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Good thinking!

Started by Dave, January 17, 2018, 09:00:36 AM

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Dave

Lateral thingking - Aussie company helping a Chinese city conserve water changed road design. Instead of putting the gutters and storm drains between the road and any green verge they put the green stuff first. Thus, istead of being taken off straight to the storm drains it helps recharge the aquifers.

They are creating "sponge cities" in areas where rain can be stored long term without building huge revervours and serve, where possible, as a public leisure amenity. Plants help filter the water and wildlife thrives, golf courses etc also use the water rather than the purified stuff in the pipes.
Tomorrow is precious, don't ruin it by fouling up today.
Passed Monday 10th Dec 2018 age 74

joeactor

Quote from: Dave on January 17, 2018, 09:00:36 AM
Lateral thingkung - Aussie comoany helping a Chinese city conserve water changed road design. Instead of putting the gutters and storm drains between the road and any green verge they put the green stuff first. Thus, istead of being taken off strsight to the storm drains it helps recharge the aquifers.

They are creating "sponge cities" in areas where rain can be stored long term without building huge revervours and serve, where possible, as a public leisure amenity. Plants help filter the water and wildlife thrives, golf courses etc also use the water rather than the purified stuff in the pipes.

We need that in LA. A lot of our rain water goes straight out to sea, thanks to the "LA River"... who thought that was a good idea?

Dave

Quote from: joeactor on January 17, 2018, 07:43:09 PM
Quote from: Dave on January 17, 2018, 09:00:36 AM
Lateral thingkung - Aussie comoany helping a Chinese city conserve water changed road design. Instead of putting the gutters and storm drains between the road and any green verge they put the green stuff first. Thus, istead of being taken off strsight to the storm drains it helps recharge the aquifers.

They are creating "sponge cities" in areas where rain can be stored long term without building huge revervours and serve, where possible, as a public leisure amenity. Plants help filter the water and wildlife thrives, golf courses etc also use the water rather than the purified stuff in the pipes.

We need that in LA. A lot of our rain water goes straight out to sea, thanks to the "LA River"... who thought that was a good idea?

Yes, we probably all do similar things, do them, in this case, the way some "expert" decided before such things as environmental science had got off the starting blocks. "But everybody does it that way, always have done!" Ok, so  just maybe everyone has done it wrong?

In my last job my major qualification was that I knew naff-all about the field of work the company was in, so came into it with no preconceptions or prejudices, just a work-it out-from-basic-principles-and-hunches, that-looks-right, what-if-I-just..., Jack-of-all-trades approach.

And I was always a fan of Edward de Bono, coiner of the "lateral thinking" label. Still want to work out how he made a device to amplify the leg's reaction to the pressure impulse from a heart beat using a steel framed stacking type chair, a packing case, a piece of string, a paper clip and a blob of chewing gum . . , still got the book, must re-read it.

There was an accident, car-on-car, blackspot not far from here. The authorities decided to fell about a hundred mature tress, sone well over two hubdred years old, rip down walls, compulsory purchase big slices of gardens and spend another million ir so widenening the road. It was not even a terribly busy road, just dodgy.

The green army got into the act, climbed the trees and chained themselves to them, the locals did not want the road turned into a rat-run, the media had a field day, a security firm made a fortune, the police hung around looking bored/amused . . .

Then someone suggested installing two mini-roundabouts plus a lights controlled pedestrian crossing and having one corner straightened by about 3 metres off its apex with a tall wall moved back to improve visibility. Whole job done for about a quarter the estimate, traffic "calmed", pedestrians safer, only one tree felled, everyone happy.

Tomorrow is precious, don't ruin it by fouling up today.
Passed Monday 10th Dec 2018 age 74