Development and Advancement of Resilient Cities Alliance

  
     
 

 

Development and Advancement of Resilient Cities Alliance (DVARCA) works on tackling issues related to climate change, including sea level rise and the heat island effect, with digital planning tools. These tools assess onsite responses to year around recorded site conditions and create enhanced predictability for cities affected by climate change.   Furthermore, the knowledge gained from the improved cumulative impact of various natural hazards assists planners to build a comprehensive urban plan on regional and city scales to heal, adapt, and mitigate climate change concerns. 		  
         
 

    Objectives    

Reasoning for a balanced biosphere between natural and built environment

  
 

Research projects of DVARCA include factors that we can influence as associated with Climate Change and reduction of carbon emissions:
1. Redensification - walkable, safe, mixed use developments (reduced car usage)
2. Strategic infrastructure investments 
3. Balance between nature and new developments
4. Balance between cultivated land and natural ecosystems
5. Water quality - water harvesting, water percolation - salt and drinking water ratios
6. Sea level rise
7. Food growth possibilities in all regions of Urban - Suburban and Rural growth
8. Pollution and daily commute
9. Long term durability materials in building industry

  
 

  

Urban Rural ConnectRelationship between Rural and Urban areas (credit: Krusche)

  
 

 

Investigating and Planning Resilient Cities of the Future

  
 

DVARCA long term goals of the projects include:

1. Find immediate ways to support reduction in emissions this includes environmentally friendly building materials and transportation.
2. Find ways to update the storm water drain of the city and infrastructure to reduce runoffs. This should include extremely strict regulations for industrial and agricultural runoffs.
3. Replenish the groundwater table and aquifers of the area with recharge methods using urban design solutions.
4. Reintroduce natural forms of barriers to break incoming waves.
5. Create edges and levees that are architecturally savy and significant to block the impact of the sea level rise.

 

  
 

 

Balance bet Green and Built WorldA balance between the built world and natural world is needed to tackle Climate Change issues (credit: Krusche)

 

 

  

Studio projects on Urban Design interventions: 

  1. Regional Plan for midwestern cities of South Bend, Mishawaka and Elkhart impacting 0.5 mil people (with MACOG, South Shore Line, Amtrak, and Mayors of the Cities involved).

  2. Western Reserve proposal to protect and create eco touristic destination on the western edge of the city of South Bend (with City of South Bend and St Joe County).

  3. Development and adaptation proposal for the Eastern Waterfront of Mumbai (with Mumbai Port Trust, Ministry of Shipping).

  4. Documentation for Revitalization of Downtown South Bend (2017)

  5.  Revitalizing the of the Strip District, Pittsburgh (2008)