Recognition of Ecological Wisdom Principles in the ancient Hydraulic structures of Desert Cities (Case Study: Vaghf-abad Qanat of Yazd)

Abstract

Today, landscape of many ancient desert cities has destroyed, despite having natural contexts and integrated patterns resulted from human actions and natural environments as settlement. Discoloration of sustainability and resilience foundations, emphasizes the need to recognition and application of the concepts governing the structure and function of ecological networks and the patterns of social-ecological systems interactions, which has been reflection of the ecological wisdom principles in the urban planning process. This study aims to recognize ecological wisdom principles in the landscape of desert cities in the format of hydraulic structures in Yazd city. In present comparative-inferential study, the ecological wisdom is explained and it's principles are inferred, while analyzing the subject literature, using documentary method and study of written sources. Based on field studies, and inference of structural, functional, and management criteria governing the historical hydraulic structures in city of Yazd. The examples of ecological wisdom principles in ancient hydraulic structures have been studied in three scales of macro, mezo and micro. The results indicate that ecological wisdom has provided basis for creating ecological networks and urban landscapes sustainability, by creating composition, configuration, communication and functional diversity of patches and mixing corridors in the hydraulic structures networks in Yazd city.

Keywords

• ancient hydraulic structures
• ecological networks
• vaghf-abad qanat of yazd
• regeneration
• urban structure and function
• ecological wisdom