Towards Sustainable Planning and Design of Stormwater Control Solutions in Brazil

Towards Sustainable Planning and Design of Stormwater Control Solutions in Brazil

Gersonius, B.

Sanders, F.M. (mentor)
Van de Ven, F.H.M. (mentor)
Verhaeghe, R.J. (mentor)
De Boer, E. (mentor)
Tucci, C.E.M. (mentor)
Zevenbergen, C. (mentor)

Civil Engineering and Geosciences

Transport & Planning

2005-06-01

Brazil is currently facing widespread problems in the urban environment associated with inadequate systems for drainage of urban stormwater runoff. The PNSB study (2000) identified that out of a total of 5507 municipalities 22% suffered from flooding in the 1998- 1999 period. The majority of problems occurred in the southern states, which have higher rates of urbanisation and higher amounts of rainfall. The problems of urban drainage are compounded by a lack of public awareness and participation, insufficient funds to supply and maintain the basics of sanitation and drainage, weak municipal organisations and a lack of coordination between the different organisations. Traditional master planning has generally failed to address the problems adequately and the implementation of these plans has tended to rely on large-scale costly infrastructure projects, which in some instances have attributed to the worsening of problems, as the stormwater is drained rapidly resulting in the exacerbation of downstream flooding. As a result of the inadequacies of traditional responses, combined with increasing awareness of the need for integrated approaches, a new generation of management plans for urban drainage is emerging. Urban drainage management In recent years some regional capitals have developed an Urban Drainage Master Plan together with appropriate legislation, starting from the premise that newly urbanised spaces should not increase natural surface runoff and that urban drainage must be integrated with planning the urban environment of cities. Experience with the development of Urban Drainage Master Plans showed that institutional and strategic/communicational aspects are essential for the success of the plan and thus deserve special attention. The plan development process in the city of Porto Alegre is a relevant example of that process. This is the main consideration to select the Urban Drainage Master Plan of Porto Alegre as the case study for this master thesis. Using an assessment framework, focusing on relevant criteria concerning both content and process, this study presents an overview of the policy cycle in Porto Alegre, with a focus on the shortcomings and strongpoints of the followed approach in relation to the concept of sustainable development. The objective of this study The overall objective of the study is to improve the approaches for the planning and design of stormwater control solutions in Brazil. From the case study several analyses are possible, which can help to improve the approaches in Porto Alegre and other Brazilian cities. As a first step, critical factors for the success of the plan are identified according to the information and insights that came to light on the basis of the assessment criteria (concept, scope, and knowledge).

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Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2005 Gersonius, B.