Geographical tools & metropolitan water system analysis for the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Resilience

The rapid growth of cities in Latin America is challenging citizens and governments to ensure the sustainable and equitable development of its metropolis regarding urbanisation conditions, demographic transformation, climate,... [ view full abstract ]

The rapid growth of cities in Latin America is challenging citizens and governments to ensure the sustainable and equitable development of its metropolis regarding urbanisation conditions, demographic transformation, climate, environment changes and social cohesion. The destruction of forests, pastures and wetlands related to changes or mismanagement of land use and the occupation of the urban area are diminishing the capacity of ecosystems to maintain carbon, water and biodiversity balances. The loss of nature combined with the low quality of urbanisation and the effects of climate change will have an increasingly negative impact on the viability of cities and its resilience. This scenario is evident in Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, which is among the ten cities with the highest rate of water scarcity in the world. Considering this, the research in course aims to discuss and present a protocol for developing metropolitan projects that include urban, rural and natural areas and its dynamics, particularly emphasising the water system and its impact on the physical construction of the resilient metropolis. The research is developed through cooperation between universities and independent research centres in Italy and Brazil. It focuses on the city of Rio de Janeiro as a case study in the metropolitan scale and will develop a toolkit, based on the reading of the territory with the geographical, urban, architectural, economic, environmental, and public policy perspectives. It is also providing analysis, interpretation and projects tools for the municipal decision-makers that are co-dependents in the metropolitan system. The research has been identifying architecture and urban design methodology to conserve and restore the ecosystem profoundly impacted and connected to the urban dynamics, and essential for maintaining water supply and quality in the urban and metropolitan systems. The final result is expected to be replicable so that can be helpful to other cities in Latin America and beyond.