Low impact development devices DNA of cities for long term stormwater management strategies

Abstract

Abstract In 2024 the Low Impact Development Devices (LID) open-source international database ClimateScan consist of over 14.000 climate adaption related projects uploaded in the period of 2014–2024. For cities with over 500 projects, this offers an opportunity to construct a LID-DNA of the city. LID-DNA presents the ‘genetic information of the development and functioning of LID in a city’ and was first used in The Netherlands during ClimateCafés as evaluation for future design and maintenance of stormwater management strategies. The LID-DNA of several cities based on the quantity and categories of LID is visualized. The LID structure of early adaptor Amsterdam with over 500 LID measures implemented in 2000–2024, shows a large variety of over 20 types of individual LID. The relative new adaptor Riga shows a LID-DNA with a focus on bio-filtration with raingardens and swales (based on 40 data points). Stakeholders from different departments concluded that cities benefit from the insights of their urban LID-DNA earlier in the process. An early insight will support a targeted LID strategy choosing a limited cost-efficient group of LID than having a wide range of different LID without evaluation of their efficiency. Departments in the city asked for more detailed insights (earlier in the process) to prevent mal-adaptation and disinvestments and be more efficient with their capacity. The ClimateScan database holds over 300 monitored LID projects with research results in North America and Europe in cities as Vancouver, New Orleans, Amsterdam and Riga. Future work will focus on more detailed LID-DNA visualisation based on not only the amount of LID but on the dimensions such as water storage (m3) and surface (m2). Monitoring of LID will be stimulated to make strategic decisions on measured infiltration rates (m/d) of LID as most important criteria for possible damage by floodings and maintenance (clogging). Raising awareness and capacity building targeted on the high-ranking cost-efficient LID is set up in both cities focused on the design, construction and maintenance of LID.