Journal article
Probabilistic green infrastructure cost calculations using a phased life cycle algorithm integrated with uncertainties
Journal of hydroinformatics, v 20(5), pp 1201-1214
01 Sep 2018
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Green infrastructure (GI) is often considered a cost-effective approach to urban stormwater management. Though various models have been created to simulate the life cycle cost (LCC) and present value (PV) of GI investments, decision-support tools are still few. This paper introduces a probabilistic GI cost estimation algorithm built into the Low Impact Development Rapid Assessment (LIDRA) model. This algorithm tracks annual and cumulative costs associated with the construction, operation and maintenance (O&M), and ultimate replacement of GI systems. In addition, the algorithm accounts for uncertainties in cost drivers, such as a GI's useful life (until replacement), capital and annual O&M costs, inflation, and interest rates. Net present value (NPV) is used to normalize future money flows and cumulative costs of different GI investment scenarios into a comparable current year cost equivalent. Demonstrated at the block scale, the results of the LIDRA algorithm are compared to an MS Excel-based computation of average costs. Variations of uncertainties are then integrated and further explored using an alternative implementation rate. This algorithm is a way to evaluate GI costs considering physical, socioeconomic and life cycle dimensions.
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Details
- Title
- Probabilistic green infrastructure cost calculations using a phased life cycle algorithm integrated with uncertainties
- Creators
- Ziwen Yu - Drexel UniversityFranco Montalto - Drexel UniversityChris Behr - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of hydroinformatics, v 20(5), pp 1201-1214
- Publisher
- Iwa Publishing
- Number of pages
- 14
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000445239900014
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85054630452
- Other Identifier
- 991019168069804721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Web of Science research areas
- Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
- Engineering, Civil
- Environmental Sciences
- Water Resources