{"id":7145,"date":"2021-03-09T11:10:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T17:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/engineering\/?p=7145"},"modified":"2022-03-17T14:26:43","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T19:26:43","slug":"solving-a-mke-stormwater-problem-4-civil-engineering-alumni-help-design-winning-green-idea-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/engineering\/solving-a-mke-stormwater-problem-4-civil-engineering-alumni-help-design-winning-green-idea-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Solving a MKE stormwater problem: 4 civil engineering alumni help design winning, green idea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Imagine the often grimy patches of earth under highway overpasses transformed to green spaces that help clean our drinking water source, store water after heavy rains, and provide a space for public agencies to grow trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For their visionary, sustainable design featuring stormwater-fed tree farms planted in the shadows of Milwaukee\u2019s highway overpasses, four 51ÁÔÆæ civil and environmental engineering alumni are enjoying accolades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The alumni were part of a nine-member, interdisciplinary team from HNTB, a national, design consulting firm, that in February was awarded first place and $5,000 in Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District\u2019s (MMSD) 2020 Greater Milwaukee Green Infrastructure Overpass Challenge. The contest, funded by the Tellier Foundation, asked teams for innovative designs to manage polluted stormwater runoff from freeway overpasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting time to be working in this profession\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Team HNTB included four graduates of 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s College of Engineering & Applied Science\u2019s Civil & Environmental Engineering programs: Dan Cary (MS 2019, BS 2011); Jacob Moser (BS 2019): Jane\u00e9 Pederson (MS 2018, BS 2014); and Leah Stewart (BS 2020).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stewart says 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s professors, coursework and internships prepared her to work in a rapidly changing field, one that is now addressing urban drainage needs. \u201cGreen and blue infrastructure is an important part of that change,\u201d she says, adding that she enjoys being part of the growing movement to address the nation\u2019s infrastructure in a manner that considers the environmental effects of decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting time to be working in this profession,\u201d Stewart says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tree farms are the heart of HNTB\u2019s design  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The heart of the team\u2019s design is salt- and shade-tolerant trees that are drip-irrigated by stormwater collected from an overpass. \u201cThe water from overpasses is really dirty and polluted,\u201d explains Pederson. Treating it as a resource, she says, could help prevent pollution from reaching lakes and rivers and reduce the volume of water that enters the city\u2019s water system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The remaining area of the team\u2019s design includes a walking path constructed with pervious pavers, benches made from recycled materials, sculptures created by local artists using recycled materials, and native landscaping. Educational signs support lessons on ecology and water quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like all entries to the contest, Team HNTB\u2019s design aimed to capture 2-inches of rain for a hypothetical roadway drainage area 50 feet wide by 200 feet long, 100 feet above the urban landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tree farm would act as an urban nursery, says Pederson. Public sector organizations (WisDOT, the city of Milwaukee, for example) would buy saplings on their own, then use the underpass to grow them. When their trees reached maturity, they would be replanted elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because mature trees can cost significantly more than saplings, this could save money on public projects. Meanwhile, Pederson says, the trees would be acting as sponges as they grew toward their hardened water sources above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can see the top three submissions to the Overpass Challenge here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milwaukee\u2019s growing stormwater problem<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Polluted stormwater runoff is one of the biggest threats to rivers and lakes across the United States. When rainwater does not get soaked up by the ground, it can pick up pollutants as it runs along surfaces to join the water system. The paved landscapes of an urban setting contribute to this problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In coming years, more stormwater could enter Milwaukee\u2019s sewer system. Changing weather patterns suggest a warmer and wetter climate in the region\u2019s future \u2013 including shorter-lasting, higher-intensity storms. In addition to the threat of increased water pollution, these higher volumes of stormwater may be more than our infrastructure can handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

51ÁÔÆæ part of the solution<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Through its civil and environmental engineering programs, 51ÁÔÆæ is helping to meet the need for new ideas to solve these problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s location is key,\u201d says Pederson, who completed three summer internships with MMSD while a 51ÁÔÆæ undergraduate student. \u201cMilwaukee has become a hub for water-focused businesses, technologies, talent and collaboration, a place where students can find a variety of opportunities for hands-on experiences through internships and the like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To meet the enthusiastic and growing demand for environmental engineers, 51ÁÔÆæ in 2020 launched a BSE in Environmental Engineering. The interdisciplinary program is training students in the broad environmental field of engineering, including air, water and soil. It augments 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s existing relationships with more than 200 water technology businesses in the region and with economic development organizations dedicated to advancing freshwater technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can learn more about the BSE in Environmental Engineering here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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