Resilient urban planning

Integration between Nature-based Solutions and hydrologically significant areas in Guaratiba, Rio de Janeiro

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46421/euroelecs.v6.8079

Keywords:

Nature-based solutions, Urban flood resilience, Multifunctional landscapes, Landscape-design

Abstract

Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) are emerging as integrated alternatives to traditional infrastructure, promoting ecosystem services in urban areas, with emphasis on the role of water as a structuring element of the landscape. Designing with the landscape involves recognizing its ecological, cultural, and social layers, requiring multiscale sensitivity and articulation between regional and local strategies. This study aims to present a methodological process for proposing resilient territorial planning guidelines by integrating NbS and the concept of Hydrological Interest Areas (HIA). The method is structured in three stages: (1) gathering and synthesizing socio-environmental, territorial, and institutional data of the studied basin; (2) defining strategic axes related to water management, environmental revitalization, and the enhancement of open spaces; and (3) developing local-scale intervention strategies supported by visual representations. The case study is the Piraquê-Cabuçu River basin in Rio de Janeiro, marked by flooding and urban expansion. As a result, an urban-environmental zoning is proposed, including a River Park, planned resettlement, and support for urban agriculture—highlighting the importance of integrated strategies that align drainage, ecological recovery, and social use of space.

Author Biographies

Mylenna Linares Merlo, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Master’s Degree in Architecture from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2024).

Aline Pires Veról, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

PhD in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Associate Professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. (Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil).

Osvaldo Moura Rezende, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Phd in Civil Engineering at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

Adjunct Professor - Department of Water Resources and Environment of the Polytechnic School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (DRHIMA/POLI/UFRJ) - Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil. 

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Published

30-09-2025

How to Cite

Merlo, M. L., Veról, A. P., & Rezende, O. M. (2025). Resilient urban planning: Integration between Nature-based Solutions and hydrologically significant areas in Guaratiba, Rio de Janeiro. Latin American and European Meeting on Sustainable Buildings and Communities, 6(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.46421/euroelecs.v6.8079