Territorial Diagnosis of Urdesa and Bases for the PDOT Partial Plan

Abstract

The territorial study of Urdesa, located in the Tarqui parish of the Guayaquil canton, is designed to describe its current condition through five subsystems: biophysical, sociocultural, economic, human settlements, and political-institutional. Territorial management and land-use planning are essential to address current challenges such as uncontrolled growth, inequality in access to services, pressure on ecosystems, and exposure to climate risks. In Ecuador, these functions are grounded in the Constitution and national regulatory frameworks and are implemented through instruments such as the PDOT and partial plans, supported by technical guidelines from the National Secretariat for Planning.

In the Urdesa sector, multiple problems converge. For example, low elevation and insufficient stormwater drainage increase exposure to flooding, while commercial pressure is reflected in traffic congestion. At the same time, the area retains strategic assets, social networks, opportunities for active mobility, and an edge with restoration potential. This document provides the technical basis for the Partial Plan and contributes to the Current Territorial Model by organizing findings and delimiting the intervention area.

An initial portfolio of guidelines is proposed, including water management through Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS), multimodal mobility, recovery of urban voids, and regulatory measures to promote renewal processes. These guidelines are articulated with existing cantonal instruments and aligned with local public policies. In addition, the study incorporates interinstitutional coordination and citizen participation with continuous monitoring.