Fourth ARTIFACT Expert Training: Urban NBS and Flooding: From Design to Model, and What Comes Next

We are pleased to announce the upcoming Online Expert Training #4, which will be held on 22 October 2026 at 10:00 CET, via the Zoom platform.

Training focus

This expert training session will address Urban Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and Flooding: From Design to Model, and What Comes Next, providing participants with insights into the practical design and performance of NBS for flood control, their integration into hydrological and hydraulic models, and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in supporting NBS planning and flood risk management.

Speakers

  • Moderator: Dr. Milan Stojkovic, The Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research and Development of Serbia
  • Lecturer:
    • Dr. Natasa Manojlovic, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)
    • Dr. Veljko Prodanovic, The Institute for Artificial Intelligence Research and Development of Serbia
Agenda
Time (CET) Activity Description Content
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome and warm-up Project and series overview, aims of the day, short poll (role, experience with NBS and modelling).
10:10 – 10:50 Session 1: Urban NBS for engineers Main NBS types and what each does hydrologically: green roofs, rain gardens, bioswales, permeable pavements, tree pits, blue-green corridors. Selection and siting in practice: space constraints, soils and groundwater, existing drainage, maintenance and cost.
10:50 – 11:00 Break 10 min
11:00 – 11:45 Session 2: Design and performance for flood control Key design parameters (storage volume, infiltration rate, drainage area ratio, overflow), sizing against design storms, measured performance versus design assumptions, failure modes (clogging, saturation, extreme events). Rules of thumb and pitfalls.
11:45 – 12:00 Q&A
12:00 – 12:20 Lunch break 20 minutes
12:20 – 13:10 Session 3: Modelling NBS step by step (with Q&A) Goals and scale, data needs, representing NBS in the model (e.g. LID controls in SWMM, 1D/2D coupling), calibration and validation, typical errors. Live demo of setting up a simple SWMM NBS scenario and comparing it with the baseline.
13:10 – 13:20 Break 10 min
13:20 – 13:40 Session 4: End-to-end case study A project example: problem definition, NBS options, modelling, scenario comparison, decision. Emphasis on lessons learned and what went wrong or was costly.
13:40 – 13:55 Session 5: Where AI fits Mapping pain points where AI can help (surrogate models for fast scenario runs, parameter estimation, NBS detection from imagery, siting optimisation), and AI limitations.
13:55 – 14:25 Q&A Q&A with speakers & final poll.
14:25 – 14:30 Wrap-up Takeaways, materials, link to the upcoming AI training.

Participation is free of charge.

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