Technical and governance conditions for digital transformation of urban drainage systems in a medium sized Chinese city

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and intensifying climate extremes are increasing pressure on conventional urban drainage systems, accelerating interest in digital transformation. Yet how such transformation unfolds in practice, particularly in medium-sized cities, remains poorly understood. Using Lianyungang City, China, as an illustrative case, this study examines stakeholder perceptions of the socio-technical conditions associated with its digital drainage transformation. Drawing on a structured questionnaire survey of drainage professionals, the analysis assesses stakeholder perceptions of system performance, awareness and expectations of digital technologies, governance readiness, and stage-specific barriers. The results reveal strong support for digitalization but persistent constraints. At the initiation stage, progress is limited by aging infrastructure, shortages of interdisciplinary expertise, and financial constraints. During implementation, socio-technical misalignment, legacy-system incompatibility, fragmented data governance, and weak operation and maintenance capacity dominate. Governance limitations are a perceived limiting factor on scaling digital initiatives, while transparency and public participation remain underprioritized. The study advances a capacity-oriented understanding of digital drainage transformation and offers policy insights for medium-sized cities.