Incorporating sustainability in infrastructure design: A case study of phoenix, Arizona

Globally, cities face the threat of an uncertain, complex future. Climate change is poised to disrupt environmental and social systems in unpredictable ways. Simultaneously, the world is rapidly urbanizing. Climate and population changes alter the demand placed on infrastructure systems. With infrastructure systems facing new and unknowable pressures, researchers, policymakers, and designers have recognized the need for sustainable infrastructure systems that are able to adapt to changing conditions and limit the occurrence of catastrophic failures. This dissertation utilizes case studies within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area to identify opportunities for strengthening sustainable infrastructure design through policy (Chapter 2), performance (Chapter 3), and education (Chapter 4). The first study reviewed the City of Phoenix’s stormwater management standards to understand the presence of sustainable stormwater infrastructure designs within technical design guidelines. The results of this study indicated that Phoenix has not overcome common barriers to sustainable stormwater infrastructure implementation. Specifically, the City fails to appropriately integrate knowledge of sustainable stormwater infrastructure performance into its design manuals; many designers are skeptical of sustainable stormwater infrastructure designs because they lack knowledge of their performance, and policy has not appropriately addressed this concern. Indeed, sustainable stormwater management systems are understudied in arid and semi-arid climates like Phoenix. The second study quantified the flood control and water quality improvement capabilities of a small-scale (sustainable) bioretention basin system. The results from this study indicated that the system effectively performed in both areas, indicating promise for sustainable stormwater infrastructure designs in arid and semi-arid regions. However, performance alone may not be enough to incentivize designers to use sustainable stormwater infrastructure designs, especially if they do not receive education on them. The third study evaluated the presence of adaptability and sustainability characteristics within Arizona State University’s undergraduate civil engineering program and two comparison programs. Although adaptability and sustainability characteristics – indicative of sustainable designs – were present in all three programs, their absence from high-level organizations posed a challenge to embedding sustainability as a fundamental aspect of infrastructure design. Further developments in each of these areas will require collaboration across disciplines and a willingness to embrace innovation in the face of uncertainty.