Multicriteria Prioritization of Research Needs in Urban Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Publication: Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment
Volume 8, Issue 4
Abstract
Advances in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and extensive implementation of GSI in urban areas warrant further research by municipalities on different aspects of GSI systems (e.g., planning, modeling, design, construction, monitoring, and maintenance) to enhance operational efficiencies, reduce the overall cost of construction and maintenance, and increase the resilience of these systems. However, because of a limited budget and resources for GSI research at the municipal level, a multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) method is needed to aid the prioritization of research needs using an array of technical, economic, social, and environmental considerations (criteria). To address this need, a hybrid, multicriteria, group decision making approach was used to inform the prioritization of GSI research needs. In this approach, the relative weights of decision criteria are determined using the Delphi method on the basis of input from multiple decision makers (DMs). Additionally, ranking the research topics is performed using a hierarchical simple additive weighting (SAW) method. The application of the hybrid MCDA method was shown in prioritizing GSI research needs to support a division within the Philadelphia Water Department’s GSI program for which a long- and short-list of GSI research topics, containing 67 and 13 items, respectively, and a hierarchy of multidisciplinary decision criteria, containing 39 items, were developed. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to partially address the uncertainties in the decision-making process. The presented method is simple (applicable to real case studies) yet systematic (adjustable in different geographic locations) and supports group decision making, making it suitable for adoption by urban GSI entities as a decision-support tool for prioritizing existing needs and developing future roadmaps for GSI research.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code generated or used during the study appear in the published article and Supplemental Materials.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the Philadelphia Water Department for funding this research and contributing to the decision-making process. The authors also thank Dr. Robert Traver and Dr. Virginia Smith of Villanova University for their technical assistance. The presented opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the funding organization.
References
Baker, L. A., J. A. Chapman, J. Bilotta, and S. Missaghi. 2018. “Stormwater Research Roadmap for Minnesota.” Accessed November 11, 2021. https://www.wrc.umn.edu/stormwaterroadmap.
Chatzimentor, A., E. Apostolopoulou, and A. D. Mazaris. 2020. “A review of green infrastructure research in Europe: Challenges and opportunities.” Landscape Urban Plann. 198 (Jan): 103775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103775.
Dalkey, N., and O. Helmer. 1963. “An experimental application of the Delphi method to the use of experts.” Manage. Sci. 9 (3): 458–467. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.9.3.458.
De la Sota, C., V. J. Ruffato-Ferreira, L. Ruiz-García, and S. Alvarez. 2019. “Urban green infrastructure as a strategy of climate change mitigation: A case study in northern Spain.” Urban For. Urban Greening 40 (Feb): 145–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2018.09.004.
Ebrahimian, A., K. Sample-Lord, B. Wadzuk, and R. Traver. 2020. “Temporal and spatial variation of infiltration in urban green infrastructure.” Hydrol. Process. 34 (4): 1016–1034. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13641.
Ebrahimian, A., N. Sokolovskaya, and B. Wadzuk. 2021. “Modeling dynamic performance of urban infiltration trench systems: Methodology and a case study in Philadelphia.” J. Hydrol. 594 (12): 125938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125938.
Ebrahimian, A., B. Wadzuk, and R. Traver. 2019. “Evapotranspiration in green stormwater infrastructure systems.” Sci. Total Environ. 688 (Jun): 797–810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.06.256.
Erickson, A., C. Aichinger, J. S. Gulliver, and J. Bilotta. 2017. Stormwater research in Minnesota: Meeting the needs for the next decade. St. Paul, MN: Univ. of Minnesota.
GAO (United States Government Accountability Office). 2017. “Stormwater management: EPA pilot project to increase use of green infrastructure could benefit from documenting collaborative agreements.” GAO-17-750. Accessed November 11, 2021. https://www.gao.gov/assets/690/687478.pdf.
Hunt, W. F., A. P. Davis, and R. G. Traver. 2012. “Meeting hydrologic and water quality goals through targeted bioretention design.” J. Environ. Eng. 138 (6): 698–707. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000504.
Keeney, R. L., and H. Raiffa. 1976. Decisions with multiple objectives: Preferences and value trade-offs. New York: Wiley.
Lin, B. B., J. A. Meyers, and G. B. Barnett. 2019. “Establishing priorities for urban green infrastructure research in Australia.” Urban Policy Res. 37 (1): 30–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/08111146.2018.1523054.
Lisenbee, W. A., J. M. Hathaway, M. J. Burns, and T. D. Fletcher. 2021. “Modeling bioretention stormwater systems: Current models and future research needs.” Environ. Modell. Software 2021 (1): 105146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2021.105146.
Liu, J., D. J. Sample, C. Bell, and Y. Guan. 2014. “Review and research needs of bioretention used for the treatment of urban stormwater.” Water 6 (4): 1069–1099. https://doi.org/10.3390/w6041069.
Moore, T. L., J. S. Gulliver, L. Stack, and M. H. Simpson. 2016. “Stormwater management and climate change: Vulnerability and capacity for adaptation in urban and suburban contexts.” Clim. Change 138 (3–4): 491–504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-016-1766-2.
Okoli, C., and S. D. Pawlowski. 2004. “The Delphi method as a research tool: An example, design considerations and applications.” Inf. Manage. 42 (1): 15–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.im.2003.11.002.
PWD (Philadelphia Water Department). 2021. “Green city clean waters.” Accessed November 11, 2021. https://water.phila.gov/green-city.
Saaty, T. L. 1980. The analytic hierarchy process: Planning, priority setting, resource allocation. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Schmidt, R., K. Lyytinen, M. Keil, and P. Cule. 2001. “Identifying software project risks: An international Delphi study.” J. Manage. Inf. Syst. 17 (4): 5–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2001.11045662.
Schmidt, R. C. 1997. “Managing Delphi surveys using nonparametric statistical techniques.” Decis. Sci. 28 (3): 763–774. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5915.1997.tb01330.x.
Seddon, N., A. Smith, P. Smith, I. Key, A. Chausson, C. Girardin, J. House, S. Srivastava, and B. Turner. 2021. “Getting the message right on nature-based solutions to climate change.” Global Change Biol. 27 (8): 1518–1546. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15513.
Sharma, R., and P. Malaviya. 2021. “Management of stormwater pollution using green infrastructure: The role of rain gardens.” Wiley Interdiscip. Rev.: Water 8 (2): e1507. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1507.
Skulmoski, G. J., F. T. Hartman, and J. Krahn. 2007. “The Delphi method for graduate research.” J. Inf. Technol. Educ. Res. 6 (1): 1–21.
Sokolovskaya, N., A. Ebrahimian, and B. Wadzuk. 2021. “Modeling infiltration in green stormwater infrastructure: Effect of geometric shape.” J. Sustainable Water Built Environ. 7 (2): 04020020. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000935.
Sussams, L. W., W. R. Sheate, and R. P. Eales. 2015. “Green infrastructure as a climate change adaptation policy intervention: Muddying the waters or clearing a path to a more secure future?” J. Environ. Manage. 147 (Sep): 184–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.09.003.
Tirpak, R. A., A. N. Afrooz, R. J. Winston, R. Valenca, K. Schiff, and S. K. Mohanty. 2020. “Conventional and amended bioretention soil media for targeted pollutant treatment: A critical review to guide the state of the practice.” Water Res. 189 (Feb): 116648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2020.116648.
Traver, R. G., and A. Ebrahimian. 2017. “Dynamic design of green stormwater infrastructure.” Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 11 (4): 15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-017-0973-z.
Wadzuk, B., B. Gile, V. Smith, A. Ebrahimian, M. Strauss, and R. Traver. 2021a. “Moving toward dynamic and data-driven GSI maintenance.” J. Sustainable Water Built Environ. 7 (4): 02521003. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000958.
Wadzuk, B., B. Gile, V. Smith, A. Ebrahimian, and R. Traver. 2021b. “Call for a dynamic approach to GSI maintenance.” J. Sustainable Water Built Environ. 7 (2): 02521001. https://doi.org/10.1061/JSWBAY.0000945.
WEF (Water and Environment Federation). 2015. “Rainfall to results: The future of stormwater.” Accessed November 11, 2021. https://wefstormwaterinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Rainfall-to-Results.pdf.
Weiss, P., J. Gulliver, and A. Ebrahimian. 2020. “US version of water-wise cities: Low impact development.” In Water-wise cities and sustainable water systems—Concepts, technologies and applications. London: IWA Publishing. https://doi.org/10.2166/9781789060768_0077.
Weiss, P. T., M. Kayhanian, J. S. Gulliver, and L. Khazanovich. 2017. “Permeable pavement in northern North American urban areas: Research review and knowledge gaps.” Int. J. Pavement Eng. 20 (2): 143–162. https://doi.org/10.1080/10298436.2017.1279482.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment
Volume 8 • Issue 4 • November 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 13, 2021
Accepted: May 20, 2022
Published online: Aug 12, 2022
Published in print: Nov 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jan 12, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Analysis (by type)
- Business management
- Decision making
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Government
- Hybrid methods
- Infrastructure
- Infrastructure resilience
- Local government
- Methodology (by type)
- Organizations
- Practice and Profession
- Sensitivity analysis
- Stormwater management
- Sustainable development
- Urban and regional development
- Urban areas
- Water treatment
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.