Potential and challenge diagnosis for systemic approach of urban conditions and sustainability strategies in urban planning and management

Abstract

The objective of the present research project is the development of a diagnosis of the strengths and challenges of systemic approach to urban conditions and strategies for sustainability in the planning and management of urban areas, in the scale of districts and neighborhoods.Sustainability will be approached considering the efficiencies, the environmental impacts of urban systems involving water, energy, transport, waste, when it comes to the consumption of resources and services delivered. Interdisciplinary solutions will be identified and analyzed involving sewage, waste and energy; underground infrastructure, density and capacity of generation units and supply networks, energy demand and distributed generation; population density, demand for resources and technology delivery systems. Moreover, sustainability will also be approached from an economic standpoint, with respect to the study of options for financing urban development projects, as well as the associated operating costs. Finally, institutional arrangements and participatory mechanisms that enable the conduct of actions and inter-sectoral and integrated solutions should be verified.The diagnosis will be based on the integration of theoretical approaches and practical experience based on case studies and field visits, both for spot verification of selected technologies and urban solutions, and to personal contact with institutions involved in their implementation, management or assessment. The diagnosis will be used as technical and scientific background to subsidize the development of tools, guidelines and procedures for the guidance of technical and institutional measures according to systemic approach and sustainability criteria, which prove to be feasible in the present and future Brazilian urban context. (AU)