Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems: Themes of Public Perception—A Case Study

Bridget Thodesen, Berit Time and Tore Kvande
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Bridget Thodesen: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO 7491 Trondheim, Norway
Berit Time: SINTEF Community, Department of Architecture, Materials and Structures, NO 7465 Trondheim, Norway
Tore Kvande: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Climate adaptation measures address the challenges that densification and climate change impose on the urban environment. Sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) constructs include the introduction of natural elements, such as riparian buffers, vegetative filters, rain beds, water spills, watermark filters, retainers and dams, and are an integral part of these climate adaptation measures. SUDS are commonly undertaken at a municipal level in Norway but, unfortunately, the implementation of SUDS projects has lagged behind expectation. Norway is a normative and egalitarian society, where public resistance to local projects is a factor in the delayed adoption of SUDS. That is why a greater understanding of public perceptions and priorities is needed to build consensus and support for these climate adaptation measures. This research looked at the Blaklibekken SUDS case study in Trondheim, Norway. A cross-section of interviews with the municipality and users was undertaken to establish themes within local perceptions of the project. Themes of environmental benefit, child-related activities, maintenance of the site and funding were established to provide a better understanding of public expectations and what aspects of the project correlated with public acceptance or resistance. This work provides a starting point for further research to establish public ‘themes of interest’ that can provide decision makers greater insight into public priorities.

Keywords: stormwater management; nature-based solutions; SUDS; climate change; public perception; climate adaptation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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