Artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionise stormwater management, enabling engineers to make faster, more informed decisions. As AI adoption grows, leveraging proprietary data, creativity, and advanced analytics will be key to unlocking its full potential.
The Power of AI in Stormwater Management
AI can enhance every phase of stormwater system development—from design to operation—by improving:
🔹 Flow prediction & real-time monitoring
🔹 Infrastructure decision-making & risk assessment
🔹 Scenario simulations for climate impact
🔹 Automation of compliance & reporting
These advances will help shape a new era in stormwater management, comparable to the development of core hydraulic frameworks in the 1970s.
Who does it help?
AI combined with new generation sensors can provide useful - and sometimes critical - feedback for stormwater managers:
🔹 Hydrologist / Data Analyst: trend analysis from thousands of hyperlocal reference points.
🔹 Stormwater Engineer: complex weather, flow, and urban data synthesis for actionable insights.
🔹 Urban Planner / Environmental Consultant: helping engineers challenge assumptions and identify blind spots.
🔹 Hydraulic Modeller / AI & Predictive Analyst: modelling climate, urban development, and stakeholder impact scenarios.
🔹 Project Manager / Council Representative: translating complex data into meaningful narratives for stakeholders.
Considerations for Engineers
While AI offers powerful tools, engineers must remain mindful of biases, data limitations, and explainability. Best practices include:
🔹 Understanding AI capabilities – Learn how AI processes hydraulic data to enhance decision-making.
🔹 Experimenting with AI tools – Explore AI applications for flow prediction, risk assessment, and maintenance optimisation.
🔹 Building proprietary insights – AI will augment on-the-ground expertise, making field data collection more crucial than ever.
The Future of AI in Stormwater Management
AI won’t replace human expertise, but it will enhance the decision makers ability to make objective, data-driven decisions faster. By integrating AI as a researcher, thought partner, and simulator, cities can create smarter, more resilient stormwater infrastructure that adapts to future challenges.