Improving water security through green infrastructure : an application to selected areas in Kathmandu | |
| Author | Sharma, Shashwat |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.WM-21-09 |
| Subject(s) | Water security--Napal--Kathmandu Water quality--Napal--Kathmandu Infrastructure (Economics)--Environmental aspects--Napal--Kathmandu |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Water Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Water security is an integral part sustainable and resilient cities but recent trends in haphazard urbanization, coupled with climate change, have rendered many urban centers around the world water–insecure. The increased urbanization has led to increased impervious cover, leading to changes in natural hydrology that subsequently lead to catastrophic events such as floods, droughts etc. Our reliance on grey infrastructures to combat the challenges of water insecurity is not sustainable in the long run, due to which a better alternative needs to be sought. Green infrastructures are a set of connected natural entities that serve to mimic and restore the original hydrological balance in the ecosystem through processes of infiltration and detention. The application of green infrastructures has proven to be a welcoming step towards urban resilience and sustainability. In this research, potential improvement in water security is assessed through the application of green infrastructures. It was found that green infrastructures can play a vital role in mitigating many problems that urban core areas face today, such as pluvial flooding, reduced green spaces, and deficit in water supply. The results were based on studies carried out in two small urban catchments in Kathmandu Metropolitan City and it was seen that green infrastructures were effective in mitigating urban floods and ensuring an alternative source of water for consumptive and non–consumptive uses. The system as a whole showed a small improvement, but if these practices are applied to all the other such catchments within the city, the effect would be massive and would help the city, as well as urban centers in the country and around the world, transition towards a sustainable and resilient future. |
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Engineering and Technology (SET) |
| Department | Department of Civil and Infrastucture Engineering (DCIE) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Water Engineering and Management (WM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Babel, Mukand S. |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ho Huu Loc;Shanmugam, Mohana Sundaram;Shinde, Victor |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2021 |