Today’s increasingly stringent environmental regulations continue to create the need for Low Impact Development (LID) and Green Infrastructure (GI) management on project sites. New and innovative methods must be used to limit hard surfaces such as parking lots, walkways, and emergency access lanes. Land access is at a premium, and areas of environmental protection are increasing, requiring builders and engineers to work with regulators to utilize both LID and GI practices.

Porous pavements are an easy and economical way to reduce the impervious surfaces on-site and restore the natural water cycle close to its source. Porous pavements have the added benefit of reducing the size of above-ground detention ponds and minimizing conveyance and treatment infrastructure. Stormwater diversion channels, roadside swales, and drainage ditches can be constructed with low-maintenance solutions, protecting against erosion and overflow concerns. Living green walls increase the amount of vegetation on-site, help promote water filtration from higher elevations, and allow access to more valuable land.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure mean for residential and commercial project sites.
• Gain an understanding of the regulations governing these practices and how they have been met with traditional construction methods.
• Learn about porous pavement options and their benefits and limitations related to infiltration, runoff reduction, traffic, and performance.
• Understand how to manage urban stormwater through the design of vegetated channels that replace hard-surface systems and mitigate flooding potential.