Sponge Cities Framework for Achieving Ecological Development in Egyptian Cities

Sponge Cities is an urban approach to making cities more porous to storm flooding. Its main idea is to make cities act with permeability like a sponge absorbing and storing water then reusing it efficiently. This research aims to develop a framework that applies principles for Sponge Cities approach to guide contemporary cities toward ecological development. It follows a descriptive analytical approach answering two main research questions: (1) what are the key components of Sponge City that can be integrated into urban design and planning to enhance ecological developments? (2) how can principles of Sponge Cities be established to assess its effectiveness in improving urban resilience and biodiversity, along with community involvement? The research follows a systematic literature review followed by a comparative analysis for international case studies to help identify main principles and indicators of strategies for Sponge Cities. Furthermore, the research formulates a framework to understand how Sponge Cities could achieve ecological development. The research ended by an initial approach to applying Sponge Cities framework in Egypt. This showed a way of promoting ecological and resilient practices in Egyptian cities. Integrating green infrastructure and advanced water management practices would help foster biodiversity and mitigate the impact of climate changes.