Experience

PJ Santa is an expert in Climate Adaptation and Stormwater Management for Tropical Watersheds, with over 18 years of transdisciplinary experience. He specializes in applying blue-green infrastructure and nature-based solutions for tropical cities and island nations.

In 2009, during his graduate studies at Harvard University, PJ founded Urban Hydrologics, an organization dedicated to advancing stormwater management and climate adaptation. From 2011 to 2021, he gained extensive experience in Singapore, leading the development of masterplans and guidelines (including the Singapore Managing Urban Runoff Handbook and Punggol Digital District) and serving in lead roles on over 50+ projects, with additional input and strategic feedback on many other projects and proposals. Across all projects, from guidelines to built works, in multiple countries and urban regions throughout the Pan-Tropics, PJ Santa’s strategies have helped shape decentralized blue-green infrastructure solutions for the complex climate challenges faced by tropical islands, coastal cities, and urbanized watersheds.

PJ’s expertise integrates tech innovation, ecology, hydrology, design, planning, and engineering, creating holistic and impactful solutions tailored to tropical islands and watersheds. His work includes authoring handbooks, masterplans, and policy documents while collaborating with transdisciplinary teams on award-winning projects.

As Strategic Director of Urban Hydrologics, PJ delivers advanced climate adaptation consulting services, providing communities and watersheds with guidelines, handbooks, actionable strategies, and tech frameworks (through its partner company Urban Logics+) to enhance urban resilience, liveability, and the four key variables of the Urban Hydrologics Strategic Adaptation Framework: water quantity, water quality, community, and ecology, resulting in co-benefits to urban resilience, ecological sustainability, economic prosperity, and long-term well-being for tropical nations and their residents.

Urban Hydrologics: Vision, Legacy, and Strategic Offerings

Overview
Urban Hydrologics LLC is a pioneering climate adaptation consultancy founded in 2009 by PJ Santa (Pedro J. Santa-Rivera). The firm brings together over 18 years of professional practice and 8 years of academic research at Cornell and Harvard to form a transdisciplinary platform that delivers high-impact, integrative solutions to climate challenges in tropical and coastal contexts. As the name suggests, Urban Hydrologics focuses on reimagining cities through the logic of water, where hydrological flows shape urban form, connectivity, resilience, and ecological health.

Core Vision and Mission
Urban Hydrologics is driven by the belief that decentralized, nature-based, and data-informed infrastructure systems can transform the way island nations and tropical cities address climate adaptation. The firm designs and delivers holistic, watershed-based strategies that integrate hydrology, urban planning, ecology, engineering, community engagement, and climate science. At its core, Urban Hydrologics offers both visionary thinking and grounded technical expertise to foster resilient, livable, and equitable futures.

Strategic Thought Leadership
PJ Santa, as the founder and Strategic Director, has developed the firm’s approach through years of fieldwork, policy advising, and collaboration with leading experts. From his work in Singapore (2011–2021) on national-scale water-sensitive urban design projects to his influence on tropical watershed policy in the Caribbean, PJ Santa has been a key strategist of decentralized blue-green infrastructure thinking in the global tropics.

He authored the Urban Hydrologics Manifesto and the Strategic Adaptation Framework for Tropical Watersheds, both of which outline the firm’s flagship principles: integrating hydrology, ecology, engineering and urban design, activating community-led stewardship, and leveraging real-time data for adaptation decision-making. These ideas preceded the mainstream adoption of climate tech, blue-green infrastructure, and ecosystem-based design by nearly a decade.

Flagship Services and Capabilities
• Strategic Adaptation Planning: Tailored frameworks that assess vulnerabilities and deliver actionable pathways for resilience across scales from site to watershed to region.
• Blue-Green Infrastructure Masterplans: Design and implementation support for nature-based solutions in urbanized tropical watersheds.
• Digital Twin and Sensor Platforms: Development of real-time monitoring networks and digital twins to support data-driven planning and adaptation.
• Guidelines and Handbooks: Authoring national and regional guidelines on stormwater management, decentralized systems, and NbS integration.
• Policy Advisory & Climate Finance: Crafting adaptation-aligned policy documents and funding strategies for municipalities, national agencies, and NGOs.
• Custom Mapping & Geo-Intelligence: Creating high-quality, data-driven maps and visualizations to support planning, advocacy, and education.
• Community Stewardship Design: Tools, apps, and strategies that incentivize and track local participation in maintaining green infrastructure systems.

Geographic Focus and Global Relevance
Urban Hydrologics specializes in tropical geographies, including but not limited to the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Pacific Islands, and Southeast Asia. Through its approach, the firm offers globally transferable models for small island developing states (SIDS), coastal cities, and climate-vulnerable communities worldwide.

Strategic Innovations
• Digital Twin Platform for Watershed Adaptation
• Sensor-Embedded Bioretention Rain Garden Modules
• Blue-Green Data Economy Vision (since 2015)
• Urban Hydrologics Strategic Adaptation Framework
• Custom Climate Adaptation Reports and Community Apps

Why Urban Hydrologics?
No other consultancy blends this level of scientific rigor, design creativity, geographic specificity, and digital innovation. Urban Hydrologics is an environmental consultant and a visionary partner to island nations, urban regions, and watershed communities seeking integrated, meaningful, and measurable resilience pathways.

Visit: https://urbanhydrologics.com/climate-adaptation-consulting
Email: climate-adaptation@urban-hydro-logics.com

Pedro J. Santa Rivera (PJ Santa)
Strategic Consultant in Climate Adaptation, Blue-Green Infrastructure,
River Restoration & Nature-Based Infrastructure

Email: pjsanta@urban-hydro-logics.com

PROFILE SUMMARY

Pedro J. Santa Rivera is an expert in climate adaptation, blue-green infrastructure, and water management with 18 years of global experience delivering award-winning projects in urban hydrology, watershed-wide adaptation, and nature-based solutions (NbS). He brings a unique combination of strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, planning, engineering, design, and implementation expertise, spanning from conceptual master plans to construction oversight. His formative work in Singapore includes involvement in the renowned Bishan–Ang Mo Kio Park, where he witnessed the creation of flood-adaptive natural waterway, constructed wetlands, decentralized sustainable urban drainage systems, and river restoration strategies now referenced globally.

Pedro specializes in transforming degraded rivers and floodplains into resilient, multifunctional landscapes that restore ecological function while supporting community well-being. His expertise is grounded in hydrological modeling (HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS), wetland construction, and consulting for floodable green spaces that align with cultural, environmental, and regulatory priorities. Today, through Urban Hydrologics, he helps government agencies, NGOs, and local stakeholders implement actionable, science-informed frameworks to restore rivers, revitalize communities, and adapt to climate risks.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Director | Urban Hydrologics
2021 – Present | San Juan, PR, Caribbean Region, SE Asia

  • Leads comprehensive watershed-wide adaptation initiatives, integrating decentralized nature-based solutions and advanced blue-green infrastructure to address flooding, water quality issues, and ecosystem restoration.
  • Directs sophisticated hydrological scenario modeling using platforms such as HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS, supported by quantitative and qualitative climate risk indicators, participatory assessment methodologies, and robust reporting frameworks.
  • Oversees strategic spatial analyses and GIS-based mapping, utilizing LiDAR, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), and geospatial datasets to precisely identify and prioritize sites for decentralized infrastructure interventions.
  • Facilitates inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement processes, collaborating closely with community-based organizations, NGOs, government ministries, municipal agencies, and international partners to align climate adaptation strategies with community priorities.
  • Develops and authors actionable strategic frameworks, policy guidelines, masterplans, and regulatory handbooks for stormwater management, resilience planning, and sustainable urban hydrology tailored specifically for tropical watersheds and vulnerable urban areas.
  • Produces accessible technical reports, educational materials, visual graphics, interactive web platforms, and communication tools to effectively disseminate adaptation outcomes, promote transparency, and ensure stakeholder engagement.
  • Coordinates and delivers training workshops and capacity-building programs, empowering community leaders and entities with the knowledge and tools required for sustained participatory watershed management.
  • Advises and supports municipalities and national governments in scaling and implementing proven adaptation strategies, ensuring alignment with international best practices and securing funding through high-quality grant proposals and technical presentations.es, prioritizing decentralized blue-green infrastructure solutions, and provided decision-making frameworks that strategically identified areas requiring urgent drainage interventions.
  • Developed comprehensive analyses of cost-benefit scenarios and co-benefits of blue-green infrastructure, clearly articulating economic, ecological, and community-based advantages to support stakeholder decision-making and funding allocation.
  • Acted as Project Lead and principal author for a Strategic Adaptation Plan addressing climate resilience across a 42,000-hectare watershed; orchestrated advanced hydrological modeling, ecological connectivity analysis, habitat fragmentation assessment, and facilitated cross-disciplinary collaboration to integrate hydrology, ecology, and urban planning in effective climate adaptation strategies.

Senior Associate | Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl
2011 – 2021 (Excluding 2-year sabbatical) | Singapore, Southeast Asia, Germany, Denmark

  • Led comprehensive regional climate adaptation initiatives, specializing in water-sensitive urban design (WSUD), decentralized blue-green infrastructure, and nature-based solutions (NBS) in high-density urban environments across Southeast Asia.
  • Managed large-scale watershed and urban hydrology projects, executing stormwater management strategies, decentralized water treatment systems, and integrated infrastructure planning for resilience to flooding, climate extremes, and urban heat stress.
  • Directed groundbreaking research and technological innovation in water quality enhancement, collaborating closely with public institutions, municipal governments, and private sector partners to implement pioneering solutions for sustainable urban water management.
  • Delivered strategic, risk-informed climate adaptation plans for climate-vulnerable coastal and inland tropical cities, emphasizing comprehensive data integration, GIS-based risk assessments, and robust policy advisories aligned with national adaptation objectives.
  • Facilitated extensive stakeholder engagements, training sessions, and workshops for governmental ministries, municipalities, NGOs, and communities, ensuring active participation and policy alignment in urban resilience frameworks.
  • Authored significant policy guidelines, including Singapore’s influential “Managing Urban Runoff Handbook,” providing regulatory frameworks for stormwater management, climate resilience, and ecological sustainability.
  • Successfully managed flagship projects such as the Kallang Riverside Masterplan, Singapore’s first WSUD precinct, and the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters (ABC Waters Phase II and III) programs, integrating innovative stormwater infrastructure, urban ecosystem restoration, and enhanced public engagement.
  • Led the resilience planning and strategic integration of decentralized infrastructure for Penang South Islands Project, a 4,500-acre coastal development, ensuring safe water access, stormwater treatment, and nature-based solutions to achieve long-term climate resilience and sustainability goals.
  • Designed and implemented multi-disciplinary, nature-based infrastructure systems enhancing water security, flood mitigation, and ecological connectivity, while significantly improving urban livability and community health.

Client: Jurong Town Corporation (JTC), Woha Pte Ltd, Multiple Singapore Agencies
Position: Transdisciplinary Team Leader, Project Manager, Strategic Lead for Blue-Green Infrastructure, Blue-Green Infrastructure Design, Planning & Engineering Coordination Expert, Concept to Construction Admin
Experience: Ramboll Studio Dreiseitl | 2017 – 2021 (Constructed from 2021 – 2025)

Pedro J. Santa – Key Responsibilities & Contributions

Served as the Blue-Green Infrastructure expert and coordinator, integrating nature-based solutions (NbS) across all project typologies, including open spaces, urban infrastructure, and environmental elements. Led strategic design leadership, ensuring the integration of hydrology, landscape infrastructure, and water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) concepts into the project.

Managed stormwater engineering coordination, incorporating BGI features into diverse urban elements, public spaces, and transportation infrastructures. Provided high-level planning and project leadership, overseeing conceptualization, schematic design, and early implementation phases. Directed the production of technical documents, presentations, and strategic reports, ensuring alignment between design objectives, sustainability goals, and stakeholder expectations. Led the development of technical solutions focused on WSUD and green infrastructure, managing client relations and interdisciplinary coordination from the concept phase through schematic design, construction documentation, tendering, and the initiation of construction administration.

Project Overview: Developed an integrated blue-green masterplan for Punggol Digital District, a cutting-edge innovation business park in northeast Singapore. The project encompasses a university, business park, technology offices, public transport hubs, a waterfront, and diverse open spaces, all interconnected by a network of blue-green infrastructure (BGI) and nature-based solutions (NbS). The district integrates hydrological, ecological, and urban resilience strategies to create a smart and climate-adaptive environment while fostering synergies between academia, industry, and technology sectors.

Lead Consultant | Climate Adaptation & Blue-Green Infrastructure
2015 – 2017 (Independent Consultant) | Singapore, Puerto Rico, NYC
2017 (AECOM) | New York City

  • Served as lead author of the Blue-Green Infrastructure Strategic Plan, developing comprehensive urban resilience strategies, educational resources, and regulatory guidelines focused on decentralized stormwater solutions and sustainability for metropolitan areas.
  • Conducted detailed geo-data assessments for stormwater resilience planning, employing data-driven analysis of watershed-wide sites, risks, vulnerabilities, and drainage needs to inform targeted adaptation and infrastructure improvements.
  • Authored a regulatory handbook on urban runoff and stormwater management strategies, prioritizing decentralized blue-green infrastructure solutions, and provided decision-making frameworks that strategically identified areas requiring urgent drainage interventions.
  • Developed comprehensive analyses of cost-benefit scenarios and co-benefits of blue-green infrastructure, clearly articulating economic, ecological, and community-based advantages to support stakeholder decision-making and funding allocation.
  • Acted as Project Lead and principal author for a Strategic Adaptation Plan addressing climate resilience across a 42,000-hectare watershed; orchestrated advanced hydrological modeling, ecological connectivity analysis, habitat fragmentation assessment, and facilitated cross-disciplinary collaboration to integrate hydrology, ecology, and urban planning in effective climate adaptation strategies.

Harvard University Graduate School – Teaching Assistant & Instructor
2008 – 2010 | Diverse Teaching & Administrative Roles

  • Assisted in teaching environmental planning and urban design, focusing on sustainable development, urban planning, design representation, water management, open spaces, urban infrastructure, climate adaptation.

EDUCATION

Institute of Engineers | Professional Courses | Active, Beautiful, & Clean Waters, Singapore

  • Completed professional certificate courses led by stormwater management, ecology, hydrology and watershed adaptation industry experts in integrated watershed management, decentralized blue-green infrastructure, urban hydrology, climate adaptation strategies, and ecosystem-based solutions.
  • Specialized training in designing and implementing nature-based solutions (NbS) and sustainable water management for tropical watersheds and urban resilience.

Master’s Degree | Harvard University

  • Specialization in Climate Adaptation, Ecosystem-Based Adaptation, and Resilience Strategies.
  • Advanced studies in Urban Hydrology, Policy Evaluation, and Adaptation Planning Methodologies.
  • Developed expertise in Watershed-Wide Climate Adaptation, Ecological Restoration, and Blue-Green Infrastructure, emphasizing ecological analysis, integrated water management, advanced digital modeling, Risk Mapping, and strategic resilience planning.
  • Relevant coursework included Water & Aquatic Ecology, Urbanism as Ecology, Climate Adaptation Planning & Design, River Restoration, and Blue-Green Infrastructure for Watershed Communities.

Bachelor’s Degree | Cornell University

  • Acquired foundational knowledge in critical thinking, site analysis, sustainable development, and environmental planning.
  • Focus on sustainability, environmental policy, and strategic climate adaptation solutions.
  • Developed strategic skills for addressing multi-scale challenges in environmental planning and ecosystem-based solutions, with a focus on integrating sustainability into actionable frameworks.

CORE COMPETENCIES

  • Decentralized Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI): Expertise in planning and implementing blue-green infrastructure systems
  • Expert in stormwater management: Nature-based solutions to enhance water quality, water quantity, community and ecosystem health.
  • Transdisciplinary Integration: Over 15 years of experience uniting hydrology, ecology, planning, engineering, and digital tools to support science-based decision-making.
  • Geo-Data & Spatial Analysis: Skilled in GIS, LiDAR, and DEM-based mapping to identify and prioritize climate risk areas for targeted interventions.
  • Watershed Adaptation & Scenario Modeling: Advanced proficiency to model watershed behavior and develop resilient, data-informed strategies.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Experienced in leading inclusive workshops and community consultations to co-create adaptation strategies rooted in local priorities.
  • Climate Resilience & Policy: Author of multiple adaptation frameworks, handbooks, and regulatory documents aligned with national and international goals.
  • Equity & Environmental Justice: Integrates equity indicators and community metrics to ensure just and inclusive climate adaptation outcomes.
  • Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E): Designs and applies vulnerability indicators and performance metrics for climate adaptation and risk mitigation.
  • Science Communication: Produces accessible technical reports, diagrams, and digital content to inform and engage stakeholders at all levels.
  • Leadership & Coordination: Leads multi-sectoral, multi-phase adaptation projects involving government, NGOs, and community-based organizations.
  • Grants & Fundraising: Extensive experience securing international and local funding through high-impact proposals and strategic partnerships.
  • Ecological & Community Integration: Designs NbS that enhance biodiversity and support community well-being through integrated water-ecology planning.
  • River Restoration & Floodplain Design: Deep expertise in river naturalization, floodplain restoration, and integrating parks and public spaces into resilient fluvial systems.
  • Constructed Wetlands: Practical field and design experience in adaptive wetlands that respond to storm events, drawn from projects like Bishan–Ang Mo Kio Park.
  • Design-to-Construction Delivery: Experience across all phases, from guidelines and concepts to construction and implementation, ensuring high-impact outcomes.
  • Integrated Water-Ecology-Culture: Designs river-adjacent green spaces that blend hydrology, heritage, ecology, and community use.
  • Tropical Urban Resilience: Specializing in applying NbS to tropical island and coastal environments, tackling flooding, heat stress, and degraded urban ecosystems.
  • Place-Based Design: Creates context-sensitive, culturally rooted green infrastructure that resonates with local identities and communities.