LID systems as significant tools in urban regeneration strategies

Low Impact Development systems represent an ecological alternative for mitigating the effects of urbanization and climate change on the environment, such as urban flooding risk, water pollution, urban heat islands, etc. These systems include significant tools in urban planning and retrofitting strategies; among others: green roofs, permeable pavements, and stormwater filters.

While presenting the innovative LID systems developed at the University of Calabria, this study aims at demonstrating its hydrological efficiency through a modelling application carried out by the use of PCSWMM. A sub-catchment of the urban area of Rossano, Italy, flooded on August 12, 2015 was considered for the implementation of permeable pavements on every impervious surface (roads, parking lots, etc.). The results show that permeable pavements produce a 75% drop in surface runoff throughout the sub-catchments, and a 46.5% total flow volume decrease.