Rejuvenation of the Ditch - Redefining the Landscape of the Embarras River with Systems Thinking

Gu, Yexuan

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/95922 Copy

Description

Title

Rejuvenation of the Ditch - Redefining the Landscape of the Embarras River with Systems Thinking

Author(s)

Gu, Yexuan

Issue Date

2017

Keyword(s)

Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Abstract

Illinois is considered a water rich state. Despite this wealth, the state has recently begun to experience water-supply shortages. According to the Illinois State Water Survey this can be attributed to an impairment of waterways or an uncertain fluctuation in supply. In terms of impairment, in agriculturally dominant watersheds, nonpoint source pollution has been noted as the primary water quality factor. As for supply uncertainty, climate change science has suggested that Illinois is likely to experience both wetter and dryer conditions with both more intense rainfall events but with longer interstitial periods of drought. However, there is lack of critical theories and methodical approaches in the design of solutions toward agricultural waterways’ pollutions and fluctuations. Through designing the Embarras River at Illinois, this research introduces systems theory to create a landscape design framework to provide a holistic and dynamic understanding of landscape, and to apply the framework to guide strategies for sustainable landscape design of agricultural watersheds. Finally, master plan and detailed design have also been created for the Embarras River. The framework and strategies created in this research offer scientific knowledge to inform design processes, and expands the scope of watershed design for subsequent designers to learn from.

Type of Resource

• text
• image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/95922

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Copyright 2017 Yexuan Gu

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