From historical hydrogeological inventory through GIS mapping to problem solving in urban groundwater systems

Water resources have had a huge impact on the socioeconomic sustainability and development of urban areas. The close relationship between water and human society has been important throughout the history of civilization. The water supply for early urban settlements included mainly the use of river canals, rainwater-harvesting systems, wells, aqueducts and underground cisterns. The industrialisation period in Europe promoted an increase in population and expansion of urban areas. Furthermore, several epidemics devastated European urban areas in the period between the18th and 19th centuries. Unhygienic conditions caused by polluted water, human and animal waste and excreta were among the main causes. This study discusses the importance of historical hydrogeological inventories in a large urban area, such as Porto city (NW Portugal), to better comprehend the evolution of urban water supply systems. In that approach urban geosciences need to advance towards a smart urban geoscience concept.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Role of hydrogeological mapping in groundwater practice: back to basics

Maps are of key importance in groundwater professional practice and hydrogeology research, mainly in field data synthesis and communication related to a number of fields: regional hydrogeology, explorationhydrogeology, groundwater engineering, hydrogeophysics, hydrogeomorphology, urban groundwater, military geology/engineering,thermal water resources, planning, management and decision making on thewater resources. This paper highlights the importance and necessity of accurate ground field surveys at several scales, water resources inventory and an integrated groundwater mapping as useful tools to support hydrogeological conceptualisation. Selected sites are highlighted to demonstrate the importance of groundwater mapping for assessment of water resources. Conceptualisation of groundwater systems must be grounded on Earth-based models and mathematical modelling to outline predicting scenarios. Thus, going back to basics is important to create a reliable conceptualisation on groundwater systems establishedon cartographic reasoning

Advances in Geoethics and Groundwater Management : Theory and Practice for a Sustainable Development

This book gathers the peer-reviewed proceedings of the 1st congress on Geoethics & Groundwater Management (GEOETH&GWM'20), held in Porto, Portugal, in an online format on 18-22 May 2020. Hosted in School of Engineering (ISEP), Polytechnic of Porto based on Porto city (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the international conference focused on what has now been dubbed “hydrogeoethics”, a novel transdisciplinary, scientific field integrating all dimensions of geoethics in groundwater science and practice. Given its scope, the book is of interest to all researchers and practitioners in the geosciences, hydrology, water resources, hydrogeology, natural resources management, environment, engineering, law, sociology, education, philosophy, culture, among others. This joint congress is the result of a collaborative agreement between the IAH (International Association of Hydrogeologists) and IAPG (International Association for Promoting Geoethics) and reflects the need for concerted actions to achieve sustainable development. The diversity, scale, significance and increasing magnitude of anthropogenic interactions with aquifers and groundwater, which often involve conflicting values or interests, call for analysis, discussions and decisions on the part of the agents involved, e.g. groundwater scientists, policymakers, managers, organisations, professionals and citizens. This approach calls for a responsible, sustainable and human approach to groundwater use and management. The groundwater community involved in the exploration and exploitation, use and management of this increasingly vital natural resource is becoming more and more aware that ethical issues pervade all our attitudes from concept to action and need to be addressed. Diverse values and cultures, science and education, law and policies, human and natural environments and the public and the economic sectors view groundwater and its value and/or role differently. The authors believe that in a globalised and interconnected world, common ground must be found in the interest of peace, human development and sustainability. The main topics covered here include: 1. Fundamentals of hydrogeoethics: cultures, principles and geoethical values on groundwater science and engineering 2. Lessons for a resilient and sustainable future with hydrogeoethics: case studies of geoethics in groundwater science-engineering, profession, and management 3. Scientific and humanistic components of hydrogeoethics in groundwater education and professional training 4. Socio-hydrogeology and ethical groundwater management 5. Geoethics of decision making under uncertainty and ethical issues in neglecting groundwater functioning 6. Groundwater: geological, legal, social, and ethical challenges of a unique natural resourceinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Advances in Natural Hazards and Hydrological Risks: Meeting the Challenge

Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop on Natural Hazards (NATHAZ'19), Pico Island—Azores 2019Landslides are one of the most important natural hazards on Earth. Landslide mechanisms related to hydrology are analyzed with a focus on the major risks, and formal risk assessment methodologies are presented. The management of accidents in slopes is discussed, with particular emphasis on Hong Kong and to Rio de Janeiro. Specific aspects of slope instability in the state of Rio de Janeiro are discussed, with a focus on cases that occurred in the mountainous region of the State. The megadisaster occurred in 2011, with high number of deaths and significant economic losses, is studied with particular incidence in individual landslides. A description of occurrence of large landslides in China is also presented. The modeling of catastrophic flow-type slide at Shenzhen landfill induced by intense rainfall is introduced and referred to large number of landslides happened during the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 is mentioned.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

On a dialogue between hard-rock aquifer mapping and hydrogeological conceptual models: insights into groundwater exploration

Groundwater is a dynamic and renewable resource, but in hard-rock terrains its availability is rather limited compared to other types of aquifer formations. Groundwater systems require a comprehensive understanding of geology, morphotectonics and hydrology, which are controlled by ground characteristics like weathering grade, fracturing degree, permeability, slope, drainage pattern and density, land cover, and climate. GIS-based integrative cartography provides an accurate way to improve knowledge on water circulation models and on the global functioning of aquifer systems. The groundwater conceptual model based in Earth systems has proven its value in water resource studies. This approach highlights the importance of groundwater exploration mapping as a useful tool to support hydrogeological conceptualisation of fractured hard-rock terrains, contributing to the sustainability of water resources.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of sustainability of groundwater in urban areas (Porto, NW Portugal): a GIS mapping approach to evaluate vulnerability, infiltration and recharge

The urban water cycle concept demonstrates the connectivity and interdependence of urban water resources and human activities, and the need for integrated sustainable management studies and approaches. The role of climate, geology, geo-morphology, land-use/cover, hydrogeochemistry, hydraulics, human activities among other features is significant in urban areas. In addition, land-use development has a stronger influence on terrestrial hydrology than climate variability. The need for provision of safe water, sanitation and drainage systems is key elements to consider for the groundwater resources in complex urban environments. In recent years, a new focus has emerged, addressing issues on integrated GIS mapping stud-ies on urban water supply systems, particularly in historical cities. To illustrate that approach the Porto urban area (NW Portugal) was selected. This work presents a comprehensive study to demonstrate the key importance of urban groundwater studies, as well as the evaluation of the Urban Infiltration Potential Index and the potential groundwater yields that might be available for non-potable uses, such as irrigation of parks and lawns, street cleaning and firefighting. This strategy is useful for the planning and management of urban groundwater abstraction in an equitable and sustainable manner.This study was carried out under the frame-work of the projects LABCARGA|ISEP re-equipment program (IPP-ISEP|PAD’2007/08) and Centre GeoBioTec|UA (UID/GEO/04035/2013). The research was also funded by a doctoral schol-arship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) to L. Freitas (SFRH/BD/117927/2016). Special thanks are due to colleagues J. Teixeira and J. M. Carvalho for the inputs in some stages of the research. We acknowledge the anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments that helped to improve the focus of the manuscriptinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geomorfologia e morfotectónica de relevos quartzíticos: a megaestructura de Caldas de S. Jorge - Águeda, NW de Portugal

RESUMO. Este trabalho tem como objectivo a apresentação de uma síntese geomorfológica e morfotectónica regional dos relevos quartzíticos do domínio estrutural de Caldas de S. Jorge–Águeda (Maciço Ibérico, NW de Portugal). Estes relevos configuram dois importantes alinhamentos topográficos, descontínuos, com orientação geral meridiana, constituídos por rochas de idade paleozóica inferior. A expressão morfoestrutural dos ramos quartzíticos está intimamente relacionada com a faixa de cisalhamento de Porto–Coimbra–Tomar. Os levantamentos de campo efectuados permitiram reconhecer e cartografar, pela primeira vez, novos afloramentos quartzíticos do Ordovícico, a Norte de Águeda, onde se encontram relevos associados a escarpas de falhas ao longo de antigas zonas de falhas regionais. Desse modo, obteve-se informação inédita e vital para um melhor entendimento do complexo limite geotectónico da faixa de cisalhamento de Porto–Coimbra–Tomar. This study aims at presenting a geomorphological and morphotectonical characterisation of the quartzite relief of the Caldas de S. Jorge–Águeda structural domain (Iberian Massif, NW Portugal). These quartzite outcrops take the form of a narrow NNW-SSE strip of early Palaeozoic age, which is included in a major crustal-scale strike-slip zone, the so-called Porto–Coimbra–Tomar shear zone. The geomorphologic and geotectonical surveys led us to newly describe and mapping the Ordovician quartzite relief structure to the North of Águeda town, and show that the large-scale relief is strongly associated with the existence of scarps along inherited regional fault zones. These results suggest that relief development in this region was mainly controlled by tectonics through fault reactivation

Site appraisal in fractured rock media: coupling engineering geological mapping and geotechnical modelling

Geotechnical surveys are based on collecting data from fieldwork and are a key element of rock-mass quality assessment in rock engineering. The lessons learned in several engineering projects underline the value of the accuracy of the basic geological and geotechnical data information related to the rock masses description and evaluation. An evaluation based on engineering geosciences, hydraulic and geotechnical features of rock masses involves combining parameters to derive quantitative geomechanical classifications for engineering design. In the present work, two selected sites are highlighted to demonstrate the importance of GIS mapping and models. Mapping and quantifying the on-site measurements’ information content and building a geo-database is vital for decision-making processes and risk assessment on sustainable engineering design with nature and hazards.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Using engineering geosciences mapping and GIS-based tools for georesources management: lessons learned from rock quarrying

The heterogeneity of the geological properties of rock masses is very important in engineering geosciences and rock engineering issues. The study of discontinuous rock masses has developed enormously. In particular, the assessment of in situ block size plays a key role in rock engineering design projects such as mining, quarrying and highway cutting operations. The application of Geographic Information Systems to engineering geosciences has become more common. In this article, the importance of an integrative comprehensive approach to rock engineering is discussed in the context of quarrying operations, i.e., from field mapping surveys to geomechanical assessment. This approach led us to a better understanding of the appropriateness of exploitation of raw material aggregates and to reduced uncertainty about sustainability of georesources in relation to their management and the environment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio