Regional Ministry for Development commissions a study from UPCT to propose nature-based solutions to minimise the impact of floods

03/08/2020

The Regional Ministry for Development and Infrastructure has commissioned a study from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena to propose nature-based solutions (NbS) to help minimise the impact of floods in municipalities on the shores of the Mar Menor, in order to reinforce the safety of people during episodes of torrential rain.

The aim of this work is to analyse the urban effects of flooding in a sample of localities, as well as to gather together a repertoire of architectural, building and urban planning solutions to apply to free urban spaces, based on nature.

The regional minister José Ramón Díez de Revenga and the university's vice-chancellor Beatriz Miguel today announced that their departments have signed a contract for a research team from the university to take on this study, which also aims to encourage job creation in a sector as new and with such good future prospects as NbS. "One of the objectives of the Regional Executive is to redirect the way we build, towards improving urban habitats in the region, to work in favour of nature instead of trying to dominate it", stated the minister.

Díez de Revenga explained that as well as building dams, channels and other public infrastructure, "it is essential to implement soft and environmentally friendly solutions that contribute to improving the quality of urban public spaces, to allow them to adapt to situations of rising rivers, watercourses and floods in the urban context". This research will develop upon one of the lines of work established by the Expert Panel for Flood Risk Prevention in the Region of Murcia, which was set up by the Autonomous Region after the 'DANA' storm (Isolated Upper Level Depression) last year. Furthermore, it is set out in the Sustainable Construction and Architecture Strategy, which is part of the Regional Circular Economy Strategy, demonstrating the regional government's commitment to fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

NbS pilot projectThe regional minister highlighted the qualifications and experience of the research team of the UPCT's Urban Research Laboratory, which will be running the study, analysis and implementation of the NbS in the municipalities of the Mar Menor.

He explained that the researchers will produce a design proposal for the public space in a pilot urban centre to implement Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems for runoff waters (SUDS). The public space will be chosen between the municipalities affected by the recent floods. Prior to the pilot project, the research group will carry out an analysis and mapping of the effects of the September flood in certain affected urban centres, as well as the behaviour of the public spaces during those floods in the municipalities of Torre Pacheco, San Pedro del Pinatar, San Javier and Los Alcázares, as well as Los Urrutias, including the urban centres of the districts affected.

The study will also include a compilation of the regulations and nature-based solutions for urban public spaces that have been shown to work properly against flood situations. Furthermore, they will identify and map public urban spaces that are suitable for implementing nature-based solutions.

Statements: Regional Minister of Development and Infrastructures, José Ramón Díez de Revenga, on the agreement with the UPCT for the study on the implementation of nature-based solutions to improve the behaviour of free urban spaces against episodes of flooding in the municipalities of the Mar Menor. (MP3 file 969.38KB)

Photograph: Study on NbS against flooding.