About Workshop
Rapid urbanization and climate change have increased the frequency of urban flooding, water pollution, and drainage system overload. This workshop explores SUDS and NbS as integrated, low-impact strategies that manage stormwater while enhancing biodiversity, urban cooling, and livability.
Participants will learn about a range of techniques—green roofs, rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, constructed wetlands, and more—along with their design principles, modeling tools, policy frameworks, and performance metrics.
Aim
To provide participants with the knowledge and skills to design, implement, and evaluate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for effective, eco-friendly urban water management.
What Participants Will Learn
- Promote sustainable and climate-resilient urban drainage systems
- Encourage the adoption of NbS as viable alternatives to grey infrastructure
- Equip participants with practical tools for planning and implementation
- Foster interdisciplinary collaboration across planning, engineering, and ecology
- Support urban sustainability through water-sensitive design principles
Structure
Day 1: Urban Water Challenges & SUDS Concepts
- Urban hydrology and climate-resilient drainage principles
- Introduction to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS)
- Overview of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in water-sensitive cities
- Case studies: UK, Netherlands, Singapore, India
Day 2: Design Strategies & Tools
- Components: Green roofs, swales, infiltration trenches, wetlands
- Hydraulic performance modeling: EPA SWMM, MicroDrainage, InfoWorks
- GIS for site analysis and suitability mapping
- Urban runoff quality and pollutant removal mechanisms
Day 3: Policy, Implementation & Impact Assessment
- Planning frameworks: Sponge cities, Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)
- Institutional and policy support: SDG 6, SDG 11, EU WFD
- Performance indicators and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of SUDS
- Final Design Activity: Draft a concept plan for a site-based SUDS project
Important Dates
Registration Ends
4 PM
Workshop Dates
2025-08-13
5 PM
5 PM
What You Will Gain
Outcomes
- Understand SUDS and NbS principles, benefits, and applicability
- Gain hands-on exposure to design and modeling tools
- Learn to integrate drainage systems with ecological and urban planning goals
- Evaluate performance metrics and long-term impacts of green infrastructure
- Earn a certificate in SUDS and Nature-Based Urban Water Solutions
Who Should Attend
- Urban planners and civil/environmental engineers
- Landscape architects and hydrologists
- Sustainability consultants and infrastructure professionals
- Government officials in urban development and public works
- Researchers and students in water management, urban ecology, or climate studies