Coherent mapping for integrated water management in Brussels

Abstract

The text is a facsimile of the print edition. Licence CC BYNumber 89, July 6 th 2015. ISSN 2031-0293 Like many cities, Brussels faces increasing water issues like urbanization spreading and stresses on the water resources. Integrated Water Management (IWM) in urban planning tackles these problems focusing on the landscape features, but requires extensive cartographic data. Since 2010, different platforms offer cartographic data for the Brussels and Flemish regions, but these initiatives are independent and often not coherent. This article analyses the potentials and deficiencies of these cartographic data through two transboundary examples: the catchments of the Brussels area and the Molenbeek catchment. The article highlights how non-concordance and non-accessibility of the data constrain the application of IWM and other urban planning issues in transboundary areas. Tom Goosse has a master degree in physical geography from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2012). His Master thesis was part of an international research program focusing on rainfall management in the Tigray province of Ethiopia. His personal interests being more oriented towards the rainfall problematic in Brussels, he is now working towards a PhD on the application of water Low Impact Development techniques in urban settings. tpegoosse@gmail.com Kevin De Bondt has a master degree in Geology from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (2005) and a specialization in Natural Hazard management from the Université de Liège. Since March 2008, he carried out many projects in the Brussels Region and abroad, on the urban water cycle, flood-mitigation in urban environments, river restoration and rainwater infiltration. He has developed the concept of Urban Hydrological Landscapes that summarizes the heterogeneity of the physical environment and make its integration in urban planning measures possible at local and regional scale. He frequently consults or advices public authorities and citizen groups on water policies. Dr. Guido Petrucci is an environmental engineer and urban hydrologist working on storm-water management in urban areas. After a joint degree in engineering (