Site selection for nature-based solutions for stormwater management in urban areas: An approach combining GIS and multi-criteria analysis

In recent years, particularly following the definition of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030, Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have gained considerable attention, capturing the interest of both the scientific community and policymakers committed to addressing urban environmental issues. However, the need for studies to guide decision-makers in identifying suitable locations for NBS implementation within urban stormwater management is evident. To address this gap, the present study employs a methodological approach grounded in multi-criteria analysis integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify areas with potential for NBS implementation. In this process, ten NBS were proposed and tested in the drainage area of a shallow tropical urban lake in Londrina, southern Brazil. Additionally, the study investigates areas hosting lower-income populations, a relevant aspect for public managers given the diverse economic subsidies required to implement NBS. Furthermore, the study incorporates a preliminary analysis that evaluates the potential ecosystem benefits to determine the most suitable NBS for a specific site. The result shows that all the ten analyzed NBS were deemed suitable for the study area. Rain barrels had the highest percentage coverage in the study area (37.1%), followed by tree pits (27.9%), and rain gardens (25.4%). Despite having the highest distribution in the basin area, rain barrels exhibited only moderate ecosystem benefits, prompting the prioritization of other NBS with more significant ecological advantages in the final integrated map. In summary, the methodology proposed showed to be a robust approach to selecting optimal solutions in densely populated urban areas.