Methodological proposal for the assessment of the minor water network
Application to the banks of urban streams in Cuenca, Ecuador
Keywords:
Sustainable urban planning, , urban water network, stream management, public spaceAbstract
Smaller bodies of water perform essential functions in urban ecosystems, contributing to water and microclimate regulation, flood mitigation, biodiversity, and the creation of recreational and educational spaces with landscape value. However, their management is often neglected even in cities with significant river management policies, making them one of the most degraded aquatic ecosystems in the world. In this context, we present a tool that systematizes key information on urban streams and visualizes their current state using a replicable and open-access methodology. The tool enables the semi-automated collection, systematization, and display of data using a georeferenced form and interactive maps. The main aspect of urban streams is the integration of their banks into the city's public space, gathering information on four components: watercourse, riverbank edge, bank, and first line built. Through multiple-choice questions and photographic and audio recordings, quantitative and qualitative data are collected to document 14 variables, providing a comprehensive assessment of each section, stream, and the whole water network. The results are recorded in a database, which generates an inventory and an interactive dashboard for citizens. This tool aims to contribute to the sustainable management of urban streams, their reintegration into public policy and the collective consciousness, reaffirming their role as a fundamental element of the urban water network.
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