Papers by Sudarshan Saravanan

Department of Architecture Faculty of Engineering University of Strathclyde , 2023
The concept of “Sponge Cities” is increasingly becoming more important in Indian
cities and citi... more The concept of “Sponge Cities” is increasingly becoming more important in Indian
cities and cities around the world, with increasing extreme-weather events, cities are
searching for smarter ways to improve climate resilience. Contemporary role models
for sponge city urban design in tropical climates are not abundant. Literature and pilot
projects for sponge cities are abundant in Europe, North America, and Australia. This
thesis aims to contribute by improving and expanding research and literature, around
sponge cities or water sensitive urban design in tropical cities. Contemporary Indian
cities have just begun to scratch the surface of sustainable water management
practices. However ancient Indian urban planning and design has a longer track record
of dealing sustainably with water, with practices comparable with modern-day nature
based solutions. These can guide modern-day stakeholders in Indian cities to build
urban resilience and create cities synergised with natural cycles. Singapore is
ambitiously aiming to achieve nature-based water management principles through its
ABC Water Plan programme, as it is a tropical city with similar challenges and
characteristics as India, it serves as a valuable precedent for WSUD in India.
Furthermore, research and data on the ABC Water Plan in Singapore is abundant.
The implementation of rain gardens, bioswales, vegetation swales, gravel swales and
river restoration projects are documented in detail and serve as a valuable database,
for sponge city practices in tropical cities. The aim of this thesis will be to identify an
implementation strategy for sponge cities in India. The thesis will explore the existing
strengths and developments of Indian cities, which can be utilised to implement
sponge city practices and what lessons can be learnt from practices in the ABC Water
Plan in Singapore.
Additionally, it will summarize how much contemporary urban planning has lost touch
with traditional practices and failed to keep up with contemporary debates and
paradigm shifts. The biggest takeaway from traditional Indian water management is
the mindset and philosophy used to design spaces for water. Water is not just a use
and throw’ utility but an essential part of the beauty and value of every city.
Hydrological infrastructure is not built for cities, but cities are built to accommodate the
hydrological network and landscape. Furthermore, the combination of public spaces
and utilitarian water infrastructure, is currently non-existent in India cities. As the
dimension of urban planning in the 21st century is significantly larger, it is hard to look
at ancient examples as pilot projects, which are to be implemented one-to-one. The
best takeaways from the ABC Water Plan Singapore are the data. The data provides
an insight into the outcomes of every single design aspect of sponge city practices.
The value of the data is immeasurable. Furthermore, the design aspects are adapted
in a tropical context and therefore more reliable to use as an archetype.

Universität Leipzig Fakultät für Physik und Geowissenschaften Institut für Geographie, Geographie Bachelor of Science , 2022
Rapid urbanization and climate change are testing humanity’s ability to adapt
and reshape itself... more Rapid urbanization and climate change are testing humanity’s ability to adapt
and reshape itself. Coastal cities are increasingly threatened by rising sea
levels, as well more extreme and more unpredictable weather events. These
precedented challenges call for transforming the approach in urban resilience.
From fighting the water, to consolidating it. Instead of keeping water away, you
bring into your urban spaces and help it resolve your problems. Under the large
banner of nature-based solutions many alternative flood management concepts
have emerged under different names in different countries. The largest country
pursuing this alternative model is China, under the terminology of “sponge city”.
The present thesis gives an update of the success and failures so far, by
summarizing results from different survey and studies. The results are positive,
despite insufficient funds and inaccurate planning. However, challenges remain,
especially due to the Chinese political system, where criticism is not embraced.
The studies use quantitative and qualitative data, such as remote sensing
imagery and in-dept interviews from different Chinese cities. The successful
implementation of the sponge city concept in China, will pave the foundation for
similar projects in other large countries, such as the US, India, the EU and
south-east Asian countries, which have numerous coastal cities.
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Papers by Sudarshan Saravanan
cities and cities around the world, with increasing extreme-weather events, cities are
searching for smarter ways to improve climate resilience. Contemporary role models
for sponge city urban design in tropical climates are not abundant. Literature and pilot
projects for sponge cities are abundant in Europe, North America, and Australia. This
thesis aims to contribute by improving and expanding research and literature, around
sponge cities or water sensitive urban design in tropical cities. Contemporary Indian
cities have just begun to scratch the surface of sustainable water management
practices. However ancient Indian urban planning and design has a longer track record
of dealing sustainably with water, with practices comparable with modern-day nature
based solutions. These can guide modern-day stakeholders in Indian cities to build
urban resilience and create cities synergised with natural cycles. Singapore is
ambitiously aiming to achieve nature-based water management principles through its
ABC Water Plan programme, as it is a tropical city with similar challenges and
characteristics as India, it serves as a valuable precedent for WSUD in India.
Furthermore, research and data on the ABC Water Plan in Singapore is abundant.
The implementation of rain gardens, bioswales, vegetation swales, gravel swales and
river restoration projects are documented in detail and serve as a valuable database,
for sponge city practices in tropical cities. The aim of this thesis will be to identify an
implementation strategy for sponge cities in India. The thesis will explore the existing
strengths and developments of Indian cities, which can be utilised to implement
sponge city practices and what lessons can be learnt from practices in the ABC Water
Plan in Singapore.
Additionally, it will summarize how much contemporary urban planning has lost touch
with traditional practices and failed to keep up with contemporary debates and
paradigm shifts. The biggest takeaway from traditional Indian water management is
the mindset and philosophy used to design spaces for water. Water is not just a use
and throw’ utility but an essential part of the beauty and value of every city.
Hydrological infrastructure is not built for cities, but cities are built to accommodate the
hydrological network and landscape. Furthermore, the combination of public spaces
and utilitarian water infrastructure, is currently non-existent in India cities. As the
dimension of urban planning in the 21st century is significantly larger, it is hard to look
at ancient examples as pilot projects, which are to be implemented one-to-one. The
best takeaways from the ABC Water Plan Singapore are the data. The data provides
an insight into the outcomes of every single design aspect of sponge city practices.
The value of the data is immeasurable. Furthermore, the design aspects are adapted
in a tropical context and therefore more reliable to use as an archetype.
and reshape itself. Coastal cities are increasingly threatened by rising sea
levels, as well more extreme and more unpredictable weather events. These
precedented challenges call for transforming the approach in urban resilience.
From fighting the water, to consolidating it. Instead of keeping water away, you
bring into your urban spaces and help it resolve your problems. Under the large
banner of nature-based solutions many alternative flood management concepts
have emerged under different names in different countries. The largest country
pursuing this alternative model is China, under the terminology of “sponge city”.
The present thesis gives an update of the success and failures so far, by
summarizing results from different survey and studies. The results are positive,
despite insufficient funds and inaccurate planning. However, challenges remain,
especially due to the Chinese political system, where criticism is not embraced.
The studies use quantitative and qualitative data, such as remote sensing
imagery and in-dept interviews from different Chinese cities. The successful
implementation of the sponge city concept in China, will pave the foundation for
similar projects in other large countries, such as the US, India, the EU and
south-east Asian countries, which have numerous coastal cities.