Engineered Systems

Profound changes accompany land transformation decisions, altering energy and material
flows and the hydrologic, ecological and social function of landscapes. Conventional
modes of development incorporate engineered infrastructure systems to mitigate the
consequences of land transformation. Despite incremental progress and deepening
understanding of the pervasive effects of land transformation decisions, common practice
remains dominated by engineered infrastructure systems for transportation, water
conveyance and drainage, and the distribution of utility services.

The Cuyahoga Sustainability Network targets key information gaps to advance the use of
sustainable technologies in landtransformation to enhance the portfolio of ecosystem
services that can be engineered, incorporated, and retained in sustainle landscapes.
Focusing on hydrolgoic services affecting aquatic ecosystems, CSN is generating
knowledge and information on the design and successful use of pervious concrete as an
integral element of urban-suburban landscapes to restore hydrologic survices. Our
test-plots and workshops in Cleveland Ohio have demonstrated the feasibility and
effectiveness of properly designed pervious concrete stormwater systems in cold-weather
climates.