Explaining the function of the sponge city as a nature-based approach in the sustainable management of urban water resources (case study: Shiraz city)

Document Type : .

Authors

• Mahboobeh Noori ¹
• MohammadReza Rezaei ²

¹ Ph.D. Candidate in Geography and Urban Planning, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

² Associate Professor of Geography and Urban Planning, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

10.30495/jupm.2023.32001.4357

Abstract

Today, nature-based solutions have been proposed as a new and comprehensive approach to solving water challenges, increasing resilience and realizing sustainable management of urban water resources. In this regard, the current research was conducted with the aim of explaining the functional dimensions of the sponge city as a nature-oriented approach in the sustainable management of water resources in Shiraz. The research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive in nature and survey type. The sample size of 30 people was determined by the purposeful method of judgment and snowball among the experts. Finally, the collected data were analyzed by the structural-interpretive modeling method and DIMTEL. According to the research findings; The final leveling model of the functional dimensions of the sponge city consists of four levels, which has rainwater management and the implementation of green-blue infrastructure at the lowest level and the role of the underlying stone of the model. Rain with the amount of 3.342 and 2.435 has the most influence and improvement of urban ecosystems and biodiversity with the value of 2.541 has the most influence. Also based on index (D+R); The implementation of green-blue infrastructure with a value of 5.639 has the most interaction with other dimensions, but according to the (D-R) index; The implementation of green-blue infrastructure, rainwater management and flood protection and risk management are considered as causal variables, and the other four dimensions with a negative value are considered as effect variables. Therefore, the implementation of the sponge city concept can be placed on the agenda of urban planners of Shiraz as a practical way to achieve a healthy and sustainable urban system.

Keywords

• Nature-based solutions
• sponge city
• sustainable water management
• Shiraz city

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