The SmartWater project is developing a digital urban planning tool – the Blue-Green Infrastructure Planner (BGI Planner) – to integrate decentralised stormwater management measures into planning processes at an early stage. The aim is to strengthen the climate resilience of urban areas, mitigate flood risks, reduce urban heat and lessen the pollution of Berlin's waterways. The BGI Planner is based on a modular structure and links geodata, checklists and effect simulations. In two pilot areas in Berlin, the effects of blue-green infrastructure are being analysed using models – in terms of flooding, water pollution, urban climate and water balance. Established modelling tools such as InfoWorks ICM, GERRIS/HYDRAX/QSim, ENVI-met and ABIMO are being used. Initial simulation results confirm the effectiveness of selected measures and form the basis for simplified evaluation models in the tool. In future, the BGI Planner will be used as a digital tool in Berlin's administration to support sustainable and climate-adapted urban development.

SmartWater is a Berlin-wide initiative that integrates blue and green infrastructure measures into urban planning through three digital tools. The tools are being tested in two contrasting districts and comprise of a planning tool, a digital game and a flood information portal. These prototypes demonstrate the potential of blue-green infrastructure to reduce flood risk, mitigate heat stress and enhance urban climate resilience. The development process has been meticulously structured to facilitate a collaborative co-design process involving administrations, utilities, experts and residents. This approach has been instrumental in elucidating the governance needs, data requirements and communication pathways. The findings illustrate the efficacy of coordinated modelling and shared digital infrastructures in facilitating decision-making processes, enhancing public comprehension, and providing a transferable framework for urban areas aspiring to enhance climate adaptation through integrated and pragmatic approaches.

Sewer rehabilitation is a costly challenge for cities like Berlin, with annual investments exceeding €100 million, compounded by aging infrastructure and low replacement rates. Traditional CCTV inspections, used since the 1980s, face limitations in data completeness, accuracy and automation. To address this, Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin and Berliner Wasserbetriebe developed SEMAplus, a suite of data-driven tools modernizing sewer asset management. The system uses machine learning to prioritize inspections and forecast long-term network conditions. This abstract highlights advancements in deterioration modeling and innovation pathways for the digitalization of sewer management. As workforce shortages, budget constraints, and sustainability goals intensify, these innovations are crucial for optimizing investments and strengthening sewer system resilience.

Highlights

• The open source model ABIMO allows for a simple calculation of the urban water balance.

• The deviation from the annual natural water balance can be used to detect hotspots for WSUD.

• Transferability of ABIMO is currently tested between the German cities of Berlin and Cologne.