Design process in the urban context - Mobility and health in Special Flood Hazard Area

• Published in: International journal of disaster risk reduction 2021-06, Vol.59, p.102170, Article 102170
• Main Authors: Barros, Virginia Grace, Rapaglia, John, Richter, Maiko B., Andrighi, Jean F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Design thinking; Floods; Mobility; Resilience; Urban areas
• ISSN: 2212-4209; 2212-4209
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102170

In developing countries, unplanned urban growth, lack of infrastructure services, pollution, diseases, and flooding generate urgent needs. Floods cause diseases and damage to countries at all levels of development because they usually lack the preparedness for current climate variability. In Brazil, Municipal Civil Defense (JMCD) – in a 600,000 inhabitants city-, together with other city agencies, established a safe route (SRP) to be implemented during flood occurrences. This map is available for download as a PDF. This work aims to present the developed methodology, tools, and ways to design, in a collaborative way, a conceptual, innovative system model capable of bringing together needs like resilience, safety and sustainability, contributing to urban resilience, mobility, risks communication and health. Different design processes: design thinking, wayfinding system, signage, norms, and laws were used to create a dynamic conceptual design in the urban development. As a result, visual identity, pictograms icons, totems and luminous panels are presented. Luminous system is projected to be linked to rivers height (measured in hydrological gauging stations) to guide users to safe routes. The information technology which can link water height in rivers, to the different levels of flood in the designed system is not among the objectives of this study. Developing strategies to face the potential effects of climate change in the transportation sector poses a major significant challenge. Proper tools are required to prepare to change and provide meaningful environmental, health, social, and security solutions with the quickness the modern cities demand. •Little preparedness for climate variability causes floods, damage and diseases specially in urban environments.•Innovation is vital for change and offers solutions quickly, as modern cities demand.•Sustainable innovation is a challenge in emergent countries urban environment.•Design processes created a conceptual model aiming for communication and resilience in urban transportation systems.