Cities and rivers in the Tiete Watershed: Porto Feliz e Sorocaba

• Grant number: 18/06887-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Landscaping
• Principal Investigator: Norma Regina Truppel Constantino
• Grantee: Giovana Lamarca do Carmo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Arquitetura, Artes e Comunicação (FAAC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The cities formed in west São Paulo State in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century have, today, a very homogeneous landscape, not only in the aspect of natural landscape, but also in the form of occupation and urban design. It is observed that a number of cities have been deployed near the rivers, and other on the dividing spigot of watershed. One hypothesis to be examined is that the cities that were established along the Tiete River have a differential in this relationship, because the cities have been studied earlier, all on the edge of small streams, water bodies are not inserted in the urban landscape. The geographical section chosen for the development of the research is the study of two cities situated along the Tiete River - with different relationships in the urban organization: the first one were the starting point for "monções" of settlement and the trade during XVIII century and the other city were the place where it happened the animal trade. Urban space can be focalized as a dependent variable, and it can be focalized by the natural and social conditions of the environment in which it takes place. It can also be focalized as an independent variable because it is able to determine the way of life and change the natural environment. Considering these issues, we intend to describe how the interference relationship between the two variables, river and city, is processed. The methodological procedures include the survey in the relevant bibliography about the theme and the history of the cities, photographic survey and observation paths along the Tiete River in urban centers, as well as its banks and nearby surroundings, the documentary research in the municipal archives, including legislation, plans and projects, as well as systematization of collected data and preparation of maps and tables. These procedures make it possible to describe the interference relationship between the two variables, mainly some aspects: the question of continuities, the form of occupation, their inclusion in Participatory Master Plans and other municipal laws and the existing relations between the inhabitants of the city and the Tiete River. The chosen cities are: Porto Feliz and Sorocaba.