Rethinking Stormwater Management through Sustainable Urban Design

13 January 2025

Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi and his team have co-edited a new book that rethinks stormwater management through the lens of sustainable urban design. Published by Springer as part of its Urban Sustainability series, the book brings together insights from urban planners, architects, engineers, ecologists, policymakers, and key stakeholders to present a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in sustainable stormwater management.

Rethinking Stormwater Management through Sustainable Urban Design explains that traditional approaches to managing stormwater in urban environments have often been inefficient, unsustainable, and environmentally damaging. Some have even had adverse impacts on cities’ structure, ecological capacity, biodiversity and infrastructures. But in recent years, a paradigm shift has embraced sustainable urban design in this area.

As part of that shift, the book delves into the critical intersection of urban development (and design) and water management – exploring innovative strategies, technologies and holistic approaches to managing stormwater in our cities, and providing global case study examples for how we might rethink stormwater management from a design perspective. From green roofs and permeable pavements to rain gardens and constructed wetlands, a range of strategies demonstrate the potential to transform our cities into more resilient, adaptable, and sustainable landscapes.

“This is an important topic to explore, as our traditional stormwater management practices require revision,” says Professor Cheshmehzangi, Head of the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, and Editor-in-Chief of Springer’s Urban Sustainability series.

“There is a pressing need to consider adaptive models in urban design and planning strategies. Sustainable urban design is an area where we believe paradigm shifts could be piloted, experimented, and scaled up.”

Case studies include (but are not limited to) the urban growth challenges of using nature-based solutions for stormwater management in Vietnam, water-sensitive urban design through polycentric participatory approaches in Indonesia, sustainable urban stormwater management in Turkey, step wells and community hydraulics in India, and stormwater runoff management using low-impact development in Portland, USA.

The editors have dedicated the book to the vulnerable communities worldwide who are disproportionately affected by the hazards of weather-water-related disasters.

“Our dedication is underscored by the recognition of the imperative for genuine reconsideration towards the development of environmentally focused innovations and human-centric solutions. Failure to address these pressing issues may exacerbate the phenomenon of ‘forced displacement,’ amplifying its impact on vulnerable populations,” the dedication reads.

The book aims to help researchers, policymakers, urban design and planning professionals, architects, and urban ecologists to rethink stormwater management and consider innovative, sustainable design strategies for water-related issues in cities and communities.

“If we embrace and implement sustainable stormwater management practices globally, we can create a future where cities are more climate-resilient and adaptive,” says Professor Cheshmehzangi.

“We know the climate is changing, but we have not changed enough. By rethinking some of our practices, we believe we can reinvent our design thinking and paradigms in urbanism. A multi-scalar place-based approach through sustainability thinking could lead us to more resilient and healthier communities and cities.”

Rethinking Stormwater Management through Sustainable Urban Design is edited by Ali Cheshmehzangi, Maycon Sedrez and Andrew Flynn.

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