Here's how you can future-proof your landscape architecture projects against the impact of climate change.

Soil study as an important perspective. What comes from above? Needs a plan to flow beneath for conservation. Regarding weather average rainfall and temperature patterns can help to build a solid structure. Data preserved in this sense can help generations ahead for easy maintenance and services.

You must also consider, and quantify locally specific soils infiltration capacity and rates of infiltration. This does not only apply to the surface persons but those beneath. These critical pieces, once considered and accommodated in your data can allow for meaningful beginnings to infiltration calve. Next layers to consider are infiltration point capacities and rates. Then we can begin to quantify and qualify the impacts of subsurface structure and root structures, and their relative impact to water management below grade.

Plant structure is also an important player in sediment sequestration along with direction affects to surface water flow. As noted above, subsurface root structure is critical in the understanding of subsurface translation of captured surface water.

When creating planting plans for various landscapes and gardens it’s important to plan in varying species which will support the local biodiversity throughout all seasons, plants that will flower in the winter and early spring as well as later season flowering plants. Another important item is considering is carbon sequestration, trees can store large quantities of carbon, however take several years to grow if they are planted as small sizes, however wildflower meadows with dense and deep root networks can store large quantities of carbon in shorter periods of time.

Each of these sentences (above) are really just the headings to multiple paragraphs and considerations. My recommendation is to study effective natural systems to the level of isolating what elements work at specific flow rates. Only then can you begin an effective design of redundant BMPs in complex treatment trains.

Water management not only includes effective design strategies, but also efficient collaboration across sectors from the commencement of each project. This ensures a sustainable and holistic design approach, specifically aiming for closed loop systems where possible, capturing rainfall, filtering grey water and efficient irrigation use. When designed well these SuDS systems can contribute to enhancing local biodiversity and creating attractive outdoor areas for local residents.

Community engagement has played a major role in many of the projects we’ve worked, from Neighbourhood Development Plans, creating community gardens, enhancements of urban parks, local streets and green infrastructure strategies. Especially important is engaging with the younger generation, attending schools or colleges, sharing information and holding interactive sessions to understand their thoughts and hopes for an area, as they are least likely to attend community/council meetings and presentations.

From my point of view, residential landscape must be a major target through these areas: 1. Plant native species for reducing watering and fertilizer, also promoting biodiversity. 2. Green surfaces to mitigate the urban heat island 3. Permeable surfaces for decreasing runoff and replenishing groundwater. 4. Rainwater harvesting systems and reducing the demand for potable water. 5. Tree canopy to provide shade and reduce the need for air conditioning while sequestering carbon. 6. passive solar energy and maximising natural light.

I recommend visiting the ASLA website and the Victoria Stanley continuing education offerings for a start. There is knowledge that, when used to inform next steps, can open the considerations of opportunities to the designer. Do not fear the calcs or numbers, as these will guide your way to success. The fault with many projects is trust in algorithms that are based on coarse, or inaccurate, data. Now is the time, not for large averages, but specific numbers.