Adoption of Water-Sensitive Urban Design in Infrastructure Planning

Water-sensitive urban design is transforming infrastructure planning by integrating natural water systems into cities to improve sustainability, resilience, and long-term environmental outcomes.

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Sydney Opera House overlooking Sydney Harbour with ferries and boats moving across the water

Water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) is reshaping how infrastructure is planned and delivered, driven by climate pressures, regulatory change, and the need for sustainable water management. This paper explores how WSUD integrates natural water systems into urban infrastructure, the technical and environmental challenges it creates, and why engineers now require stronger hydrological modelling, ecological assessment, and lifecycle stewardship capabilities. It also examines the regulatory trends pushing WSUD adoption and the collaborative frameworks needed to achieve measurable environmental and community benefits.