Environmental Design Commons^™

Past Present, & Future: Bushwick Inlet Redevelopment, Aaryan Nair

Publications and Research

This report examines how ecosystem structure, hydrology, and material flows in Williamsburg, Brooklyn have changed from pre-colonial conditions to the present and how they are expected to evolve under future climate change. Prior to European colonization, the landscape functioned as a forest–wetland mosaic with high infiltration capacity, slow water movement, and strong nutrient retention. These conditions supported stable aquatic ecosystems and minimized pollutant transport to the East River.

Modern urbanization has fundamentally altered this system. Impervious surfaces and engineered drainage systems have shifted hydrology from infiltration-dominated to runoff-dominated pathways, producing rapid “flashy” flows and reducing water residence time.

Storm events …

Master Planning For Conservation And Development Of Krung Rattanakosin 2032, Wannasilpa Peerapun, Sirirat Sereerat, Peamsook Sanit, Pornsan Vichienpradit

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This paper presents the research and development of the "Master Plan of Conservation and Development of Krung Rattanakosin 2032," under the vision of "A glorious capital city of Siam Kingdom, dignified by urban heritage, blending with multi-cultural identity of the local community, and contemporary urbanism," that expresses the important stories of the area, including the story of the two capital cities of Thonburi and Krung Rattanakosin, the stories about palaces, and spatial development, through the Krung Rattanakosin urban structure and significant aspects of the cultural heritage. This paper emphasizes the importance of integrated planning through a participatory process. The results …

Land Conservation, Spring/Summer 2006, Issue 14

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Stream Restoration, Spring/Summer 2011, Issue 24

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Sustainable Behavior, Spring/Summer 2013, Issue 28

Sustain Magazine

No abstract provided.

Rethinking Urban Green Infrastructure As A Means To Promote Avian Conservation, Allen Lau

Master's Projects and Capstones

There is an under-recognized potential for cities to use urban green infrastructure to contribute to avian biodiversity conservation. At the global scale, climate change and growing urbanization are primary global drivers leading to decline and homogenization in world bird populations. Birds are fundamental and intricate species in ecosystems, and even in urban areas, act as indicator and regulator species contributing to healthy ecosystem function. While many cities have recognized the economic and social benefits associated with green spaces, such as the vast benefits ecosystem services provide to the urban dweller, the use of green spaces to concurrently contribute to avian …

Integrating Conservation With Development Through Contextual Heritage Management - A Case For Mahasthan, Mohammad Sazzad Hossain

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Mahasthan has been identifi ed as ancient Pundranagar of the 3rd century BCE and represents the important provincial capital in Bengal. The site is already tentatively listed by the Department ofArchaeology for nomination as world heritage site. The remaining houses date from the 4th century BCE to the 18th century. The heritage site is facing rapid transformation due to the lack of proper conservation and management. The objective of this paper is to show how the use of conservation and management can be vehicles for sustainable development of the heritage site. The paper will explore underlying issues to bridge the …

Preserving Urban Roots:The Case Of Shakhari Bazaar, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Maher Niger

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

This paper discusses how conservation activities in an historic urban settlement can be carried out in the most supportive manner. Conservation is not only preserving a few historic buildings butrather preserving the urban cultural heritage and the environment that gave birth to city culture. The importance of "Preserving Urban Roots", that is protecting historical cities through preservation, restoration and revitalization, is a universally accepted matter, but in reality it is a neglected issue. Historic urban quarters of old cities are often strongly characterized by environmental degradation and many of them are now suffering serious destruction and are losing their characteristics …

The Conservation Of Traditional Waterfront Markets In Thailand, Siriwan Silapacharanan

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

Once the economic center of the water-based community, the traditional waterfront markets of the fl ood plains were surrounded by paddy fi elds and mixed orchards. The major mode of transportation waswater. The markets were trading centers for products from fresh-water and brackish areas, those from the sea as well as commodities from big cities such as Bangkok. With the development of inland transportation modes during the mid 20th century, the importance of these markets decreased, resulting in the relocation and the deterioration of the buildings. From 2002 the idea of transforming traditional waterfront markets into tourist attractions led to …

Drinking Water Resource Directory, New England Environmental Finance Center

Sustainable Communities Capacity Building

This document is intended to help local and regional planning agencies, and their constituent water utilities, integrate drinking water infrastructure planning and investments into plans for sustainable development. Resources listed here provide guidance on making land use decisions that protect water resources, setting adequate and sustainable drinking water rates, controlling water loss, funding water infrastructure projects, and managing water utilities.

The directory was developed by the Environmental Finance Center Network through the Capacity Building for Sustainable Communities program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency. Through this program, EFCN is providing capacity …

Residential Water Conservation: A Cross Comparative Analysis, Jeffrey M. Cook

Master's Theses

This thesis will explore different water conservation strategies and systems in the residential home, using the city of Irvine as a basis. The thesis will compare the financial implications between the different systems and as a return on investment. The analysis will also account for ecological and social implications on the occupants, in particular their standard of living and lifestyle changes. The thesis will explore the ability to conserve water in new residential construction and will provide a sustainable and conscientious schematic water design for the particular area of concern.

This thesis will act as a preliminary case study for …

Urban Regeneration: Significance Of The Land - Water Interface And Its Manifestation In The Historic And Cultural Quarter Along Lake Pichola In Udaipur, S. Samant

NAKHARA (Journal of Environmental Design and Planning)

The success of a waterfront city depends largely on the quality and balance of the land-water interface, so instrumental in the growth and development of a place and its identity. The aim of thisstudy is to critically examine the historic cultural quarter of Udaipur on the eastern edge of Lake Pichola, understand the forces that underpin current development and highlight key concerns by examining the existing state of the urban waterside. The main issues observed include economic growth through tourism, enhanced by the conservation of historic structures and the preservation of heritage. The past plays a fundamental role in urban …

Land Conservation And Land Use In New England: Trends, Challenges & Opportunities, Amanda Loomis, Tom Devine, Andrea Small, Brittany Howard, Brett Richardson, Stephanie Dulac

Land Conservation

Sprawling development patterns accelerated across the New England landscape in the last three decades and consumed the region‘s forests, farms, and open spaces at an unprecedented rate. New England‘ers in all six states formed land trusts, supported statewide conservation organizations, and collaborated with state and federal partners to protect some of their most-prized recreation lands, wildlife habitats, and working lands. The current economic recession has slowed development pressures across the region and offers an opportunity to build on recent successes. The time is right to plan a coordinated New England conservation strategy that protects and links the region‘s natural assets. …

Policy Tools For Smart Growth In New England, New England Environmental Finance Center

Smart Growth

Across New England communities have been experiencing a rapid outward surge of development away from our community and downtown centers. Effects of sprawl include a loss of wildlife habitat, farm and timber lands; increased costs of community services and higher taxes; auto-dependency, longer commutes, and increased congestion; increases in air and water pollution; a sedentary lifestyle and increased obesity; and losses to one’s sense of place and social ties.

State-level responses to sprawl have surfaced throughout New England in recent years. This report describes 11 examples of these responses, representing all six New England states and a diversity of recent …

Amherst Ma: A New Village Plan For Atkins Corner, Maggie Jones, Richard Barringer

Planning

The case study describes a successful smart growth initiative in the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, at an intersection known as Atkins Corner. The initiative grew from two motivating factors: the necessity of realigning Route 116, a major north-to-south artery through the town, to decrease traffic accidents at the intersection and improve pedestrian safety; and a desire on the part of Hampshire College and the Town to create a village center at the intersection. Through a consensus-building process involving key town officials, Hampshire College, neighbors, and the design firm of Dodson Associates, agreement on the project was reached with local stakeholders …

Trust, Collaboration, And Financial Return In Conservation/Development Partnerships, New England Environmental Finance Center

Economics and Finance

In early 2002 the New England Environmental Finance Center hosted a series of roundtable discussions among municipal officials, residential developers, land trust representatives, and others about "Innovative Approaches to Land Conservation and Smart Growth". Among our observations was that for many of the over 20 conservation/development partnerships we discussed in the series, creation and maintenance of trust was central to success or failure of various stages of the partnership. This suggested a link between creation of trust and financial return for traditionally opposed project partners.

To further examine this matter, we interviewed 11 round table participants and asked questions about …

Roundtable Series On Innovative Approaches To Land Conservation And Smart Growth, New England Environmental Finance Center

Smart Growth

A series of six roundtable discussions was conducted by the New England Environmental Finance Center (NE/EFC) from January through May 2002, one in each New England state. The objectives of the series were to consolidate expertise in financing and coordinating projects that combine conservation and development on the landscape, and to identify key areas of unmet need that could be addressed by the NE/EFC. Each discussion entailed several case study presentations and facilitated discussion about what works, what doesn’t work, and what might work in financing and coordinating efforts that combine conservation and development. Key areas of opportunity that emerged …

Smart Growth And Land Acquisition Priorities, New England Environmental Finance Center

Land Conservation

It is well-known and generally accepted that all undeveloped land in New England cannot forever be protected from development; nor would this be a desirable goal, as continued economic development and population growth are near certainties. For these and other reasons, private land trusts and government agencies generally use explicit criteria to prioritize their land acquisition activities and prospects.

Much land protection in New England and elsewhere, however, has occurred without substantial attention to such land use needs as fostering the best locations for where people will live, businesses will locate, and infrastructure will be built to avoid degrading resources. …