Bridging design and analysis: How AECOM and Autodesk are reshaping sustainable drainage workflows

The discussion was framed by increasing pressure on urban drainage systems. More frequent extreme storms and continued urbanization are placing an additional load on ageing sewer networks. According to the Environment Agency, around 1 in 6 homes in England, approximately 5.7 million properties, are at risk of flooding, while climate change is making long, intense winter downpours seven times more likely. In response, the UK government is advancing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act, which will make sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) mandatory for new developments.

A really important part about InfoDrainage is that the model must be validated before it runs - Rob Chambers

Rob Chambers opened the technical portion of the webinar by describing AECOM’s transition from MicroDrainage to InfoDrainage and how the software supports both surface water and foul water modelling, including enhanced SuDS and overland flow capabilities. Stressing the importance of sound model preparation, he explained: “A really important part about InfoDrainage these days is that the model must be validated before it runs, so I think it's a chance as a precursor to catch any small errors, any misalignments in pipes to manholes, anything that might be missing from that information that just gives us a bit more clarity.”

Chambers then carried out two practical demonstrations. The first showed how an existing foul water network created in MicroDrainage could be upgraded within InfoDrainage—importing the model, adjusting inflows, applying the design wizard, adding a pump, and integrating a second phase with its associated surface data. The second demonstration focused on a surface water network featuring ponds and permeable paving. Chambers illustrated how geometric SuDS features can be reshaped from simple imported rectangles into realistic footprints, how pipe connections can be reassigned to appropriate inlet and outlet locations, and how validation ensures parameters such as Manning’s values and conductivity factors are defined before simulations are run.

Throughout the session, Javier Soto provided context on workflow flexibility and product development. Reflecting on how users move between design environments, he commented: “The good thing is that the changes from Civil 3D are maintained if you send it to InfoDrainage, and the other way around.”

Soto also addressed the performance improvements achieved through cloud-based simulation, noting: “On bringing that time elapse down, we can run cloud simulations that hopefully can make your simulations faster.” He contrasted this with larger-scale modelling tools such as InfoWorks ICM, observing that while he has “done simulations in ICM that can take days,” cloud simulations can reduce that “to hours or even less.”

A set of live polls provided insight into attendee experience levels. The results showed that most respondents begin their work in Civil 3D before importing into InfoDrainage, while a significant portion of the audience reported little or no experience with either InfoDrainage or MicroDrainage, highlighting the diversity of the user base.

InfoDrainage has evolved over the last few years, and I think it’s going in a really good direction. I'm excited to see where it goes

During the Q&A segment, participants raised questions on modelling underdrains in SuDS features, designing long ponds with sloping bases, assessing exceedance flows, auditing compliance with local regulations, and understanding how InfoDrainage fits into workflows at different scales. When asked whether a pilot project could be scaled to a municipal system serving millions of people, Javier Soto clarified that InfoDrainage is designed for detailed, site-level work rather than whole-city systems. He explained that the tool is well-suited to schemes comparable in scale to the examples shown during the webinar, as well as major projects such as HS2 in the UK or large motorway developments in the US. Once detailed designs are produced at this resolution, he noted that they can then be transferred into InfoWorks ICM to evaluate their performance within a wider catchment.

In their concluding remarks, both speakers reflected on the ongoing evolution of Autodesk’s drainage design tools. Rob Chambers pointed out the new functionality introduced in the 2026 release and emphasised that InfoDrainage has continued to progress steadily over recent years, expressing confidence in the direction of future developments.

Javier Soto added that Autodesk’s roadmap is shaped around supporting two principal groups of users: long-standing MicroDrainage practitioners and Civil 3D users who work in combination with InfoDrainage. He stressed that Autodesk aims to strengthen daily workflows for both communities and encouraged attendees to reach out with questions or feedback.