The purpose of this project is to contribute to the city’s stormwater management system in a time of need, as well as helping to beautify the city. Urbanization has a negative impact on nature and natural processes, such as the hydrologic cycle [1][5]. These effects put substantial pressure on infrastructure, as well as nature itself. The project aims to minimize the detrimental influences stormwater runoff currently has on the Schuylkill River Basin, specifically in the area between Center City and University City in Philadelphia. Our goal is to create a green space on the roof of Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station that decreases the number of impervious areas in the city.
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| 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA Image from Google Earth |
The 30th Street Station of Philadelphia was opened in 1933 and renovated in 1991. Since it is one of the only stations that has a variety of tracks directing to areas all over the country, the station provides millions of civilians with the convenience of traveling along the East Coast [3]. However, as much as it offers ease of transportation, it occupies a gross area of 263,516 square ft, of which, 259,082 square ft is impervious to drainage. It is a huge space whose surface area has a significant impact on runoff in the Schuylkill River Basin. Therefore, the project is designed to build a multi-functional system on the rooftop of 30th Street Station, that attenuates the volume of stormwater runoff in this area and removes the pollutants from entering groundwater, or natural water sources, while remaining economically prudent.
The learning objectives of this task are to understand the intention and particulars within a stormwater management plan, and its influences on the urban and natural environment.
There are some major technical difficulties expected when completing this project, regarding expertise, confined knowledge and limited practical resources due to the impracticable nature of this proposal since the completed project cannot actually be physically planted on the rooftop.
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| Rooftop of the 30th Street Station Image from Google Earth |
The major tasks of this project include:
• Researching literary sources on sustainable stormwater management systems in American cities, urbanization, its impacts on nature, and statistics of Philadelphia 30th Street Station.
• Computing and designing a stormwater management system using software such as AutoCAD, as well as building a physical model of said system.
• Establishing a final report of the project.
To complete this project, a base plan, drainage area map, proposed design plan, sections & profiles of proposed systems, and GSI sizing & runoff calculations will be designed. There are also plans to create a physical model for better visualization.
References
[1] "Guidance Manual", pwdplanreview.org, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.pwdplanreview.org/manual-info/guidance-manual. [Accessed: 13- Apr- 2017].
[2] S. Jeffers, "Protecting Our Water with Green Infrastructure", Drexel University, 2017.
[3] "Philadelphia, PA (PHL)", Great American Stations, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.greatamericanstations.com/stations/philadelphia-pa-phl/. [Accessed: 13- Apr- 2017].
[4] "Stormwater Billing", Phila.gov, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.phila.gov/water/swmap/Parcel.aspx?parcel_id=196406. [Accessed: 13- Apr- 2017].
[5] "Stormwater Management", Phillywatersheds.org, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.phillywatersheds.org/watershed_issues/stormwater_management. [Accessed: 13- Apr- 2017].
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