Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and Nature-Based Solutions

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.

• 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

• 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