Monash Infrastructure signs MOU with Chinese companies to develop sponge city technologies

Monash Infrastructure signs memorandum of understanding with Chinese companies to develop sponge city technologies

Monash Infrastructure is helping China with its ambitious plan to solve urban flooding, waterways pollution, and water shortages with ‘sponge cities’.

Sponge cities are designed to manage stormwater through detention, infiltration, and enhanced evapotranspiration, as well as treatment and harvesting. The Chinese Central Government recently called for the widespread adoption of the sponge city approach, providing financing of around $10 billion for pilot activities across 30 sites.

On 29 November 2016 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Professor Frieder Seible signed, on behalf of Monash Infrastructure, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Dongjiang Environmental Company, Jiangsu Easthigh Hi-Tech, and Sino-Singapore Nanjing Eco Hi-Tech Island Development Company. Professor Seible is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise), Vice-President (Academic), Dean of Engineering and Dean of Information Technology of Monash University.

The MOU was for establishment of the Joint Sino-Australia Sponge City Research Centre, one of the centres in the Nanjing International Water Hub, to be located on the Sino-Singapore Nanjing Eco High-tech Island.  The Nanjing International Water Hub is envisioned to be a centre of excellence for bringing together leading technology, innovative research and development and commercial initiatives in water related technologies.  Professor Ana Deletic, Director of Monash Infrastructure, was approached by the Chinese partners to lead the Sino-Australia Sponge City Research Centre.

Professor Frieder Seible (front, centre) was the Monash Infrastructure signatory to the MOU on Joint Establishment of Sino-Australia Sponge City Research Centre. Source: www.news.cn

Monash’s urban water researchers will work within the new research centre to develop technologies and planning tools to help China deploy sponge city green infrastructure, such as raingardens and wetlands. The Urban Water Group of Monash’s Civil Engineering Department is regarded as the world leader in the development and planning of these green technologies. For example, they developed design guidelines of stormwater biofilters for different conditions across Australia, and have exported technologies to Israel and Singapore.

Now Professor Deletic and the Monash team are excited about the opportunities to work with the Nanjing government and industries to develop these technologies for Chinese local conditions.

Monash green infrastructure installed in Israelliving walls for stormwater management – the new technology under development by Monash

(L) Monash University’s green water infrastructure adopted in  Kfar Saba, Israel, (R) the concept of living walls for stormwater management – the new technology under development by Monash.