Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and Nature-Based Solutions
A Workshop on Eco-Innovative Approaches to Urban Water Management
Skills you will gain:
About Program:
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.
Program Objectives:
- 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
What you will learn?
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
Mentor Profile
Fee Plan
Get an e-Certificate of Participation!
Intended For :
- 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
Career Supporting Skills
Program 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