applications. In conclusion, the research on the assessment of the effectiveness of green infrastructure in urban stormwater management will contribute valuable insights to the field of environmental management and urban planning. By evaluating the performance of green infrastructure in mitigating stormwater issues, the study aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, and environmental practitioners to promote the widespread adoption of green infrastructure as a sustainable approach to urban stormwater management."