Resilient Blue-Green Infrastructures [RES] - Philipp | Video Series

My name is Philipp Urek. I lead the Large Scale Virtualization and Modeling Lab at ETH in Zurich and I'm a postdoctoral researcher in the module Resilient Blue Green Infrastructures at FCL Global. The aim of my research is to reimagine peri urban areas of Antanarivo in Madagascar by leveraging blue green infrastructure that addresses both drought and floods while creating functional and aesthetic landscapes. I teach ETH students in landscape architecture to design site specific scenarios. Hydrologists of our group then evaluate these scenarios with physical simulations. In parallel, our social scientists lead workshops, interviews and series games with local stakeholders to ensure that social and governance dimensions are integrated. Together, these disciplines engage in a science design loop that integrates design process and scientific feedback. Using advanced digitalization tools with LIDAR technology, we we survey with centimeter precision the terrain, vegetation and buildings. We evaluate the hydrological performance of the existing landscape and integrate precise topographic modifications with advanced point cloud modeling methods. This design approach allows us to propose measured solutions for water storage, irrigation and flood control. I strongly believe that in integrating biophysical performance into urban design, as our habitat depends on the near surface environment, we need to improve its biodiversity, quality of life and the role of communities. By combining local knowledge with cutting edge research, I wish to develop urban landscapes that are exemplary beyond Antanarivo. My research proposes an innovative approach to integrating the social and biological dimensions into urban planning.