F E AT U R E
The importance of multidisciplinary design 1.
1. Example of retrofit basin with 1 in 5 slopes.
earliest stages of planning a
development when integration of The relationship between engineer and landscape into the layout allows the easier architect in the delivery of SuDS is often highly productive. SuDS use of surface features that are
Steve Wilson
I have spent the last 20 years explaining to civil engineers that with SuDS, surface water drainage is no longer a purely engineering discipline. However, that does not mean that civil engineers do not have a very important and integral role to play in the design of SuDS alongside landscape architects. Suggestions that engineers only have a minor, if any, role to play in SuDS design should not be taken seriously. Every landscape architect that is involved in SuDS design
should be engaging with and working collaboratively with civil engineers and vice versa. It truly is multidisciplinary work and everyone should recognise the value provided by the other professions. One of the greatest arguments for multidisciplinary working is business risk management. No one can be an expert in everything and it is incumbent on the landscape architect and engineers to be aware of the limits of their professional knowledge. This is covered in the Pathway to Chartership syllabus for both professions. If someone does not seek advice on specialist areas of work and gives bad advice, they can be sued by the client. Professional indemnity insurance may also be invalidated. SuDS design should begin at the
integrated into the landscape. This requires input not only from planners and landscape architects to integrate the SuDS, but also from engineers to complete preliminary hydraulic models and comment on the likely engineering issues that may arise (e.g. is it possible to infiltrate close to buildings, will infiltration affect slope stability)? Landscape architects should design the specific form and profile of any SuDS features. It is easy to spot a feature that has been designed by engineers without any real input from landscape professionals by the uniform slopes, lack of smooth transitions, generally deep and overly steep slopes and ugly concrete headwalls. A simple but very important example is shown in the photos overleaf where it is demonstrated the concrete headwall can be replaced by a much more visually pleasing solution that is just as effective from a hydraulic perspective. 17
