PHOTO: Robert Perron

DESIGN FOR FLOODING & resilience to climate change

Donald Watson, FAIA

OUTLINE
Riverine Flooding the opportunity for green infrastructure
Coastal Flooding

we are learning from building sciences what to do about it

Sea Level Rise

making decisions in absence of certainty

Resilient Design

planning for the future at any & all scales

Resources

technical guides and references

OUTLINE
Riverine Flooding the opportunity for green infrastructure

WHAT CAUSES FLOODING?

INLAND FLOODING

1 - Alteration of the landscape

USDA Soil Conservation Service 1986 Urban Hydrology for Small Watersheds

Maizel, M. (1992) National Center for Resource Innovations Chesapeake

WHAT CAUSES FLOODING?

INLAND FLOODING

2 - Changes in precipitation

WATER BALANCE
(Hydrologic Cycle) the basis of water security
Watson and Adams Design for Flooding

DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE

1 INLAND FLOODING
green infrastructure
Stream daylighting

JORDAN VALLEY STREAM DAYLIGHTING AND GREENWAY PROJECT Springfield, Mo.

PHOTOS: City of Springfield and Terry Whalley, Ozark Greenways

DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE

1 INLAND FLOODING
green infrastructure
Structural soil cells

Structural soil cell installation, Washington, DC Landscape Architect: James Urban, FASLA
PHOTO: Casey Trees

DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE

1 INLAND FLOODING
green infrastructure
Vegetated swales

ROGERS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Stamford, CT ARCHITECT: Tai Soo Kim

RESOURCES

OUTLINE
Riverine Flooding the opportunity for green infrastructure
Coastal Flooding

we are learning from building sciences what to do about it

WHAT CAUSES FLOODING?

COASTAL FLOODING 3 - More severe coastal storms

WHAT CAUSES FLOODING?

COASTAL FLOODING 4 - Unprecedented storm surges
5 - Increased coastal development

Gilchrist TX after Hurricane Ike 2008

Area prior to hurricane

 Global warmingand warmer surface temperatures tend to produce more violent weather
patternsthe damage these events have caused is a sign that
the safety factors that engineers, architects and planners have previously built into
structures are becoming inadequate for the changing climate.

FEMA PHOTO Library

Munich Re, one of the largest insurance companies, says climate-related events
serious enough to cause property damage have risen significantly since 1980:
Extreme floods have tripled and extreme windstorms nearly so.
Munich Re is tailoring its offerings to a world of more extreme weather. Homes built
to resist higher winds will qualify for lower premiums. Floodplains need to be wider
Than in the past, and Munich Re will not cover structures built in overly risk-prone areas.
THE NEW YORK TIMES February 14, 2011

RESOURCES

OUTLINE
Riverine Flooding the opportunity for green infrastructure
Coastal Flooding

we are learning from building sciences what to do about it

Sea Level Rise

making decisions in absence of certainty

WHAT CAUSES FLOODING?

SEA LEVEL RISE

6 - GHG emissions / climate change

COMPOSITE OF MEASURED SEA LEVEL RISE DATA

1880-2010

PREDICTED SEA LEVEL RISE DUE TO THERMAL INERTIA

OF GLOBAL CLIMATE SYSTEM
Watson, Robert T. et al., Climate Change 2001: Synthesis Report

NATURE OF FLOODING
3 Sea level rise
DESIGN PROPOSALS

BRING YOUR BOOTS

Royston Hanamoto Alley and Abey
Rising Tides Competition 2009

www.risingtidescompetition.com

NATURE OF FLOODING
PROTECT
storm barriers
wetlands

MITIGATE
elevate
swap land uses
green infrastructure
revitalize

ADAPT
work w/ natural changes
develop ecological services
EVOLUTIONARY RECOVERY
Yuni Lee + Leon Tae Kim, LANDplus Design
Rising Tides Competition winner 2009

3 Sea level rise COASTAL RENEWAL

DESIGN PROPOSALS

NATURE OF FLOODING
3 Sea level rise COASTAL RENEWAL

www.risingtidescompetition.com
TOPOLOGICAL SHIFTS
Wright Huaiche Yang and J. Lee Sickles
Rising Tides Competition winner 2009

NATURE OF FLOODING
3 Sea level rise COASTAL RENEWAL

CONCEPT DIAGRAMS from RPA H209 Charrette

Regional Plan Association (RPA)

NATURE OF FLOODING
3 Sea level rise COASTAL RENEWAL

SUNSET PARK - MANHATTAN

Regional Plan Association (RPA) and Netherlands
Water Partnership / Harvard-Netherlands Project

NATURE OF FLOODING
3 Sea level rise COASTAL RENEWAL

CENTRAL PARK HARBOR / STATEN ISLAND

Regional Plan Association (RPA) and Netherlands
Water Partnership / Harvard-Netherlands Project

NATURE OF FLOODING
3 Sea level rise COASTAL RENEWAL

ON THE WATER: PALISADES BAY

Winner AIA Latrobe Prize 2007-2009
ARO (Architectural Research Office)

RIVERS IN THE SKY

Concentrated bands of atmospheric water vapor
Atmospheric riverscan cause flooding rains in coast and inland mountains that can have
devastating effects on people and landscapes.
NOAA Magazine November 2, 2005

DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE

3 Sea level rise LEVEES

100-year planning in the Netherlands

Levee improvements + giving land back to the river

DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE

Watson and Adams Design for Flooding

OUTLINE
Riverine Flooding the opportunity for green infrastructure
Coastal Flooding

we are learning from building sciences what to do about it

Sea Level Rise

making decisions in absence of certainty

Resilient Design

planning for the future at any & all scales

DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE

PRINCIPLES
STORM ABSORPTION
BUFFERING
CORE PROTECTION
WATER DIFFUSION
DETENTION
STORAGE CAPACITY
REDUNDANCY (CIRCUITS)
WASTE / NUTRIENT RECOVERY
RAPID RESPONSE / CORRECTION

DEMOUNTABILITY
REUSABILITY
REPLICABILITY

DESIGN FOR RESILIENCE

Design with water like a long distance
swimmer, not a drowning victim.

STREAM DAYLIGHTING AND URBAN REVITALIZATION

Providence, RI

SHORELINE RESTORATION Save the Bay Center, Providence RI

Croxton Collaborative, Architects

WATERSHED PLANNING & MANAGEMENT

INNER COASTAL PARK AND MARINE DEVELOPMENT, Jupiter, FL

COASTAL FLOOD PROTECTION & REVITALIZATION

EMERGENCY RESPONSE CENTER Hurricane Katrina New Orleans FEMA Photo Library, September 2005

ADVANCED PLANNING for EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

COMMUNITY VISIONING WORKSHOP Collecting the Voices Jefferson Parish, New Orleans
Louisiana Recovery Authority FEMA PHOTO Library, January 2006

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & VOLUNTEERISM

WATERSHED EXHIBIT Aquarium of the Pacific Long Beach CA Main Street Exhibit Design

EDUCATION & FUN!

 Nothing can be done without many hands, hearts & minds

Hardheaded science and critical skepticism are needed and welcome

We do not yet know the upper limit of our ability to build a resilient future

Thank you!
PHOTO: Reg Morrison

CREDITS & APPRECIATION

Michele Adams, P.E.
Jim Destefano, P.E., AIA
Christopher P. Jones, P.E.
Paul Kirshen, Battelle
Brad McRae, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission
Rob Pisani, Regional Plan Association
Vita Nuova
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FEMA

John Wiley & Sons

NOVA / PBS
World Resources Institute
City of Springfield MO
Carol Franklin, FASLA
James Urban, FASLA
Tai Soo Kim, Architects
Architecture Research Office (ARO)
Wright Huaiche Yang and J. Lee Stickles
Royston Hanamoto, Alley and Abey, Architects
Yuni Lee + Leon Tae Kim
Reg Morrison
Croxton Collaborative, Architects
Aquarium of the Pacific / Main Street Exhibit Design
Daniel E. Williams, FAIA

Donald Watson, FAIA

EarthRise001@SBCglobal.net

RESOURCES

Donald Watson, FAIA

EarthRise001@SBCglobal.net
WWW.DonaldWatson.com