Topic Editors

Groundwater Engineering Research Centre-Hydraulics and Environmental Protection Department, Bucharest, Romania
Faculty of Civil, Industrial and Agricultural Engineering, Technical University of Civil Engineering, Bucharest, Romania

Urban Hydrogeology Research

Abstract submission deadline
30 November 2024
Manuscript submission deadline
31 January 2025
Viewed by
4579

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Urbanization is the predominant global phenomenon of our time, and sustainable urban development is therefore now one of the greatest challenges faced by the contemporary world. The subsurface plays a range of roles in the complex process of urbanization, including buildings' development, constructing roads for transportation, and providing water supply, drainage, sanitation and, in some cases, solid-waste disposal. For most cities, the groundwater system commonly represents a ‘linking component’ between various elements of the urban infrastructure. Since urban processes have an influence on groundwater and groundwater conditions have an impact on the urban infrastructure, groundwater systems exhibit a close relation with the processes of urbanization, and this continuously progresses with the urban development cycle. Consequently, most cities around the world face issues related to urban hydrogeology which require at least as much attention as that given to other planning-related problems in urban areas. Urban groundwater problems are now usually predictable. However, they are often not predicted early enough, as actions usually respond to emergencies rather than planning. Consequences resulting from a lack of accurate and detailed knowledge of the underground environment and the interaction between the urban groundwater and urban infrastructure is faced by cities around the world in economic, environmental, social, legal and political terms. The lack of data and planning, as well as the discrepancies in communication between the scientific community and city managers, increase difficulties in solving urban hydrogeology problems. To supply this understanding, experts have to use robust datasets of urban fabric, infrastructure networks, groundwater and geothermal energy systems at the city scale. Furthermore, relevant knowledge and understanding from these must also be accessible to urban planning processes. Over the last few decades, a progressive advancement in the scientific understanding of urban hydrogeological processes and the groundwater regimes of a substantial number of cities has been documented. This extensive palette of subsurface challenges that cities have to contend with lay at the core of the sustainability of the urban water cycle. This is threatened by the increasing scale and downward extent of urban subsurface construction, including utilities (cables, sewage, drainage), transportation (tunnels, passages), and storage (cellars, parking lots, thermal energy). The cumulative impact of this subsurface congestion on the surrounding geology, and especially the groundwater system, have to be persistently studied. Key connections amongst urban hydrogeology activities will be identified as consistent scientific results and good practice in relation to subsurface data. This Special Issue will encourage cross- and trans-disciplinary, mutually beneficial dialogues between the providers and consumers of urban groundwater data and knowledge offering new perspectives on the existing research themes.

Prof. Dr. C. Radu Gogu
Prof. Dr. Oana Luca
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • urban hydrogeology
  • urban water balance
  • groundwater–infrastructure interaction
  • groundwater modelling
  • urban geothermal energy
  • groundwater quality
  • remote sensing
  • geospatial analysis
  • urban soils
  • green infrastructure
  • sustainable urban land-use
  • sustainable development
  • climate change impact

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Energies
energies
3.0 6.2 2008 17.5 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Geosciences
geosciences
2.4 5.3 2011 26.2 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Land
land
3.2 4.9 2012 17.8 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Remote Sensing
remotesensing
4.2 8.3 2009 24.7 Days CHF 2700 Submit
Water
water
3.0 5.8 2009 16.5 Days CHF 2600 Submit

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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28 pages, 2685 KiB  
Article
A Statistical Approach for the Assessment of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Values of Unsaturated Urban Soils Obtained by Field Infiltration Tests
by Traian Ghibus and Dragos Gaitanaru
Water 2024, 16(13), 1908; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16131908 - 3 Jul 2024
Viewed by 759
Abstract
An evaluation and interpretation of the obtained results focusing the hydraulic conductivity of anthropogenic saturated soil, k, has been performed on an urban area vadose zone. Four methods have been used to quantify the hydraulic conductivity: the tube infiltrometer (TI), the double [...] Read more.
An evaluation and interpretation of the obtained results focusing the hydraulic conductivity of anthropogenic saturated soil, k, has been performed on an urban area vadose zone. Four methods have been used to quantify the hydraulic conductivity: the tube infiltrometer (TI), the double ring infiltrometer (DRI), the minidisk infiltrometer (MDI) and the inversed auger (IA). This study comprises (a) a comparative analysis of the results obtained by each method between several trials performed at the same location and at distinct locations within the plot, (b) a comparative analysis of the results of all methods, and (c) a statistical analysis regarding the correlation between k as a dependent variable and the infiltration area A as the main independent variable. To select the k values close or corresponding to the saturation state for TI and IA methods, a domain of validity was defined. A new parameter, k* = k/A, was introduced which represents the hydraulic conductivity corresponding to an infiltration surface unit (1 cm2). An increase in this ratio with the increase in the infiltration area, within the same method or between different methods, indicates the heterogeneity of the terrain but especially the fact that the infiltration area no longer represents the main independent variable on which the hydraulic conductivity depends for the saturated state. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Hydrogeology Research)
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23 pages, 16549 KiB  
Article
Exploring Urban Sustainability: The Role of Geology and Hydrogeology in Numerical Aquifer Modelling for Open-Loop Geothermal Energy Development, the Case of Torino (Italy)
by Alessandro Berta and Glenda Taddia
Geosciences 2024, 14(7), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14070180 - 30 Jun 2024
Viewed by 970
Abstract
This research examines the integration of geological and hydrogeological data in numerical aquifer model simulations, with a particular focus on the urban area of Torino, Italy. The role of groundwater resources in urban sustainability is analysed. The objective is to integrate open-loop geothermal [...] Read more.
This research examines the integration of geological and hydrogeological data in numerical aquifer model simulations, with a particular focus on the urban area of Torino, Italy. The role of groundwater resources in urban sustainability is analysed. The objective is to integrate open-loop geothermal plants into the district heating network of IREN S.p.A. Two case studies are examined: the Torino Nord area and the Moncalieri area, both of which host district heating plants. The work entails the collection and analysis of data from a variety of sources, including geognostic surveys and permeability tests, in order to construct a three-dimensional numerical model of the surface aquifer. Models were built using the public MODFLOW 6 (model of groundwater flow) code and calibrated using PESTHP (High Performance of Model Independent Parameter Estimation and Uncertainty Analysis). Results indicate the potential of urban aquifers as renewable energy sources and the necessity of comprehensive geological and hydrogeological assessments for optimal ground water heat pump (GWHP) system installation. This paper emphasises the significance of sustainable water management in the context of climate change and urbanisation challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Hydrogeology Research)
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24 pages, 19813 KiB  
Article
Hydrochemical Characterization and Quality Assessment of Groundwater in the Southern Plain of Hebei Province, China
by Longqiang Zhang, Donglin Dong, Situ Lv, Jialun Zhang, Maohua Yan, Guilei Han and Huizhe Li
Water 2023, 15(21), 3791; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15213791 - 29 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1561
Abstract
The purpose of this research was to understand the hydrogeochemical characteristics and assess the quality of phreatic and confined groundwater in southern Hebei Province. A total of 107 groundwater samples were collected, representing different aquifer conditions over the study area. Multivariate statistical analysis, [...] Read more.
The purpose of this research was to understand the hydrogeochemical characteristics and assess the quality of phreatic and confined groundwater in southern Hebei Province. A total of 107 groundwater samples were collected, representing different aquifer conditions over the study area. Multivariate statistical analysis, hydrochemical maps, ionic ratio coefficients, geographic information system (GIS) and geochemical simulation were comprehensively and systematically used to reveal the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater and its controlling mechanism. The results revealed that both phreatic (pH = 7.02–9.08) and confined groundwater (pH = 7.00–10.60) were slightly alkaline. The hydrochemical types were mainly present as the HCO3-Ca-Mg type in the western premontane area and mixed Ca-Mg-SO4-Cl and Na-Cl-SO4 types in the eastern plains. The hydrochemical composition was dominated by water–rock interactions of natural processes, including silicate weathering, dissolution of sulfate minerals (gypsum, anhydrite), and cation-exchange adsorption. Anthropogenic activities were the main factor causing NO3 content in some groundwater samples to exceed the geochemical baseline. The hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in different aquifers was significantly varied. The average contents of TH, TDS, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl and SO42− in phreatic aquifers were significantly higher than those in confined aquifers. The Entropy Weighted Water Quality Index (EWQI) results revealed that 17.78% of phreatic and 50% of confined water samples were meeting the purpose of drinking water. The groundwater samples with EWQI values exceeding 100 were mainly situated in the Handan urban area and the eastern region of Xingtai City, which should be avoided for direct utilization and needs to be improved through protection and management measures, to enhance the quality of groundwater. Correlation analysis showed that groundwater quality was significantly dominated by TH, TDS, Na+, Mg2+, Cl and SO42− concentrations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Urban Hydrogeology Research)
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