Sociotechnical systems in campus stormwater management: impediments and driving forces for refined sustainable systems

Peterson, Kyle

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/44118 Copy

Description

Title

Sociotechnical systems in campus stormwater management: impediments and driving forces for refined sustainable systems

Author(s)

Peterson, Kyle

Issue Date

2013-05-24T21:51:13Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Deming, Margaret E.

Department of Study

Landscape Architecture

Discipline

Landscape Architecture

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.L.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• sociotechnical
• stormwater
• best management practices
• university campus management
• sustainability
• master plans
• Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

Abstract

Throughout the United States, stormwater runoff from streets and similar hardscapes has had detrimental effects, often resulting in flooding, erosion, and health concerns. This thesis focuses on stormwater management as it relates to university campuses and the benefits of having formal stormwater master plans. It is the responsibility of universities and their patrons to model state of the art techniques, best management practices (BMPs) for sustainability, and to exemplify social and environmental values taught in the classroom. The positive impacts of sustainable stormwater management are becoming well known; however, it is still too difficult for campus managers to find exemplars of university stormwater management programs or post-development analysis. This is often due to sociotechnical factors which account for both technical knowledge and social influences. My thesis is a pilot study for a longer campaign in the dissemination of knowledge about campus stormwater practices. This project identifies campus exemplars and describes key features of their management programs to illustrate how BMPs may be employed more readily. The project also identifies crucial factors leading to and preventing implementation of sustainable stormwater practices. Design and maintenance specialists, campus Facility and Service (F&S) practitioners, local municipalities, and university representatives have been consulted to provide emic perspectives and information that helps illustrate how and why BMPs have or have not been incorporated on university campuses. These interviews provide opinions and reactions to university stormwater operating systems. The aggregate of all the collected data describes both structural and non-structural management approaches for each of the precedents included in the study.

Graduation Semester

2013-05

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/44118

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2013 Kyle Peterson

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