SUDS, LID, BMPs, WSUD and more – The evolution and application of terminology surrounding urban drainage

TLDR

Urban stormwater management has become increasingly complex, leading to a diverse and locally evolving terminology that can cause confusion and miscommunication. This paper aims to document the history, scope, application, and underlying principles of urban drainage terminology and to recommend clear communication practices. The authors compile and analyze the evolution of terminology across regions, highlighting local development and its role in advancing the profession.

Abstract

The management of urban stormwater has become increasingly complex over recent decades. Consequently, terminology describing the principles and practices of urban drainage has become increasingly diverse, increasing the potential for confusion and miscommunication. This paper documents the history, scope, application and underlying principles of terms used in urban drainage and provides recommendations for clear communication of these principles. Terminology evolves locally and thus has an important role in establishing awareness and credibility of new approaches and contains nuanced understandings of the principles that are applied locally to address specific problems. Despite the understandable desire to have a 'uniform set of terminology', such a concept is flawed, ignoring the fact that terms reflect locally shared understanding. The local development of terminology thus has an important role in advancing the profession, but authors should facilitate communication between disciplines and between regions of the world, by being explicit and accurate in their application.