1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Udon Thani
Region
Asia
Native title of the NBS intervention
โครงสร้างพื้นฐานสีเขียวเมืองอุดรธานี
Short description of the intervention
The green infrastructure master plan of Udon Thani aims to prepare the city for the future development challenges by offering a new infrastructure network that can mitigate flood and drought while enhancing community and public space within the municipality. Udon Thani is an important economic city in the northeastern part of Thailand and is growing rapidly. With urbanization and climate change trends, the city is experiencing water supply and flood challenges. The masterplan consists of four main design strategies including canal restoration, green streets, retention parks and wetland areas. All four mains strategies create multi-functional spaces that promote environmental and social benefits together. Aside from slowing water flow which allow infiltration and retaining water, these spaces act as park and community garden which offer passive and active recreational activities. In total, 14 sub-projects were proposed together with cost-benefit analysis. (Ref. 1,2,3,4) Currently, the first project is under construction, which is a canal restoration (Huay Mak Khaeng). The construction is expected to finish in 2024. (Ref. 6,7,8)
Address

Udon Thani
41000
Thailand

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Total area
47000000.00m²
NBS area
1340260.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Central Business District / City Centre
Website of the intervention
https://www.ucrisp.org/udon-thani
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2017
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2021
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
1. Develop design solutions for new green and blue infrastructure that can mitigate flood and drought risk. (Ref. 1,4)
2. Enhance community and public space for the people in the city and offer opportunities for recreation and physical activities. (Ref. 1,4,9)
3. Study ways in which green infrastructure can act as an economic generator (e.g. reducing flood damage costs and increasing property values) (Ref. 1)
4. Protect existing wetlands as well as restore and create new wetlands. (Ref. 9)
5. Encourage conversation and involvement of local citizens, municipality and other relevant stakeholders to address climate risk issues (specifically flooding and drought) at a larger landscape scale (Ref. 1, 2)
Quantitative targets
1. Future flood damages cost through 25 years is estimated to be 1,150M. USD. This project aims to reduce this flood damage cost.
2. Increase property value by 10%-15% (Ref. 5)
Monitoring indicators defined
1. Flood damage cost
2. Property value (Ref. 5)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Water management (SDG 6)
Flood protection
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Effective management
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce the impacts of climate risks events on urban places and communities
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Implement solutions to capture/store water to increase its availability and prevent shortages from droughts
Restore wetlands and/or coastal ecosystems to dissipate the effects of flooding and/or storms
Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)
Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Create new habitats
Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore ecological connectivity
Implementation activities
The master plan proposed a network of green spaces scattered around Udon Thani City. To tackle flood and drought issues, there are 4 main green infrastructure design strategies including: (Ref. 1,2,4,5)
1. Canal restoration (25km.)
2. Green streets (43km.)
3. Wetland Parks (44ha) - This include to protect and restore existing and lost wetlands as well as create new ones.
4. Retention Parks (6x15 ha)
With these strategies, 14 sub-projects were proposed in this master plan.

During the initial data collection and analysis process, a multidisciplinary team of landscape architects, planners, geoscientists and water engineer worked together on scientific studies to help find the solutions. Capacity building workshops with community members, municipality representatives and other stakeholders were held to foster broader opinions. This bottom-up decision making process include 3 workshops that help determining which strategies must be systematically tested, and eventually implemented. (Ref. 1)

In 2018, two projects were put in the first phase to be implemented. The two projects are green streets and canal restoration (Huay Mak Khaeng and Huay Bong) . In 2020, Thai Government approved financing for the canal restoration project and put it under 2021-2024 budget plan. Currently, the canal restoration project is under construction with Udon Thani Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning as the main responsible person (Ref. 6, 7).
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Creation of semi-natural blue areas
Ecological restoration of ecosystems
Transformation of previously derelict areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors
Community gardens and allotments
Community gardens
Green areas for water management
Sustainable urban drainage systems
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Riverbank/Lakeside greens
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
Unknown.
What is the level of innovation / development of the NBS related to water management?
Medium / High: sustainable urban drainage systems which include water storage and diverts water flooding
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
The amount of trees were not specified. In terms of planting species, different types (from ground cover, shrubs and trees) can be expect as the project aims to restore wetland and natural ecology.
Amenities offered by the NBS
Viewing and outlook points
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes)
Regulating services
Flood regulation
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Private sector/Corporate/Company
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The research and design of the project were led by UCRISP(NGO), estudioOCA (design studio), USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers) together with Udon Thani City engineering and technicians. (Ref. 5)
Udon Thani Municipality is responsible for strategic planning, participation process, evaluating the solutions as well as the application and implementation. (Ref. 5)
Stakeholder collaboration took many forms, such as the development of landscape architecture renderings specific to stormwater management enhancement, site visits, conceptualization, and three decision-maker workshops with the mayor and senior city officials to understand conflicts. (Ref. 3) The project also organized capacity-building workshops that facilitate broader conversations between community members, municipality representatives and other stakeholders (Ref. 1)
The project received a research grant from The Rockefeller Foundation. (Ref. 1,4)
Key actors - initiating organization
Non-government organisation/civil society
Land owners
No information found
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Researchers/university
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project created the Udon Thani Green Infrastructure Masterplan, which identified specific GI implementation actions for the city. (Ref. 6).
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project was a collaboration between several organizations: the project was led by UCRISP(NGO), estudioOCA (design studio), USACE (US Army Corps of Engineers) together with Udon Thani City engineering and technicians. (Ref. 5)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Through a USAID project “Building Resilient Asian Cities in the Mekong region”, the business case for a green infrastructure solution was envisioned collaboratively. To address questions on effectiveness, efficiency, acceptability and completeness, numerous actions were undertaken. These included the implementation of the principles of the Army Corps of Engineers Engineering with Nature approach, along with a planning process described in Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis, to structure uncertainties into a risk-informed decision process. (Ref. 3) Given the deep uncertainties concerning rates of urbanization and changing intensities, durations and frequencies of storm events, “scenario bins” that integrated combinations of incrementally more stressful futures were developed collaboratively. As expected, greater resilience to a more extreme future came at a higher cost. However, each incremental investment for flood resilience also contained greater ancillary social and environmental benefits, such as public space for cultural events or parks and recreation. Highlighting such benefits led to more profound engagements with the public, mayor, and private sector stakeholders. This significantly affected political will and helped emphasize the strategic value of green infrastructure as a means for projects with immediate benefits to the public, and with real options for adaptability. (Ref. 3)
In the second phase, a more complete assessment of the future risk of chronic failure in flood and drought management will be implemented. (Ref. 3)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project received a research grant from The Rockefeller Foundation. (Ref. 1,4)
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
The grant from Rockefeller Foundation was USD 109,680 (approx, EUR 90-95000 with 2017 USD/EUR exchange rates). This grant was provided exclusively for developing the masterplan, not including the implementation. (Ref. 10)
The first phase to be implemented, including green street and canal restoration, got approval from the government with an initial budget of 150million Baht, approx. 4 million EUR (Ref 6)
Source(s) of funding
Private Foundation/Trust
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Risk reduction model
Green densification model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Type of innovation
Social
Policy innovation
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
Policy innovation: A green infrastructure master plan, which focuses on the peri-urban area of Udon Thani, and looks at climate risk issues at a larger landscape scale (incl. flooding and droughts). (Ref. 2,3) The plan is continuously being adapted and enhanced as the necessity or public concern arises.
Governance innovation: The green infrastructure solution was envisioned collaboratively. (Ref. 3) The project promotes a collaborative, evidence-based approach, which can be an important advancement to a more sustainable and secure future. (Ref. 2)The project continues to be collaborative, even in the implementation phase, and maintains trust and reliability between stakeholders, which contributes to its overall success. (Ref. 3)
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) without substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
As one of the fastest-growing cities in Southeast Asia, Udon Thani needed to find an approach to become an economic hub while also addressing increased water supply and flood concerns. The green infrastructure project offered a solution to this problem. (Ref. 3)
Replicability/Transferability
Ambiguous (e.g. multiple interpretations)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The innovation has a replicability potential. It is suggested that the experience with the project "can foster new collaborations with other professionals, universities, development organisations, and institutions – including cities and governments around the world... Secondary cities in low-income countries are some of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world that will face increased flood and drought risk while having the limited institutional capacity to adequately plan and prepare. This trend will be exacerbated by climate change. This collaborative evidence-based approach is an important advancement to a more sustainable and secure future. (Ref. 2) The Udon Thani plan is expected to be an example for other cities (Ref. 7)

Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
Energy efficiency improvements
Environmental quality
Improved air quality
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Increased protection against flooding
Improved stormwater management
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Increased number of species present
Description of environmental benefits
Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters: if implemented, the master plan project is expected to address increased water supply and flood concerns. (Ref. 2) The Udon Thani municipality is a large community that often suffers from flooding every year during heavy rain. Most of the rain water will flow into Huai Mak Khaeng creek where a drainage and landscaping project is helping to absorb and store excess water (Ref. 9)
Lowered local temperature: Reducing heat island effect/ Cooling down urban environment is an expected benefit of the project (Ref. 6)
Reduced energy usage is an expected benefit of the project (Ref. 6, 9)
Improved air quality is an expected benefit of the project (Ref. 6 )

Increased protection against flooding/Improved stormwater management: The project is envisaging wetland restoration and channel construction for flood regulation and climate amelioration. (Ref. 3) The project planning incorporates the use of a hydrological simulation model to help design a green infrastructure network for the city to mitigate flood and drought conditions. (Ref. 4) Especially, the Huay Mak Khaeng improvement project is expected to solve the flooding problem in the Udon Thani municipality during heavy rains. (Ref. 9)
Improved water quality: The plan is also focusing on treating the water to have good quality. Improved water quality is an expected benefit of the project with the construction of a drainage system (Ref. 6)

Increased green space: The project is envisaging engineered green space construction and channel construction. (Ref. 3) The project encompasses not only the master planning of green infrastructures, but also the design and realization of ecological urban infrastructure and public spaces for the city. E.g. multi-functional spaces like public parks, green streets, and community gardens. (Ref 4).
Green Space/Promotion of naturalistic landscape design: Secondary cities in low-income countries are some of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world that will face increased flood and drought risk while having the limited institutional capacity to adequately plan and prepare. The extension of the green infrastructure master plan project is expected to promote a collaborative evidence-based approach for addressing climate risk issues (specifically flooding and drought) at a larger landscape scale (Ref. 2)

In addition, the project is expected to Improve biodiversity (Ref 6)
Economic impacts
Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
More sustainable tourism
Increased property prices
Reduce financial cost for urban management
Description of economic benefits
Future flood damages cost through 25 years is estimated to be $US 1,150M. The project is expected to reduce flood damages cost and increase property value by 10%-15%. (Ref. 6) E.g. The project is expected to reduce the cost of repairing houses from flooding and reduce the damage to businesses in the city provincial center.(Ref. 8)
Additional expected benefits of the project include: Creation and improvement of local tourism and business; Green jobs opportunities (Ref. 6)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved liveability
Improved access to urban green space
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Education
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
Improved livability: The project provided an opportunity to develop the province into a livable city. (Ref. 9)
Improved access to green space: This integrated approach will allow green infrastructure to shape the future development of the city in a way that benefits its citizens with multi-use spaces that function as green infrastructure: public parks, linear parks, green streets, sustainable agriculture and community gardens. (Ref. 4) The first pilot project area is expected to be used as a place to rest, exercise, and promote the development of Udon Thani city to be a nice and convenient city. (Ref. 9)

Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: The created green spaces will provide active and passive recreational opportunities. (Ref. 4) e.g. Encouraging walking and cycling (Ref. 6)
Improvements of physical health: the landscape improvements are expected to support exercise and improve air quality so people can have good health and government spending on health care can be reduced. (Ref. 8)

Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits: Create and promote better environmental understanding and awareness within the larger population of Udon Thani (Ref. 1)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Indicators
Unknown
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
List of references
1. UCRISP (2021), Udon Thani, Thailand, Available at https://www.ucrisp.org/udon-thani (Accessed 26-01-2023)
2. Ignacio Ortinez, Guillermo Mendoza (2022), Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions Towards Urban Climate Resilience – A Green Infrastructure Master Plan for Udon Thani in Thailand, Available at https://www.urbanet.info/mainstreaming-nature-based-solutions-towards-urban-climate-resilience-green-infrastructure-udon-thani-thailand/ (Accessed 26-01-2023)
3. Green-Gray Community of Practice (2020), Practical Guide to Implementing Green-Gray Infrastructure, pp.88-89, Available at https://www.conservation.org/docs/default-source/publication-pdfs/ci-green-gray-practical-guide-v08.pdf (Accessed 26-01-2023)
4. Justine Testado (2017), estudioOCA wins Rockefeller Foundation grant to develop Green Infrastructure Master Plan in northern Thailand, Available at https://bustler.net/news/5833/estudiooca-wins-rockefeller-foundation-grant-to-develop-green-infrastructure-master-plan-in-northern-thailand (Accessed 26-01-2023)
5. estudioOCA (no date), Green Infrastructure Project, Available at https://www.ctc-n.org/sites/www.ctc-n.org/files/session_7-2_green_infrastructure_projects_mr._ignacio_ortinez_0.pdf (Accessed 26-01-2023)
6. Udon Today (2020), “มะกัน”ช่วย“นครอุดร”คิดสร้างเมืองสีเขียว, Available at https://udontoday.co/051263/ (Accessed 27-01-2023)
7. Siamrath(2022), มท.2 ลงพื้นที่ติดตามโครงการก่อสร้างระบบระบายน้ำและปรับปรุงภูมิทัศน์ห้วยหมากแข้ง, Available at https://siamrath.co.th/n/385427 (Accessed 30-01-2023)
8. NNT (2021), มท.3 ติดตามโครงการปรับปรุงห้วยหมากแข้ง งบ 150 ล้านบาท, Available at https://thainews.prd.go.th/th/news/detail/TCATG210910145224587 (Accessed 30-01-2023)
9. Bangkok Post (2018), Fighting Floods with 'sponge cities', Available at https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1406334/fighting-floods-with-sponge-cities (Accessed 30-01-2023)
10. Rockefeller Foundation (2017), EstudioOCA Ltd Available at https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/grant/grant-2017-330/
Comments and notes
Comments
According to the latest image of the project(refer to 'Udon Thani_2021 render image') the design of the project is different from the initial green infrastructure masterplan. It seems to neglect the natural ecology of the canal. There may be some misunderstanding regards, 'green infrastructure' concept. The new design uses a hard structure as a water edge while trees and vegetation are being planted on top of the structure (Ref. 8).
Public Images
Udon Thani Green Infrastructure Plan aerial view
Udon Thani Green Infrastructure Plan aerial view
Ref. 6
Udon Thani Green Infrastructure Master Plan
Udon Thani Green Infrastructure Master Plan
Source: Ref. 1
Canal Restoration
Render of canal restoration project
Source: Ref. 4
Green street render
Render of green street project
Source: Ref. 4
Udon Thani-Huay Mak Khaeng 2021
Udon Thani-Huay Mak Khaeng restoration project render(2021)
Source: Ref. 8