His experience has included engineering, hydrological modeling, and hydraulic design of natural treatment systems for both wastewater and stormwater treatment. He also has design experience in ecological restoration of wetlands. Prior to founding EDD, Dr. Montalto served as the wetlands engineer at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, where he was responsible for the engineering design of the 209-acre Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus, NJ among other large urban wetland restoration projects. He has conducted extensive hydrologic research in wetland environments, monitoring and modeling surface and subsurface hydrologic patterns. He has worked overseas in Europe and Latin America and is the author of several publications in the water resources field. Dr. Montalto serves on the board of directors of The Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation, and the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, as the chair of the water quality committee. Formerly an adjunct professor at Cooper Union, and a research fellow at The Earth Institute at Columbia University, he is now also an Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.

Project Summary:
eDesign Dynamics (EDD) is working with Field Operations to create a fresh water wetland and salt marsh at Columbia University’s Bakers Field, on the northern tip of Manhattan, New York. EDD is conducting a feasibility analysis and designing surface and tidal hydrology models to ensure the restored wetlands will have a suitable hydrologic regime. Two reference sites are being evaluated with a focus on tidal range and elevations to determine proper design for the wetland and marsh.

EDD is working on the schematic design and design development for the new wetland and salt marsh. As a part of the design team, EDD is providing salt marsh elevations, determining energy attenuation necessary to absorb wave energy, and proposing light regime modifications based on the reference sites and feasibility. The engineers at EDD are also developing erosion control and stabilization measures and designing a sediment accumulation collection system for the fresh water system.

Client:
Columbia University
Field Operations, Landscape Architects, PC

SERVICES:
Water Resources Planning & Design, Landscape: Stormwater Management and Treatment / Wetland Treatment Systems | Ecosystem Restoration Design and Analysis: Restoration of Wetlands, Uplands & Brownfields / Flora and Fauna Surveys / Soil Sampling Plans & Analysis | Sustainable Engineering & Analysis: Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling | Planning: Feasibility Studies / Site Assessment

Project Summary:
eDesign Dynamics (EDD) worked with the Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation in the Bronx to design a rainwater harvesting and use system for an affordable housing complex. The system reduces the wastewater stream “footprint” significantly and reduces the impact to the combined sewer overflows. EDD’s rainwater harvesting design collects water from the roof and then stores it in a retention tank located in the basement of the building. Treatment of this water is accomplished using a physical filtration and a disinfection unit. Harvested water is used for flushing of toilets and landscape irrigation.

The Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation oversees management of more than 95 apartment buildings with over 2,600 affordable units in the Bronx. The new housing project with the rainwater harvesting system has multiple units set aside for households earning no more than 50% of the area median income. It has been calculated that the project will save 25% on city water charges.

Client:
Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation

SERVICES:
Water Resources Planning & Design, Building Scale: Stormwater Management and Treatment / Water Reuse/Rainwater Harvesting | Sustainable Engineering & Analysis: Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling | Planning: Design Guidelines

Project Summary:
eDesign Dynamics (EDD) worked with Biohabitats, Inc. and Field Operations to assist with New York City’s master plan to transform Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island into a City park. EDD developed programming recommendations for the South Park area within Fresh Kills in the interest of advancing park goals for conservation, habitat enhancement, and corridor connectively. The vision for South Park, as set forth in the City’s master plan, was to establish large natural settings and active recreational spaces, including soccer fields, mountain biking pathways and nature trails.

For a comparative review of wetland systems and vegetation communities in the context of the overall existing landscape types at South Park, EDD assisted in developing a rating system for natural area and conservation value. The intent was to comparatively rate existing wetland and upland systems to prioritize conservation areas

Client:
New York City Dept. of City Planning
Field Operations, Landscape Architects, PC
Biohabitats, Inc.

SERVICES:
Ecosystem Restoration Design and Analysis: Restoration of Wetlands, Uplands & Brownfields / Flora and Fauna Surveys | Planning: Sustainable Master Planning / Feasibility Studies / Site Assessment

Project Summary:
eDesign Dynamics (EDD) conducted a study to assess the potential of incorporating low impact development (LID) systems as a means of minimizing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in New York City. Building from preliminary work in the Gowanus Canal Watershed, EDD examined the cost-effectiveness of LID systems such as green roofs, porous pavement, and rainwater harvesting and reuse systems.

An analytical method developed by EDD utilizes data on rainfall and CSO discharges to estimate the reductions achievable through phased introduction of LID into the sewershed. The study validated previous work with field infiltration testing, structural analysis of ten buildings to support green roofs, a public willingness to pay survey, and an assessment of actual LID installation costs at sites in the watershed. Stormwater Management Modeling was used to investigate various LID implementation scenarios in the pilot Brooklyn sewershed.

Client:
New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection

SERVICES:
Water Resources Planning & Design, Landscape: Stormwater Management and Treatment | Sustainable Engineering & Analysis: Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modeling | Planning: Sustainable Master Planning