Updated Method of Aptitude to Sustainable Urban Development for including green infrastructure

The research group UDR F. Eiximenis of Dpt of Urban Planning of Polytechnic University of Valencia, developed in 1992 the Method of Aptitude to Sustainable Urban Development. The method allows the identification of more or less adequate rural zones of Valencia region to transform for urban uses. The Valencia country is a Mediterranean landscape that is characterized by a mosaic of diverse rural and urban uses. The method is based on applying the concept of aptitude as a synthesis of the concepts of capacity and vulnerability of the territory to the residential, industrial and strategic public facilities. The method uses GIS technology as a tool for generating maps of adequate zones for uses with an analysis based on objective reasons that explain the outcome. Explicitly avoiding evaluation based on any types of weighted average of heterogeneous values of variables. The method has been applied in the assessment of environmental impacts caused by urban development in Valencia until today. Now arises the European policy to implement the concept of green infrastructure. The current planning and territorial policy in Valencia establishes the need to identify green infrastructure as a first step in the urban planning processes. The present paper develops a proposal for updating the method to sustainable urban development incorporating the concept of green infrastructure.Miralles García, JL.; Altur Grau, VJ. (2016). Updated Method of Aptitude to Sustainable Urban Development for including green infrastructure. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. 11(6):970-979. doi:10.2495/SDP-V11-N6-970-97997097911

Turbidity patterns in the Albufera lake, Spain, and their relation to irrigation cycles

[EN] The Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain) is one of the most representative coastal wetlands in the Mediterranean basin. It holds several protection designations at national and international level, such as Spanish Natural Park, Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds, Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) and Ramsar Site. Both the park and its main lake, Albufera¿s lake, face several environmental problems. One of them is reduced transparency and lake clogging. The lake is highly dependent on the rice cycle and on irrigation returns, mainly from the Acequia Real. In this study, we analyse the monthly transparency and turbidity patterns during year 2018, and we relate them to irrigation cycles. We used Sentinel 2A satellite images from the European Space Agency, which have an atmospheric correction. Remote sensing results were compared with in situ data from the monitoring program of the Environment General Subdivision of the regional government. This monitoring program samples five points on a monthly basis, and analyses Secchi disk depth, suspended solids and chlorophyll a. Our results show the temporal and spatial pattern of turbidity in the Albufera lake which offers relevant information for water resources management.María-Teresa Sebastiá-Frasquet was beneficiary of the CAS18/00107 post-doctoral research grant, supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education Culture and Sports during her stay at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (Mexico), image processing was partially developed during the staySebastiá-Frasquet, M.; Aguilar-Maldonado, JA.; Santamaría-Del-Ángel, E.; Altur Grau, VJ. (2019). Turbidity patterns in the Albufera lake, Spain, and their relation to irrigation cycles. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment (Online). 239:173-180. https://doi.org/10.2495/WS190151S17318023

Adaptation of urban uses of environmental characteristics: A case study of La Safor, Valencia, Spain

[EN] In the 1990s a methodology was developed to apply the concept of land aptitude to urban plans. This methodology was based on the concepts of capacity and vulnerability in the face of different urban uses (e.g. residential use, industrial use and strategic facilities). The methodology was implemented thanks to geographical information systems (GIS) mapping of available cartography. In recent years, the available cartography has increased in quantity and in spatial resolution. Also, urban planning and environmental legislation have evolved. In this study, we propose a methodological update to incorporate all these changes. The updated methodology is applied to La Safor (Valencia, Spain), which is a region composed of 31 municipalities. La Safor is a model case study because of its characteristics that makes it representative of both coastal and inner areas. Our results point out the need to incorporate legal constraints to the methodology. Including climate adaptation is also essential for strategic urbanism and to accomplish environmental requirements. The methodology presented can be defined as an integrated assessment tool necessary for sustainable development and minimizing environmental risks.Altur Grau, VJ.; Aguilar-Maldonado, JA.; Sebastiá-Frasquet, M.; Miralles García, JL. (2019). Adaptation of urban uses of environmental characteristics: A case study of La Safor, Valencia, Spain. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment (Online). 238:187-198. https://doi.org/10.2495/SC190171S18719823

Experiencia docente a través de la interación con administraciones locales

[ES] La incorporación de la dimensión urbana en la política de la UE, a través de la Agenda Urbana, poniendo el foco sobre la ciudad en materia de sostenibilidad, reducción de emisiones de CO2, mejora de las condiciones mediambientales y la cohesión social, fundamenta la aparición, el contenido y desarrollo de la asignatura denominada Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, cursada en 4º del Grado de Ingeniería de Obras Públicas, y que viene desarrollando, desde hace cinco años, trabajos aplicados sobre distintas ciudades de la Comunitat Valenciana, denominados Auditoría Ambiental. Para ello se han utilizado metododologías activas de enseñanza aprendizaje que restan protagonismo al rol docente para trasladarlo al alumnado, que debe aplicar sus conocimientos previos en la elaboración de la auditoría, en conexión organizativa con el profesorado como tutor. Este ejercicio práctico ha sido posible realizarlo con la colaboración e implicación directa de diversas administraciones locales que han contribuido facilitando información y han estado dispuestas a recibir los resultados obtenidos por el alumnado durante una exposición pública, seguida de un debate entre técnicos y políticos de dicha administración. Con esta experiencia, se pretende que el alumnado adquiera competencias relacionadas con la comprensión y uso del lenguaje propio de la ingeniería, con el aprendizaje autónomo de conocimientos y técnicas para la ingeniería civil, así como, desarrollar el pensamiento y análisis crítico de los procesos propios de la ingeniería, a la vez que desarrollan un ejercicio académico lo más próximo al futuro ejercicio profesional. Los procesos llevados a cabo y los resultados obtenidos a través de esta experiencia docente son presentados en esta comunicación.Palencia Jiménez, JS.; Gielen, E.; Sosa Espinosa, A.; Altur Grau, VJ. (2019). Experiencia docente a través de la interación con administraciones locales. En INNODOCT/18. International Conference on Innovation, Documentation and Education. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 341-351. https://doi.org/10.4995/INN2018.2018.8776OCS34135

Sentinel-2 analysis of flooded areas: applied case study "La Safor wetland, Spain"

[EN] La Safor wetland is a representative coastal wetland in the Valencia Region (eastern Spain, Mediterranean Sea). This wetland is recognized at an international level as a Special Protection Area (SPAs) for birds and a Site of Community Importance (SCIs) (Habitats Directive, European Council Directive). The wetland is located on a detrital plain aquifer which in turn is fed by a karstic aquifer in the near limestone reliefs. The flooded surface is variable and depends on pluviometry among other factors. The objective of this study is to analyse the effects of the flooded surface on land uses by remote sensing and Airborne LiDAR data. Sentinel-2A images processed at level 1C were obtained from Copernicus. LiDAR data was used to detect the most vulnerable areas affected by floods. In the results, we analysed the impact of the maximum flooded surface on land uses. We propose several corrective actions on the drainage net based on our analysis. This methodology can be applied to other wetland areas of similar characteristics. The advantage is the high spatial resolution which makes the methodology suitable for small sized wetlands.Pena-Regueiro, J.; Sebastiá-Frasquet, M.; Aguilar-Maldonado, JA.; Estornell Cremades, J.; Sanchís Blay, JA.; Morell-Monzó, S.; Altur Grau, VJ. (2020). Sentinel-2 analysis of flooded areas: applied case study "La Safor wetland, Spain". WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment (Online). 242:63-70. https://doi.org/10.2495/WP200061S637024

Influence of nutrient inputs from a wetland dominated by agriculture on the phytoplankton community in a shallow harbour at the Spanish Mediterranean coast

[EN] The Safor Wetland (Western Mediterranean) is a protected ecosystem declared Site of Community Importance under the Habitats Directive. Agricultural practices have been part of this ecosystem throughout history, and its hydrology is anthropogenically manipulated to satisfy cultivation needs. Freshwater from the wetland is discharged through surface channels to Gandia Harbour, a shallow water body with high water residence time. This study evaluated the linear eutrophication gradient downstream from the freshwater inflow locations. The role of the main nutrients in determining the phytoplankton community is discussed. The predominance of agricultural practices, 48% of the watershed soil, caused an excess of nitrogen and an imbalance in the nutrient ratios at all the sampling points. Phosphorus concentrations were particularly low, and did not exceed 1.0 ¿M. Chlorophyll-a concentration was of the order of that found in other eutrophic estuarine waters. In general, flagellates dominated over diatoms at all the harbour sampling points and depths. Potentially blooming species of both phytoplankton groups were detected. The correct implementation of the existing agricultural best management practices should continue to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loading to the estuary. It seems reasonable that for effective control of the eutrophication effects in this area, strict control over wastewater point sources should be also exercised. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.Sebastiá Frasquet, MT.; Rodilla Alamá, M.; Sanchís Blay, JA.; Altur Grau, VJ.; Gadea Pérez, MI.; Falco Giaccaglia, SL. (2012). Influence of nutrient inputs from a wetland dominated by agriculture on the phytoplankton community in a shallow harbour at the Spanish Mediterranean coast. AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT. 152(3):10-20. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2012.02.006S1020152

Management plan and surveillance monitoring for an urban lake in a coastal touristic town

Urban lakes have been created for different purposes, such as storing rainwater and avoiding flooding of adjacent urban areas. As an added value, they can be important recreational areas with an intrinsic aesthetic value. These artificial systems are characterised by very shallow waters, large amount of nutrient inputs and reduced water flow. These characteristics make them very prone to eutrophication process with the consequent deterioration of water quality and aesthetic value. The objective of this study is to present the management plan for a small urban lake (11,264 m2 and 1.5 m average depth) in Tavernes de la Valldigna (Valencia, Spain). This urban lake was constructed in a natural depression after the important flooding caused by the Júcar River overflow (15,000 m3/s peak flow) and the breaking of the Tous Dam in 1982. It works as storm tank and it has a pumping station to alleviate flow directly to the Mediterranean Sea. Around the lake, there is a recreational area that is mostly used in summer during touristic season. Since its construction it has suffered repeated events of fish deaths and bad odours that cause the alarm of residents and tourists. Municipal authorities worried by the environmental health risk and the economic impact on the tourism industry decided to undertake a restoration project. The results of this study present the initial status diagnosis and the propose d management plan. For guarantying the success of the implemented measures, a surveillance monitoring is designed.Sebastiá-Frasquet, M.; Sanchís Blay, JA.; Tormo-Flores, JB.; Altur Grau, VJ.; Pena-Regueiro, J. (2016). Management plan and surveillance monitoring for an urban lake in a coastal touristic town. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. 11(6):886-896. doi:10.2495/SDP-V11-N6-886-896S88689611