Community-enabled Lifecycle Analysis of Stormwater Infrastructure Costs (CLASIC)

CLASIC is a user-informed screening tool that utilizes a life cycle cost framework to support implementation of stormwater infrastructure, including green, hybrid green-gray, and gray infrastructure practices. The CLASIC tool integrates Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), which enables consideration of co-benefits for green infrastructure. There are three integrated components in the CLASIC tool: life cycle cost; performance; and co-benefits.

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Overview

The goal of the CLASIC decision support system is to develop a robust, peer-reviewed, and end-user informed Life Cycle Cost (LCC) framework model for stormwater infrastructure alternatives that can accommodate regional and scale variations to support integrated planning at a municipal scale. Expected users of the CLASIC tool include managers and operators of regulated stormwater systems (e.g., municipalities, counties, cities, and utilities), consultants, academics, and others.

 

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Project Funding

  • The total project funding, including matching funds, is approximately $2.5 Million.

     

CLASIC Projects

  • Life Cycle Cost Framework Development (4798)
  • Data Collection and Cost Equations (4800)
  • Data Analysis and Standardization (4804)
  • Development of Decision Support Platform and Tools (4799 and 4803)
  • Community Engagement (4801 and 4802)

     

CLASIC-Related Projects (funded by WRF)

Tool Platform

The tool is hosted on a cloud-based web platform so that it is fully interfaced with geographical information systems (GIS) and also includes interaction with national databases to upload data for the modeled area at a community level. The CLASIC tool has incorporated a Multivariate Adaptive Constructed Analogs (MACA) method for simulating climate scenarios. 

Additional Information

This project was funded by the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development (ORD) through the grant opportunity “National Priorities: Life Cycle Costs of Water Infrastructure Alternatives” (EPA Grant Number: R836173). Additional information about the project is available through the EPA.

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Team Members

The following members helped contribute to CLASIC project.

  • Team Members
    • University of Maryland (EPA Region 3 Environmental Finance Center)
    • University of Utah
    • Colorado State University
    • Wichita State University (EPA Region 7 Environmental Finance Center)
    • University of Georgia
    • Water Environment Federation (WEF)
    • Geosyntec / Wright Water Engineers
  • Collaborating Partners
    • American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) / Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI)
    • American Rivers

Questions?

Please contact Harry Zhang, PhD, PE, Research Program Manager – Integrated Water & Stormwater, with questions about CLASIC.

Email Harry