Water dynamics and blue-green infrastructure (BGI): Towards risk management and strategic spatial planning guidelines. (20th January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Battemarco, Bruna Peres; Tardin-Coelho, Raquel; Veról, Aline Pires; de Sousa, Matheus Martins; da Fontoura, Cynthia Vanderlinde Tarrisse; Figueiredo-Cunha, Júlia; Barbedo, José Mendes Ribeiro; Miguez, Marcelo Gomes
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 333(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01-20
• Subjects: Water dynamics -- Risk management -- Hydrological modelling -- River restoration -- Blue-Green infrastructure -- Spatial planning guidelines; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: This work aims to demonstrate the importance of concretely defining blue-green infrastructure (BGI) in non-consolidated urban areas as an active element to achieve integrated risk management and strategic spatial planning guidelines to structure future urban development. BGI is seen as a city's structuring element more than an element integrated into a city. For this, a method is proposed and a demonstration of its application is conducted for the city of Paraty, in Brazil. It starts with a diagnosis of the current situation, maps the conflicts experienced by the city regarding water dynamics, and establishes cause-effect relations. Then, the past reference situation and the future trend situation are evaluated, and, with lessons learned, a future urban occupation alternative is defined, using BGI and river restoration approaches. Finally, the two future situations are compared in terms of environmental enhancement. The analyses are supported by mathematical modelling and a multicriteria index (Urban River Restoration Index). The results indicate that the future trend situation worsens flood risks, while the BGI proposal reduces them, besides improving the watersheds environmental quality and setting strategic spatial planning guidelines. Thus, understanding the role of water in a city is crucial to define a BGI approach focused on delivering urban water management solutions and strategically structuring future urban development, being the water a structural part of the city itself. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: City growth alters the water dynamics generating imbalances and flood risks. Water dynamics should be preliminarily considered to prevent flood risks. Blue spaces are a crucial part of a BGI system and can structure urban development. BGI in spatial planning context is still little studied in developing countries. BGI & river restoration can favour flood risk management and environmental quality.