Soil Sealing and Hydrological Changes during the Development of the University Campus of Elche (Spain)

Manon Navarro-Leblond, Ignacio Meléndez-Pastor, Jose Navarro-Pedreño and Ignacio Gómez Lucas
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Manon Navarro-Leblond: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avenida de la Universidad de Elche s/n, Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain
Ignacio Meléndez-Pastor: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avenida de la Universidad de Elche s/n, Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain
Jose Navarro-Pedreño: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avenida de la Universidad de Elche s/n, Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain
Ignacio Gómez Lucas: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avenida de la Universidad de Elche s/n, Edificio Alcudia, 03202 Elche, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-19

Abstract: The University Miguel Hernández of Elche was created in 1996 and its headquarters is located in the city of Elche. A new campus was developed where new buildings and infrastructures have been established for over 25 years in the north of the city. The university is growing, and the land cover/land use is changing, adapted to the new infrastructures. In fact, the landscape changed from a periurban agricultural area mixed with other activities into an urbanized area integrated into the city. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the progressive sealing of the soil and the consequences on the surface hydrology. The area is close to the Palmeral of Elche, a landscape of date palm groves with an ancient irrigation system, which is a World Heritage Cultural Landscape recognized by UNESCO. The evolution of the land occupation was analyzed based on the Aerial National Orthophotography Plan (PNOA). Soil sealing and the modifications of the hydrological ancient irrigation system were detected. Based on the results, proposals for improvement are made in order to implement green infrastructures and landscape recovery that can alleviate the possible negative effects of the soil sealing in the area occupied by the university.

Keywords: green infrastructure; irrigation system; land changes; soil sealing; urbanization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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