Urban Stormwater Modelling and Sustainable Drainage Systems Training Course

Course Introduction

Urban stormwater modelling and sustainable drainage systems are essential components of modern urban water management, supporting resilient cities, flood risk reduction, water quality improvement, and environmentally sustainable infrastructure development. Rapid urbanization, increasing impervious surfaces, changing rainfall patterns, and climate change have significantly increased stormwater runoff, placing greater pressure on conventional drainage networks. The Urban Stormwater Modelling and Sustainable Drainage Systems Training Course provides participants with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills in urban hydrology, stormwater modelling, drainage design, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), green infrastructure, and integrated urban water management using internationally recognized engineering standards and best practices.

Effective stormwater management requires engineers to understand the interactions between rainfall, runoff, land use, drainage infrastructure, hydraulic systems, and environmental processes. This course introduces participants to urban catchment analysis, rainfall-runoff modelling, stormwater drainage networks, hydraulic simulations, detention and retention systems, infiltration practices, water-sensitive urban design, low-impact development, flood mitigation strategies, and urban watershed management. Participants will gain practical expertise in designing efficient stormwater systems that reduce flooding, improve water quality, protect infrastructure, and support sustainable urban growth.

Through practical workshops, drainage modelling exercises, urban catchment analysis activities, hydraulic simulation sessions, GIS-based stormwater mapping, engineering software demonstrations, case studies, and real-world urban drainage projects, participants will develop competencies in stormwater modelling, drainage network design, flood assessment, sustainable drainage planning, infrastructure optimization, asset management, and resilience planning. The course emphasizes practical methodologies that improve drainage performance, strengthen flood resilience, reduce environmental impacts, enhance urban liveability, and support climate-adaptive infrastructure development.

The course also explores emerging technologies transforming stormwater engineering, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, digital twins, Building Information Modelling (BIM), geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, smart drainage monitoring systems, drone-based infrastructure inspections, LiDAR terrain mapping, cloud-based hydraulic modelling platforms, predictive flood analytics, and real-time urban water management systems. Participants will understand how digital technologies improve drainage modelling accuracy, optimize infrastructure performance, enhance maintenance planning, and support data-driven stormwater management.

Special emphasis is placed on climate-resilient drainage infrastructure, green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, urban flood adaptation, water quality management, regulatory compliance, ecosystem protection, sustainable urban development, and integrated water resource planning. Participants will gain practical knowledge for implementing innovative drainage solutions, reducing flood risks, enhancing environmental performance, protecting urban assets, and developing resilient cities capable of adapting to future climate challenges.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will possess advanced competencies in urban stormwater modelling, sustainable drainage design, hydraulic analysis, digital water technologies, and integrated urban water management. These capabilities enable professionals to improve drainage system performance, strengthen engineering decisions, optimize infrastructure investments, reduce urban flood risks, enhance environmental sustainability, and successfully deliver resilient stormwater infrastructure projects.

Duration

10 days

Who Should Attend

• Stormwater Engineers

• Water Resources Engineers

• Hydraulic Engineers

• Civil Engineers

• Environmental Engineers

• Urban Drainage Engineers

• Municipal Infrastructure Engineers

• Urban Planners

• Flood Risk Management Specialists

• GIS and Remote Sensing Professionals

• Infrastructure Planning Consultants

• Climate Adaptation Specialists

• Government Water Authority Officials

• Project Managers

• Sustainable Development Professionals

• University Engineering Lecturers

Course Objectives

• Develop advanced expertise in urban stormwater management principles, sustainable drainage systems, and integrated urban water management practices.

• Master urban hydrology concepts, rainfall-runoff modelling, drainage network analysis, and hydraulic simulation techniques for stormwater infrastructure.

• Strengthen competencies in the design, evaluation, and optimization of sustainable drainage systems that improve flood resilience and water quality.

• Gain practical knowledge of detention basins, retention ponds, infiltration systems, permeable pavements, green roofs, swales, and bioretention facilities.

• Learn advanced methods for flood modelling, stormwater risk assessment, catchment analysis, and climate adaptation planning in urban environments.

• Enhance capabilities in designing urban drainage infrastructure that balances hydraulic performance, environmental protection, and long-term sustainability.

• Develop practical skills in hydrological data analysis, drainage model calibration, validation, scenario evaluation, and infrastructure performance assessment.

• Build expertise in integrating BIM, digital twins, GIS, artificial intelligence, machine learning, IoT sensors, remote sensing, LiDAR, and predictive analytics into stormwater engineering workflows.

• Improve understanding of green infrastructure, water-sensitive urban design, low-impact development, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable city planning.

• Explore emerging innovations including smart drainage systems, cloud-based modelling platforms, automated monitoring technologies, and AI-driven flood prediction systems.

• Strengthen leadership, multidisciplinary collaboration, technical communication, stakeholder engagement, reporting, and project management skills required for urban water infrastructure projects.

• Equip participants with practical strategies to model stormwater systems, manage urban flooding, optimize drainage infrastructure, and deliver resilient and environmentally sustainable urban developments.

Course Outline

Module 1: Fundamentals of Urban Stormwater Engineering

• Principles of urban hydrology and stormwater management systems

• Urbanization impacts on runoff generation and drainage

• Components of modern urban drainage infrastructure

• International standards for stormwater engineering practice

Module 2: Urban Hydrology and Rainfall Analysis

• Rainfall characteristics and urban runoff estimation methods

• Design storm development and rainfall frequency analysis

• Hydrological data collection and statistical evaluation

• Climate variability effects on urban stormwater systems

Module 3: Catchment Analysis and Drainage Assessment

• Urban catchment delineation using GIS technologies

• Land use and impervious surface analysis techniques

• Watershed response evaluation for urban developments

• Drainage capacity assessment and infrastructure planning

Module 4: Stormwater Modelling Techniques

• Rainfall-runoff modelling principles for urban catchments

• Hydraulic model development, calibration, and validation

• Scenario analysis for stormwater infrastructure planning

• Model uncertainty assessment and result interpretation

Module 5: Urban Drainage Network Design

• Design principles for stormwater drainage networks

• Pipe systems, culverts, and open channel design methods

• Hydraulic capacity analysis and system optimization

• Urban drainage performance under extreme rainfall events

Module 6: Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS)

• Design principles for sustainable drainage infrastructure

• Green roofs, permeable pavements, and infiltration systems

• Bioretention facilities, swales, and rain gardens

• Integration of SuDS into urban development projects

Module 7: Stormwater Storage and Flood Control

• Detention basin and retention pond design approaches

• Underground storage systems for urban flood management

• Flow attenuation and peak discharge reduction techniques

• Flood mitigation through integrated storage infrastructure

Module 8: Water Quality and Pollution Control

• Stormwater pollutant transport and treatment processes

• Water quality monitoring and assessment techniques

• Best management practices for urban runoff treatment

• Environmental compliance and ecosystem protection measures

Module 9: Flood Risk Assessment and Climate Resilience

• Urban flood hazard and vulnerability assessment methods

• Climate change impacts on drainage infrastructure

• Resilient drainage design for future rainfall conditions

• Adaptation strategies for flood-prone urban environments

Module 10: Digital Technologies in Stormwater Engineering

• GIS applications in urban drainage planning and analysis

• BIM integration with stormwater infrastructure projects

• Digital twins supporting drainage asset management

• Artificial intelligence for stormwater prediction models

Module 11: Smart Drainage Monitoring Systems

• IoT sensors for real-time stormwater monitoring

• Remote sensing and drone applications for drainage inspection

• LiDAR terrain mapping for drainage analysis

• Cloud-based monitoring and predictive maintenance systems

Module 12: Asset Management and Infrastructure Maintenance

• Lifecycle management of stormwater infrastructure assets

• Inspection and maintenance planning methodologies

• Performance monitoring and rehabilitation strategies

• Risk-based investment prioritization techniques

Module 13: Green Infrastructure and Nature-Based Solutions

• Urban green infrastructure planning and implementation

• Nature-based flood mitigation strategies

• Water-sensitive urban design concepts and applications

• Ecosystem restoration through sustainable drainage systems

Module 14: Integrated Urban Water Management

• Integration of stormwater, wastewater, and water supply systems

• Urban water balance assessment techniques

• Sustainable city water planning frameworks

• Stakeholder engagement in integrated water management

Module 15: Emerging Trends in Stormwater Management

• Machine learning applications in drainage modelling

• Smart city technologies for urban water systems

• Predictive analytics for flood forecasting and drainage optimization

• Future innovations in sustainable stormwater infrastructure

Module 16: Practical Stormwater Modelling Workshop

• Urban drainage modelling using real infrastructure case studies

• Sustainable drainage system design and evaluation exercises

• Flood mitigation planning and resilience assessment activities

• Final project presentation with technical review and recommendations

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.