Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems Planning Course

Course Introduction

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) are critical for managing stormwater, reducing flood risks, and improving urban water resilience in rapidly growing cities. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of how to plan, design, and implement sustainable drainage solutions that integrate environmental, engineering, and urban planning principles for resilient cities.

Urbanization and climate change have significantly increased the frequency and intensity of urban flooding, overwhelming traditional drainage infrastructure. This course explores how SUDS offer nature-based and engineered solutions such as permeable surfaces, retention basins, green roofs, and constructed wetlands to manage stormwater effectively.

Participants will gain practical knowledge in hydrological analysis, catchment planning, and stormwater management techniques used in sustainable urban drainage design. The course emphasizes integrating ecological systems into urban infrastructure planning to improve water quality, reduce runoff, and enhance urban biodiversity.

A key focus of the program is climate adaptation and resilience planning in urban drainage systems. Participants will learn how to design drainage infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events, reduce flood vulnerability, and support long-term urban sustainability goals in both developed and developing city contexts.

The course also addresses policy, governance, and institutional frameworks that support sustainable drainage implementation. Participants will explore regulatory standards, urban planning policies, and stakeholder coordination mechanisms required to successfully implement SUDS projects in complex urban environments.

Ultimately, this course equips professionals with the technical and strategic skills needed to design resilient, climate-smart urban drainage systems. It builds capacity to transform conventional drainage approaches into sustainable, adaptive systems that protect urban populations and ecosystems.

Duration

5 days

Who Should Attend

• Urban planners and city development officers
• Civil and environmental engineers
• Water resource management professionals
• Municipal infrastructure planners
• Climate adaptation and resilience specialists
• Drainage and stormwater engineers
• Environmental consultants and sustainability experts
• Government urban development agencies
• NGO professionals in urban water and sanitation
• Landscape architects and urban designers

Course Objectives

• Equip participants with advanced knowledge and technical skills to design and implement sustainable urban drainage systems that reduce flooding risks, improve water quality, and enhance urban environmental resilience.
• Strengthen capacity to integrate green infrastructure and nature-based solutions into urban drainage planning and development processes for sustainable city management.
• Develop expertise in hydrological analysis, catchment planning, and stormwater modeling for effective drainage system design and implementation.
• Enhance ability to assess urban flood risks and design climate-resilient drainage infrastructure systems for rapidly growing cities.
• Build competence in applying sustainable drainage techniques such as permeable pavements, retention ponds, and green roofs in urban environments.
• Improve understanding of policy, governance, and institutional frameworks that support sustainable urban drainage system implementation.
• Enable participants to incorporate environmental and ecological considerations into urban water management and infrastructure planning.
• Strengthen skills in stakeholder engagement and multi-sector coordination for successful drainage system implementation.
• Develop capacity to evaluate the performance and sustainability of urban drainage systems using technical and environmental indicators.
• Equip learners to design adaptive urban drainage systems that respond effectively to climate change and urbanization pressures.

Course Outline

Module 1: Foundations of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems

• Understanding principles of sustainable urban drainage systems and their role in urban water management
• Exploring challenges of traditional drainage systems in rapidly urbanizing cities
• Identifying benefits of integrating SUDS into urban infrastructure planning
• Reviewing global best practices in sustainable drainage system implementation

Module 2: Hydrology and Urban Catchment Analysis

• Conducting hydrological assessments for urban drainage system design and planning
• Analyzing urban catchment areas for effective stormwater management strategies
• Understanding rainfall-runoff relationships in urban environments
• Applying hydrological modeling tools for drainage system design

Module 3: Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions

• Integrating green infrastructure into sustainable urban drainage system design
• Applying nature-based solutions for stormwater management and flood control
• Designing green roofs, bioswales, and permeable surfaces for urban drainage
• Enhancing urban biodiversity through ecological drainage system design

Module 4: Stormwater Management Techniques

• Designing stormwater retention and detention systems for urban environments
• Managing peak runoff and flood risks using sustainable drainage approaches
• Implementing infiltration systems for groundwater recharge and water management
• Improving water quality through advanced stormwater treatment systems

Module 5: Urban Flood Risk Assessment

• Assessing urban flood risks using hydrological and spatial analysis tools
• Identifying flood-prone areas in rapidly growing urban environments
• Developing flood mitigation strategies through sustainable drainage design
• Evaluating climate change impacts on urban flooding patterns

Module 6: Climate Resilience in Urban Drainage Systems

• Integrating climate adaptation strategies into urban drainage planning systems
• Designing drainage infrastructure resilient to extreme weather events
• Assessing long-term climate risks in urban water management systems
• Enhancing adaptive capacity of urban drainage infrastructure systems

Module 7: Design and Engineering of SUDS

• Applying engineering principles in sustainable urban drainage system design
• Designing retention ponds, wetlands, and infiltration systems for urban areas
• Integrating hydraulic modeling into drainage system engineering processes
• Ensuring structural and functional efficiency of drainage infrastructure

Module 8: Policy and Governance Frameworks

• Understanding regulatory frameworks supporting sustainable urban drainage systems
• Aligning drainage planning with urban development policies and regulations
• Strengthening institutional coordination for drainage system implementation
• Enhancing governance structures for effective urban water management

Module 9: Digital Tools and Smart Drainage Systems

• Using GIS and remote sensing tools in urban drainage system planning
• Applying digital modeling tools for stormwater management and analysis
• Integrating smart sensors for real-time drainage system monitoring
• Enhancing decision-making through data-driven urban drainage systems

Module 10: Future Trends in Urban Drainage Planning

• Exploring emerging technologies in sustainable urban drainage systems
• Understanding climate-smart urban infrastructure development trends
• Preparing for rapid urbanization impacts on drainage systems
• Designing adaptive and future-ready urban drainage solutions

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment:

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.