Interdisciplinary Inquiry and Spatial Green Stormwater Infrastructure Research

Lechuan Huang, Theodore Chao Lim and Shalini Misra
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Lechuan Huang: Stuart Weitzman School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Theodore Chao Lim: School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
Shalini Misra: School of Public and International Affairs, Arlington Campus, Virginia Tech, Arlington, VA 22203, USA

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-19

Abstract: The use of vegetation and infiltration into soils to manage stormwater and water quality—called green stormwater infrastructure (GSI)—is now widely recognized as a viable alternative or supplement to the pipes and pumps of conventional, or “gray”, drainage infrastructure. Over the years, much research has emerged regarding spatial aspects of GSI implemented at large scales, including where it is located, where it should be located, and what metrics best represent the benefits it brings to different locations. Research in these areas involves expertise from multiple academic disciplines, but it is unclear whether and how researchers from different disciplines identify and approach questions related to the spatiality of GSI. By adopting the explanatory sequential mixed method design, we identified four categories of spatial GSI studies through a literature review of over 120 research papers: empirical, ecological, decision support systems, and optimization. Here, we present representative examples of these categories of spatial GSI studies, as well as associations between the academic disciplines represented in these categories of spatial GSI papers. Then, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a sample of GSI researchers which revealed the value of interdisciplinary training and knowledge. Finally, in this paper, we identify several gaps that could be addressed to improve interdisciplinary research on GSI implementation, and sustainability transitions in general.

Keywords: green stormwater infrastructure; interdisciplinary research; spatial networks; disciplinary epistemology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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