Determination of the Sections for Urban Rehabilitation on Small Rivers

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyze and typify the location and spatial structure characteristics of river reaches within settlements. It also included the examination of the landscape, and the natural and geographical relationships of the specific types. In the case of urban river reaches, our research question was whether it may be necessary to include river sections outside the settlement’s legal urban boundary in the river rehabilitation. The subjects of the research were settlements with a population of over 5000, located along small rivers, of which there are a total of 39 in Hungary. As a result, we determined three main types based on the river’s position in the settlement structure. In the case of the urban river reaches, based on the examination of the updated CORINE land cover categories, we found that the rehabilitation could typically go further than the legal urban boundary, as we also explored river sections in the rural areas that are adjacent to areas of an urban character or recreational functions.