Challenges in assessing the hydrogeological impact of underground structures in urban renewal projects

Abstract

Lisbon's urban renewal projects have led to an increase in the construction of underground structures such as basements and tunnels. As riverfront areas are prone to flooding, since 2010 the City Council has made it mandatory to carry out hydrogeological impact studies for urban developments involving underground works in alluvial areas. The Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil (LNEC) has been carrying out these studies for twelve years, facing increasing model complexity due to the spread of underground structures. This paper provides some guidelines for conducting hydrogeological impact studies, highlighting the difficulties and challenges met in developing these studies and the strategies used to overcome them.