Water sensitive urban design (WSUD) approach for mitigating groundwater depletion in urban geography; through the lens of stakeholder and social network analysis

Abstract

Abstract In some respects, human communities have been sustainably adapted to live in urban areas, but sustainable coexistence with the water cycle has not been fully achieved. In this paper, to mitigate urbanizations' adverse effects, the water sensitive urban design (WSUD) approach, for the first time, is studied through the lens of social considerations. Stakeholder analysis and social network analysis concepts are considered to scrutinize the WSUD approach's role in an urban multi-stakeholder area. Detecting the changing of the stakeholders' powers and interests in an urban area using stakeholder analysis and enlightening the conflicting relationships between the stakeholders using social network analysis, the role of the WSUD approach is emphasized as a dispute resolution method. The western part of Tehran city is considered a case study. WSUD tools are considered using a physical-behavioral simulation model. The results indicate conflicts between developing and protecting stakeholders, requiring the WSUD approach.