Innovative Solution

ecosystemic services, integrated approach, urbanization, climate change, soil, water, agriculture, irrigation, scenarios

technical

The main goal of A&T program is to build up an integrated approach of a territory by combining knowledge, tools and know how developed until today independently in agronomy, soil science, geochemistry, geography, urbanization and economy. Three groups of indicators are produced : (i) Soil artificialization that increases runoff and erosion, (ii)  Water quality and quantity related to Soil resources (iii) Crop production.

Land use changes  are modeled by a cellular automate allowing calibration of land use changes and estimation of  the future changes  by checking scenarios.  High resolution remote sensing assess progress of urbanization and loss of arable areas. Changes of Soil properties are evaluated (i) by classification of the urban areas; (ii) by estimation of soil sealing (iii) by qualification of soil quality with a synthetic index. Crop models are used to evaluate (i) the ability of areas to provide food, (ii) water and nutrient requirements (iii) yield and (iv) flow and quality of water drainage. Biogeochemical cycles in soil modify the water quality and thus induces changes of water quality between the surface water and groundwater. The outputs are the safety, salinity, pH and alkalinity of water. The economic model evaluates the best equilibrium between the soil and water uses, and the risks of overconsumption and degradation of the ecosystem services. Geomodelling and GIS are used to integrate the results and obtain spatio-temporal distribution on both data and indicators.

Two web sites are built up for in situ data monitoring and for the presentation of the results. This will help stakeholders (i) analyse the dynamics of the territories at different levels, (ii) increase the capacity of expertise (iii) aggregate and make technology innovations suitable for the development, (iv) determine their margin of action to limit the impact of urbanization.

A&T demonstration’s area, the Crau plain, in the French South East region, covers a large aquifer. Irrigation of grassland (to produce the famous “Crau hay” for race horses) constitutes 75% of the inputs in this aquifer. Pressures consist in urban spreading, industrialization and agricultural use.

Astuce&Tic is developed by a public/private consortium.

Public : INRA French National Institute for Agronomical Research, CEREGE Aix-Marseille University,

Private : G2C Environnement, Meed SAS, France Telecom Orange labs

It has the support of Pôle de Compétitivité “Gestion des risques et vulnérabilité des territoires” and the financial support of both French state (Fonds Unique Interministériel) and region “Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur”.

Astuce&Tic is a unique combination of expertise both arising from researchers, economists and engineers in the Water / Soil / Agronomy and Information technologies.

The mayor of Salon-de-Provence, and those of others cities of Crau plain, are interested in the results of Astuce & Tic program. Moreover, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG-Africa (United Cities and Local Governments) supports the idea of the enlargement of A&T approach in African cities and territories.

Astuce & Tic is at the proof-of-concept validation level.

The demonstration of technical feasibility has been tested on the Crau plain with the support of Region “Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur” and of mayors of towns of the area. 

The status and the history of changes in land use have been formalized. The impact of urbanization process in recent years has been documented and represented in an integrated way.

Three scenarios of possible evolution have been documented on a number of important indicators regarding future water resource quality and quantity.

Two applicative web sites are available:

- The first one, developed by Orange Labs, is devoted to in situ data monitoring: in situ sensors for water quality, irrigation and crop growth are interfaced with transmission technologies;

- The second one, developed by G2C, presents data, results and indicators obtained with the A&T approach. The users can produce thematic maps, curves, tables or graphics of interest.

Urban spreading threatens with irreversible impacts the areas where humans could find easily food and water. The degradations of soils and water can impair the possibilities of cities to generate wealth and the economic resources for financing local development.

In this context:

What kind of Decision Support Schemes can local authorities refer to when making decisions in urbanization processes of their territory? How can decision makers draw a synthetic view of the various pressures that have an impact on the actual and future water resources of their territory? How can they identify where they have room to maneuver?

The integrated approach of A&T program aims at better understanding and anticipating the impact of the pressures (urban spreading, sealing of soil, scarcity of agricultural lands, climate change…) on the quantity and quality of water resources and that of other environmental assets.

Business intelligence tool A&T :

• Gives a global and integrated image of a range of indicators (Soil artificialization, quality and quantity of Water resources related to Soil resources, Crop production);

• Produces scenarios integrating various pressures such as industrial or commercial development, population increase and climate change, and

• Illustrates the probable evolution of the indicators and more specifically that of water resource.

In Crau plain, A&T has proven useful by:

• Stressing the importance of irrigation infrastructures and processes dating back to 16th century. Gravitational irrigation has a protective effect on soil quality (buffering of soil pH).

• Showing that past urbanization has irreversibly destroyed a part of the best agricultural soils, as soil quality was not considered in urban planning;

• Simulating scenarios of water restriction up to 30%, and showing that technical solutions can alleviate its impact on crop production and groundwater recharge

A&T provides a business intelligence tool that:

* Gives a global and integrated image of a range of indicators (Soil artificialization, quality and quantity of Water resources related to Soil resources, Crop production);

* Produces scenarios integrating various pressures such as industrial or commercial development, population increase and climate change, and

* Illustrates the probable evolution of the indicators and more specifically that of water resource.

In the Crau plain, A&T has already proven useful by:

* Stressing the importance of irrigation infrastructures and processes dating back to 16th century. Gravitational irrigation has a protective effect on soil quality (buffering of soil pH).

* Showing that past urbanization has irreversibly destroyed a part of the best agricultural soils, as soil quality was not considered in urban planning;

* Simulating scenarios of water restriction up to 30%, and showing that technical solutions can alleviate its impact on crop production and groundwater recharge.

* Number of local, national or international meetings where A&T members are invited to present  the method 

* Number of mayors or local stakeholders using A&T results in the territory of Crau Plain

* Number of local stakeholders interested in being trained on A&T

* Number of international preliminary studies set up after 2 years

The very heart of A&T method relies on building appropriate indicators of ecosystem and agrosystem services adapted to the specificities of the territory. Stakeholders and local collectivities may have to solve a new paradigm “local development in limited space and limited resources”. The today approach “Pressure  – State – Impact –Response” is the base of their reasoning (e.g. Agenda 21, Ecoloc for West Africa…). For example, in situ monitoring of water bodies (pH, Eh, EC, t etc.), including groundwater and irrigation water, water cycle in the « critical zone » ensures through TIC that progress is evaluated and that problems are detected at an early stage.

The additional benefit with A&T approach is to produce specific indicators, evaluate the consequence of prospective scenarios and mapping these indicators in space and time in the appropriate organization level (commune, SCOT, PLU, comity of communes, water catchment, region…).

By a unique combination of expertise and tool, Astuce&Tic demonstrated the in the french region “la Crau” its applicability in various situations. In fact, this area shows many pressure with negative impacts on water and soil ecosystem services, which are observed in many regions in the world. We have built up, during 3 years, the integrated approach A&T and its new tools by co-construction in a public – private consortium.

Local stakeholders of a given territory should be interested in implementing A&T process. This global and integrated approach can help them standing back and give them an overview of the evolution of their territory. These Stakeholders can be city councilors, regional councilors but also public services such as water services or electricity services. The technical framework and workflow of A&T approach is built up with a modular concept and thus fit to the local context.

At the international level, World Bank and international organizations should be interested in accompanying local authorities, such as UCGLA in Africa, implementing A&T approach.

For example, in territories where a new mine is set up, local authorities as well as mine stakeholders need to take into account the preservation of the environment and the security of the investments. A&T gives them the necessary global and integrated view of the possible impacts and helps them structure a virtuous mining facility in a participative process.

Implementing A&T process requires local political will in the first place. Then two or more actual partners could build up a first frame of the necessary study for around 100 000 euros and then the total project could be implemented in association with local partners.

For UCGLA, Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa supports the idea of the enlargement of A&T approach, in combinaison with Ecoloc framework, in African cities and territories, especially in territories where, water resources are endangered by mine projects. A&T program  was presented to World bank in the 5th urban meeting in Marseille in 2009. AFD French development Agency, DATAR direction aménagement du territoire, Local authorities are interested by A&T approach and has reinforced the consortium in its way.

At the international level :

UCLG (United Cities and Local Governments)

World bank

In France :

AFD French development Agency

DATAR direction aménagement du territoire

Local Governments : Regions, communautés d’agglomérations, communes

For UCGLA, we have already the support of Mr. Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General of UCLG Africa. He supports spreading of Astuce&Tic approach in African cities and territories especially in territories where water resources are endangered by mine projects. 

For the World Bank, members of the consortium have already taken part of two think tanks and have presented Astuce&Tic at the World Bank office in Marseille.

Preliminary contacts have also taken place in Marocco or Senegal.

INRA French National Institute for Agronomical Research,  Dr Fabienne TROLARD, fabienne.trolard@avignon.inra.fr , Tel +33(0)4 42 90 85 41, web : www.inra.fr

G2C Environnement, Jean Christophe DE MASSIAC, 2 avenue Madeleine Bonnaud, 13770 Venelles- France,  jc.demassiac@g2c.fr , Tel  +33 (0)4 42 54 00 68 , web : www.g2c.fr

LOGO image of the crau plain Flyer Astuce&Tic