What does it take for green infrastructure to thrive – and how do we make sure that it continues to evolve to deliver lasting benefits for our communities?
In May, Water Resources Engineer Kelsey Kern, PE, LEED AP, NGICP, presented a “lightning talk” at the Boston Society of Landscape Architects’ (BSLA’s) Fieldday titled, The Death and Life of Green Infrastructure: A Call to Action. In less than five minutes, Kelsey compels the audience to think about how green infrastructure functions as a whole, from concept to construction to maintenance to eventual obsolescence. She makes the point that it is only through this understanding that we can improve the life cycle of green infrastructure to ensure its long-term success and sustainability.
Her talk touches on:
- How the life cycle of a vehicle parallels the life cycle of green infrastructure, highlighting phases like planning, design, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning.
- The importance of operations and maintenance, and how making this process easier and more data-driven can enhance green infrastructure success.
- How decisions are made to decommission green infrastructure, and how to use this information to improve future designs.
You can watch a recording of this talk – filmed after the event itself – here:
Want to Get Involved?
Kelsey is putting together an informal network of professionals who are passionate about green infrastructure and want to collectively ensure its successful life cycle. If you’d like to join this group, please fill out the brief survey linked below – she will continue building on this topic in collaboration with industry partners and organizations like the BSLA, and will share resources, tools, and actionable information quarterly with everyone who signs up!