PROGRESS IN STUDIES OF URBAN FLUVIAL GEOMORPHOLOGY AT THE END OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The forerunners of Fluvial Geomorphology took into consideration environmental conditions pre-existing balances which changed as a result of accelerated erosion and / or deposition of sedimentary material. Among the impacts of environmental changes on river conditions, the process of urbanization is on what can, sometimes, in addition to affecting the impacted areas, be transmitted upstream and downstream, and even courses along tributaries. In addition to direct actions to the channel, as adjustments in river course, indirect actions such as soil sealing, promote strong impacts on river systems. To assess progress in studies of Urban Fluvial Geomorphology at the end of the last century, we will assess the progression this field of Geomorphology based on work of Wolman (1967), Ebisemiju (1989), Whitlow and Gregory (1989) and Gregory Davis and Dows (1992). The authors in question have demonstrated the relevance of studies on Urban Fluvial Geomorphology as a subsidy for projects to planning and management of river basins suffering a growing process of urbanization.