Hydromorphic Impact of Matera’s Urban Area

Abstract

Urban transformations change land use, permeability, and morphology of the areas involved in the evolution process; this, consequently, modifies the impact produced by the precipitation phenomena and increases the risk of flooding or uncontrolled runoff in different areas.The proposed watershed hydrologic approach enables us to consider the morphology of the territory together with the transformations implemented by human activities, and this allows us to evaluate the effects of each area on neighboring areas, emphasizes the hydrological roles of upper, intermediate, and lower parts, and reveals urban and non-urban connections. This elucidates hydromorphic complexities in urban transformations and assesses climate change adaptability. The suggested methodology has been implemented in the urban district of “Sasso Caveoso” within the city of Matera. This application facilitates a quantitative synthesis of the contextual response, allowing for an analysis across various scenarios and offering decision-support tools of practical utility.