Urban Constructed Wetlands in Arid and Semiarid Zones

Abstract The development of societies and the increasing growth of recent constructions, especially in cities, have caused environmental issues, destruction, and reduction of natural resources and the environment, especially green and green-blue spaces. According to studies, in the past years, many parts of natural and even pristine surfaces and spaces in big cities have been turned into artificial, and impermeable spaces, which has aggravated environmental and ecological problems and also it has aggravated the aesthetic characteristics of the urban landscape, particularly in arid and semiarid areas. In this case, the studies show that identifying and applying natural ecosystems such as wetlands and their artificial types due to their multifunctional aspects and benefits, especially in urban areas, can be the basis for reducing many issues mentioned. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to this critical issue and do more research to know different types of constructed wetland ecosystems along with their services and values. The primary aim of this research is to identify the values and services of this ecosystem and to examine the diverse patterns of constructed wetlands in order to extract and design simple patterns of construcred wetlands. We want to know their role and position in landscape architecture and urban planning and design process. Also, this study aims to examine the potencial and possibillity of building constructed wetlands in urban areas particularly in arid areas and Mediterranean regions, according to Koppen climate classiffication. In this regard, the theoretical framework is provided based on the study of specialized texts and the study of similar foreign case studies and diverse patterns of urban wetlands with their different functions. These reviews have been done in a specific format consisting of some main aspects, such as the function and supply sources of wetlands. The final result and extractted simplified patterns, according to case studies, can be considered as a framework for designing and planning urban constructed wetlands and a guide for planning and designing a landscape consisting of this element, especially in areas with arid, semiarid, and Mediterranean climates with hot and dry summers.