Weekly Progress

• Week 8

During this week our group focused mainly on the deliverables. By the end of this Week 9 we plan to finish our work with the deliverables, and calculate the amount of water our system will be able to support. The remaining days before the project deadline will be dedicated to the revision of Final Proposal and preparation of presentation slides.

Figure 1.Sketchup Base Plan

Figure 2.Drainage Area Map

Comments: At this site when the rainfall occurs the water slowly approaches from the top of the parking lot to the bottom. The drainage area (Figure 2) is highlighted in the light blue color and the arrows indicate the flow of rainfall water.  

Figure 3. Proposed Design Plan

Figure 4. Frontal View of Curb Depression

The diagram shown above shows the side profile of the curbs that are implemented within the parking lot. With the use of the 5" growing media, storm water can be more efficiently absorbed and infiltrated into the curb implementation. The growing media consists of a variety of plants containing roots that allow for more efficient absorption. As for the water that doesn't completely infiltrate into the roots and growing media, it will flow into the depression (the dip) and continue to flow elsewhere. As the storm water passes through the growing media, it eventually reaches the Geotextile (1" in thickness) which filters out the water. This filtered water travels through the stone trench and into pipes that lead into an existing sewage system. Surrounding the stone trench lies regular soil that is shared with the surrounding environment. This does not act as excess stormwater and does not get directed into the existing sewer. Instead, it simply infiltrates as much as it can until it overflows and directs itself into the stone trench (Unlikely to happen unless very heavy rainfall). 

Figure 5. Top view of Curb Depression

This figure displays a top view of the entire curb infrastructure, which will be placed against the outer perimeter of the parking lot by the train station, respectively. This view clearly shows the curb depression from a view above and highlights the inclining slope that allows the overflow of water to successfully infiltrate into the stone trench and eventually direct the excess storm water into the existing sewer system (only occurs when the growing media reaches it's infiltration capacity and begins to overflow). 

• Week 7

Week 7 was dedicated to the Final Proposal Draft, and overall design of the site. In this blog we want to introduce you with the progress we have made in designing the site (Figure 1).

                                                                               Figure 1

Comments on the design 

The major part of Proposed GSI (1560 m^2) will be placed on the right part of parking lot. This design will facilitate the flow of water from left to right and increase water absorption in the right part of parking lot. Also, it was observed that the free space located in the upper part of the site, in confine with the the railroad, can be used to implement GSI methods.

Figure 2. Curb Bump Out Design in AutoCad

Figure 3. Front View

Brief Description

The figure above (Figure 3) displays the intentional design of the curb within the JFK Parking Lot. The standard measurements for a curb will be implemented with our design (6" Reveal on curb; Total thickness of 18" hidden underneath the asphalt, clearly listed in Figure 3). In between each of the curb cut outs, there will be a pathway that will lead out onto the main sidewalk connected to the street (JFK Boulevard). The curb bump-out will be implemented out onto the main street (Shown in Figure 4) and provide efficient use of the large space that is already created from the original sidewalk.

Figure 4. Top View