This paper deals with the methods to monitoring the urban sprawl and to measuring its effects on the environment, in order to propose the most suitable interventions against its negative effects. The worldwide increasing urbanization and the consequent concentration of the population into ever-smaller areas and with limited knowledge of the geological characteristics, requires both the study of economic and social parameters and a geological and hydrogeological analysis to promote a sustainable urban development. The city of Milano is taken as a case study to address the environmental impact of urban development for its singular complexity, because after the rapid economic growth between 1960-1980, that has resulted in increased urban and industrial water demand, the economic welfare level decreased in last 20 years. The urban growth involved a marked decrease of the groundwater resources and the contamination of soil and water across wide areas; instead, the economic decrease and the abandonment of industrial sites also produced pollution due to the accumulation of pollutants in soil and in groundwater. For these reasons, Milan can represent a complete example of the problems that the urban sprawl poses to the environment and of the remedies that can be put in place for avoiding them. First, it was examined how the monitoring of Milan development can be performed correctly over time with satellite methods and can be compared with meteorological information (temperature and rain), piezometric levels, and water analyses. Therefore, by means of statistical analysis the environmental impact of the urban spread can be highlighted and measured, in particular can be computed the effects of utility systems. Then it was discussed how can be outlined the dangerous areas, as the abandoned industrial sites , that over time are embedded in the urban context and the environmental consequences of this fact, that depends on hydrogeological setting and geologic characters of the terrains. Therefore it was described how, by means both of statistical analysis and the correct modeling, can be outlined the sources and the plumes of the contaminations spreading from the industrial abandoned areas and finally the most suitable interventions to avoid the negative effects of the urban sprawl.
HYDROGEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY
FRANCANI, VINCENZO;COLOMBO, LORIS;
2016-01-01
Abstract
This paper deals with the methods to monitoring the urban sprawl and to measuring its effects on the environment, in order to propose the most suitable interventions against its negative effects. The worldwide increasing urbanization and the consequent concentration of the population into ever-smaller areas and with limited knowledge of the geological characteristics, requires both the study of economic and social parameters and a geological and hydrogeological analysis to promote a sustainable urban development. The city of Milano is taken as a case study to address the environmental impact of urban development for its singular complexity, because after the rapid economic growth between 1960-1980, that has resulted in increased urban and industrial water demand, the economic welfare level decreased in last 20 years. The urban growth involved a marked decrease of the groundwater resources and the contamination of soil and water across wide areas; instead, the economic decrease and the abandonment of industrial sites also produced pollution due to the accumulation of pollutants in soil and in groundwater. For these reasons, Milan can represent a complete example of the problems that the urban sprawl poses to the environment and of the remedies that can be put in place for avoiding them. First, it was examined how the monitoring of Milan development can be performed correctly over time with satellite methods and can be compared with meteorological information (temperature and rain), piezometric levels, and water analyses. Therefore, by means of statistical analysis the environmental impact of the urban spread can be highlighted and measured, in particular can be computed the effects of utility systems. Then it was discussed how can be outlined the dangerous areas, as the abandoned industrial sites , that over time are embedded in the urban context and the environmental consequences of this fact, that depends on hydrogeological setting and geologic characters of the terrains. Therefore it was described how, by means both of statistical analysis and the correct modeling, can be outlined the sources and the plumes of the contaminations spreading from the industrial abandoned areas and finally the most suitable interventions to avoid the negative effects of the urban sprawl.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
