ASCE Publications: ASCE already had several water related journals. What was the impetus for creating a separate journal for sustainable water?

Allen Davis: The volume of sustainability and storm water papers has grown exponentially because this is such a critical topic. Urban sprawl, flooding, combined sewer overflow (CSO), and storm water pollution have all played a part in raising our awareness of the need for better water management. ASCE wanted to build a journal around water comprehensively; to address all the key sustainability related water topics that arise in a developed landscape.

ASCE Publications: What hot topics are covered in this journal?

Allen Davis: Green infrastructure, sustainability, and storm water management. My goal is to change the way we look at storm water. This is a critical problem for communities across the country, and around the world. A large percentage of communities globally face storm water management issues, although each community may have slightly different problems (e.g. CSO, TMDL compliance). I want this journal to provide useful content that helps these cities and communities find solutions to meet their individual needs.

ASCE Publications: What are the big challenges facing researchers today?

Allen Davis: Research funding has always been an issue, but the funding available today, might not be there in 1, 5 or 10 years. Things are changing daily, as we all know from watching TV, and federal funding is pretty stagnant. I know it is tough for young researchers, who need to get published, but also face tough decisions on what are the best ways to do that (from peer review to open access). In addition, they often don’t know or understand the challenges we have on the publishing side, which I have become more aware of in this role as editor.

ASCE Publications: How did you become an Environmental Engineer?

Allen Davis: I was always interested in engineering and in my two years at college, I took a lot of different classes (chemistry, physics, fluid mechanics, etc.), but nothing quite stuck. Then I took an environmental engineering course, and aspects of all those various elements were combined into one package – it had it all. As a native of Maryland, growing up near the Chesapeake Bay, Environmental Engineering was the perfect fit.

ASCE Publications: Describe your experience as a journal editor.

Allen Davis: Being an editor has forced me to stay informed and on top of the current literature. Today I am better informed of what is going on in the research space, because I need to be! Taking on this position has been a way to give back to the profession. I am pleased with the progress we have made and the quality of the work we have published. But it’s an on-going process.

ASCE Publications: What features are you looking for in an article submitted to your journal?

Allen Davis: I am looking for content that pushes our journal into new territory. Content that challenges us and how we think; and that helps us learn. Each paper has to look at ways to meet diverse needs, not be a one-off solution. Because storm water affects so many communities in different ways, based on their existing infrastructure, their precipitation levels, and many other factors; we want our contributing authors to keep their scope broad (and not site specific). And of course having good, quality papers is a critical component of a successful journal.

ASCE Publications: Can you offer any advice to new researchers starting out?

Allen Davis: Volunteer. Be a good reviewer. If you are a good reviewer than hopefully you’ll receive good reviews in return. Embrace the peer review process. Despite being a hurdle; It is a good thing!

Learn more about contributing to the Journal of Sustainable Water in the Built Environment.