Priority open spaces for the implementation of green infrastructure adapted to urban rainwater: adoption of sustainability indicators for Aracaju/SE
Open Spaces; Rainwater Management; Sustainability Indicators
The accelerated urbanization process, increased soil impermeability, the suppression of vegetated areas, and urban planning that disregards local natural attributes in favor of urban expansion were all factors that contributed to problems related to flooding and inundation. To remedy these problems, conventional drainage measures were widely adopted to encourage rapid runoff. These strategies had negative effects on the environment, due to the imbalance of the hydrological cycle, necessitating reflection on less impactful measures that favor urban development. Identifying strategic areas for the adoption of sustainable measures becomes essential, as it ensures: better targeting of public investments; promotion of more effective and informed planning; provision of technical information and environmental criteria that contribute to better decision-making by municipal managers; and the feasibility of implementing green infrastructure (GI) strategies and nature-based solutions (NbS) that ensure resilience and urban rehabilitation, in conjunction with preexisting infrastructure and its social demands. Sustainability indicators serve as an essential tool for urban planning by ensuring spatial assessment methodologies for identifying strategic areas within urban spaces. It is in this sense that the objective of this study is to identify priority open spaces for the implementation of green infrastructure adapted to the sustainable management of urban stormwater, based on the adoption of sustainability indicators, specifically for the city of Aracaju, Sergipe. The methodological procedures used were a bibliographic survey, data collection, geoprocessing software, map production, field visits, and data analysis and systematization. The results aim to contribute to the field of architecture and urban planning through more sustainable strategies for stormwater management, thus positively impacting urban design, professional training, and public policy, particularly in the case of Aracaju. Contributions will focus on: urban space (to better understand the characteristics, specificities, and demands of the city's various areas); academia (to contribute analytical and propositional methodologies); and public policy (to help establish guidelines for local legislation).