This year’s research workshop at the annual Autumn CIWEM UDG Conference and Exhibition was led by RAA and AECOM as part of their collaborative delivery of the updated integrated urban drainage modelling guide. Following a series of workshops around the UK in September which were aimed at the LLFA’s, members of the project team took to the Nottingham Belfry on Monday 4th November with the aim of canvassing the views of the Urban Drainage Group community on how best to approach the themes, writing, layout and content of the updated guide.
Following an introduction by Martin Borthwick of the Environment Agency who are funding the project, Katie Pearson, Technical Head – Hydraulic Modelling at AECOM began the session by giving a brief overview of the project team, the previous workshops held with LLFA’s and the draft contents of the new guide.
The room was then split into breakout sessions covering each of the chapter headings, with delegates choosing which tables to join to give their input. Members of the project team from both AECOM and RAA were on hand to facilitate and keep the discussions on track.
The notes from the event have been collated with RAA and AECOM now tasked with developing any key issues raised and incorporating the views into the writing of the guide. One of the main themes to emerge was the challenge of writing guidance that is useful today but also future-proofed.
Our thanks to everyone who attended for your engagement and contributions that will aid us in the delivery of the new guidance in early 2020.
If you weren’t able to attend the workshop but have views you would like to put forward, please email the project team on IUDGUIDE@raaltd.co.uk