Articles & Researchs
30
tools for the design of future urban
However, today the sense of
of `pedestrianization' of Rue
developments, in order to secure
resilience and its ability to be
Saint Catherine in its commercial
projected development and more
operational in risk management
proportion. In June 2012, the
broadly to address the concerns of
fields remains unclear (Lhomme
Town of Montreal discovered an
policy makers. The ever-increasing
and
al
(2013),
Brun
and
immense depression under the
functions of cities are based on
Gache(2013)). For example, in the
roadway which did not hold any
a growing complexity of urban
neighbourhood of Maasbommel
more that thanks to the rails of the
technical networks (electricity,
(Netherlands), amphibious houses
late tram, still in place under the
water supply, transport, internet,
have been built and can handle
bitumen.
etc.), making the city more
water level fluctuations of up
Last August, the driver of "back-
vulnerable to hazards and extreme
to 5.5 meters. In Zuidplaspolder,
action" was also not lucky when
weather events (Blancher, 1998).
houses are clustered on higher
the street yielded under the weight
Recent
disasters
(hurricanes
ground and are connected by
of its heavy vehicle, opening an
Katrina and Sandy in New Orleans
raised infrastructures. In the field
immense crater in the middle
and New York, Fukushima, etc.)
of ecology, the major question, for
of the artery (the press, January
have shown that dysfunctions
which it was necessary to answer
2014). Each time, the culprit was
affecting cities could spread at
during the Seventies, was to define
the same one: an old storm-water
larger scales of time and space
the `durability' or the persistence
sewer going back to 1889.
than the hazard itself. These events
of a complex ecosystem. It is
Another element appeared in our
took part in the development of the
within this framework that in 1973,
many talks and in particular with
concept of urban resilience, which
Holling, introduced the concept
Mr. Boisvert (Professor Honoraire
express the direct vulnerability
of "resilient systems". A system
at the University of Montreal and
of the city, but also its ability to
is resilient "if it continues in spite
former director of the Observatory
operate in degraded mode, and
of the shocks and disturbances
of the Interior City), who justifies
return to an acceptable level of
arriving from internal medium and/
the recourse to the approaches
functioning after hazard. The two
or external environment". In 1973,
of
organizational
analysis
of
concepts are sometimes used
Holling defined impact strength as
the impact strength, is that this
interchangeably; they are not
"the importance of a disturbance
underground space from Montreal
similar by definition. Sustainability
which an ecosystem can survive
is very shared and with actors
is associated with the principles of
without changing the structural
from which the culture is different
efficiency, performance and even
from".
and also the challenges and
frugality. The concept of resilience
This logic of resilient "project" is,
perceptions which they have of
is associated with adaptability,
moreover, made necessary by
this space. That as well relates to
the ability to accept disturbances,
the requirements of sustainable
the civil security which depends
recovery
or
transformative
development which have as an
on the Montreal city which
capacities (Redman, 2014). The
ambition to open new possibilities
seeks from now on to share the
responses in terms of urban design
of improvement of the life of the
databases (gas, hydro, roadway
can therefore be potentially
populations in the places where
system, networks water supply
different. According to Collier et
the exposure to the risk is correlated
and sewers). It is obvious that the
al (2013), both concepts can be
with territories disadvantaged.
stakeholders do not work together.
abstract or conflicting ideals and
In spite of these difficulties, the
The governance is completely
the lack of concrete examples
concept of impact versus strength
absent.
or experience feedbacks do
becomes in a few years a central
Conclusion
not ease operational actions.
concept of the risk management,
Basedfromareviewoftheliterature,
Moreover, both challenges are
in particular in the Anglo-Saxon
this analysis demonstrates there is
usually treated separately at the
countries. Impact strength is a
a need to realize more researches
operational scale, which may
promising answer vis-a-vis the
on resilience and sustainability
imply antagonisms or synergies.
recurring difficulties encountered
in relation with the underground
The ever-increasing functions of
under
the
risk
management
planning and management. Even
cities are based on a growing
in urban environment. In our
if both resilience and sustainability
complexity of urban technical
quantitative analysis, severalrecent
have different goals or agendas,
networks (electricity, water supply,
projects or events drew our
there are some opportunities at
transport, internet, waste network,
attention and will have an impact
the operational scale. It appears
etc.), making the city more
on the model of operation of the
that networks are key elements
vulnerable to hazards and extreme
interior city and its environment.
to improve both resilience and
weather events such as floods.
We quote for example the idea
sustainability.

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