About the GGBI Framework
The Green–Grey–Blue–Intelligent (GGBI) Framework provides a practical structure for understanding and integrating ecological, engineered, aquatic, and intelligent components of water and urban environments. This site synthesizes concepts drawn from long-term research, teaching, and applied studies.
Purpose of the GGBI Framework
The GGBI Framework grew out of the need to connect ideas across stormwater, hydrology, hydraulics, estuarine processes, watershed planning, and coastal resilience. While each domain has its own tools and traditions, many modern water challenges cross boundaries:
- urban flooding involves rainfall, drainage, rivers, and tides;
- watersheds link land use, hydrology, and downstream estuaries;
- coastal zones experience compound river–tide–surge interactions;
- intelligent monitoring and modeling add new capabilities across all scales.
The GGBI Framework offers a way to organize these connections and design portfolios of complementary measures.
How This Framework Developed
The GGBI Framework reflects insights accumulated over decades of work in hydrology, hydraulics, stormwater management, estuarine processes, watershed studies, green infrastructure, coastal engineering, and resilience planning. It also draws from efforts to synthesize knowledge for students, practitioners, and broader public audiences.
As additional examples, tools, and materials are developed, they will be incorporated into this site to support learning and cross-disciplinary exchange.
The Role of the “Intelligent” Layer
The Intelligent domain extends beyond digital tools. It includes:
- monitoring networks and sensor data;
- hydrologic, hydraulic, and hydrodynamic models;
- analytical and visualization tools;
- AI-supported communication and knowledge synthesis;
- institutional knowledge and community insights.
These elements help interpret conditions, evaluate scenarios, and support decision-making across all parts of the GGBI Framework.
About the Author
This site was developed by Professor Qizhong (George) Guo, a faculty member in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.A.
His work spans stormwater and green infrastructure, hydrology and hydraulics, estuarine and coastal processes, watershed studies, and integrated approaches to flood resilience and environmental planning. He has taught related graduate and undergraduate courses for many years and has collaborated with students, colleagues, agencies, and communities in the U.S. and internationally.
The GGBI Framework synthesizes themes that recur across this work while offering a clear structure for future learning, exploration, and collaboration.
For a broader overview of his research, teaching, publications, and professional work, visit Professor Guo’s faculty website: qizhong-guo.org.
A fuller narrative about his background and the origins of the framework is available on the Founder page.