Year
2022Duration
10+ yearsCost
£17mLocation
Scotland, United KingdomProject achievements
Solved the problem
Significantly reduced flood risk across north Glasgow
Area improved
Created space for over 3,000 homes
Used engineering skill
Used several smart technology systems to manage water dynamically
In the heart of North Glasgow, a quiet revolution is flowing through the city’s historic waterways.
The Glasgow Smart Canal uses 21st century technology to update the 250-year-old Forth & Clyde Canal to mitigate flood risk and enable regeneration in the area.
The project is changing the way cities manage water, tackle climate change, and unlock new places to live and work.
What is a smart canal?
You’ve heard of smartphones, smart homes, and even smart cities, but what about smart canals?
Officially known as the North Glasgow Integrated Water Management System (NGIWMS), the canal uses predictive weather technology, sensor networks, and automated water control systems to manage flood risk in real time.
When heavy rain is forecast, the system automatically lowers the canal’s water level by as much as 10cm.
The water is then moved through a network of newly created urban spaces that absorb and manage it in a controlled way, creating space for water to run off.
This proactive approach prevents flooding and protects homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
Did you know …
-
The Glasgow Smart Canal is the first of its kind in Europe.
-
Lowering water levels by 10cm creates 55,000 cubic meters of extra capacity for flood water – equivalent to 22 Olympic swimming pools.
-
The smart canal automatically reduces water levels in response to forecasts of heavy rainfall.
Technology behind the smart canal
The Glasgow Smart Canal uses several smart technologies and hydraulic systems to manage water dynamically:
- Forecast-driven control: the system uses 48-hour predictive rainfall data from the Met Office. When significant rainfall is expected, it triggers a pre-emptive response.
- Automated sluice gates: these ‘sliding doors’, located at the Maryhill Locks, are remotely controlled to lower the canal’s water level by up to 10cm. This creates temporary storage capacity within the canal itself.
- Surface water storage basin: at Hundred Acre Hill, a large attenuation basin captures runoff from new developments. It’s designed to hold water temporarily and release it slowly, reducing peak flow into the canal.
- Real-time monitoring: a network of sensors and remote measuring units continuously monitors water levels and flow rates across the system. This data feeds into a central control platform that adjusts operations in real time.
- Discharge to River Kelvin: this system can release up to 55,000 cubic meters of water from the canal into the River Kelvin, preventing flooding in surrounding areas.
Together, these components form a self-adjusting, responsive drainage system - a major leap forwards from traditional, static flood defences.
Regeneration in the area
Flood risk has long been a barrier to development in North Glasgow.
Thanks to the smart canal, over 110 hectares of land that was once considered too risky to build on, is now available for regeneration.
The project has opened the possibility of over 3,000 new homes being built within an area that was previously off limits due to a lack of drainage capacity.
It has also revitalised neighbourhoods like Sighthill and Port Dundas by creating green spaces and active travel routes.
A win for climate and community
The smart canal is more than just a flood solution. It’s helping Glasgow adapt to climate change by managing more intense rainfall.
It has reduced the pressure on sewers, lowering the risk of overflows.
The project helped create healthier, greener neighbourhoods with better public spaces.
It also supports biodiversity by integrating nature into urban design.
The world is watching
Glasgow’s smart canal is the first of its kind in Europe. Its success in reimagining old water infrastructure with smart technology is inspiring other cities.
For example, in Copenhagen, the Cloudburst Management Plan uses green streets and attenuation basins to absorb and store stormwater during extreme rain.
Rotterdam’s Water Squares, like Benthemplein, double as public spaces and flood basins.
In Singapore, the Marina Barrage integrates tidal gates and weather forecasting to manage storm floods and rainfall.
Los Angeles is piloting smart stormwater capture systems to recharge aquifers.
These projects, like Glasgow’s, react to real-time data and offer scalable, climate-resilient solutions for cities facing increasing flood risks.
People who made it happen
Glasgow’s smart canal was designed and developed by AECOM in collaboration with Scottish Canals, Glasgow City Council and Scottish Water.
Funding was secured from Glasgow City Deal, the Green Infrastructure Fund and Smart Cities Scotland.
- Main contractor: Mackenzie Construction
- SCADA sub-contractor: Fairfield Control Systems
- ICMLive hydraulic modelling software: Innovyze
