Bioswales and Permeable Pavements as Green Infrastructure for Flood Mitigation in Chicago Neighborhoods

Abstract

Urban flooding, increasingly exacerbated by climate change, poses significant risks to communities and infrastructure. This study focuses on mitigating such flooding by implementing green infrastructure (GI), specifically bioswales and permeable pavers. The study is conducted in Humboldt Park, a neighborhood in Chicago. The existing parkways (topsoil, seed) and cast-in-place concrete are proposed to be replaced with these green solutions. The bioswale and permeable pavers are designed based on projected precipitation and runoff scenarios. Implementing this GI would result in a 61% reduction in total stormwater runoff, significantly decreasing the strain on local sewer systems and reducing flood risks. Additionally, the effectiveness of these GI solutions in terms of resilience and sustainability is evaluated using the Tiered Quantitative Assessment of the Life Cycle Sustainability and Resiliency (TQUALICSR) framework developed at the University of Illinois Chicago. The assessment first evaluates the resiliency of the GI, considering technical, environmental, social, and economic vulnerabilities. Subsequently, the overall sustainability is evaluated by integrating environmental, social, and economic impacts across the project’s life cycle. The findings indicate that the GI offers enhanced resilience compared with traditional pavement methods. The construction phase of these green solutions significantly contributes to environmental impacts and costs due to the required subgrade preparation for bioswales and permeable pavement. However, the operational phase of these systems yields considerable environmental benefits, offsetting the construction phase impacts. Additionally, public surveys and other social assessments reveal community support for implementing GI. Overall, GI demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing urban flooding with a focused, localized approach, thereby protecting the affected communities.