In Brief

The Challenge

As urbanisation increases, there are more impervious surfaces and fewer green spaces. The reduction in infiltration and evapotranspiration contributes to increased surface runoff and higher flood risk. Approximately 63.8% of Dublin city, the most populated city in Ireland, is covered by impervious surfaces, making it a high flood-risk zone. More than 3,000 other Irish communities are also at immediate flood risk. Traditional flood prevention measures, are expensive and often damage local landscapes, making these solutions unpopular with the public. The challenge lies in finding innovative, environmentally sustainable, cost-effective, and nature-based approaches to mitigating flood risks without harming the environment and local communities. This issue calls for urgent attention, as continued urbanisation and climate change impacts will exacerbate flood risks in the future. 

The Solution

The proposed solution focuses on developing a decision-support framework for adopting nature-based interventions, specifically targeting the modification of domestic gardens. This approach leverages the re-designability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability of gardens as a key component in urban flood risk management. By making use of satellite technology, artificial intelligence, hydrological modelling, and optimisation techniques, the framework will assist garden owners and local communities in selecting the most suitable nature-based modifications for their gardens. The project's success hinges on the accessibility of garden modifications, enabling individuals to contribute to flood risk reduction efforts in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. Collaboration with stakeholders, such as the Office of Public Works and the Local Authorities Water Programme, will ensure a comprehensive and practical implementation of this nature-based solution. 

The Team 

  • Team Lead: Dr Payam Sajadi, University College Dublin  
  • Team Co-Lead: Dr Di Nguyen, University College Dublin  

Societal Impact Champion  

  • Daniel Walsh, Office of Public Works, Dublin