Beyond the asphalt

Latent potentials of underutilized and degraded areas along federal highways for urban stormwater management

Abstract

Considering the increasingly complex problems related to urban water management, strategies that promote infiltration of rainwater runoff have become urgency. Beyond green spaces, cities contain other areas with potential for the incorporation of nature-based solutions (NbS) as a complement to the conventional drainage system, but which remain unnoticed in the form of underutilized and degraded areas (UDA). These areas are common along the edge of the brazilian road network, specially on highways whose widening potential has not been fully explored. While no transformation of the road platform occurs, the areas adjacent to the traffic lanes become residual spaces, generally occupied by degraded green areas or parking lots. Thus, this article aims to analyze the potential of UDAs located in the lateral strips of federal highways for urban stormwater management through the incorporation of NbS. Based on a case study in Teresina, in the state of Piauí — a section of the BR-343 —, the results indicate that 88.27% of its lateral strips are occupied by UDAs which, on the other hand, could be reclaimed for the implementation of NbS, such as bioretention cells, highlighting the hydrological and landscape potential of areas largely neglected beyond the asphalt.