Modern urban drainage design has become increasing sophisticated as there is need to balance a multitude of requirements including flood management, water quality management, recreational and aesthetic values and economic considerations. SMEC's experience incudes development of urban drainage strategies for large new urban release areas, trunk drainage design for housing estates and drainage design for industrial developments.

Integrated design for urban areas includes trunk drains incorporating natural channels, wetlands, retarding basins, sediment and litter traps which are incorporated within reserves and parklands that provide aesthetic and recreational values. They often include facilities for the trapping and reuse of rainwater from storage ponds or household rainwater tanks. Many natural channels require reinstatement of channel forms such as meander, pools and riffles, as well as reinstatement of aquatic and riparian vegetation and habitat elements such as logs and debris.

SMEC's expertise includes:

• Hydrologic modelling to assess flows before and after development, 
• Hydraulic modelling of open channel and piped systems, 
• Water quality modelling to assess the impact of development and various treatment systems, 
• Development of design concepts, 
• Design of wetlands, sediment and litter traps, retarding basins, trunk drains and piped drainage systems.