Pratt Institute

Green Systems : Clean Water
A Professional Certificate in Urban Green Infrastructure
Pratt Institute Center for Continuing and Professional Studies

Green Systems : Clean Water is an innovative training program for professionals interested in learning how to incorporate green infrastructure into their practice.  Courses are offered by Pratt’s Center for Continuing and Professional Studies.

New York City's move toward the implementation of green infrastructure to meet our national water quality standards represents both a tremendous teaching moment and an opportunity for workforce development.  Training in standard designs, regulations, permitting, construction, monitoring and maintenance of innovative tree pits, bioswales, green roofs and green walls will be critical for successful implementation of green infrastructure citywide.

The certificate curriculum was formed in collaboration with the Graduate School of Architecture’s Master of Science in Urban Environmental Systems Management, several City agencies, members of the American Society of Landscape Architects NY Chapter and private sector green infrastructure practitioners.

For more information, please go to the certificate's home page HERE.

To register for courses, go to CCPS REGISTRATION

SPRING 2013 COURSES

Required Fundamentals Track

PMPD 706 Drainage & Hydrology in NYC

7 hour seminar/lab
Saturday, February 16th and Saturday, March 9th, 2013
9AM - 5PM
Instructors:

Richard K. Shaw; Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS NYC Soil Survey
Zhongqi (Joshua) Cheng; Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College
Raymond Palmares; PE, NYC DEP Office of Green Infrastructure
Kate Zidar; Executive Director, Newtown Creek Alliance
Bryan Quinn; Consultant, Applied Ecological Services
Learning Objectives

Students will be able to identify, assess and evaluate soil profiles specific to NYC through an understanding of infiltration, hydraulic conductivity, drainage class and water tables.
Students will be able to explain how green infrastructure, as outlined in NYC DEP’s Green Infrastructure Plan, pertains to stormwater management and the reduction of combined sewer outfalls, through strategic placement at priority locations determined by the DEP.
Students will be able to show sensitivity to as well as discuss the roles of various community and City green infrastructure stakeholders.
Students will be able to recognize construction best practices to enhance ecological function in the urban environment.

PMPD 720 Green Infrastructure Data & Calculations

7 hour seminar/lab
Instructor:  Alfred Yalaju
Saturday, February 23rd and Saturday, March 16th, 2013
9AM - 5PM
Learning Objectives:

Students will gain a general understanding of green infrastructure standards, design guidelines and regulatory framework.
Students will acquire relevant data and understand the data in terms of technical assessment, design and construction of green infrastructure.
Students will be able to recognize, understand and implement various formulas, data sets and computational methodologies for site specific green infrastructure.
Students will gain a professional understanding of green infrastructure system construction costs and estimations.
Students will be able to perform computations for sizing systems’ components for selected green infrastructure in urban areas

Career Specialization Tracks (choose 1 design course & 1 construction, maintenance & monitoring course)

Green Roof Design (GI and Buildings)

3.5 hour seminar
Instructors:  Bryan Quinn, RLA (CT, VT) Principal, One Nature & Alec Baxt

Thursday, February 28th 1 - 4:30PM and

Saturday, March 23rd  9AM - 12:30PM
Learning Objectives:

Understand general Plant, Irrigation and Soil requirements specific to Green Roofs in NYC;
Understand Potential Structural Issues related to Green RoofI nstallation;
Comprehend different types of funding sources;
Learn major components of typical green roof construction estimate;
Understand general permitting pathway for Green Roofs in NYC.

Public Right of Way Design (GI and Streets)

3.5 hour seminar
Instructors:  Mary Nunn & Jeannette Compton
Friday, March 8th 5 - 8:30PM
Saturday, March 23rd 1 - 4:30PM
Learning Objectives:

Gain an understanding of the various New York City agencies and
stakeholders involved in the design, approval, and permitting process.

Develop the skills necessary to identify potential green infrastructure
opportunity sites both on paper and in the field.

Gain an understanding of green infrastructure construction in terms of
materials and methods, field conditions, and techniques.

Evaluate plant palettes and stormwater design solutions based on field
conditions.

Use design concepts and ideas discussed in class to advance innovative
solutions for future green infrastructure projects.

PMPD 723 Innovative Green Infrastructure Design (GI and Sites)

3.5 hour seminar
Instructor:  Jeff Keiter
Saturday, March 2nd 1 - 4:30PM
Saturday, March 23rd 9 - 12:30PM
Learning Objectives:  By taking this course students will be able to....

understand the plant physiology and horticultural characteristics of common GI plants in order to prudently expand the palette of GI plants
Allow the plant physiology of plants suited to the constructed hydrology lead the planting design
adapt planting palettes to meet hydrological requirements, and configure hydrological management to accommodate native plant associations – this creates a design feedback loop

PMPD 724 Green Roof Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring

3.5 hour seminar
Instructors:  Eric Dalski & Mark Dalski
Thursday, March 7th 9 - 12:30PM
Saturday, April 6th 9 - 12:30PM
Learning Objectives:

How to assess a potential green roof site and note potential site constraints
A variety of construction techniques and components, each used to increase the efficiency and function of a particular green roof system
The importance of proper maintenance regime, and how to keep a green roof system productive and healthy for the long-term
Different approaches to monitoring, and how certain elements of green roofs can be quantified to measure its productivity

PMPD 725 Public Right of Way Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring

3.5 hour seminar
Instructor:  Tricia Martin
Friday, March 15th 5 - 8:30PM
Saturday, April 6th 1 - 4:30PM
Learning Objectives:

To demonstrate the value of integrating green infrastructure into the public
right of way, including sidewalks, streets, greenstreets, and other public
spaces.

To describe site assessment methods for designing green infrastructure in the right of way.
Demonstrate that city codes and policy present great challenges to
innovative green infrastructure design in NYC

Demonstrate ways that good design can be both creative while working
within the parameters of the city

PMPD 726  Innovative Green Infrastructure Construction, Maintenance & Monitoring

3.5 hour seminar
Instructor:  Jeff Keiter
Saturday, March 9th 9AM - 12:30PM
Thursday, March 28th 1 - 4:30PM
Learning Objectives:

Become familiar with typical GI plants and their relation to soils and GI hydrology
Understand typical site constraints and how this structures GI horticulture
Customize construction sequence and planting procurement and scheduling
Adapt maintenance regimes and understand how they determine design choices
Identify and determine phytoremediation regimes
Become familiar with propagation methods and suppliers
Determine monitoring and post – installation site modifications to adapt to findings.