Water sensitive cities: a vision for Lisbon's Alcântara watershed

Mestrado em Arquitectura Paisagista / Instituto Superior de AgronomiaCities are emerging as humanity’s habitat of choice, as they are vital for social, political and economic transformation. However the development of cities has often been characterised by short-term economic benefit and environmentally unsustainable consumption and production practises. Over the last few decades there has been an increase in the number of natural disasters and in the number of people affected by natural disasters, many of which are water-related, such as flooding or water scarcity events. This has been shown to be as a result of three main factors: climate change, rapid urbanisation, and the resultant settlement of people in at-risk areas. The strategic spatial planning of urban development can be an important tool in addressing the exposure of people and places to environmental risks, and in designing a more resilient city that employs flexible solutions to cope with an uncertain and changing future. This thesis focuses on the use of sustainable urban water management (SUWM) strategies as a tool to design water sensitive cities that are more resilient to water-based hazards, support human and ecological needs, and are appropriate to their geographic and climatic context. The thesis analyses the different known SUWM strategies, including Best Management Practises (BMPs), Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), and Nature-Based Solutions, and proposes an integrative approach that employs concepts and measures from each one. The case study for this thesis is the Alcântara watershed in Lisbon, Portugal. An analysis of the historical, ecological and anthropic factors affecting water management in the case study area is undertaken, followed by a proposal for the sustainable management of water resources in the city of Lisbon and its surroundingsN/