Tom Liptan
Most cities develop in very similar ways, regardless of climate. Vegetation and soil are removed and covered with impervious surfaces in the form of rooftops and pavement. These surfaces then facilitate the undesirable effect of storm water runoff, which carries urban pollutants swiftly to receiving waters and infrastructure systems. The basic things we design, build and do in our cities are the cause of many health, economic and environmental concerns. These contribute to air quality degradation, urban heat island affects, human health impairment, energy consumption, water pollution and the loss of fauna, flora and aquatic life. Designing with and re-introducing natural elements such as soil, water and vegetation on rooftops, streets, sidewalks and parking lots is showing promise in Portland, Oregon. These design techniques are being tested on city streets and private development. Monitoring results show efficient management of precipitation and storm water runoff. Other attributes have been observed including and perhaps most important, public acceptance.
Tom Liptan is a registered Landscape Architect and Environmental Specialist for the City of Portland, OR, Bureau of Environmental Services, Sustainable Storm water Management Program. He has been the impetus behind the research and development of new urban design techniques, codes and policies in the city. The success and recognition of these approaches has spread internationally. Tom has lectured at conferences in Sweden, Denmark, England, New Zealand and many cities throughout North America. In 2004 the U.S. Embassy in Denmark sponsored his participation at the Union of Baltic Cities Environmental Workshops for cities preparing to enter the European Union. He has assisted numerous municipalities, developers, consultants, multi-state corporations and government agencies with acceptance of Eco-roofs and other Landscape Approaches used for storm water management and healthy city development. He has presented papers at several universities and symposiums including Harvard University, School of Design. His work has been recognized in various media and he has received numerous awards. He contributed to; Handbook of Water Sensitive Planning and Design, Robert France ed. (Lewis Publishers, 2002) and Green Roofs, Ecological Design and Construction, Earth Pledge, Siena Chrisman, ed. (Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2005).