DESIGN THINKING IN ACTION: TACKLING URBAN FLOODING WITH SMART DRAINS

To confront today’s climate challenges, innovative solutions are essential. Design thinking – a human-centered approach driven by creativity, empathy, and collaboration – provides the framework for addressing these issues. By focusing on the needs of both people and the environment, it fosters the creation of adaptable, practical systems.

A prime example of design thinking in action is the Solid Waste Resistant Smart Drain, created by Dr Nadeesha Chandrasena (Inventor) and her expert team. This world-first, dual-layer, clog-resistant smart storm drain is designed to trap solid waste and ensure the free flow of stormwater. This pioneering design helps mitigate flood risks, contributing to more resilient cities in the face of growing climate and pollution concerns.

TACKLING URBAN FLOODING

For Dr Nadeesha Chandrasena, the innovation is deeply personal. Growing up in Sri Lanka, she witnessed monsoon rains overwhelm streets as clogged drains caused severe flooding. Driven by a desire to find a solution, she earned a PhD in Civil Engineering, leading to the patenting of her Smart Drain in 2022 – a breakthrough that has since garnered global recognition, including the 2024 Best in Class Engineering Award at the Australian Good Design Awards.

Dr. Chandrasena explains the motivation behind her invention.

“Consider the drains in compact cities of the low and lower-middle income countries. When drains get blocked, it’s like heart arteries becoming clogged with cholesterol. Once that threshold is reached, the heart can’t pump properly, leading to a heart attack,” Dr. Chandrasena said.

“Similarly, when city drains get clogged with solid waste, a flash flood attack happens – sudden and disastrous. This is what occurs in many cities, like Mumbai. In 2013, for instance 1,000 people died due to flash floods in Uttarakhand, India.”

The Smart Drain’s modular design captures waste at entry points, filters it mid-flow, and prevents pollutants from reaching waterways. It’s a cost-effective, sustainable solution for cities seeking to reduce flooding and combat plastic pollution.

REDESIGNING THE FUTURE

Dr. Chandrasena argues that to tackle today’s climate challenges, we must rethink outdated systems and embrace innovative design thinking.

“Climate change is real, and we experience its effects daily. We cannot face this challenge with 100 or 150-year-old designs and infrastructure systems,” she said.

“We need an updated system, regularly updated, to deal with these challenges. This is 2025, and we cannot survive with 1875 infrastructure,” she added.

She also points to the ongoing issue of neglected urban drains, particularly in lower-income countries.

“Urban drains in our countries have often been neglected because in many low and lower-middle income countries, other issues take priority over urban drains. We can’t even request the government to address these drains before education and healthcare,” Dr. Chandrasena explained.

“But in 2025, we can no longer ignore the damage caused by this dilapidated infrastructure. We need updated systems and new engineering solutions,” Dr. Chandrasena added.

COLLABORATION: THE KEY TO SUCCESS

Collaboration is central to the success of the Smart Drain. Dr. Chandrasena credits her team, including Dr. Zahira Mustaffa, Dr. Khamaruzaman Wan Yusof, Dr. Ransirimal Fernando, Sujeewa Kokawala, Janaka Kuruppu, and Darshana Wimukthi.

“I’m an individual with certain knowledge in specific areas, but because I’m working in a broad field like urban planning, collaboration is essential,” Dr. Chandrasena said.

She acknowledges that the design is smarter because of this collective approach.

“Collaboration is key – it’s everything. Right now, I’m working with computer science engineers, a mechanical engineer, an urban planner, a hydraulics engineer, and a sociologist on developing the smart drain version 2. Knowledge is power, and in this information technology era, information is the key. This knowledge comes from collaboration,” she explained.

“I didn’t create this alone. We are a team, each bringing expertise in specific areas. At this point, we can’t survive or succeed as individuals. Collaboration is a must, especially in knowledge and development,” Dr. Chandrasena added.

USER-CENTRIC DESIGN

Dr. Chandrasena’s vision goes beyond just creating infrastructure – it’s about creating solutions that foster a deeper connection with people. She’s dedicated to developing user-centric designs that engage communities.

“I have a PhD in Civil Engineering, and my background is in Urban Planning. I work with people, and that’s the essence of Smart Drain,” she said.

The design features sensors that provide real-time data on waste levels and flow rates, enhancing the system’s responsiveness to potential clogs and flash floods.

“Smart Drain uses an IoT system with sensors that connect citizens, authorities, and garbage collectors. Citizens can receive updates on the process and contribute to the system via a dashboard, engaging with the Smart Drain as part of the solution,” she explained.

“This isn’t just roadside infrastructure – it’s designed to engage with people, enabling a more connected, community-driven, citizen science approach to urban drainage management,” she concluded.

CITY-SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS

Not only were people at the heart of the design, but so too was the specific environment. Dr. Nadeesha explains the importance of custom solutions to address unique urban challenges.

“Stormwater management systems should be city-specific and region-specific,” she said, emphasising the need to adapt solutions to each city’s environmental, cultural, and infrastructural context.

“Sri Lanka’s main issue is choking plastic and polythene in waterways, while India struggles with sludge, siltation and sedimentation in urban drains,” she continued. 

“Each country’s unique problems require different solutions – Sri Lanka focuses on plastic pollution, while India faces sludge management challenges.”

“We are discussing with INRM-IIT Delhi on designing a unique system to manage silt and sediment in urban drains in India,” Dr. Chandrasena said, highlighting their focus on India’s densely populated urban environments.

“In Australia, we are creating pollutant systems with smart pollutant traps instead of a continuous drain design,” she added.

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With a focus on local needs, collaboration, and user-centric design, the Smart Drain is leading the way to smarter, more resilient cities. By addressing both climate change and pollution, it offers a sustainable solution to some of the most pressing urban challenges. The revolution in stormwater management has only just begun, and the future looks brighter, cleaner, and more connected.

Discover more about this groundbreaking design project and its vision to transform the future of sustainable cities here: https://smartdrain.network/