Print this pageGreen Streets
Mark P. Rossow, PhD, PE Retired
Course Outline
This one-hour online course discusses how green streets employing biorention curb extensions, sidewalk trees, permeable pavement forms and other related approaches can be used to reduce environmental damage from stormwater runoff. Techniques are illustrated with case studies.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Importance of street width in controlling stormwater runoff;
- Use of bioretention curb extensions and sidewalk planters;
- Application of permeable pavement forms;
- Use of sidewalk trees and tree boxes;
- Implementation hurdles; and
- Case studies: Portland Green Street Pilot Projects and Chicago Green Alley Program.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for civil and environmental engineers concerned with stormwater runoff and resulting water pollution issues.
Benefit to Attendees
A person completing this course will be familiar with and able to implement green street methods for handling stormwater.
Course Introduction
By design and function, urban areas are covered with impervious surfaces: roofs, roads, sidewalks, and parking lots. Although all contribute to stormwater runoff, the effects and necessary mitigation of the various types of surfaces can vary significantly. Of these, roads and travel surfaces present perhaps the largest urban pollution sources and also one of the greatest opportunities for green infrastructure use.
Course Content
This course is based on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency document EPA-833-F08-009, “Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure Municipal Handbook Green Streets,” by R. Lukes and C. Kloss, December, 2008.
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
A wide variety of design elements including street trees, permeable pavements, bioretention, and swales are shown to be possible devices for limiting and lessening pollution caused by stormwater runoff. Case studies are used to illustrate the techniques.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
