Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Part IV
Ecology in Design of
Urban Systems
Margaret Livingston
As our city ecosystems continue to rapidly evolve, we struggle to better understand and
manage the diverse systems and organisms found in these environments and the resources
associated with their existence. The following chapters present various discussions about
these systems and the design strategies that we employ in our efforts to support them, at
the scale of the urban environment.
This part of the topic begins with an overview of ecological design by David Orr and its
application to our urban ecosystems (Chapter 20). The chapter focuses on design that mini-
mizes destructive impacts of city development through integration with living processes.
For example, Orr discusses some of the key elements of ecological design such as improv-
ing energy and resource efficiency and the development of closed loop systems that deliver
“products of service.” The author stresses the success of ecological design through our
deeper sense of connection and responsibility to our natural ecosystems, suggesting that
without more consensus from us on this need, our efforts will not make much difference.
Chapters 21 through 23 focus on more site-specific strategies for readers that have been
gaining popularity in use in urban environments. Heather Kinkade focuses on strat-
egies for increasing water harvesting in cities, stressing the resurgence in the use of
this ancient practice by residents in arid, urban environments for the conservation and
management of water in their cities (Chapter 21). The author poses several questions for
readers to consider to get started with water harvesting, such as whether a system will
be a retrofit for an existing building or use of a new integral system, system size, and
intended use. She concludes the chapter with a discussion of typical components, the use
of a water balance analysis, and an integrated site design, which is intended to match site
requirements (e.g., water, energy, food, and aesthetics) with the eventual components of
Search WWH ::
Custom Search