Graça AN Saraiva - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Graça AN Saraiva

EnglishStarting by a synthesis on the history of writing, of its support, the paper, and the crea... more EnglishStarting by a synthesis on the history of writing, of its support, the paper, and the creation of archives, as targeted services for the collection, organisation and display of documents, this paper aims to explore the relationships between a noble family, the Pinto de Almeida, of the parish of Pacos de Brandao, with the history of paper. Their relationship with the paper industry is emphasized within the parish, while active entrepreneurs in several factories, but also as builders of a family archive that has been accumulated along seven generations, keeped into the present moment in good conservation conditions. The Pinto de Almeida family lifetime has been associated with this estate, ‘Casa da Portela’, one of the ex-libris of the parish of Pacos de Brandao, where they lived since the late 18th century until the mid-20th century, hosting the repository of memories, written and oral, that crossed several generations. There, a family archive has been collected, containing do...

O valor estético da paisagem, sda paisagem urbana em particular, da água e das zonas ribeirinhas ... more O valor estético da paisagem, sda paisagem urbana em particular, da água e das zonas ribeirinhas constitui um tema extremamente apelativo, motivador de intervenções de vários tipos e que se apresenta, na generalidade, como uma forte justificação para acções de reabilitação. Neste capitulo pretende-se reflectir sobre perspectivas de requalificação paisagistica em zonas ribeirinhas, de modo a incrementar a sua apreciação estética e a valorização pelos utilizadores e pelo publico em geral. Neste contexto, recorre-se à discussão de conceitos como a apreciação e avaliação estética da paisagem, temas de grande interesse e actualidade, que suscitam discussões conceptuais e metodológicas enriquecedoras, embora por vezes controversas, dada a subjectividade que lhes é inerente

Water Resources …, 1999

In Part I of this article the very dynamic nature of floodplain management was discussed and the ... more In Part I of this article the very dynamic nature of floodplain management was discussed and the need for modelling the urban growth processes and formulating scenarios of urban development was emphasised. In this second part, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for addressing those problems is presented. GIS have been recognised as a powerful means to integrate and analyse data from various sources in the context of comprehensive floodplain management. Adequate information and prediction capability is vital to evaluate alternative scenarios for flood mitigation policies and to improve decision making processes associated with flood management. A framework for the comprehensive evaluation of flood hazard management policies is also addressed in this article. This comprehensive approach to flood problems is more than an attitude or a philosophical starting point. It makes use of specific technological tools conceived to be used by different actors, some of them being nonexperts in flood analysis. These tools, based on GIS, are very appropriate for a participatory approach to flood policy formulation and floodplain management because they help communicating with the public in a scientifically correct and yet rather simple manner.

Territorial identity is today a key aspect of local development. Thus, it becomes relevant to gai... more Territorial identity is today a key aspect of local development. Thus, it becomes relevant to gain a better understanding of the process of constructing the identity of territories, as a support for local actions. Landscape, as defined by the European Landscape Convention, is an essential framework for exploring the foundation, and understanding territorial identity as a social construct over time. This article intends to reflect on the landscape identity of Charneca do Ribatejo, a landscape unit where the implementation of a Landscape Observatory is underway, following European Landscape Convention recommendations. For this, three interconnected territorial scales are approached from the geographic, historical and ecological points of view: i) Ribatejo province, as an administrative and political unit created by the Estado Novo, ii) Charneca do Ribatejo, as an extensive, unpopulated landscape, in the left bank of the Tagus River in the transition to the Alentejo region, iii) Charne...

Water Resources Management, 1999

Some of the most critical flood problems occur in urban areas where values at risk are higher and... more Some of the most critical flood problems occur in urban areas where values at risk are higher and damages tend to be heavier. Fast urban developing regions raise very specific problems because of the unsteady situation of these regions in terms of catchment land-use and urban encroachment. A realistic approach to flood management in these situations requires the consideration of urban growth scenarios and the simulation of the corresponding flood conditions. Coastal towns are frequently located in floodplains and are subject to flood hazard. This is the case for many coastal areas in Southern Europe that are still developing fast due to migration of the population to these areas. In such cases, flood management cannot be dissociated from land-use management, and non-structural measures for flood control can play a crucial role. It is important to make an ex-post evaluation of these types of measures in areas where they have been adopted. These issues are addressed in two Portuguese catchments, representative of urban growth and related to flood problems in Portugal and other Southern European regions. The Laje catchment is used for the expost evaluation of nonstructural measures, and the Livramento catchment is used for the modelling of urban growth scenarios. Quantitative results and policy recommendations are presented based on these two case-studies. Floodplain management is better done with GIS, especially if it is linked to hydrologic and hydraulic modelling capabilities. The use of GIS for conducting these studies is presented in Part II of this article.

ABSTRACT O PAPEL DOS ESPAÇOS VERDES NO DESENVOLVIMENTO URBANO SUSTENTÁVEL Num contexto de desenvo... more ABSTRACT O PAPEL DOS ESPAÇOS VERDES NO DESENVOLVIMENTO URBANO SUSTENTÁVEL Num contexto de desenvolvimento urbano sustentável, o papel dos espaços verdes na cidade não pode ser ignorado no seu contributo para a qualidade de vida, sobretudo tendo em conta que “a qualidade ambiental que contribui para a harmonia social e vitalidade cultural torna -se um dos factores chave do sucesso económico de uma cidade” (Nova Carta de Atenas, 2003:19). Neste contexto, emerge a necessidade de proporcionar orientações/recomendações no que diz respeito ao planeamento e concepção dos espaços verdes, no sentido de potenciar as suas funções ecológicas, hidrológicas e atmosféricas, favorecer a sua utilização e aumentar o grau de satisfação dos seus utilizadores. No futuro, estas funções podem vir a ganhar ainda maior relevância perante um quadro de alterações climáticas, a subsequente ocorrência de eventos meteorológicos extremos (i.e. temperatura e distribuição espacial e temporal da precipitação), assim como a densificação das áreas urbanas, a progressiva urbanização da população e a procura de espaços de evasão e de reencontro com a natureza, o que justifica o investimento na construção de espaços verdes para as pessoas, com a presença e interacção dos elementos naturais, integrados na malha urbana. O desempenho das funções ecológicas e sociais dos espaços verdes também depende da sua inserção na cidade e da ligação que lhe é permitido estabelecer com a sua envolvente. Ao beneficiarem de espaços de proximidade ligados aos locais residenciais e de trabalho, promovem uma apropriação desses espaços pela população, sendo que “as cidades e as aglomerações urbanas mais apreciadas são aquelas que proporcionam uma experiência ambiental rica e positiva” (Nova Carta de Atenas, 2003:19). Num contexto em que se verifica um aumento da sedentariedade das populações, uma intensificação dos níveis de stress relacionados com a vivência em zonas urbanas e com o agravamento dos riscos ambientais, evidências empíricas salientam a importância das funções sociais e psicológicas desempenhadas pelos espaços verdes urbanos. Estes podem ter um efeito restaurativo, contribuindo para a redução do stress mental e promovendo sentimentos e um humor positivo. Os efeitos benéficos dos espaços verdes assumem maior ou menor influência, consoante a sua inserção na cidade, neste sentido, são considerados como exemplo, um conjunto seleccionado de espaços verdes projectados no âmbito do Programa Polis, tais como Leiria, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Beja e Viseu, representativos de um leque de tipologias, sobretudo no que respeita a relação espacial do novo espaço verde com a cidade, assim como a presença ou ausência de rio (figura 26). Em Leiria e Viseu verifica -se uma intervenção estruturada de forma linear ao longo do rio. Enquanto no primeiro caso esta cruza a cidade, no segundo caso assume um posicionamento periférico. A intervenção em Coimbra marca a transição de uma tipologia linear e para uma tipologia pontual. Apesar do seu posicionamento junto ao Rio Mondego, ao não acompanhar as margens de uma forma contínua, apresenta -se com carácter mais pontual. Esta tipologia pontual é mais evidente em Castelo Branco, inscrevendo -se no centro da cidade, e em Beja, onde se localiza na franja urbana. Estas diversidades de relações espaciais traduzem -se numa diversidade de relações funcionais destes espaços verdes, por um lado, entre a cidade e os seus habitantes, e por outro, entre o espaço urbano e a sua envolvente.

Water Resources Management, 1999

In Part I of this article the very dynamic nature of floodplain management was discussed and the ... more In Part I of this article the very dynamic nature of floodplain management was discussed and the need for modelling the urban growth processes and formulating scenarios of urban development was emphasised. In this second part, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for addressing those problems is presented. GIS have been recognised as a powerful means to integrate and analyse data from various sources in the context of comprehensive floodplain management. Adequate information and prediction capability is vital to evaluate alternative scenarios for flood mitigation policies and to improve decision making processes associated with flood management. A framework for the comprehensive evaluation of flood hazard management policies is also addressed in this article. This comprehensive approach to flood problems is more than an attitude or a philosophical starting point. It makes use of specific technological tools conceived to be used by different actors, some of them being nonexperts in flood analysis. These tools, based on GIS, are very appropriate for a participatory approach to flood policy formulation and floodplain management because they help communicating with the public in a scientifically correct and yet rather simple manner.

Planning Practice and Research, 2013

The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdepend... more The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdependence to a progressive relationship of segregation and disintegration. This article uses a planning experiment to explore and discuss some concerns about visual attractiveness of city-river landscapes in promoting spatial integration of cities and rivers. It presents a methodological approach integrating expert opinions and public perception questionnaires. This is a contribution to making operational an ongoing aesthetic assessment of different dimensions and viewpoints at the city scale. This approach is illustrated with a case-study in the Lisbon metropolitan area and its main assessment results are integrated in a city-river profile that can be useful in ongoing evaluation processes of river landscapes and urban planning practice.

CESUR-Center of Urban …

This work refers to the establishment of a methodology to evaluate urban river aesthetic quality,... more This work refers to the establishment of a methodology to evaluate urban river aesthetic quality, in order to integrate this evaluation into a decision making process for river rehabilitation. It as been undertake through an European research project called URBEM ( ...

Urban River Rehabilitation, …, 2005

Water Resources …, 1998

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been recognised as a powerful means to integrate and an... more Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been recognised as a powerful means to integrate and analyse data from various sources in the context of comprehensive floodplain management. As part of this comprehensive approach to floodplain management, it is very important to be able to predict the consequences of different scenarios in terms of flooded areas and associated risk. Hydrologic and hydraulic modelling plays a crucial role and there is much to gain in incorporating these modelling capabilities in GIS. This is still a rather complex task and research is being done on the full integration of these models. Interfacing between these models and GIS may be a very efficient way of overcoming the difficulties and getting very good results in terms of engineering practice. This paper presents results based on the use of Intergraph GIS coupled with Idrisi GIS. Using these two systems substantially increased the flexibility of using GIS as a tool for flood studies. A lumped (XSRAIN) and a distributed (OMEGA) hydrologic models were used to simulate flood hydrographs. The well known HEC-2 Hydraulic model was used to compute flooded areas. These models were applied in the Livramento catchment with very good results. The computation of flooded areas for different flood scenarios, and its representation in GIS, can be used in the assessment of affected property and associated damages. This is a very useful GIS-based approach to floodplain management.

Planning Practice and Research, 2013

The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdepend... more The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdependence to a progressive relationship of segregation and disintegration. This article uses a planning experiment to explore and discuss some concerns about visual attractiveness of city-river landscapes in promoting spatial integration of cities and rivers. It presents a methodological approach integrating expert opinions and public perception questionnaires. This is a contribution to making operational an ongoing aesthetic assessment of different dimensions and viewpoints at the city scale. This approach is illustrated with a case-study in the Lisbon metropolitan area and its main assessment results are integrated in a city-river profile that can be useful in ongoing evaluation processes of river landscapes and urban planning practice.

The understanding of how people evaluate and respond to natural hazards in an urban area, and how... more The understanding of how people evaluate and respond to natural hazards in an urban area, and how this knowledge can be integrated in the planning and management process, are becoming very important elements of a comprehensive and participatory approach to flood hazard management. Such an approach demands a clear comprehension of the processes of the risks perception, causal attribution, possible solutions for the problem and patterns of behaviour developed during hazard situations. The willingness of the public to participate in flood management, and the attitudes to previous initiatives also need to be addressed. The provision of structural flood defences can have a major impact on the environment and there has been an expression of concern by many members of the public for the degradation of river corridors. In this context, it is becoming a commonly accepted practice by central or local governments to submit flood management plans to public discussion. Appropriate techniques for interfacing with the public are necessary to support this upsurge of public involvement. This paper presents results from research on public perception of floods, flood management and participatory initiatives in Setúbal, Portugal. An extensive interview programme was undertaken with residents and shopkeepers -with and without flood experience, professionals responsible for dealing with flood control problems and local authorities responsible for decisionmaking on flood management. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations for flood hazard management policy making and processes.

The understanding of how people evaluate and respond to natural hazards in an urban area, and how... more The understanding of how people evaluate and respond to natural hazards in an urban area, and how this knowledge can be integrated in the planning and management process, are becoming very important elements of a comprehensive and participatory approach to flood hazard management. Such an approach demands a clear comprehension of the processes of the risks perception, causal attribution, possible solutions for the problem and patterns of behaviour developed during hazard situations. The willingness of the public to participate in flood management, and the attitudes to previous initiatives also need to be addressed. The provision of structural flood defences can have a major impact on the environment and there has been an expression of concern by many members of the public for the degradation of river corridors. In this context, it is becoming a commonly accepted practice by central or local governments to submit flood management plans to public discussion. Appropriate techniques for interfacing with the public are necessary to support this upsurge of public involvement. This paper presents results from research on public perception of floods, flood management and participatory initiatives in Setúbal, Portugal. An extensive interview programme was undertaken with residents and shopkeepers -with and without flood experience, professionals responsible for dealing with flood control problems and local authorities responsible for decisionmaking on flood management. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations for flood hazard management policy making and processes.

EnglishStarting by a synthesis on the history of writing, of its support, the paper, and the crea... more EnglishStarting by a synthesis on the history of writing, of its support, the paper, and the creation of archives, as targeted services for the collection, organisation and display of documents, this paper aims to explore the relationships between a noble family, the Pinto de Almeida, of the parish of Pacos de Brandao, with the history of paper. Their relationship with the paper industry is emphasized within the parish, while active entrepreneurs in several factories, but also as builders of a family archive that has been accumulated along seven generations, keeped into the present moment in good conservation conditions. The Pinto de Almeida family lifetime has been associated with this estate, ‘Casa da Portela’, one of the ex-libris of the parish of Pacos de Brandao, where they lived since the late 18th century until the mid-20th century, hosting the repository of memories, written and oral, that crossed several generations. There, a family archive has been collected, containing do...

O valor estético da paisagem, sda paisagem urbana em particular, da água e das zonas ribeirinhas ... more O valor estético da paisagem, sda paisagem urbana em particular, da água e das zonas ribeirinhas constitui um tema extremamente apelativo, motivador de intervenções de vários tipos e que se apresenta, na generalidade, como uma forte justificação para acções de reabilitação. Neste capitulo pretende-se reflectir sobre perspectivas de requalificação paisagistica em zonas ribeirinhas, de modo a incrementar a sua apreciação estética e a valorização pelos utilizadores e pelo publico em geral. Neste contexto, recorre-se à discussão de conceitos como a apreciação e avaliação estética da paisagem, temas de grande interesse e actualidade, que suscitam discussões conceptuais e metodológicas enriquecedoras, embora por vezes controversas, dada a subjectividade que lhes é inerente

Water Resources …, 1999

In Part I of this article the very dynamic nature of floodplain management was discussed and the ... more In Part I of this article the very dynamic nature of floodplain management was discussed and the need for modelling the urban growth processes and formulating scenarios of urban development was emphasised. In this second part, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for addressing those problems is presented. GIS have been recognised as a powerful means to integrate and analyse data from various sources in the context of comprehensive floodplain management. Adequate information and prediction capability is vital to evaluate alternative scenarios for flood mitigation policies and to improve decision making processes associated with flood management. A framework for the comprehensive evaluation of flood hazard management policies is also addressed in this article. This comprehensive approach to flood problems is more than an attitude or a philosophical starting point. It makes use of specific technological tools conceived to be used by different actors, some of them being nonexperts in flood analysis. These tools, based on GIS, are very appropriate for a participatory approach to flood policy formulation and floodplain management because they help communicating with the public in a scientifically correct and yet rather simple manner.

Territorial identity is today a key aspect of local development. Thus, it becomes relevant to gai... more Territorial identity is today a key aspect of local development. Thus, it becomes relevant to gain a better understanding of the process of constructing the identity of territories, as a support for local actions. Landscape, as defined by the European Landscape Convention, is an essential framework for exploring the foundation, and understanding territorial identity as a social construct over time. This article intends to reflect on the landscape identity of Charneca do Ribatejo, a landscape unit where the implementation of a Landscape Observatory is underway, following European Landscape Convention recommendations. For this, three interconnected territorial scales are approached from the geographic, historical and ecological points of view: i) Ribatejo province, as an administrative and political unit created by the Estado Novo, ii) Charneca do Ribatejo, as an extensive, unpopulated landscape, in the left bank of the Tagus River in the transition to the Alentejo region, iii) Charne...

Water Resources Management, 1999

Some of the most critical flood problems occur in urban areas where values at risk are higher and... more Some of the most critical flood problems occur in urban areas where values at risk are higher and damages tend to be heavier. Fast urban developing regions raise very specific problems because of the unsteady situation of these regions in terms of catchment land-use and urban encroachment. A realistic approach to flood management in these situations requires the consideration of urban growth scenarios and the simulation of the corresponding flood conditions. Coastal towns are frequently located in floodplains and are subject to flood hazard. This is the case for many coastal areas in Southern Europe that are still developing fast due to migration of the population to these areas. In such cases, flood management cannot be dissociated from land-use management, and non-structural measures for flood control can play a crucial role. It is important to make an ex-post evaluation of these types of measures in areas where they have been adopted. These issues are addressed in two Portuguese catchments, representative of urban growth and related to flood problems in Portugal and other Southern European regions. The Laje catchment is used for the expost evaluation of nonstructural measures, and the Livramento catchment is used for the modelling of urban growth scenarios. Quantitative results and policy recommendations are presented based on these two case-studies. Floodplain management is better done with GIS, especially if it is linked to hydrologic and hydraulic modelling capabilities. The use of GIS for conducting these studies is presented in Part II of this article.

ABSTRACT O PAPEL DOS ESPAÇOS VERDES NO DESENVOLVIMENTO URBANO SUSTENTÁVEL Num contexto de desenvo... more ABSTRACT O PAPEL DOS ESPAÇOS VERDES NO DESENVOLVIMENTO URBANO SUSTENTÁVEL Num contexto de desenvolvimento urbano sustentável, o papel dos espaços verdes na cidade não pode ser ignorado no seu contributo para a qualidade de vida, sobretudo tendo em conta que “a qualidade ambiental que contribui para a harmonia social e vitalidade cultural torna -se um dos factores chave do sucesso económico de uma cidade” (Nova Carta de Atenas, 2003:19). Neste contexto, emerge a necessidade de proporcionar orientações/recomendações no que diz respeito ao planeamento e concepção dos espaços verdes, no sentido de potenciar as suas funções ecológicas, hidrológicas e atmosféricas, favorecer a sua utilização e aumentar o grau de satisfação dos seus utilizadores. No futuro, estas funções podem vir a ganhar ainda maior relevância perante um quadro de alterações climáticas, a subsequente ocorrência de eventos meteorológicos extremos (i.e. temperatura e distribuição espacial e temporal da precipitação), assim como a densificação das áreas urbanas, a progressiva urbanização da população e a procura de espaços de evasão e de reencontro com a natureza, o que justifica o investimento na construção de espaços verdes para as pessoas, com a presença e interacção dos elementos naturais, integrados na malha urbana. O desempenho das funções ecológicas e sociais dos espaços verdes também depende da sua inserção na cidade e da ligação que lhe é permitido estabelecer com a sua envolvente. Ao beneficiarem de espaços de proximidade ligados aos locais residenciais e de trabalho, promovem uma apropriação desses espaços pela população, sendo que “as cidades e as aglomerações urbanas mais apreciadas são aquelas que proporcionam uma experiência ambiental rica e positiva” (Nova Carta de Atenas, 2003:19). Num contexto em que se verifica um aumento da sedentariedade das populações, uma intensificação dos níveis de stress relacionados com a vivência em zonas urbanas e com o agravamento dos riscos ambientais, evidências empíricas salientam a importância das funções sociais e psicológicas desempenhadas pelos espaços verdes urbanos. Estes podem ter um efeito restaurativo, contribuindo para a redução do stress mental e promovendo sentimentos e um humor positivo. Os efeitos benéficos dos espaços verdes assumem maior ou menor influência, consoante a sua inserção na cidade, neste sentido, são considerados como exemplo, um conjunto seleccionado de espaços verdes projectados no âmbito do Programa Polis, tais como Leiria, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Beja e Viseu, representativos de um leque de tipologias, sobretudo no que respeita a relação espacial do novo espaço verde com a cidade, assim como a presença ou ausência de rio (figura 26). Em Leiria e Viseu verifica -se uma intervenção estruturada de forma linear ao longo do rio. Enquanto no primeiro caso esta cruza a cidade, no segundo caso assume um posicionamento periférico. A intervenção em Coimbra marca a transição de uma tipologia linear e para uma tipologia pontual. Apesar do seu posicionamento junto ao Rio Mondego, ao não acompanhar as margens de uma forma contínua, apresenta -se com carácter mais pontual. Esta tipologia pontual é mais evidente em Castelo Branco, inscrevendo -se no centro da cidade, e em Beja, onde se localiza na franja urbana. Estas diversidades de relações espaciais traduzem -se numa diversidade de relações funcionais destes espaços verdes, por um lado, entre a cidade e os seus habitantes, e por outro, entre o espaço urbano e a sua envolvente.

Water Resources Management, 1999

In Part I of this article the very dynamic nature of floodplain management was discussed and the ... more In Part I of this article the very dynamic nature of floodplain management was discussed and the need for modelling the urban growth processes and formulating scenarios of urban development was emphasised. In this second part, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for addressing those problems is presented. GIS have been recognised as a powerful means to integrate and analyse data from various sources in the context of comprehensive floodplain management. Adequate information and prediction capability is vital to evaluate alternative scenarios for flood mitigation policies and to improve decision making processes associated with flood management. A framework for the comprehensive evaluation of flood hazard management policies is also addressed in this article. This comprehensive approach to flood problems is more than an attitude or a philosophical starting point. It makes use of specific technological tools conceived to be used by different actors, some of them being nonexperts in flood analysis. These tools, based on GIS, are very appropriate for a participatory approach to flood policy formulation and floodplain management because they help communicating with the public in a scientifically correct and yet rather simple manner.

Planning Practice and Research, 2013

The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdepend... more The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdependence to a progressive relationship of segregation and disintegration. This article uses a planning experiment to explore and discuss some concerns about visual attractiveness of city-river landscapes in promoting spatial integration of cities and rivers. It presents a methodological approach integrating expert opinions and public perception questionnaires. This is a contribution to making operational an ongoing aesthetic assessment of different dimensions and viewpoints at the city scale. This approach is illustrated with a case-study in the Lisbon metropolitan area and its main assessment results are integrated in a city-river profile that can be useful in ongoing evaluation processes of river landscapes and urban planning practice.

CESUR-Center of Urban …

This work refers to the establishment of a methodology to evaluate urban river aesthetic quality,... more This work refers to the establishment of a methodology to evaluate urban river aesthetic quality, in order to integrate this evaluation into a decision making process for river rehabilitation. It as been undertake through an European research project called URBEM ( ...

Urban River Rehabilitation, …, 2005

Water Resources …, 1998

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been recognised as a powerful means to integrate and an... more Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been recognised as a powerful means to integrate and analyse data from various sources in the context of comprehensive floodplain management. As part of this comprehensive approach to floodplain management, it is very important to be able to predict the consequences of different scenarios in terms of flooded areas and associated risk. Hydrologic and hydraulic modelling plays a crucial role and there is much to gain in incorporating these modelling capabilities in GIS. This is still a rather complex task and research is being done on the full integration of these models. Interfacing between these models and GIS may be a very efficient way of overcoming the difficulties and getting very good results in terms of engineering practice. This paper presents results based on the use of Intergraph GIS coupled with Idrisi GIS. Using these two systems substantially increased the flexibility of using GIS as a tool for flood studies. A lumped (XSRAIN) and a distributed (OMEGA) hydrologic models were used to simulate flood hydrographs. The well known HEC-2 Hydraulic model was used to compute flooded areas. These models were applied in the Livramento catchment with very good results. The computation of flooded areas for different flood scenarios, and its representation in GIS, can be used in the assessment of affected property and associated damages. This is a very useful GIS-based approach to floodplain management.

Planning Practice and Research, 2013

The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdepend... more The relationship between rivers and cities has evolved from a natural coexistence and interdependence to a progressive relationship of segregation and disintegration. This article uses a planning experiment to explore and discuss some concerns about visual attractiveness of city-river landscapes in promoting spatial integration of cities and rivers. It presents a methodological approach integrating expert opinions and public perception questionnaires. This is a contribution to making operational an ongoing aesthetic assessment of different dimensions and viewpoints at the city scale. This approach is illustrated with a case-study in the Lisbon metropolitan area and its main assessment results are integrated in a city-river profile that can be useful in ongoing evaluation processes of river landscapes and urban planning practice.

The understanding of how people evaluate and respond to natural hazards in an urban area, and how... more The understanding of how people evaluate and respond to natural hazards in an urban area, and how this knowledge can be integrated in the planning and management process, are becoming very important elements of a comprehensive and participatory approach to flood hazard management. Such an approach demands a clear comprehension of the processes of the risks perception, causal attribution, possible solutions for the problem and patterns of behaviour developed during hazard situations. The willingness of the public to participate in flood management, and the attitudes to previous initiatives also need to be addressed. The provision of structural flood defences can have a major impact on the environment and there has been an expression of concern by many members of the public for the degradation of river corridors. In this context, it is becoming a commonly accepted practice by central or local governments to submit flood management plans to public discussion. Appropriate techniques for interfacing with the public are necessary to support this upsurge of public involvement. This paper presents results from research on public perception of floods, flood management and participatory initiatives in Setúbal, Portugal. An extensive interview programme was undertaken with residents and shopkeepers -with and without flood experience, professionals responsible for dealing with flood control problems and local authorities responsible for decisionmaking on flood management. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations for flood hazard management policy making and processes.

The understanding of how people evaluate and respond to natural hazards in an urban area, and how... more The understanding of how people evaluate and respond to natural hazards in an urban area, and how this knowledge can be integrated in the planning and management process, are becoming very important elements of a comprehensive and participatory approach to flood hazard management. Such an approach demands a clear comprehension of the processes of the risks perception, causal attribution, possible solutions for the problem and patterns of behaviour developed during hazard situations. The willingness of the public to participate in flood management, and the attitudes to previous initiatives also need to be addressed. The provision of structural flood defences can have a major impact on the environment and there has been an expression of concern by many members of the public for the degradation of river corridors. In this context, it is becoming a commonly accepted practice by central or local governments to submit flood management plans to public discussion. Appropriate techniques for interfacing with the public are necessary to support this upsurge of public involvement. This paper presents results from research on public perception of floods, flood management and participatory initiatives in Setúbal, Portugal. An extensive interview programme was undertaken with residents and shopkeepers -with and without flood experience, professionals responsible for dealing with flood control problems and local authorities responsible for decisionmaking on flood management. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations for flood hazard management policy making and processes.