Applying the principles of designing sponge greenways in the manage-ment of water resources in desert cities (Case study: Maddis of Isfahan)
Subject Areas : Operation Management in Water Systems
1 - Assistant Professor, Department of Urbanism, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
Keywords: Sponge city, Sponge greenway, Urban design guidline, Maddies of Isfahan,
Abstract :
This article examines the principles of the "sponge city" concept, proposing it as a sustainable solution for water resource recovery, specifically through the application of its principles to revive one of the rare water management systems in Iranian cities: the Maddies of Isfahan. Desert cities in Iran, including Isfahan, are facing serious challenges such as water shortages, pollution, climate changes (including urban heat islands and atmospheric inversions), and prolonged droughts, all of which make urban and human life increasingly difficult. Adopting an approach to mitigate these problems and restore natural elements is essential. The Maddies of Isfahan serve to direct, drain, and store water, playing a crucial role in protecting underground water resources. The emerging concept of sponge cities-designed to absorb and retain rainwater-coupled with the development of urban greenways as natural pathways within cities, can enhance the role of these linear natural elements. This research employs an analytical-descriptive method, reviewing existing literature on sponge cities principles and greenway characteristics. By extracting the principles of both approaches and aligning them, this study explores their application in the restoration and regeneration of the Maddies in Isfahan.
The findings suggest that the concept of "spongy greenways" represents an innovative approach to revitalizing ancient water systems. Through design solutions and practical interventions, this approach can enhance environmental functions, social vitality, economic sustainability, and public health. These solutions fall into seven categories: shell design, spatial form and structure, materials and color, natural resource management, vegetation, functionality, and management and maintenance. Together, these strategies contribute in realizing the vision of sustainable urban water management.
Ahiablame, L., & Shakya, R.) 2016(. Modeling flood reduction effects of low impact development at a watershed scale. Journal of Environmental Management. 171, 15, 81-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.01.036
Ahmadi, F. (2015). Maddies of Isfahan. Isfahan: Publications of Isfahan Municipality Welfare and Recreation Organization. (In Persian)
Alves, A., Gersonius, B., Sanchez, A., Vojinovic, Z., & Kapelan, Z. (2018). Multi-criteria approach for selection of green and grey infrastructure to reduce flood risk and increase CO-benefits. Water Resources Management, 32(7), 2505-2522. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-018-1943-3
American Rivers. (n.d.). What is green infrastructure? https://www.americanrivers.org/what-is-green-nfrastructure/#:~:text=Green%20infrastructure%20is%20an%20approach,costly%20new%20water%20treatment%20plant
Esfahan Municipality: Associate President of Urban Development and Architecture. (2020). Urban design in Daraygah e Nazar with tourism approach. Report. Design by Gozine Architectural and urban planning consultant office. (In Persian)
Benedict, MA., & McMahon, ET. (2012). Green infrastructure: linking landscapes and communities.Washengton: Island press.
Bohns, J. (2020). Urban Greenways: A guide to planning and design. Routledge. Island Press; First Edition (October 1, 1993)
Chen, J. (2024). Research on performance evaluation of sponge city construction based on PSIR Model. Frontiers in Science and Engineering, 4 ) 4( . https://doi.org/10.54691/b555ky45
Dehghanzad, SH., Ghalenoee, M., & Jamshidi, M. (2018). In search of macro measures of urban green structure; Case study: Shahreza city. Master's Thesis, urban design field. Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning. Isfahan Art University. (In Persian)
Deng, Y, Wen, J., & Zhang, CH. (2022). Sponge city and water environment planning and construction in Jibu district in Changde city. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010444
Dietz, ME., Clausen, JC., Rosa & David, J. (2015). Calibration and verification of SWMM for low impact development. The Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA). 51, 746–757. https://doi.org/10.1111/jawr.12272
EEA: European Environment Agency. (2011). Green infrastructure and territorial cohesion. The concept of green infrastructure and its integration into policies using monitoring systems. EEA Technical report. No 18/2011. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/green-infrastructure-and-territorial-cohesion
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency. (2015). Green Infrastructure. https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure
Gan, R., & Sun.R. (2023). Construction of sponge city in luoyang city. Engineering Advances, 3(4), 302-305. https://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ea.2023.08.005
Greening Solution. (2023). The construction of sponge city is in progress. Retrieved from https://www.greening-solution.com/the-construction-of-sponge-city-is-in-progress
Hinman, C. (2005). Low impact development technical guidance manual for Puget sound. Puget Sound Action Team, Olympia, WA, USA.
Honarfar, L. (1992). Isfahan's treasure of historical works. Tehran. Saghafi publish. (In Persian)
INCAS. (2019). Sponge cities: New perspectives on the progress of urban de-growth in Japan. INCAS . Retrieved October 13, 2024. https://doi.org/10.58079/q4ld
Jamshidi, M., & Ghalenoee, M. (2010). Urban design of the forgotten greenways: a way to create a more sustainable urban environment (case example: Madi Niasserm). Master's thesis, urban design field. Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning. Isfahan Art University. (In Persian)
Jamshidi, M. (2024). The approach of sponge cities to realize the sustainability of water resources in desert cities. The first national conference on engineering and management strategies in water systems. Isfahan: Isfahan Islamic Azad University (Khorasgan). (In Persian)
Kabarfard, M., FazlOli, R., Zarghami, M., & Akbarpour, A. (2017). Evaluating the most efficient method of low-impact development and determining the best quantitative urban flood management solution using real-time events. Iran Irrigation and Drainage Journal, 12(1), 40-52. (In Persian)
Kazemi, F., Golzarian, MR., & Myers, B. (2018). Potential of combined water sensitive urban design systems for salinity treatment in urban environments. Journal of Environment Management 1(209), 169–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.12.046
Khatami, SM., & Al-Sadat Mousavinejad, F. (2022). A sustainable link between the city and nature through the design of the network of public spaces (case example: Shahr Noor). Journal of Urban Structure and Function Studies, 9(31), 74-100. https://doi.org/10.22080/usfs.2022.22409.2193
Kryvoruchko, N, & Tymashkov, M. (2024). The "sponge city" program as a system of adaptation methods to climate changes in reforming and forming the architectural environment. Current Problems of Architecture and Urban Planning. https://doi.org/10.32347/2077-3455.2024.69.252-269
Lafortezza, R., Davies, C., Sanesi, G., & Konijnendijk, C. (2013). Green infrastructure as a tool to support spatial planning in European urban regions. iForest-Biogeosciences and Forestry, 6(3), 102. https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor0723-006
Li, X., Li, J., Fang, X., Gong, Y., & Wang, W. (2016). Case studies of the sponge city program in China. In World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2016. 295-308. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784479858.031
Ming, L., Zhang, Y., & Zhou, J. (2019). Green infrastructure as a solution for urban flood management. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, 18(12), 2711-2725. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1560
Nguyen, T., Ngo, HH., Guo, W., & Wang, XC. (2020). A new model framework for sponge city implementation: Emerging challenges and future developments. Journal of Environmental Management, 253, 109689. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109689
O’Brien, CD. (2015). Sustainable drainage system (SuDS) ponds in Inverness, UK and the favourable conservation status of amphibians. Urban Ecosystem, 18, 321–331. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-014-0397-5
O’Donnell, E., Thorne, CR., Yeakley, A., & Shun Chan, FK. (2020). Sustainable flood risk and stormwater management in blue-green cities; an interdisciplinary case study in Portland, Oregon. Journal of the American Wa-ter Resources Association (JAWRA), 56(5), 2235. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.12854
Onuma, A., & Tsuge, T. (2018). Comparing green infrastructure as ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction with gray infrastructure in terms of costs and benefits under uncertainty: A theoretical approach. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 32, 22-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.01.025
Peiyao, W. (2024). Application of sponge city concept in urban waterfront landscape design. Academic Journal of Architecture and Geotechnical Engineering, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.25236/AJAGE.2024.060301
Rostami, I., Ithari, M., Bahrami, J., & Jafari Nadushan, E. (2024). Investigating the use of the sponge city concept for the city of Sanandaj for flood prevention, storage and optimal allocation of water. Scientific Research Journal of Irrigation and Water Engineering of Iran. https://doi.org/10.22125/IWE.2024.459447.1810. (In Persian)
Sallustio, L., Perone, A., Vizzarri, M., & et al. (2019). The green side of the grey: Assessing greenspaces in built-up areas of Italy. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 37, 147-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2017.10.018
Shafaghi, S. (2001). Geography of Isfahan. Isfahan: Isfahan University Press. (In Persian)
Shu., Xi., Sun. Lu., & Guo, CH. (2023). Research on sewage purification technology in sponge cities. Frontiers in Sustainable Development, 3(4). https://doi.org/10.54691/fsd.v3i4.4779
Sun, Y., Deng, L., Pan, Sh., & et al. (2020). Integration of green and gray infrastructures for sponge city. Water and Energy Nexus, 3, 29-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wen.2020.03.003
SWM. (n.d.). Vertical sponge city above Hamburg. Retrieved from: https://www.swm.aco/case-studies/reference/vertical-sponge-city-above-hamburg
UNEP: United Nations Environment Programmer. (2014). Green Infrastructure Guide for Water Management: Ecosystem-based management approaches for water-related infrastructure projects. [PDF]. https://www.unep.org/resources/publication/green-infrastructure-guide-water-management.
Urbanist, T. (2023). Urbanism 101: What is a sponge city? The Urbanist. https://www.theurbanist.org/2023/02/08/urbanism-101-what-is-a-sponge-city/
Wang, N., Li, H., Zhang, J., & et al. (2022). Research on sustainable evaluation model of sponge city based on emergy analysis. Water, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010032
Wei, L., & Sun, X. (2022). Study on sponge city construction scheme based on the AHP: Taking Tianjin as an Example. ICCREM. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784484562.084
Woznicki, SA., Hondula, KL., & Jarnagin, ST. (2018). Effectiveness of landscape‐based green infrastructure for stormwater management in suburban catchments. Hydrological Processes, 32(15), 2346-2361. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.13144
Zhang, C., He, M., & Zhang, Y. (2019). Urban sustainable development based on the framework of sponge city: 71 case studies in China. Sustainability, 11(6), 1544. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061544
Zhu, J. (2023). Research on the problems and strategies of sponge city construction in China. Applied and Computational Engineering, 24(1), 83-90 https://doi.org/10.54254/2755-2721/24/20230681