Historic Walled Town of Cuenca

Priorización de actuaciones medioambientales de ríos con entornos urbanos

A hybrid decision-support model combining Delphi, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and VIKOR techniques has been successfully applied to prioritize environmental rehabilitation actions for urban rivers, particularly in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In the historic walled town of Cuenca, Spain, cultural heritage and river naturalization emerged as the most valued criteria, accounting for 28% and 25% of expert panel preferences, respectively. The study found that trapezoidal cross-sections for river rehabilitation offer stable advantages over modified triangular designs, facilitating optimal integration with townscape while balancing construction, operational, and maintenance costs. This approach addresses the complexity of urban river restoration by systematically evaluating tangible and intangible factors, including cultural heritage, natural dynamics, and economic considerations.