[Geoffrey Campbell]

UGA undergrad program started in 1928 and has been accredited since 1952. Grad program started in 1954.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

Hi Daniel, whats the paving composition (base, joints, paver dimension) and the utility type and cover, is it a manhole?  It’s tough to grasp exactly what’s going on from the given information.  Are you looking to camoflouge the access or cover with pavers?

 

[Geoffrey Campbell]

Would love to utilize existing vegetation as a starting point. From this picture I can make out about one species that seems to be successful, grass.  I wish we could have budgeted for a localized vegetation inventory, or even additional site visits.  Unfortunately however, this picture + google earth are the extent of my resources.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

Thanks a lot!  Very useful, I’m going with pitch pine, sweet fern and bayberry.  Nitrogen fixation sold me.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

As an LA in a CE firm, I agree.  LA grads are much more prepared out of college than BSCE grads, particularly in grading and site layout.  There are some hurdles in understanding detailed SWM, but that can quickly be picked up.  Most SWM design is done using help from various computer programs anyways.  When and if I get some say-so, I will certainly be hiring LA’s to do site design.  If I were an unemployed LA just trying to get my foot in the door, I would definitely be looking hard at CE firms for opportunities… besides there’s a lot more of them. As you mentioned Andrew, the ability to obtain a P.E. is not as easy, but its definitely possible, and in some states sooner rather than later.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

Well I could understand that; however, the requirements for the particular jobs I’ve seen have asked for either a degree in LA or architecure, which leads me to believe the position they have in mind is a staff LA.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

Its a tough issue. The american dream that has been ingrained in much of our population is centered around the suburbian one-acre lot. It doesn’t seem like such a bad thing. Infact, who wouldn’t want to be a landowner with their own plot of land. The problem is that evidence has shown how damaging sprawl can be to the environment. The fact is, suburban living is not sustainable with an ever-increasing population. Yea, nobody should be able to tell anyone how they should live, but when everyone is aware of how damaging the trend is, its gonna get brought up and the alternatives will be proposed. The suburbs can be a nice place to live, but if everyone chooses that lifestyle, sooner or later, our resources and our natural surroundings will suffer because of it…or should I say continue to suffer because of it.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

attached are some photos of the baltimore aquarium plaza

[Geoffrey Campbell]

State Highway has a detail for curb cuts, with a concrete flume -ish thing. But this, as said before, will concentrate the flow and then you have to look at putting in rip rap or some other energy dissipation device, which may not be attractive. A depressed curb, will allow sheet flow and still maintain edging for pavement. On parking spaces though you’ll need wheel stops. How do you plan to transition from pavement to biofiltration surface? 3:1 slope, mini-walls? That always seems to be the trickiest part because of the surface area you need vs. free-board and wall ht.? 3:1 slope is gonna eat up lots of real-estate that could have been used for surface infiltration while a curb wall could be a safety hazard and depending on how tall it is could require an ugly guard rail. The 3:1 slope however is good for pre-treatment if its’ turf or something comparable. Love to hear how it goes. Good luck.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

You should check out Enkamat, the root system grows in the mat it’self. It’s been highly recommended to me in the past.
good luck.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

This link:
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=13729
states that EDAW was part of the design team as well.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

Possibly the most cost-effective option would be a modular block wall with vines. However, at this height a modular block wall would probably need some sort of geo-grid reinforcing, and that could effect what is placed behing the wall. Otherwise, a cast-in-place wall with a decorative veneer could work with vines as well.
The ‘plantable’ stones spoken about above are an interesting option as well, but at 12 meters reinforcing could get complicated with hollow stones and voids in the wall. Good luck

[Geoffrey Campbell]

yes

[Geoffrey Campbell]

Many of the engineers I work with who have been in practice for years are always extremely skeptical of it’s use. The most common excuses I hear seem to deal with the strength of the product in heavy duty applications. That being said, people have also complained about the maintenance, freeze thaw, and even high-heels getting stuck in the surface voids (seriously). Construction always seems to be an issue too . After your parking lot gets built, the runoff won’t infiltrate because the contractors compacted the hell out of the subgrade during construction . I think more research needs to be done and a finer mix would help as well. We have used it on a number of projects successfully. If you have light to meduim duty scenario in an area where runoff will be fairly clean, I don’t see why someone wouldn’t promote its use.

[Geoffrey Campbell]

I can only speak to what the Maryland Stormwater Design manual states, but most of these BMP’s/LID Devices/Enivornmental Site Design facilities, are conceptually the same thing with minor differences in soil profile, flow-splitting requirements and drainage area. Raingardens traditionally were for residentail or small-scale applications, and didn’t require over-flow conveyance (although now MDE states that over -flow is required). Bio-filters/Bio-retention facilities were for larger drainage areas and utilized engineered soil profiles with overflow conveyance (underdrain perf. pvc, and elevated control structure, flow-splitters). Also similar are micro-bio-retention facilities, bio-topes, bio-swales (linear applications), landscape infiltration facilities …etc. None of the above mentioned facilities were credited with quantitave management until very recently. Marylands new reg’s look at swm more as a whole instead of quantitative vs. qualititave control. And like David said it drastically changes the way site layout is approached, in my opinion very beneficial to opportunistic LA’s. Bottom line – lots of terms are used that mean virtually the same thing depending on the review agency you’re dealing with and their definitions.

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