scholarly journals Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guenter Langergraber ◽  
Bernhard Pucher ◽  
Lena Simperler ◽  
Johannes Kisser ◽  
Evina Katsou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Flood Prevention ◽  
Cost Action ◽  
Network Testing ◽  
Sustainable Systems ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The City

Abstract Resource depletion, climate change and degradation of ecosystems are challenges faced by cities worldwide and will increase if cities do not adapt. In order to tackle those challenges, it is necessary to transform our cities into sustainable systems using a holistic approach. One element in achieving this transition is the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS). NBS can provide a range of ecosystem services beneficial for the urban biosphere such as regulation of micro-climates, flood prevention, water treatment, food provision and more. However, most NBS are implemented serving only one single purpose. Adopting the concept of circular economy by combining different types of services and returning resources to the city, would increase the benefits gained for urban areas. The COST Action Circular City aims to establish a network testing the hypothesis that: ‘A circular flow system that implements NBS for managing nutrients and resources within the urban biosphere will lead to a resilient, sustainable and healthy urban environment’. In this paper we introduce the COST Action Circular City by describing its main objectives and aims. The paper also serves as introduction to the review papers of the Action's five Working Groups in this Special Issue.

The COST action CA17133 "Circular city"

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasa Atanasova ◽  
Guenter Langergraber
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Cost Action ◽  
Network Testing ◽  
Sustainable Systems ◽  
First Results ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
The Cost

<p>Resource depletion, climate change and degradation of ecosystems are challenges faced by cities worldwide and will increase if cities do not adapt. In order to tackle those challenges, it is necessary to transform our cities into sustainable systems using a holistic approach. One element in achieving this transition is the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS). They can provide a range of ecosystem services beneficial for the urban biosphere such as regulation of micro-climates, flood prevention, water treatment, food provision and more. However, most NBS are implemented serving only one single purpose. Adopting the concept of circular economy by combining different types of services and returning resources to the city, would increase the benefits gained for urban areas.</p><p>The COST Action CA17133 "Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city" aims to establish a network testing the hypothesis that a circular flow system that implements NBS for managing nutrients and resources within the urban biosphere will lead to a resilient, sustainable and healthy urban environment.</p><p>To tackle this challenge the Action comprises five working groups (WGs):</p><ul><li>WG1: Built environment</li> <li>WG2: Sustainable urban water utilisation</li> <li>WG3: Resource recovery</li> <li>WG4: Urban Farming</li> <li>WG5: Transformation tools</li> </ul><p>The network of researches, companies and stakeholders from more than 40 countries spread over whole Europe brings together a large diversity of disciplines and is therefore well equipped taking holistic approach on embedding NBS within circular economy. In the presentation we will present the first results already achieved and the future plans of the Action.</p>

scholarly journals Nature-Based Solutions and Circularity in Cities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataša Atanasova ◽  
Joana A.C. Castellar ◽  
Rocío Pineda-Martos ◽  
Chrysanthy Elisabeth Nika ◽  
Evina Katsou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Sustainable Systems ◽  
Urban Transition ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The City

AbstractCities worldwide are facing a number of serious challenges including population growth, resource depletion, climate change, and degradation of ecosystems. To cope with these challenges, the transformation of our cities into sustainable systems using a holistic approach is required. The pathway to this urban transition is adopting the concept of circular economy for resource management. In this way, resources are kept and reused within the city. Nature-based solutions can be implemented for these tasks, and besides the circularity, they can provide additional benefits for the urbanites and the urban environment in general. This paper describes which urban challenges related to circularity can be addressed through nature-based solutions. This systematic review was developed within the COST Action CA17133 Circular City that investigates how nature-based solutions can be used to progress the circular economy in the urban built environment.

Quality control plan for road bridges – overview of COST Action TU1406 WG3 final report

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matej Kušar ◽  
Poul Linneberg ◽  
Joao Amado ◽  
Snežana Mašović ◽  
Nikola Tanasić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Final Report ◽  
Control Plan ◽  
Cost Action ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Arch Bridges ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Damage Processes

<p>The main objective of the COST Action TU1406 is to develop a guideline for the establishment of Quality Control plans for roadway bridges. The guideline is based on conclusions of Working groups 1 and 2 of the Action and is further developed with the contributions and findings of members of Working group 3. The paper presents the overview of the developed framework, where gradual damage processes as well as sudden events are being addressed in evaluation of Key Performance Indicators. The proposed framework relies on data from design and construction phase, as well as from results from visual inspections that are used for an assessment of safety and serviceability - the primary concerns of bridge managers. Special attention is aimed at possible Failure modes and related bridge Vulnerable zones. These are, for instance high moment regions, high shear regions and constructions joints, but can also be zones of bridge conceptual weaknesses. Since there are differences in design and materials for various bridge types, the suitability of the framework is tested separately for girder/frame bridges and arch bridges. Due to the specifics of sudden events, the application of the framework is given separately from gradual damage processes. Emphasis is given on flooding and scour as these are the most common culprits of bridge failures. The steps in the implementation of the framework are briefly shown and an illustrative example is presented.</p>

Nanosafety forum for young scientists: a meeting report

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Pietroiusti ◽  
Lang Tran ◽  
Luisa Campagnolo
Keyword(s):  
Meeting Report ◽  
Cost Action ◽  
Working Groups ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Young Researchers ◽  
The Eu

AbstractIn October of 2014, a meeting jointly organized by the EU Nanosafety Cluster and the COST Action TD 1204, was held on the beautiful island of Ortygia in Syracuse (Sicily). The meeting was specifically conceived to give the opportunity to young researchers in the field of nanotoxicology to present and discuss the results of their research. Presentations were divided into eight sessions over 2 days, reflecting the eight working groups of the Nanosafety Cluster. This report gives a description of the meeting activities and a summary of the data presented there.

scholarly journals The development of health insurance system in China in the period of socialist modernization (1978 – 2001)

2020 ◽  
pp. 36-50
Author(s):  
Khentsze Lyu
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Health Insurance System ◽  
Market Mechanisms ◽  
Insurance System ◽  
Cost Treatment ◽  
Personal Savings ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The City

&nbsp; This article explores the development of health insurance system in China over the period from 1978 to 2001. The author reviews the implementation of market mechanisms in health insurance system; provides statistical data on the number of insured persons residing in the city or rural localities. Analysis is conducted on legislation that regulates insurance activity in the sphere of medicine. The conclusion is made that the implementation of such systems affected by migration from rural to urban areas led to imbalance in the quality and availability of medical services. It is noted that despite the efforts of Chinese authorities, health insurance system did not expand neither the number of insured rural or urban residents; dependence of the level of medical care on the level of salaries led to segregation of rich and poor citizens. The employees with insufficient salary level were trying to reduce the cost treatment, as it partially compensated from their personal savings, which also led to severe sanitary consequences. Therefore, the implementation of market mechanisms in health insurance led to inequality of the citizens with regards to availability of medical services. &nbsp;

scholarly journals Mapping underground infrastructure using photogrammetric methods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark K. Tulloch
Keyword(s):  
Global Positioning System ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Gps Receiver ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Mapping System ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Underground Infrastructure ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The City

Underground infrastructure mapping in many urban areas lacks the necessary accuracy and detail required to conduct underground construction. This is a result of inadequate surveying methodologies and poor historical as-built records. One solution to this problem is the development of a mobile terrestrial photogrammetric mapping system to expose utilities on construction sites. This thesis outlines the design of the Underground Infrastructure Mapping System (UIMS). The system is comprised of three pieces of hardware including a tablet PC, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and a digital camera. Results indicte that the UIMS has an absolute spatial accuracy of 28 cm (within the City of Toronto) and a relative accuracy of 13 cm (95% confidence level). The data collection time per exposed utility feature is approximtely ten minutes on site, and an additional five minutes of post-processing. The cost of the system's hardware is under $5000.

Embedding resilience of urban areas to climate change: a case study of Rotterdam

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 59-68
Author(s):  
Anna Bilska
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Broad Perspective ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Network Building ◽  
The City

Abstract Climate change may have severe consequences for urban areas and many cities, such as those situated on deltas, are already threatened. The paper claims that the solution for endangered areas is the embedding of urban climate resilience. The concept of resilience is put forward to bring a broad perspective to a city with an indication that the city is a complex system with developed relations, both inward and outward. Social and institutional aspects of these relations are highlighted as they have the highest potential to make the city resilient. The paper indicates three fundamental features of embedding the resilience of urban areas to climate change: network building, a strategic approach and implementing urban projects. A practical application of these fundamental features is evaluated using the case study of Rotterdam. The research shows the reliability of these bases and indicates key characteristics of each fundamental feature: the network should be multidimensional with solid institutional and interpersonal relations, the strategy should have a holistic approach and project implementation needs the engagement of all the city actors.

scholarly journals Mapping underground infrastructure using photogrammetric methods

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark K. Tulloch
Keyword(s):  
Global Positioning System ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Gps Receiver ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Mapping System ◽  
Global Positioning ◽  
Underground Infrastructure ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The City

Underground infrastructure mapping in many urban areas lacks the necessary accuracy and detail required to conduct underground construction. This is a result of inadequate surveying methodologies and poor historical as-built records. One solution to this problem is the development of a mobile terrestrial photogrammetric mapping system to expose utilities on construction sites. This thesis outlines the design of the Underground Infrastructure Mapping System (UIMS). The system is comprised of three pieces of hardware including a tablet PC, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and a digital camera. Results indicte that the UIMS has an absolute spatial accuracy of 28 cm (within the City of Toronto) and a relative accuracy of 13 cm (95% confidence level). The data collection time per exposed utility feature is approximtely ten minutes on site, and an additional five minutes of post-processing. The cost of the system's hardware is under $5000.

scholarly journals Management of Urban Waters with Nature-Based Solutions in Circular Cities—Exemplified through Seven Urban Circularity Challenges

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 3334
Author(s):  
Hasan Volkan Oral ◽  
Matej Radinja ◽  
Anacleto Rizzo ◽  
Katharina Kearney ◽  
Theis Raaschou Andersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Urban Water Management ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Material Recovery ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Recovery And Reuse

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have been proven to effectively mitigate and solve resource depletion and climate-related challenges in urban areas. The COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action CA17133 entitled “Implementing nature-based solutions (NBS) for building a resourceful circular city” has established seven urban circularity challenges (UCC) that can be addressed effectively with NBS. This paper presents the outcomes of five elucidation workshops with more than 20 European experts from different backgrounds. These international workshops were used to examine the effectiveness of NBS to address UCC and foster NBS implementation towards circular urban water management. A major outcome was the identification of the two most relevant challenges for water resources in urban areas: ‘Restoring and maintaining the water cycle’ (UCC1) and ‘Water and waste treatment, recovery, and reuse’ (UCC2). s Moreover, significant synergies with ‘Nutrient recovery and reuse’, ‘Material recovery and reuse’, ‘Food and biomass production’, ‘Energy efficiency and recovery’, and ‘Building system recovery’ were identified. Additionally, the paper presents real-life case studies to demonstrate how different NBS and supporting units can contribute to the UCC. Finally, a case-based semi-quantitative assessment of the presented NBS was performed. Most notably, this paper identifies the most typically employed NBS that enable processes for UCC1 and UCC2. While current consensus is well established by experts in individual NBS, we presently highlight the potential to address UCC by combining different NBS and synergize enabling processes. This study presents a new paradigm and aims to enhance awareness on the ability of NBS to solve multiple urban circularity issues.

scholarly journals STATE-OF-THE-ART CONCEPTION OF THE PERI-URBAN AREA

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
Matas Cirtautas
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Current Debate ◽  
Intermediate Space ◽  
The City

This article discusses the state-of-the-art conception of the peri-urban area and aims at making the clarification of the term. While exploring the historical origins and features of suburban development, it appears that the extensive urban development processes and resulting formation of an intermediate space between the city and countryside is not a conceptually new phenomenon typical of the developed countries. The current interest in this spatial phenomenon (suburbs) is determined by the consistently growing importance of this territorial-organizational unit: recently increased suburban population, greatly expanded areas etc. If the previously used concept of the peri-urban area was closely linked to the city as a central analytical discourse, most recently, in the context of radical decentralization processes, there has been a tendency to defining this urban peripheral area as unique functional and territorial space – the peri-urban landscape. Although scientific and popular literature on suburbs and peri-urban areas is extensive, yet the subject always seems to be elusive. The peri-urban areas are still described as the integral parts of the regular suburban transformation processes taking place in the context of changing social, economic and ecological conditions. The latter holistic approach is a fundamental attribute of a contemporary knowledge of peri-urban space and the key element of the current debate on sustainable urban and regional development.

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