Project led by Sandra Santa Cruz wins in ProCiencia's 'Applied Research' category

The results of the ProScience Competition in the Applied Research category were announced, highlighting eight projects of the Engineering Department. One of them, the project led by Sandra Santa Cruza professor of the Civil Engineering Civil Engineering Section.

This project was developed at the request of the PUCP, with the support of the Department of Engineering and different departments, such as the Vice Rectorate for Researchthe Group for Disaster Risk Management in Social Infrastructure and Low Cost Housing (GERDIS). (GERDIS)the Interdisciplinary Group for Participation and Innovation in Urban Development (IPDESUR), the Interdisciplinary Group for Participation and Innovation in Urban Development (IPDESUR) (IPDESUR) and the Research Group on New Frontiers in Public Management (INNGOV-PUCP). (INNGOV-PUCP).

In addition, the National University of San Agustín collaborates as a partner entity through the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism and the Research Group (AQPARQ).

Project 'Guidelines for adaptation to climate change in low-risk urban ecosystems and environmental improvement'.

The research, led by Santa Cruz, counts with the participation of co-investigators such as our Tenure Track, Luis Moya (GERDIS), Federico Dueñas (GERDIS), Marta Vilela (IPDESUR), Graciela del Carmen (IPDESUR), accompanied by Carlos Zeballos (AQPARQ), Guiselle Romero (INNGOV) y Luis Rodríguez (CIAC). The project will be implemented in Lima, Callao and Arequipa for a period of 36 months.

Context and Objective of the Project

The metropolises of Lima, Callao and Arequipa face serious threats due to variations in temperature and precipitation caused by climate change. This situation is particularly critical in peripheral hillside areas, where informal occupation has led to the creation of vulnerable human settlements, with inadequate living conditions and loss of opportunities.

"The idea arises from previous experiences in DRM from different research groups. The VRI convened the groups in the middle of last year to work on an interdisciplinary research-action platform. We found common themes in the case of slope occupation and we started to elaborate the proposal that was presented in December. For this we had the support of the Academic Direction of Social Responsibility (DARS) and the Administrative Vice Rectorate".

The objective of the project is to develop a nature-based urban ecosystem to be implemented in the hillside expansion zones of Lima and Arequipa as an environmental improvement strategy. This ecosystem must be stable and safe in the face of natural phenomena, be integrated with the urban structure, and be viable from a legal and regulatory point of view.

Motivations:

"My motivation is to find a solution to the problem of risk in the informal occupations of the slopes. As a civil engineer, I hope that the works are for the benefit of society while respecting the environment, but disciplinary efforts are not enough. I am very pleased to have found in the PUCP environment other people interested in solving the same problem," says Santa Cruz.

Stages of the project:

• Monitoring and Definition of Priority Areas: Use of satellite imagery.
• Urban Ecosystem Analysis and Proposal: Participatory and interdisciplinary approach through workshops.
• Prototype Construction: Development of a prototype urban ecosystem in a controlled environment.
• Trials and Tests: Soil, water and low water consumption crop analysis.
• Regulatory Analysis and Policy Capabilities: Critical benchmarking for prototype implementation and scaling.
• Environmental Impact Assessment: Coordination with authorities for workshops and delivery of regulatory material.

The expected impact includes the environmental improvement of hillside areas, risk prevention and the formalization of vernacular stone construction.

"We are going to build a prototype of a sustainable urban ecosystem made up of terraces supported by dry-joint stone walls on the south campus of the PUCP with a participatory method that includes decision-makers, builders and neighbors of our metropolis. This prototype has the advantage of being low cost and low impact to the environment and can be used as green corridors or for urban agriculture with low water consumption crops or for land use planning purposes". 

This project represents an innovative and crucial response to the environmental and social challenges facing developing cities. It seeks to focus its efforts on vulnerable and high-risk areas, not only to mitigate the effects of climate change, but also to transform these areas into safer and more livable spaces. 

Interdisciplinary collaboration and a participatory approach ensure that the proposed solutions are comprehensive and sustainable, promoting urban resilience and improving the quality of life of affected communities.