Browsing by Author "Castanho, Rui Alexandre"
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- Assessing land-use changes in european territories: a retrospective study from 1990 to 2012Publication . Gómez, José Manuel Naranjo; Loures, Luís Carlos; Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Cabezas Fernández, José; Fernández-Pozo, Luis; Lousada, Sérgio António Neves; Escórcio, PatríciaThe need to understand what land use is has motivated the development of programmes that aims to identify it and quantify it—CORINE Land Cover (CLC) in 1985. From this official and open geodatabase—through the using of geographic information system (GIS) tools—the amount of area established for each land use has been identified in all the 28 member states of the EU. This mostly corresponds to agricultural and forestry uses. Between 1990 and 2012, it was possible to determine countries with variable land use models such as Finland, Latvia, Portugal and Spain—the rest of the states presenting stable land use models. Additionally, some countries are characterized by the predomi nance of one or two land uses. Contextually, the proposal aims to develop a retrospective study regarding the land-use changes in the EU territories from 1990 to 2012, through the available tools such as CLC.
- Dynamics of the land use changes and the associated barriers and opportunities for sustainable development on peripheral and insular territories: The Madeira Island (Portugal)Publication . Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Lousada, Sérgio; Gómez, José Manuel Naranjo; Escórcio, Patrícia; Cabezas, José; Fernández-Pozo, Luis; Loures, LuísConsidering the complex dynamics, patterns, and particularities that peripheral and insular territories/regions present—e.g., as the fragility, they show to achieve a sustain able development and growth—a study that analyzes the land uses of this territories is seen as pivotal to identify barriers and opportunities for a long-term sustained devel opment. Contextually, a general analysis was carried out through case study research methods covering those territorial typologies of the insular territory of Madeira Island, Portugal. The study, which was carried out through GIS mapping tools, enabled us to identify the land use changes in the last decades over the territory—allowing to estab lish a relation and identification of the associated barriers and opportunities presented by the territories to face the emerging sustainable development challenges. The study reveals the evident limitations of “ultra-peripheral” territories not only by the physical spatial dimensions but also by the difficulty to reconvert land uses. Thus, the main actors and their policies over the territory are even more relevant and need to be conducted in a more reasonable way—considering the fragility of this regions; such actions present higher impact over the territory and over their inhabitants’ life’s quality standards and finally on the long-term sustainability.
- GIS-based assessment of morphological and hydrological parameters of Ribeira dos Socorridos and Ribeira do Vigário Basins, Madeira Island, PortugalPublication . Lousada, Sérgio; Castanho, Rui AlexandreThe main objective is to identify hydraulic and hydrologic features of drainage basins of Ribeira dos Socorridos, and Ribeira do Vigário located in Madeira Island, (Câmara de Lobos). So, the research analyzed, theoretically, the sediment transport in the above-mentioned cases, and consequently, possible measures for torrential correction were studied. Thereby, hydrographic, geological, and hydrological features of this Archipelago were analyzed in the first phase. Thus, a geographic framing of drainage basins was made - using digital terrain models and deep characterization of the understudy drainage basins. In this regard, it was possible to obtain data regarding the geometric, relief, and drainage system components, using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In fact, the use of GIS makes it possible to characterize all descriptive indices/parameters of a hydrographic basin. These indices/parameters linked to the region's climate explain the need for human intervention to construct river hydraulic infrastructure and implement mitigation measures. Moreover, torrential correction techniques were presented to anticipate and mitigate this typology of events. Contextually, this study provides us several goals to consider in the future, including the most relevant actions and guidelines to enhance the characterization of drainage basins and clarify the characterization and accounting of sediment transport.
- Hydraulic planning in insular urban territories: the case of Madeira Island—Ribeira BravaPublication . Lousada, Sérgio; Cabezas, José; Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Gómez, José Manuel NaranjoThe main objective of this study was to analyze the flood propensity of the main water course of Ribeira Brava drainage basin and, if necessary, to suggest two methodologies to mitigate the impacts, i.e., detention basin sizing and riverbed roughness coefficient adjustment. For the flood propensity assessment, geomorphological data obtained from the watershed characterization process was used through the SIG ArcGIS software and then used for the calculation of the expected peak flow rate for a return period of 100 years using the Gumbel Distribution. Finally, the drainage capacity of the river mouth was verified via the Manning-Strickler equation, with the purpose of establishing whether the river mouth of the watershed has the capacity to drain the entire volume of rainwater in an extreme flood event. In summary, the results indicate that the river mouth of the Ribeira Brava watershed does not have the capacity to drain the rain flow for the pre-established return period; therefore, the detention basin was sized using the Dutch Method and the Simplified Triangular Hydrograph Method, and the roughness coefficient was adjusted in order to ensure the increase in the river mouth’s drainage capacity.
- Hydraulic studies and their influence for regional urban planning: a pratical approach to Fynchal’s riversPublication . Miranda, Dénio Gouveia; Camacho, Rafael Freitas; Lousada, Sérgio; Castanho, Rui AlexandreFlood phenomena in urban territories are a reality all over the globe.However, both urban planning processes and hydraulic studies are mostly not well-developed, considering the multidisciplinarity and complexity of the theme, resulting in urban agglomerations - with a tendency to occur in this typology of events – showing several gaps, regarding a well developed and articulated urban planning, not being able to deal with this type of natural phenomenon.In this regard, the combining of multivariate studies, such as urban planning and hydraulic studies, are seen as critical to achieve a sustained territorial success of the regions affected by this typology of phenomena. Thus, by exploratory tools and analysis methods: i.e. calculation of roughness coefficients in artificial runoff channels, analysis of surface runoff, computer models, evaluation and analysis of design and spatial planning policies in urban areas, and its application to a case study - the case of the Funchal´s Rivers, Madeira, Portugal - are just a few examples of analysis that the study carries out, from a multidisciplinary perspective, in order to define bases and measures, enabling to prevent and minimize the negative impacts of such events, as well as increasing the safety of resident populations.
- Impactos Socioculturais da Cooperação Transfronteiriça (CT) no Espaço EuropeuPublication . Loures, Ana Lúcia Corvo Viegas; Cabezas, José; Fernández-Pozo, Luis; Lousada, Sérgio António; Gómez, José Manuel Naranjo; Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Loures, LuisO Projeto Europeu tem sido alvo de diversas críticas e oscilações políticas que têm contribuído para uma degradação da coesão na União Europeia. Torna-se crucial analisar os fatores críticos para o sucesso da cooperação transfronteiriça, de modo a compreender este fenómeno e encontrar soluções para a temática Europeia, promovendo a articulação de medidas e métodos de crescimento sustentável para estes territórios fronteiriços. O presente estudo procura, através de inquéritos a especialistas, dar resposta às problemáticas definidas, estabelecendo uma correlação entre os fatores críticos para o sucesso territorial em áreas de fronteira e os seus possíveis impactos a nível sociocultural. Os resultados obtidos permitiram definir o estado atual da problemática da cooperação transfronteiriça, assim como isolar alguns fatores cruciais para o sucesso da cooperação, como são disso exemplo o sentido de identidade e a manutenção dos sinais distintivos do território, elementos chave para os cidadãos de zonas transfronteiriças europeias.
- Implementation and challenges of the passive house concept in Portugal: lessons learnt from successful experiencePublication . Figueiredo, António; Rebelo, Filipe; Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Oliveira, Rui; Lousada, Sérgio; Vicente, Romeu; Ferreira, Victor M.The European Green Deal defined by the European Commission on December 2019 presents an ambitious set of measures for the European Union and its citizens to accomplish the challenge of climate change, making Europe until 2050 the first neutral continent, where there are no net emissions of greenhouse gases. The Passive House (PH) concept has the same ambitious goal, targeting the reduction of the carbon footprint while promoting a construction design that gives primacy to the optimum energy balance, assuring comfort and quality with a minimum impact on the final building cost and operation. However, the PH concept is still not an easy process to implement in the traditional construction sector, especially in South European territory, as is the case of Portugal. Contextually, the present study through the discussion of a case study research method applied to European PH successful experience, has defined guidelines for the implementation of this concept within sustainable development principles. The methodology strategy starts with the information collection from Hanover, Brussels, and Tyrol case studies. Then, a statement regarding the current situation of Portugal in respect of the PH numbers and policies was performed. Moreover, the information gathered, as well as the experience of learnt lessons, were compared to the Portuguese reality. As a final procedure, barriers and obstacles for the Portuguese case have been identified through the analysis and understanding of the country’s social dynamics, and also with the crossing of sustainable development principles. Thus, the present research enables us to propose guidelines to increase the PH implementation in Portugal.
- Interactions between surrounding landscape biodiversity and intermittent rivers in mediterranean environments – case study of the Caia RiverPublication . Kaletová, Tatiana; Raposo, Mauro; Pinto-Gomes, Carlos; Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Martin Gallardo, Jose; Loures, Luís; Castanho, Hermenegildo; Cabezas, José; Fernándes-Pozo, Luis; Naranjo Gómez, José Manuel; Lousada, Sérgio; Escórcio, PatríciaLandscape is a dynamic mosaic of various structures interacting together. Neglecting or overusing one part of this mosaic may boost up or damage the development of others. For instance, overgrazing may increase soil erosion process which may clog a river/stream. In this regard land use changes, climate change and landscape management may lead to increase the intermittency of the surface watercourses, as well as in the ecosystem services provided by riverscapes for humans. Therefore, the present research focus on the existing interactions between the Caia River, an intermittent river located in the Mediterranean region, and its surrounding agricultural and natural landscapes. The performed analyses considered the identification of the existing interaction between natural and agricultural landscapes with the Caia River defining the predictable ecosystem services provided by each element of the landscape and assessing the potential decrease of the ecosystem services provided in case of landscape changes, which according to the performed research might enclose significant impacts both in ecologic and socioeconomic terms.
- Land-Use Changes in Insular Urban Territories: A Retrospective Analysis from 1990 to 2018. The Case of Madeira Island—Ribeira BravaPublication . Lousada, Sérgio; Cabezas, José; Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Gómez, José Manuel NaranjoAs the main island of the Madeira Archipelago, Madeira is faced with a clear demand for more precise and specific planning policies, in order to respond to regional requests. Bearing in mind the urgency of this issue linked to the concept of sustainability, planning strategies must be based on and strengthened by several studies, with the most varied themes, as a way of incisively understanding the problem at hand. Based on tools such as GIS (geographic information systems), this study allows the analysis of variations and patterns of land use and occupancy in the municipality of Ribeira Brava, located on Madeira Island. In a comprehensive manner, the study allows us to highlight the stagnation of the urban fabric of the region and, on the other hand, the change in the dynamics of agricultural cultivation present in the county. In addition, this study highlights the change in the predominant native vegetation in the municipality between the years 1990 and 2018. It is still necessary to emphasize the worrying scenario with the loss of native vegetation due to human activity, which requires more emphatic monitoring by regional government actors to protect, preserve and conserve these landscapes, environments and ecosystems.
- Land-use changes in the canary archipelago using the CORINE data: a retrospective analysisPublication . Naranjo Gómez, José Manuel; Lousada, Sérgio; Garrido Velarde, Jacinto Garrido; Castanho, Rui Alexandre; Loures, LuísThe relationships between territorial governance and the pursuit of sustainable development are evidenced to be critical. Exploratory tools, like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), enable us to comprehend the patterns, dynamics, and parameters of land-use changes over the years. The results from such studies could be used in the design of a sustainable territorial governance strategy. Contextually, a study has been conducted based on the changes that occurred in land uses in the Canary Archipelago in the years 1990, 2000, 2012, and 2018 using CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) data. Even if most of the land uses have been stable over the analyzed period, the investigation shows a decrease in agricultural areas. By contrast, it is possible to verify an increase in semi-natural areas and urban agglomerations. Moreover, the authors believe that an assessment of the land-use changes on these ultra-peripheral areas will also enable us to disclose some obstacles and opportunities for sustained developmen.