Author archives

Dr. Franco Montalto is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Drexel University since 2007, and is Founder and President of eDesign Dynamics LLC. Franco came to Drexel after a two-year fellowship at the Earth Institute at Columbia University, before which he was an adjunct professor at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City, where he also completed his Bachelor’s degree. His Masters and PhD are from Cornell University’s Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering. His current research is in the fields of urban sustainability, ecological restoration, urban stormwater management and green infrastructure.

As climate change amplifies urban flooding, here’s how communities can become ‘sponge cities’

Dr. Franco Montalto is a water resources engineer who studies and designs strategies for sustainably managing urban stormwater. In response to recent flooding episodes, some U.S. cities are beginning to take steps toward incorporation of sponge city concepts into their stormwater management plans, but most of these projects are still pilots. If this concept is to evolve into the new standard for urban design, city officials and developers will need to find ways to scale up and accelerate this work.

Subjects: Climate Change