WP 4 - URBAN WATER: EU/USA COMMON MODELS

URBAN WATER: EU/USA COMMON MODELS

 
Objectives
The overall objective of WP4 is to expand an integrated approach (water resources, supply, environment), one of the main thematic area of the UMI, n°1 “Water and urban development”. This area includes today current programs on “Water and urban sprawl (France/USA)”, “Water networks in Arizona growth corridors”, and “Tools and methods for urban water management (remote sensing, DSS)” developed with the UA Hydrology and Water Resources Department and School of Natural Resources and Environment (remote sensing program, urban and regional stakeholders). To prepare the “urban water agenda” for SWC is a major goal of WP4. Since the establishment of the UMI in 2008, urban water is one of the major areas of activity in collaboration with hydrologists, geographers, urban planners, remote sensing specialists at the University of Arizona (partner 2) and also others: CUNY (New York City University), Princeton University and research centers in France and Latin America.
Specific objectives include:
- to develop an integrated urban water approach that will be used throughout the project (water supply and sanitation networks from water resources to the environment protection);
- to identify key scientific and technological themes relevant to the field of urban water and evaluate existing capacities within these thematic areas and identifying gaps.
 
Description of work and role of partners
WP4 will be led by partner 1. Beyond the regular collaboration with partner 2 (UA), a substantial collaboration will involve partner 4 for urban water demand and partner 3 on governance and participation. Partner 6 will be a key partner to develop a new axis on water in cities in developing countries (access to water). A specific task on remote sensing and GIS will jointly be developed with partner 5 (BAS-NIGGG) and UA.
 
Task 4-1: Rethinking urban water: the need for an integrated approach
To expand the activities currently developed by the UMI in the field of urban water implies the need for a more integrated and comparative approach. To promote an innovative approach of urban water the watershed scale will be used, as well as “hydrology approach” (the basin wide) than a human, economic, functional definition. Selected regional/urban watersheds will be identified to establish comparative research and integrate multiple water dimensions. Starting the second year, the SWAN central seminar and the workshops will allow integration of European students and scholars with the US scholars and students into specific activities, related to water in cities, smart growth and water, “greening”, recycling water. An international conference and a publication will be organized on Changing paradigms in urban water studies, management and education.
Months 12-45, with partners 2, 3, 4 and 6
 
Task 4-2: Development of a geo-spatial database and visualization tools
Developing a new understanding of urban water and our ability to develop an integrated physical and social modeling structure will require detailed knowledge of the relationships between changing urban land use/cover, population dynamics and water supply and demand. Initially we will utilize the knowledge represented by the partner groups to establish the spatial and temporal resolution requirements for these datasets to fulfill the modeling objectives. Through the use of a set of surveys of partners we will first establish the required resolutions. Then we will create a set of prototype datasets utilizing available remote sensing, census and water supply and demand data for 3-4 of cities. These urban datasets will be shared with the partner groups enabling subsequent modeling efforts with a consequent set of data for all partners to evaluate and utilize.
Months 6-36, with partners 5, 4 and 1
 
Task 4-3: Urban water in the framework of stakeholders workshops
WP4 along with WP2 and WP1 and together with partner 6 will contribute and facilitate participatory and collaborative urban water planning and conflict resolution activities. It will prepare the specific urban data for these workshops to arrive at common definitions of problems, scenarios and management alternatives. One of the stakeholders workshops will be organized within this task (D 1.3) as part of the International conference on changing paradigms in urban water studies, management and education (D 4.2). As in task 1-3, these workshops will lead stakeholders (mangers, decision makers, NGO) to collaboratively discuss and elaborate different management alternatives and strategies to cope with future changes in water demand, availability and conservation within an integrated approach.
Months 12-36, with partners 2, 3 and 6    
 
List of deliverables

D 4.1: Working papers: “Geo-spatial database and visualization tools”

D 4.2: Publication (edited book): “Water and urban development”