Understanding Recreational Services of Urban Riverfront Space for Planning Purposes

In the process of urbanization, natural and semi-natural landscapes are increasingly cherished as open space and recreational resource. Urban rivers are part of this kind of resource and thus play an important role in managing urban resilience and health. Employing the example of Tianjin, this doctoral dissertation research aims at learning to understand how to plan and design for the interface zones between urban water courses and for the land areas adjacent to such water courses. This research also aims at learning how to link waterfront space with other urban space in order to make a recreational space system for the benefit of people. Five questions of this dissertation are: 1) what is the role of rivers in spatial and open space planning? 2) What are the human needs regarding outdoor open space? 3) How do river and water front spatial structures affect people's recreational activities? 4) How to define the recreational service of urban river and waterfront open space? 5) How might answering these question change planning and design of urban open space? Quantitative and qualitative empirical approaches were combined in this study for which literature review and theoretical explorations provide the basis. Empirical investigations were conducted in the city of Tianjin. The quantitative approach includes conducting 267 quantitative interviews, and the qualitative approach includes carrying out field observations and mappings. GIS served to support analysis and visualization of empirical information that was generated through this study. By responding to the five research questions, findings and lessons include the following: 1) In the course of time rivers have gained importance in all levels and scales of spatial planning and decision making. Regarding the development of ecological networks, mainly at national scale, rivers are considered significant linear elements. Regarding regional and comprehensive development, river basins and watersheds are often considered as the structural link for strategic ecological, economic, social and recreational planning. For purposes of urban planning, particularly regarding recreational services in cities, the distribution of urban open spaces often follows the structure of river systems. 2) For the purpose of classifying human recreational needs that relate to outdoor open space Maslow's hierarchy of human needs serves as theoretical basis. The classes include geographical, safety, physiological, social and aesthetic need. These classes serve as references while analyzing river and waterfront open space and other kinds of open space. 3) Regarding the question how river and waterfront spatial structures might affect people's recreational activities, eight different landscape units were identified and compared in the case study area. Considering the thermal conditions of Tianjin, one of these landscape units was identified as affording the optimal spatial arrangement which mostly meets recreational needs. The size and the shape of open space, and the plants present in an open space have been observed as being most relevant regarding recreational activities. 4) Regarding the recreational service of urban river and waterfront open space the results of this research suggest that the recreational service is felt less intensively as the distances between water 183 front and open space user’s places of residence are increasing. As a method for estimating this ‘Service Distance Effect’ the following formula may be used: Y = a*ebx. In this equation Y means the ‘Service Distance’ between homes and open space, and X means the percentage of the people who live within this service distance. Coefficient "a" represents the distance of the residential area nearest to the water front. The coefficient "b" is a comprehensive capability index that refers to the size of the available and suitable recreational area. 5) Answers found to the questions above have implications for the planning and design of urban open space. The results from the quantitative study of recreational services of waterfront open space were applied to the assessment of river-based open space systems. It is recommended that such assessments might be done employing the network analysis function available with any GIS. In addition, several practical planning and designing suggestions are made that would help remedy any insufficient base for satisfying recreational needs. The understanding of recreational need is considered helpful for the proposing planning and designing ideas and for the changing of urban landscapes. In the course of time Tianjin's urban water system has shrunk considerably. At the same time rivers and water courses have shaped Tianjin's urban structure in noticeable ways. In the process of urbanization water has become increasingly important to the citizens and their everyday recreations. Much needs to be changed in order to improve recreational opportunities and to better provide for a livable city, most importantly when considering the increasing number of old people. Suggestions made that are based on results of this study, might be implemented in Tianjin. They are 1) to promote the quality of the waterfront open space and to make all linear waterfront area accessible recreational spaces. Then, 2), it is advisable to advocate the concept of green streets and to combine green streets with river open space in order to form an everyday recreational network. And 3) any sound urban everyday recreational service made cannot rely on only urban rivers; the whole urban structure needs to be improved, including adding small open space and optimize the form of urban communities, finally producing a multi-functional urban recreational network.

Wind observations above an urban river using a new lidar technique, scintillometry and anemometry

Flow along rivers, an integral part of many cities, might provide a key mechanism for ventilation – which is important for air quality and heat stress. Since the flow varies in space and time around rivers, there is limited utility in point measurements. Ground-based remote sensing offers the opportunity to study 3D flow in locations which are hard to observe. For three months in the winter and spring of 2011, the atmospheric flow above the River Thames in central London was observed using a scanning Doppler lidar, a dual-beam scintillometer and sonic anemometry. First, an inter-comparison showed that lidar-derived mean wind-speed estimates compare almost as well to sonic anemometers (root-mean-square error (rmse) 0.65–0.68 m s–1) as comparisons between sonic anemometers (0.35–0.73 m s–1). Second, the lidar duo-beam scanning strategy provided horizontal transects of wind vectors comparison with scintillometer rmse 1.12–1.63 m s–1) which revealed mean and turbulent flow across the river and surrounds; in particular: chanelling flow along the river and turbulence changes consistent with the roughness changes between built to river environments. The results have important consequences for air quality and dispersion around urban rivers, especially given that many cities have high traffic rates on bankside roads.

On site flotation for recovering polluted aquatic systems: is it a feasible solution for a Brazilian urban river?

Pinheiros River (Brazil) plays a pivotal role in supplying water to Billings Reservoir, which presents multiple uses (human drinking, energy generation, irrigation, navigation, fishing and leisure) An intense monitoring program was performed during the years 2007 and 2008 to find out whether on site flotation is a feasible solution or not for improving the water quality of this urban river, attenuating the pollutants load caused by the water pumping to the reservoir (approximately 10 m(3)s(-1)) The monitoring of 18 variables (13,429 laboratorial analysis during the period of 490 days), suggested that despite the convenience of the on site approach for water treatment, especially for rivers located in fully urbanized areas, the flotation system is not enough itself to recover Pinheiros River water quality, given the several constraints that apply Total phosphorus removal was high in percentage terms (about 90%), although the remaining concentrations were not so low (mean of 0 05 mg L(-1)) The removal efficiency of some variables was insufficient, leading to high final mean concentrations of metals [e g aluminium (0 29 mg L(-1)), chromium (0 02 mg L(-1)) and iron (1 1 mg L(-1))] as well as nitrogen-ammonia (25 8 mg L(-1)) and total suspended solids (18 mg L(-1)) in the treated water

Shijiazhuang ecological landscape planning and design comprehensive improvement program for the Hutuo River

International practice-led design research in landscape architecture has identified water quality and water availability as two of the most important environmental issues in developing countries. China is particularly focused on improving water supplies for its rural and urban populations. However a significant gap in knowledge exists between urban planning and environmental engineering in China as to how to design Chinese public open spaces to reduce water pollution in urban rivers. This project responded to traditional zoning methods in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, by proposing a range of water sensitive design innovations from lake construction to planting design to modify standardised engineering solutions in a Chinese context.

A degradação ambiental de bacias hidrográficas urbanas e as políticas públicas no Município de São Gonçalo/RJ

No presente trabalho, buscou-se identificar os conflitos de interesses existentes nos três níveis do poder executivo que dificultam a gestão integrada de políticas públicas voltadas para a recuperação ambiental dos rios urbanos, considerando-se, como área de estudo, o Município de São Gonçalo (RJ). A pesquisa exploratória consistiu em revisão bibliográfica e trabalho empírico. No referencial teórico de análise, abordou-se a formação do Estado brasileiro, as políticas públicas e as relações de poder entre os agentes na tomada de decisão e na administração da coisa pública. Através de revisão na literatura, levantou--se o contexto histórico da ocupação e da degradação dos rios de São Gonçalo e da Baixada Fluminense, os planos e projetos para o setor de saneamento da região, bem como se empreendeu a compilação das normas legais pertinentes à gestão do território, aos recursos hídricos e ao saneamento. O trabalho de campo consistiu em levantamento de dados sobre a degradação das bacias hidrográficas no Município de São Gonçalo e das inter-relações existentes nas políticas públicas referentes à Região Hidrográfica da Bacia da Baía de Guanabara, onde o município em comento se insere. O estudo do caso evidenciou que a degradação dos rios urbanos é resultante, entre outros fatores, da falta de articulação das três esferas de governo, da descontinuidade das ações públicas, de interesses políticos e financeiros desarticulados das demandas socioambientais, da falta de infraestrutura técnica e financeira dos municípios, da pouca participação social no planejamento e tomada de decisões face às relações desiguais de poder, além da inconsistência e desarticulação dos planos e projetos governamentais, a exemplo dos planos diretores de uso ocupação do solo. Conclui-se ser fundamental o fortalecimento dos comitês de bacia e das instituições que os integram, possibilitando a articulação entre as políticas públicas municipais e as do governo estadual e federal, em relação às condicionantes ambientais, bem como ao uso do solo e ao saneamento. A solução dos problemas relativos aos rios urbanos só será possível através da gestão integrada e participativa, envolvendo efetivamente os diferentes setores usuários da bacia hidrográfica. O controle social das ações é imprescindível para manter a coerência, a efetividade, a eficácia e a continuidade dos planos, projetos e políticas do Estado. Assim, poderá ser contido o processo contínuo de degradação ambiental, em particular, dos recursos hídricos em bacias urbanas como acontece no Município de São Gonçalo e em diversos outros municípios brasileiros. Espera-se que esse estudo contribua para o aprimoramento do conhecimento e de soluções no que concerne à morte iminente dos rios urbanos do país.

A bacia do Rio Imboassu, no município de São Gonçalo (RJ) como unidade viabilizadora da educação ambiental no contexto do planejamento e gestão ambiental

Os problemas ambientais são cada vez mais comuns e de magnitudes e escalas variadas, atingindo principalmente as áreas urbanas. Poluição atmosférica e dos corpos dágua, deslizamentos de encostas e enchentes são alguns dessas situações adversas. São Gonçalo não foge á regra. Localizada na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro, essa cidade sofre com as situações exemplificadas, principalmente em relação a degradação dos rios urbanos e as enchentes que acometem algumas áreas do município. Partindo-se da problemática exposta, a presente pesquisa tem como objetivo principal promover uma discussão teórica e reflexiva sobre a importância da efetivação da educação ambiental com foco na bacia hidrográfica urbana, tomando-se a bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú no município de São Gonçalo (RJ), como recorte. A fundamentação metodológica deste trabalho está pautada na análise ambiental que prioriza a participação pública e a educação ambiental no processo de planejamento e gestão, visando minimizar as diversas situações de desequilíbrio e degradação que acometem a bacia. A operacionalização deu-se do seguinte modo: análise inicial a partir da sistematização de estudos diagnósticos e de consultas de documentos, relatórios, dentre outros de órgãos governamentais; análise intermediária a partir da observação em campo do atual estado de degradação da bacia hidrográfica do rio Imboassú e da identificação do conjunto de políticas públicas vigentes; análise integrada análise dos estudos diagnósticos, análise da situação atual da bacia (in loco e documental), análise final com identificação de lacunas de gestão e propostas viáveis no âmbito da educação ambiental. Verificou-se que essa bacia está urbanizada e os rios que a compõem descaracterizados e poluídos, com histórico de enchentes. Falta de ordenamento urbano, degradação ambiental e descaso do poder público são alguns problemas enfrentados pelos moradores dessa bacia, resultando na falta de ordenamento territorial urbano e falta de qualidade de vida da população. Diante do exposto, fica claro a necessidade de se criar mecanismos que amenizem essa degradação e tragam equilíbrio ao funcionamento e dinâmica da bacia, influenciando positivamente o dia-a-dia da população residente em seu interior. Um eficiente caminho para promover essa mudança é a educação ambiental como ferramenta para a transformação da sociedade, conscientizando-a de seu papel participativo e modificando a maneira como esta se relaciona com o meio ambiente. Verificou-se que na prática, na bacia do Imboassú, o poder público não efetiva os pressupostos presentes, tanto na legislação ambiental, quanto no plano diretor municipal e alguns órgãos (CEDAE, INEA, SEMMA) não atuam de forma satisfatória. Logo, levantar a discussão da importância da Educação Ambiental como política pública a ser promovida pelos gestores municipais e apontar para a participação e atuação da sociedade de forma crítica na estruturação do espaço urbano é de extrema importância para promover melhoria na relação sociedade meio ambiente.

Análise de uma iniciativa de valorização de rios e lagoas em áreas urbanas: Programa Águas do rio (Guardiões dos rios).

A preocupação com recursos hídricos tem sido crescente em meios urbanos. O despejo de resíduos sólidos em rios é comum por populações ribeirinhas, favorecendo a ocorrência de enchentes, a proliferação de vetores e doenças e o desprezo da comunidade pelos rios. Nesse contexto, programas que relacionam lixo, recursos hídricos e população ribeirinha têm sido objeto de várias iniciativas governamentais. Este trabalho busca avaliar uma delas: o Programa Municipal de valorização de rios e lagoas Águas do Rio (Guardiões dos rios) que foi desenvolvido pela prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro entre abril de 2001 a março de 2008. O programa buscou aliar interesses de ordem técnica, de saúde pública e de cunho social para a comunidade por utilizar mão de obra local para a manutenção da calha do rio, visando à retirada de lixo e entulhos do rio, geralmente em áreas de pequena extensão territorial, com manutenção adequada de margens e entornos. A partir de entrevistas abertas e questionários aplicados junto aos envolvidos de 27 frentes de trabalho, constatou-se um resultado bastante positivo nas comunidades onde o Programa foi implantado: diminuição de enchentes, redução de vetores e melhoria da paisagem urbana. Contudo, observou-se também profundo descontentamento com a interrupção do Programa, atribuído principalmente ao uso indevido por determinados políticos (ampliação descontrolada do Programa com abandono de critérios técnicos) e a transferência da sua gestão para uma instituição municipal que não o manteve funcionando. Conclui-se, sobretudo, que o Programa Guardiões dos rios é uma iniciativa criativa de ações emergenciais em rios urbanos, em nível municipal, que combina a retirada de lixo dos rios, um trabalho social e campanhas de educação ambiental junto às comunidades.

Vulnerabilidades socioambientais de rios urbanos: bacia hidrográfica do rio Maranguapinho. Região metropolitana de Fortaleza, Ceará

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Urbanização e recursos hídricos: vulnerabilidade socioambiental na bacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão Piracicamirim na cidade de Piracicaba/SP

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Copper(II) and Nickel (II) Complexation Capacity of Dissolved Organic Matter from Rivers of Agricultural and Urban Areas in the State of Sao Paulo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The urban littoral frontier : land reclamation in the history of human settlements

The urban waterfront may be regarded as the littoral frontier of human settlement. Typically, over the years, it advances, sometimes retreats, where terrestrial and aquatic processes interact and frequently contest this margin of occupation. Because most towns and cities are sited beside water bodies, many of these urban centers on or close to the sea, their physical expansion is constrained by the existence of aquatic areas in one or more directions from the core. It is usually much easier for new urban development to occur along or inland from the waterfront. Where other physical constraints, such as rugged hills or mountains, make expansion difficult or expensive, building at greater densities or construction on steep slopes is a common response. This kind of development, though technically feasible, is usually more expensive than construction on level or gently sloping land, however. Moreover, there are many reasons for developing along the shore or riverfront in preference to using sites further inland. The high cost of developing existing dry land that presents serious construction difficulties is one reason for creating new land from adjacent areas that are permanently or periodically under water. Another reason is the relatively high value of artificially created land close to the urban centre when compared with the value of existing developable space at a greater distance inland. The creation of space for development is not the only motivation for urban expansion into aquatic areas. Commonly, urban places on the margins of the sea, estuaries, rivers or great lakes are, or were once, ports where shipping played an important role in the economy. The demand for deep waterfronts to allow ships to berth and for adjacent space to accommodate various port facilities has encouraged the advance of the urban land area across marginal shallows in ports around the world. The space and locational demands of port related industry and commerce, too, have contributed to this process. Often closely related to these developments is the generation of waste, including domestic refuse, unwanted industrial by-products, site formation and demolition debris and harbor dredgings. From ancient times, the foreshore has been used as a disposal area for waste from nearby settlements, a practice that continues on a huge scale today. Land formed in this way has long been used for urban development, despite problems that can arise from the nature of the dumped material and the way in which it is deposited. Disposal of waste material is a major factor in the creation of new urban land. Pollution of the foreshore and other water margin wetlands in this way encouraged the idea that the reclamation of these areas may be desirable on public health grounds. With reference to examples from various parts of the world, the historical development of the urban littoral frontier and its effects on the morphology and character of towns and cities are illustrated and discussed. The threat of rising sea levels and the heritage value of many waterfront areas are other considerations that are addressed.

Stage 1 of the Yueyang Urban Water System Project: Landscape planning and design of Wangjia River

Chinese landscape architects are largely focused on objective practical solutions to environmental problems. In the West, theoretical landscape knowledge is largely conceptual and abstract. This research debated how Australian ecological concepts could or should be transposed to Chinese landscapes. This project responded to severe water and soil pollution issues in the estuarine and riparian zones of rivers flowing into Dongting Lake, in Yueyang City, Hunan Province. This work proposed a range of waterfront design innovations that challenged the notion of corridor as habitat, filter, barrier and conduit in a Chinese riparian context.

The development of urban river corridors in Malaysia

Malaysian urban river corridors are facing major physical transformations in the 21st century. The effects of rapid development exacerbated by the competition between two key industry sectors, commercial base and tourism development in conjunction with urbanisation and industrialisation, have posted a high demand for the uses of these spaces. The political scenario and lack on consideration of ecological principles in its design solution have sparked stiff environmental and cultural constraint towards its landscape character as well as the ecological system. Therefore, a holistic approach towards improving the landscape design processes is extremely necessary to protect values of these places. Limited research has been carried out and further has created an urgent need to explore better ways to improve the landscape design processes of Malaysian urban river corridor developments that encompass the needs and aspirations of its multi-ethnic society without making any drastic changes to the landscape character of the rivers. This paper provides a brief introduction to address this significant gap and hence serves to contribute to the literature review.

Methodology for evaluating the landscape character of Malaysian heritage urban river corridors

The effects of rapid development have increased pressures on these places exacerbated by the competition between two key industry sectors, commercial base and tourism development. This, in supplement with urbanisation and industrialisation, has posted a high demand for the uses of these spaces. The political scenario and lack of adaptation on ecological principles and public participations in its design approach have sparked stiff environmental, historical and cultural constraint towards its landscape character as well as the ecological system. Therefore, a holistic approach towards improving the landscape design process is extremely necessary to protect human well being, cultural, environmental and historical values of these places. Limited research also has been carried out to overcome this situation. This further has created an urgent need to explore better ways to improve the landscape design process of Malaysian heritage urban river corridor developments that encompass the needs and aspirations of the Malaysian multi-ethnic society without making any drastic changes to the landscape character of the rivers. This paper presents a methodology to develop an advanced Landscape Character Assessment (aLCA) framework for evaluating the landscape character of the places, derived from the perception of two keys yet oppositional stakeholders: urban design team and special interest public. The triangulation of subjectivist paradigm methodologies: the psychophysical approach; the psychological approach; and, the phenomenological approach will be employed. The outcome will be used to improve the present landscape design process for future development of these places. Unless a range of perspectives can be brought to bear on enhancing the form and function of their future development and management, urban river corridors in the Malaysian context will continue to decline.

From margins to mainstream : how screen and creative industries developed in the Northern Rivers region of NSW : 2000–2010

This thesis explores the proposition that growth and development in the screen and creative industries is not confined to the major capital cities. Lifestyle considerations, combined with advances in digital technology, convergence and greater access to broadband are altering requirements for geographic location, and creative workers are being drawn away from the big metropolises to certain regional areas. Regional screen industry enclaves are emerging outside of London, in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, in Nova Scotia in Canada and in New Zealand. In the Australian context, the proposition is tested in an area regarded as a ‘special case’ in creative industry expansion: the Northern Rivers region of NSW. A key feature of the ‘specialness’ of this region is the large number of experienced, credited producers who live and operate their businesses within the region. The development of screen and creative industries in the Northern Rivers over the decade 2000 – 2010 has implications for regional regeneration and offers new insights into the rapidly changing screen industry landscape. This development also has implications for creative industry discourse, especially the dominance of the urban in creative industries thought. The research is pioneering in a number of ways. Building on the work conducted for my Masters thesis in 2000, a second study was conducted during the research phase, adapting creative industries theory and mapping methods, which have been largely city and nation-centric, and applying them to a regional context. The study adopted an action research approach as an industry development strategy for screen industries, while at the same time developing fine-grained ground up methods for collecting primary quantitative data on the size and scope of the creative industries. In accordance with the action research framework, the researcher also acted in the dual roles of industry activist and screen industry producer in the region. The central focus of the research has been both to document and contribute to the growth and development of screen and creative industries over the past decade in the Northern Rivers region. These interventions, along with policy developments at both a local and national level, and broader global shifts, have had the effect of repositioning the sector from a marginal one to a priority area considered integral to the future economic and cultural life of the region. The research includes a detailed mapping study undertaken in 2005 with comparisons to an earlier 2000 study and to ABS data for 2001 and 2006 to reveal growth trends. It also includes two case studies of projects that developed from idea to production and completion in the region during the decade in question. The studies reveal the drivers, impediments and policy implications for sustaining the development of screen industries in a regional area. A major finding of the research was the large and increasing number of experienced producers who operate within the region and the leadership role they play in driving the development of the emerging local industry. The two case studies demonstrate the impact of policy decisions on local screen industry producers and their enterprises. A brief overview of research in other regional areas is presented, including two international examples, and what they reveal about regional regeneration. Implications are drawn for creative industries discourse and regional development policy challenges for the future.