Town planner and civil engineer,
Dr. Nadeesha Chandrasena with
the award
Town planner and civil engineer, Dr. Nadeesha Chandrasena has earned international acclaim with her innovative stormwater management solution, Smart Drain.
Developed to combat urban flooding, Smart Drain was named one of the top 10 winners in the 2025 WIPO Global Awards by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the United Nations agency dedicated to intellectual property, innovation, and creativity.
Chosen from over 780 applicants representing 95 countries, Smart Drain stood out for its patented, scalable technology that tackles climate-related challenges in dense urban environments. The system features a unique dual-layer design that prevents clogging by trapping solid waste such as plastic, while allowing stormwater to flow freely. Smart Drain is equipped with real-time water level monitoring, enabling city authorities to act swiftly and prevent floods before they occur.
“This award shines a light on homegrown innovation addressing global problems,” said Dr. Chandrasena, who holds utility and design patents for the invention.
Dr. Chandrasena’s expertise spans over 14 years in environmental consulting, stormwater management, and urban planning. She holds a doctorate in Civil Engineering with a focus on open-channel hydraulics and describes urban planning as a “versatile discipline” that inspired her work on Smart Drain.
Dr. Chandrasena also received two accolades at the 2024 Australia Good Design Awards: the Gold Award in Engineering Design and the ‘Best in Class’ Award for creating the world’s first dual-layer, clog-resistant smart storm drain.
