Use of geotechnologies in integrated assessment of urban drainage, water resources and urbanization

Abstract

Water resources historically are impacted by urbanization. Urban drainage, which is an inherent consequence of urbanization, is one of the major elements of impact on water resources in the city. However, urban drainage is almost always treated as a sanitation task, and its intrinsic relation to water resources is often not taken into consideration. As a result, drainage management is performed separately and disconnectedly from urban development management and water resources management. By means of a study on the Campeche aquifer in Florianópolis, we have shown that the disconnected management of these three elements creates serious urban and environmental problems. With an integrative method, we have sought to bring previous studies together, by means of geotechnologies such as GIS, to highlight the key elements for the integration of the sectors responsible for management. The present study suggests the creation of a unified database for the drainage network, hydrography and urban infrastructure, as well as the standardization of projects by means of sanitation, water resources and stormwater management plans. We have also shown how the use of these tools can be extended to other locations, thus proving a very promising integrative methodology.