A Local Landscape Plan - Almada Municipality (Portugal)

A Local Landscape Plan - Almada
Municipality (Portugal)
Ecological and Cultural Structures and Cycle Network
1
Magalhães, M. R. - 1Mata, D. - 1Cunha, N. - 1Campo, S. – 1Ferro,
M. I.
1
Centro de Estudos de Arquitectura Paisagista Prof. Caldeira Cabral, Universidade
Técnica de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017
Lisboa, Portugal
[email protected]; [email protected], [email protected]; [email protected],
[email protected]
Abstract. The urban sprawl in Lisbon Metropolitan Area has been a fast process during the
last four decades, with roads and buildings appearing together, very often with little respect
for local ecological and cultural characteristics.
Ecological continuity is necessary to guarantee the ecosystems functionality. This includes
water and air flows, local climate amenity, quality soils safeguarding, critical erosion control
and native habitats.
The Landscape Plan of Almada Municipality is composed by the Ecological and the Cultural
structures. Over these a Healthy Mobility structure was planned including hight quality
bicycle and pedestrian networks.
Résumé. L’accroissement de la construction dans la Grande Lisbonne Métropolitaine a été
un procès très rapide depuis les dernières quatre décades La construction des routes et des
bâtiments on na pas respecté les caractéristiques du site or les réalités écologiques et
culturels.
La continuité écologique est nécessaire pour garantir le fonctionnement des écosystémes. Ca
veux dire l’écoulement de l’air et de l’eau, le confort microclimatique, la protection des sols
avec haut valeur écologique, le control de l’érosion et la protection des habitats naturels.
Le Plan du Paysage du Municipalité de Almada a commencé par la délimitation des
structures Ecologique et Culture. Rassemblant les aspects plus importants des deux niveaux a
été crée une autre dédiée a la Mobilité salutaire concernant les chemins pour piétonnes et
véhicules non motorises incluant bicycles.
Key Words: Local Ecological Structure, Landscape Planning, Cycle Network
Mots-Clés: Structure Ecologique Municipalité, Amenagement du Paysage, Piste
Cyclable
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1. Introduction
The last developments of environmental planning in Portugal were made under the
label name of ‘Green Plan’, such as Lisbon Green Plan (supervised by Telles, 1993)
[1], Seixal Green Plan (supervised by Magalhães, 1996) [2] and Loures Green Plan
(supervised by Magalhães, 2004) [3]. This last project corresponds to a methodology
with more recent developments, since the morphological approach as been enriched
with recent conceptual acquisitions, particularly the concepts of superimposition and
complexity, recovering from each decade the contributions that are able to inform
the Landscape intervention without ruptures [4].
In Central and Northern Europe bicycle infrastructures became a transportation issue
before the 70s. Initially they were normally designed along the road network on the
called “Bicycle Lanes” with no specific integration on public space and aesthetical
concerns. Only in the 90s it was understood that segregation of bicycles paths from
the car traffic where needed to increase security as well as the application of “Traffic
Design Management” concepts, which conducted to a pacific coexistence of cars
and cyclists in a renovated multifunctional public space - local streets.
In Portugal, bicycle has been traditionally used in regions with acceptable slope,
such as Aveiro, Marinha Grande and in the Southern Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
With car increase, this practice almost disappeared. Simultaneously, bicycle as a
transport agent was totally forgotten until the Year 2000, when DGTT (General
Transport Office) produced a report for Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
A local Landscape Plan was designed for Almada Municipality located in the
Southern Lisbon Metropolitan Area. In this Plan a Cycle Network introduces cycling
as an effective competitive alternative in a coordinated Transportation System thus
increasing the municipality mobility [5]. The cycle network design takes into
account its own functional characteristics (low slope, user security policies), and
also all the structures that are intended to become accessible, preferentially through
the Cultural and Ecological elements (greenways), conducting to several forms of
use: bike-to-work, leisure, recreational and cultural.
2. Concepts and Methodology
The superimposition of ecological and cultural structures, integrated with building
elements in a well planned landscape, creates conditions for regional and local
bicycle infrastructures in accordance with cycle security criteria, environmental
quality, direct connections to public facilities and to transport interfaces, increasing
competitiveness of both bicycle transport and integrated transport system.
This planning methodology is based on the concept that the landscape organization
must presuppose the definition of permanent structures allowing the articulation
between natural potentialities and cultural appropriation of land, including building
construction. As permanent structures should be considered the fundamental
systems, able to support sustainable development, such as the Ecological Structure
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associated to the natural resources and the Cultural Structure associated to mobility,
built areas and Patrimony (natural and built).
In the scope of the Landscape Plan of the Almada Municipality, a Geographic
Information System (GIS) was used allowing the capture, representation, integration
and analysis of digital and analogical geographic information and, in this context,
several methods concerning spatial analysis have been developed that improved
significantly the study quality regarding the geographic precision and handling of
the produced information.
The GIS methodology consisted: firstly in the registration of cartographic and
alphanumeric information concerning the occupation and landscape morphology of
the study area (aerial photography, altimetry, geology, soils, patrimonial and
archaeological occurrences, land use, roads and administrative boundaries);
secondly in the production of thematic cartographic information as a result of
previous analysis by the use of a parametric method. The thematic cartography
includes Biophysical Characterisation (Terrain Morphology, Geology and
Geomorphology, Soil, Water Permeability, Natural and Semi-natural Vegetation),
Cultural Characterisation (Archaeological Classified Patrimony, Typologies of
Natural and Agricultural Areas, Traditional Urban Settlements), Evaluation of
biophysical and cultural factors and a Proposal of the Municipal Landscape System,
together with a Cycle Network.
3. The Local scale - Almada Municipality
The cartographic formalization of these planning concepts allowed the delimitation
of the fundamental structures of the local landscape morphology.
The Almada Municipality Cycle Network Plan is divided in two parts, which were
developed at the same time. The first one concerns the Local Ecological Structure
and the second one is the Cycle Network.
3.1. Local Ecological Structure
The Local Ecological Structure includes two levels (Figure1):
1.st level – Fundamental Ecological Structure: it is settled by areas which support
fundamental ecological systems which must be protected or conditioned from
human activities. This areas included: river basin wet systems, soil and geological
erosion risk areas, maximum infiltration areas and high ecological value soils. Other
natural resources like vegetation communities must also be protected, otherwise
their destruction can lead to irreversible landscape degradation. Some areas of this
Ecological Structure must be strictly forbidden to the building construction; some
others have their use conditioned to ecological criteria.
2.nd level – Secondary Ecological Structure: is settled by linear elements and areas
which support ecological functioning inside rural and urban landscapes. It includes:
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a). Urban Ecological
Structure: it integrates
elements and areas
from the Fundamental
Ecological
Structure,
rural cultural features
(quintas), infrastructure
and
patrimonial
protection
areas,
remains
of
rural
landscapes and areas
without image or use
(urban voids).
This structure provides
climatic
regulation,
natural
conservation
and
can
support
recreation and food
production,
besides
ways for soft mobility
(bicycle and other non
pollutant vehicles and
pedestrians);
b) Rural Ecological
Structure: it integrates
woods, shrub areas and
hedges, which sustain
ecological functioning
of
the
“bocage”
landscape, and request
for specific regulation
or financial support;
main water lines
secundary water lines
shrubs and trees (spontaneous species)
river basin wet systems
ridge
soils with high ecological value
risk erosion areas
conserved and destroyed dune relief
connection corridors between the EEU
connection corridors between the EEF
connection corridors between EEF elements
connection corridors between EEU existent
roads and paths
built areas
The Local Cultural
Structure is composed
by roads, existent urban
areas and areas for
urban
expansion
Figure 1. Local Ecological Structure (LES)
according
with
ecological suitability, as
well as equipments and culture patrimony.
3.2. Cycle Network
The Cycle Network methodology is composed by four phases:
In the 1st phase were chosen from the linear elements (Road and Paths Network)
those that present potentiality for cycling with comfort and quality. Thus was
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defined the Cycle Suitability with a slope criteria of 0-3% (excellent cycling
conditions) and 3-5% (average conditions).
The areas belonging to non-acceptable cycling slope criteria (>5%) that are parallel
to contour lines also have an acceptable longitudinal section for cycling they are
adjusted to the Terrain Morphology. [5][6].
Most of the suitability of
roads and paths with
excellent
cycling
conditions are based on
early traditional paths
and
directional
to
pedestrians and animal
traction
transport
because they present
low declivity and are
naturally
compatible
with
Terrain
Morphology,
which
gives legal guarantees
towards
an
easier
implementation.
The
2nd
phase
corresponds
to
the
achievement of the
Potential
Cycle
Network. In this phase
the goal is to join and
relate several issues
such as the results of
Cycle Suitability with
others: accessibility to
public transport system
(train, buses, boats and
metro),
public
equipments
(schools,
health
centres
and
hospitals,
social
equipments,
sports
centres, and more),
concepts
such
as
continuity of cycle ways
and comfort conditions,
and
superimpose
ecological and cultural
structures.
Fig. 2a
1.st order cycleways on the LES
1.st order cycleways - connection on the LES
1.st order cycleways - connection outside LES
1.st order cycleways outside the LES
2.nd order cycleways on the LES
1.st order cycleways outside the LES
potencial cycleways outside the LES
non-classified cycleways
connection paths to ensure continuity
between areas of high slope (>5%)
roads
paths
built areas
Figure 2. Hierarchized Cycle Network
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The 3rd phase based on the hierarchy for the Potential Cycle
Network was developed on evaluating of the cycle network
according to the importance of the paths connecting important
features (public transportation, schools, etc.) and the
superimposed ecological and cultural structures (Figure 2 and
Figure 2a). The cycle ways with ecological structure have more
environmental quality as well as a new function as ecological
corridors since they are a non-motorized transport
infrastructure.
At the same time the connection with the cultural structure
represents of improving using the advantage of linking several
cultural heritage features and historical paths, as well as
improving the accessibility to agricultural areas.
In a 4th phase, the Hierarchized Cycle Network was
characterized in order to identify homogeneous sections and
intersections (between the roads and the cycle network), which
were analysed according to car traffic velocity. If the cars
velocity <30m/h the bicycles and the cars can use the same
path; if not exclusion paths were defined according to the
number of estimated bicycles and pedestrian volume flow.
[7][8]. The intersections were evaluated regarding is potential
danger and solutions were developed to provide total security to
cyclists.
The definition of typology for sections (lines) and intersections
(nodes) allowed a preliminary estimation cost of the cycle
network. (Figure 3). This information, simultaneously with the
hierarchy of each path provided different implementation
schedules. After political decision, each cycle way must be
developed in a project towards its construction. [6][7]
Figure 2a. Detail of Trafaria –Costa de Caparica cicle way [9]
Figure 3. Proposed scenarios for different cycleways sections
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4. Conclusions
The Ecological and Cultural Structures as well as the Cycle Network are important
components of local sustainability therefore they should be a part of the Local
Agenda 21 recommended by the ‘Rio Conference’ in 1992.
5. References
[1] Telles et al., (1993) Plano Verde de Lisboa, Edições Colibri, Lisboa
[2] Magalhães, M. R., (1997) Image Plans as a Tool of Landscape Sustainability.
Case studies in Lisbon and Seixal Councils, in Environmental Challenges in an
Expanding World and the Role of Emerging Information Technologies (ed. João
Reis Machado & Jack Ahern), Centro Nacional de Informação Geográfica, Lisboa.
[3] Magalhães, M.R., Abreu, M. M., Lousã, M., Cortez, N., Silva, P.G., Cunha,
N.S., Campo, S.L. et al (2003/4) Plano Verde do Concelho de Loures 1ª /2 Fase,
Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Secção Autónoma de Arquitectura Paisagista,
Lisboa.
[4] Magalhães, M.R. (2001) A Arquitectura Paisagista - morfologia e complexidade,
Editorial Estampa, Lisboa.
[5] Magalhães, M.R., Mata, D., Cunha, N.S., Campo, S.L. et al (2003/4) Projecto
Apoio ao Plano de Almada Ciclável – Plano da Rede Ciclável do Concelho de
Almada, Centro de Estudo de Arquitectura Paisagista - Instituto Superior de
Agronomia, Agência Municipal de Energia de Almada – Câmara Municipal de
Almada, Lisboa.
[6] Magalhães, M.R., Mata, D. (2002/3) Estudo Estratégico para a Implementação
de uma ciclovia entre Chaves e Vila Real, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Secção
Autónoma de Arquitectura Paisagista, Lisboa.
[7] Vários et al, (1999) La Bicicleta en la Ciudad, Ministério do Fomento Espanhol
[8] Cozzi, M., Guiacci, S., Passigato, M. (1999) Piste Ciclabili, Ed. II Sole 24 ORE,
Milano.
[9] Magalhães, M.R., Mata, D., Ferro, M.I. (2004) Estudo Prévio para a ciclóvia
Trafaria – Costa da Caparica, Centro de Estudo de Arquitectura Paisagista Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Lisboa
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