Susceptibility to Flooding and Urban Flooding in Small Municipalities: Hydrogeomorphological, Land Use and Land Cover Aspects in a Multi-Criterion Analysis

• Published in: RGSA : Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental Vol. 18; no. 9; pp. e06513 - 17
• Main Authors: Guimarães, Édson Avelar, Silva, Vinícius Vanderley Miguel da, Silva, Luis Felipe Umbelino da, Molisani, Maurício Mussi, Lugon Júnior, Jaber
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: São Paulo Centro Universitário da FEI, Revista RGSA 2024
• Subjects: Anthropogenic factors; Catchment areas; Climate change; Flooding; Floods; Geomorphology; Human influences; Hydrogeomorphology; Hydrologic data; Hypotheses; Land cover; Land use; Land use management; Landslides & mudslides; Multiple criterion; Municipalities; Occupations; Precipitation; Rainfall; Surface water; Urban development; Urban planning; Urbanization
• ISSN: 1981-982X; 1981-982X
• DOI: 10.24857/rgsa.v18n9-040

Objective: To investigate areas susceptible to flooding and inundation, testing the hypothesis that the accumulation of surface water does not depend exclusively on fluvial flood pulses.   Theoretical Framework: Anthropogenic actions have played a significant role in modifying natural physiography, especially through urbanization and occupation of environmentally sensitive areas. These interventions have a direct impact on the dynamics of natural processes, highlighting the need to understand local hydrogeomorphology in order to ensure efficient territorial planning.   Methodology: The research comprised a multi-criteria analysis involving hydrological, geomorphological, land use and occupation data associated with precipitation data for a small municipality. This municipality has urban development in the area of influence of a main river in its catchment area.   Results and Discussion: Around 52% of the municipality is urbanized with 95% on slopes ranging from 0 to 23º, upstream of a cumulative flow of 18,000. Rainfall is 1366 mm/year and tends to decrease, although there has been a 62% increase in flooding in recent years. Around 75% of the urbanized area is vulnerable to pluvial flooding, while the rest is subject to both pluvial flooding and fluvial flood pulses.    Research Implications: Insights into how the results can influence urban planning practices, extending to the fields of hydrogeomorphology and land use and occupation management.   Originality/Value: The methodology is simple and accessible to small municipalities and urban planning entrepreneurs. Its relevance is evidenced by the fact that it improves urban planning, minimizing socio-economic and environmental costs.