Modelización hidráulica para la mitigación del riesgo por inundación. Caso de estudio: Canal el Macho

Abstract

The urban area of the city of Machala, has been affected several times by floods caused by extreme precipitation events attributed to global warming and the phenomenon of "El Niño". The present investigation has combined the review of historical events, the use of geographic information systems, the result of gaining the “El Macho” channel and the topography studies of the main streets of the city between the months of June and August of this year; to design a structure capable of mitigating flood risks due to the overflow of water from the water body. The methodological process was based on three stages, whose essence is the search, processing and development of the results. In the first instance, it has inquired about the flood management plans in the city of Machala, going to public and private organizations, in this way a starting point has been set for the development of the investigations. The physical affectations verified through the historical review revealed that the floods mainly threaten the inhabitants located on the banks of the channel that have reached them for economic or social reasons. That is why a series of studies of a technical, scientific, economic and social nature are required, which allow to anticipate situations that, in unfavorable cases, cause disasters with negative consequences to the population. Part of the technical studies are made up of the analysis of hydrological processes and morphological characteristics of the urban basin; the hydraulic characteristics of the canal and the knowledge of the influence of the tide on floods; developed in the course of this investigation as a fundamental part in the fulfillment of the objectives