Blog

New Journal Paper: Status of transforming stormwater drainage to a systems approach to urban water cycle management – moving beyond green pilots
This investigation was motivated by revision of Australia’s national guide to rainfall runoff and flooding, Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR), and systems thinking about the future of urban stormwater management. Reflections on this change process revealed internationally relevant challenges and a need to reframe stormwater drainage as integrated management of the urban water cycle from a design, economic and policy perspective.

Systems analysis reveals challenges of climate change on linked towns and irrigation districts connected to Murray Darling Basin
Presentation by Dr Peter Coombes and Dr Michael Barry at the Climate Adaption 2018 on Thursday 10 May in Room P3, 13:30 15:00, at Crown Promenade South Bank Melbourne. 

Using surfaces of Big Data to Underpin Continuous Simulation in Systems Analysis
Following our presentation at WSUD 2018 & Hydropolis 2018, our peer reviewed paper can be downloaded below.  This paper outlines some of the methods in the systems framework that was designed to explore the multiple scale impacts of water, energy, economic and environmental decisions using a bottom up approach to spatial systems analysis.

Workshop with the editors on application of Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR2016) in Urban Areas
Workshop prior to the Climate Adaption 2018 conference on Monday 7 May, 2018 at Engineers Australia 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This afternoon workshop will be presented by the editors Dr Peter Coombes and Steve Roso of Book 9 (Urban Book) of ARR2016 and will cover the philosophy and application of ARR2016 in urban catchments.

Using surfaces of Big Data to Underpin Continuous Simulation in Systems Analysis
Following our presentation at WSUD 2018 & Hydropolis 2018, our peer reviewed paper can be downloaded below.  This paper outlines some of the methods in the systems framework that was designed to explore the multiple scale impacts of water, energy, economic and environmental decisions using a bottom up approach to spatial systems analysis.

Following our presentation at WSUD 2018 & Hydropolis 2018, please find attached our peer reviewed paper and presentation. Historical demographic, water resources and economic “big” data was examined and included in “bottom up” systems analysis to understand the benefits of distributed solutions for household water efficiency and rainwater harvesting in Australian capital city regions. We use a long history of data from government departments, agencies, utilities and private industry to discover the whole of system and society value of distributed solutions.

This investigation aims to contribute to knowledge about this key question for water sensitive urban design – local actions provide whole of society benefits but what are the benefits and how do these benefits manifest across scales?

Presentation by Peter J Coombes at WSUD 2018 & Hydropolis 2018 at 14:00 on Tuesday 13 February 2018, at Crown Towers Perth Western Australia. This paper provides a narrative of insights and experience derived from two decades of monitoring of a sustainable house in the inner city suburb of Carrington in New South Wales. Water efficient appliances, rainwater harvesting, solar panels and battery storage reduced demands for grid water and energy, and provided resources to the grid. Use of rainwater harvesting and edible rain gardens reduced stormwater runoff from the property which has potential impacts to mitigate flooding and improve waterway health.

Challenging Ideas and New Opportunities. Presentation at the Future Water Association Conference “Shining the Light of the Possible, Exploring the Radical” by Peter Coombes & Michael Barry at Chesford Grange Hotel, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. Wednesday 5 December at 3 pm.

Independent Residential Rainwater Harvesting Guide. This guideline is provided by  Urban Water Cycle Solutions (UWCS) and the Rainwater Harvesting Association of Australia (RHAA) for above ground rainwater harvesting systems connected to residential dwellings in urban areas. This independent design specification is a living document that will be regularly updated in response to evidence, discussions and independent science. The user is encouraged to provide comments and feedback to this webpage for inclusion in the ongoing review process.