The incorporation of integrated water cycle management into urban design is essential for urban sustainability. This paper provides insight into the evolution of Low Impact Urban Design and Development (LIUDD). It explores changes in urban design and infrastructure that reduce or avoid adverse biophysical effects that have contributed to the decline of aquatic biotic integrity following urban intensification in catchments. Recent practices in Canada, the United States and New Zealand offset receiving water ecosystem degradation by maximising catchment stormwater infiltration at source, contaminant containment and catchment revegetation. Local soil, climate, maturity and density of urban form, and vegetation characteristics determine the balance between infiltration and evapotranspiration in application of techniques. Examples are cited of brownfield stormwater infiltration in the Netherlands (Ruwenbosch, Enschede), neighbourhood containment of water and waste cycles in Germany (Leipzig) and site-specific developments proving the cost-effectiveness of LIUDD. LIUDD, which is evolving from its origins in stormwater management, is making a major contribution to many facets of urban sustainability, including improved urban amenity and recreation, cost-effective infrastructure and biodiversity enhancement.
To cite this article: Marjorie van Roon (2011) Low impact urban design and development: Catchment-based structure planning to optimise ecological outcomes, Urban Water Journal, 8:5, 293-308, Where receiving-water health is the driver for a change from conventional urbanisation, the logical design and management framework is the catchment (river-basin). New Zealand examples of catchment-based structure planning use a common approach that meets the objectives of the practice of Low Impact Urban Design and Development (LIUDD). One key ingredient is the clustering of buildings in catchment 'middle lands' removed from environmentally sensitive areas such as erosion-prone escarpments, ridges, riparian corridors and wetlands. This facilitates additional open space creation enabling ecosystem protection or restoration, the optimisation of landscape qualities and recreational opportunities. Using New Zealand case studies of Long Bay (North Shore), Flat Bush (Manukau) and Mapara Valley (Taupo) this paper reports on progressive learning across municipalities, developers and communities that have used the LIUDD approach. It demonstrates progress towards merging Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) planning with structure planning while considering ecosystem processes and receiving water objectives. Successful implementation was enhanced by the presence of champions providing leadership, and the allowance of time for institutional change and community buy-in to the process.
By reviewing related studies, published journal articles, research and government reports, this study explored the challenges in water governance, focused on the planning for integrated catchment management (ICM) and stormwater source control (SC) in Bangkok and its catchment. The review revealed implementation barriers, and eight categories of challenge: fragmented roles and responsibilities; technocratic bureaucracy; limitations of the regulatory framework; financial barriers; physical barriers; challenges of integrated knowledge; an uncoordinated institutional framework; and limited community and stakeholder involvement. The understanding of barriers to ICM planning and SC approaches is crucial for developing strategies that diminish barriers and increase the implementation of alternative solutions.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.