Utsav Adhikari
Doctoral Student
Research subject: Urban Water Engineering
Division: Urban Water Engineering
Department of Civil, Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering
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Luleå, T3036
About me
Utsav Adhikari studies how urban environment can better manage stormwater using Blue–Green Infrastructure (BGI) such as rain gardens, swales, and detention basins. These systems help protect urban areas from intense storms by storing water on the surface, letting it soak into the ground, and slowing down runoff. But designing and maintaining BGI in dense cities is not always easy. Space is limited, and different locations have different soils, slopes, and drainage needs.
Utsav’s research explores how BGI can be placed and designed across whole neighbourhoods to improve their ability to handle storm events of various intensities. He develops and tests alternatives for BGI implementation for cities like Malmö, Östersund, and Uppsala to see which solutions work best in different urban environments.He also investigates what happens when BGI does not function as intended, for example when inlets clog, erosion occurs, or vegetation declines. Poor maintenance can gradually reduce the performance of these systems, increasing flood risks. By analysing how different types of failures and maintenance routines affect BGI performance, Utsav aims to identify which designs are most reliable over time. His work also includes modelling and improving the design of bioretention systems through calibration with real-world field data.
Utsav joined the VA technology team in May 2022. He previously has a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from Kathmandu University and a master's degree from Chalmers University of Technology. He also has three years of professional experience as a water engineer in Nepal.
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