Ole Fryd

Doing the first loop of planning for sustainable urban drainage system retrofits: A case study from Odense, Denmark

The planning and implementation of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) requires intensive collaboration between professions and institutions. To improve the conditions for such practice in Denmark, the first loop of a SUDS-based retrofitting project was completed in Odense over a 6-month period. The project involved officials from the City of Odense and Odense Water Ltd., as well as university researchers. Studies of hydrological, environmental and socio-cultural aspects were developed by disciplinary teams and used to draft integrated solutions for two selected city districts. Albeit sewer surcharge was the initial catalyst, the main driver for the drafted solutions was urban planning. An assessment of the impact 1.5 years after completion indicated that the employed approach is valuable. In Odense, a planning procedure reflecting the loop process has become new practice. The project represents a key reference for the introduction of SUDS in Denmark.

Sustainable wastewater management in developing countries: new paradigms and case studies from the field.

Sustainable Wastewater Management in Developing Countries will urge practitioners, decision makers, and researchers to approach these systems in new ways that are practical, innovative, and—best of all—sustainable.

The aesthetic performance of urban landscape-based stormwater management systems: a review of twenty projects in Northern Europe

Abstract Driven by the challenge of adapting cities to climate change, stormwater management is high on the agenda of landscape architectural practice. This article aims to set light on associated landscape changes, presenting and evaluating twenty Northern European stormwater management projects with a specific view on their aesthetic performance. Five key parameters form the base for the analysis. These include 1) terrain changes, 2) construction and maintenance, 3) site history and context, 4) water dynamics and dimensioning, and 5) stormwater accentuation. Observations are illustrated by exemplary photos, arranged and discussed among varying cases. The study indicates that visible stormwater management enhances the experience of local terrain. However, stormwater management is weak as a main design feature and staging water ‘at any cost’ results in unsettled designs. Successful projects include only a few key water features and focus on programmatic interaction within the specific context.

Analyzing the First Loop Design Process for Large-Scale Sustainable Urban Drainage System Retrofits in Copenhagen, Denmark

Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) receive much attention as a means to adapt urban environments to a changing climate. Yet little knowledge exists on how to adapt existing urban drainage systems by use of SUDS at the scale of entire sewer-sheds. This paper aims to assist landscape architects, engineers, and planners in the design of large-scale SUDS retrofits. It analyzes the first loop in an exemplary design process for SUDS retrofits in a 15 km2 case-study area in Copenhagen, Denmark. A series of ‘insights’ and ‘set backs’ are revealed in the process and discussed in their importance for a successful design. The two most important aspects are identified as the need to develop context specific solutions and the utilization of underlying hydrological conditions as generator of urban form.

Economic, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability of three constructed wetlands in Thailand

Constructed wetlands (cws) for wastewater treatment may be part of the answer to the urgent need for a change in the approach to wastewater treatment in developing countries. Although thailand has several cws, there have been no studies of their sustainability. To remedy this, the sustainability of three promising cws in very different settings was assessed. These were located at koh phi phi, a world-renowned international tourist and holiday resort; sakon nakhon, a northeastern provincial capital; and ban pru teaw, a small post-tsunami village on the andaman coast. Key stakeholder interviews, questionnaires and household interview surveys, together with existing data and on-site measurements of the key pollutant content of wastewater were used to evaluate the systems. Results show that major management and treatment problems have emerged in the projects at koh phi phi and ban pru teaw due to the lack of post-construction personnel development and maintenance; but on the other hand, sakon nakhon is the first cw in thailand to obtain iso 9001 certification. The results reveal the importance of the socio-cultural dimension of sustainability; public perception, awareness and knowledge, local expertise and clear roles for institutions could explain the differences in sustainability of the cws. The environmental benefits and the low operation and maintenance costs are also important for sustainability, by justifying the system and avoiding user payments.