scholarly journals The use of blue-Green infrastructure as a multifunctional approach to watersheds with socio-environmental vulnerability

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Vitória Ribeiro Gomes ◽  
Bruna Peres Battemarco ◽  
Luciana Fernandes Guimarães ◽  
Antonio Krishnamurti Beleño de Oliveira ◽  
Victória de Araújo Rutigliani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Flood Control ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Land Value ◽  
Environmental Evaluation ◽  
Assessment Index

Abstract This article investigates how to make the implementation of blue-green infrastructure (BGI) more attractive to solve urban problems in densely occupied watersheds that lack flood control and environmental quality protection infrastructure. Considering the obstacles related to implementing multifunctional solutions in developing countries, measuring its co-benefits (in addition to flood control) may influence greater public and political acceptance. Thus, the paper uses a multifunctional design approach using the urban open space system and combining the blue-green and gray infrastructure. A hydrodynamic model was used to support flood mapping. This approach also increases the land value and the environmental quality of the urban spaces. Two quantitative aspects support this evaluation. The first one represents the land value increase as a positive effect, while the second one assesses the environmental quality of the urban space using the Environmental Quality Assessment Index (EQAI). The results obtained from the urban and environmental evaluation proved that blue and green corridors could promote multiple co-benefits for consolidated urban areas. The increased environmental quality and land value were only possible due to the combined use of BGI and gray infrastructure since BGI can add benefits that the gray infrastructure is not capable of providing.

scholarly journals Pemanfaatan Pocket Park Sebagai Infrastruktur Hijau di Permukiman Islami (Studi Kasus: Kampung Arab, Kota Malang)

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-213
Author(s):  
Suci Senjana ◽  
Nunik Junara ◽  
Elok Mutiara
Keyword(s):  
Urban Communities ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Public Facilities ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Literature Selection

Urban areas have the character of increasingly dense buildings and less land that can be used for green infrastructure. So that the option to increase green open space is increasingly difficult. Along with the population growth in Kampung Arab and the low number of public facilities, the environment became very crowded and have less adequate public open spaces for the residents who lived here. Kampung Arab itself is a settlement dominated by Muslim residents who have been in this area for a long time. This study aims to analyze the feasibility of applying the pocket garden concept to Islamic residential kasawan which is currently in a congested condition. The first step is to collect data from observations, surveys and literature selection. Then, the method used to analyze is discourse analysis and selective criteria. These two processes show the results in the form of the benefits of the pocket garden concept in settlements, a map of the location at a point in Kampung Arab which can be used as a pocket garden and a map of the distance from the pocket garden to the surrounding house. These findings explain that the concept of green open space for narrow land can improve the quality of life for urban communities, especially those in Kampung Arab. Therefore, the application of the concept as a concept that is suitable for use in the future both in planning and designing in Kampung Arab, urban areas of the population. There are related professions that can work using this system such as spatial policy makers, planners, and architects.

scholarly journals Vegetation Cover Change and Its Diversity in Urban Areas of Medan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Zaitunah ◽  
Samsuri ◽  
Fauziah Sahara
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Change Analysis ◽  
Vegetation Class

Abstract Vegetation plays an important role in maintaining the environmental quality of urban areas. Increase in population and development of cities has led to land conversion with lesser vegetated areas. Land cover change analysis in urban areas is needed, especially for urban regional planning with green open space consideration. This research was conducted to analyze urban vegetation cover and its changes in two sub-districts of Medan between the years 1999 and 2019. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and change analysis were conducted in the research. The diversity of plant within this areas was observed. The results showed changes in vegetation cover areas in the mentioned years. In 1999, most of the areas were under a highly dense vegetation class while in 2019, they were under a low-density vegetation class. This indicates a decrease in vegetation cover due to changes to non-vegetation cover or land cover areas with less vegetation. There are a diverse of plants within the area such as paddy, cassava, corn etc and also many tree species. It is recommended to optimize the land by replanting in the area with no or less vegetation to maintain the environmental quality.

scholarly journals Greenery System for Cooling Down Outdoor Spaces: Results of an Experimental Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (15) ◽  
pp. 5888
Author(s):  
Marta Chàfer ◽  
Anna Laura Pisello ◽  
Cristina Piselli ◽  
Luisa F. Cabeza
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Lower Surface ◽  
Outdoor Thermal Comfort ◽  
Outdoor Spaces ◽  
Sustainability Challenges

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) and nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly recognized as strategies to address urban sustainability challenges. These solutions are attracting key scientific and marketing attention thanks to their capability to improve indoor and outdoor thermal comfort and environmental quality of spaces. In urban areas, where most of the population worldwide lives, indoor-outdoor environmental quality is compromised by local and temporary overheating phenomena, air pollution concentration, and impervious surfaces minimizing urban space resilience to climate change related hazards. In this view, the proposed study concerns the analysis of a greenery system for enhancing outdoor thermal conditions and local warming mitigation for pedestrians for the continental Mediterranean climate. The system has the purpose of designing an outdoor “alive” shading system to be applied in open public spaces, with producing physical and societal benefits. The experimental results showed that the implementation of the greenery, characterized by lower surface temperatures and evapotranspiration compared to a simple pergola system, allows the reduction of outdoor air temperature under the shading system and, thus, higher relative humidity in summer. Specifically, the hygrothermal cooling and the additional shading thanks to the presence of greenery provide local air temperature reduction up to 5 °C at pedestrian level.

scholarly journals Climate-Friendly Cities – Blue-Green Infrastructure Activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 1203 (2) ◽  
pp. 022049
Author(s):  
Alina Pancewicz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Knowledge Resources ◽  
Urban Adaptation

Abstract Increasing climate change affects many aspects of cities and their inhabitants. Extreme weather phenomena destroy urban areas, infrastructure and green spaces. Activities taken to improve the resilience of cities and their adaptation to climate change aim to reduce or avoid negative consequences, or to increase the benefits of risks. They are different in character and take different forms, depending on the level of economic and social development, financial, institutional, human, and knowledge resources. The planning and urban development tools and instruments used are also important. An integral part of adaptation activities is the development of modern systems of blue-green urban infrastructure. The experience of the last few years has shown the diversity of applied projects based on natural solutions. They are reflected both in the provisions of climate strategies and in the realizations visible in the urban landscape. The paper focuses on planning and implementation activities that strengthen resilience to climate change, highlight the importance of ecosystem services and shape urban space. The research focuses on polish cities that have undertaken the development of Urban Adaptation Plans (MPA). The aim of this paper is to present the blue-green infrastructure activities included in the MPA, the possibilities for their implementation and to show their role in improving the quality of life in cities, increasing the attractiveness of urban spaces and raising the awareness and involvement of local communities.

Dynamic evaluation of small urban green areas at local level using GEOBIA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Popa ◽  
Diana Andreea Onose ◽  
Ionut Cosmin Sandric ◽  
Simona Raluca Gradinaru ◽  
Athanasios Alexandru Gavrilidis
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Urbanization Process ◽  
Dynamic Evaluation ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Areas ◽  
Green Areas

<p>Urban green infrastructure has various benefits known as ecosystem services such as regulating, cultural, provisioning and supporting services. Among the provided benefits there are decrease of air temperature, increasing humidity and mitigating urban heat island as regulating services; human-nature relations as cultural services; improving air quality, carbon sequestration as provisioning services and photosynthesis, nutrient and water cycling as supporting services. The high intensity of the urbanization process across the last decades coupled with weak legislative frameworks resulted both in large areas affected by urban sprawl and densification of the existing urban fabric. Both phenomenon generated loss in open spaces, especially green areas. In the context of the sustainable urbanization promoted by HABITAT Agenda, the knowledge related with the distribution, size and quality of urban green areas represents a priority. The study aim is to identify small urban green areas at local level at different time moments for a dynamic evaluation. We focused on small urban green areas since they are scarcely analysed even if their importance for the urban quality of life Is continuously increasing given the urbanization process. We used satellite imagery acquired by Planet Satellite Constellations, with a spatial resolution of 3.7 m and daily coverage, for extracting green areas. The images were processed using Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) techniques implemented in Esri ArcGIS Pro. The spatial analysis we performed generated information about distribution, surfaces, quality (based on NDVI) and dynamic of small urban green areas. The results are connected with the local level development of the urban areas we analysed, but also with the population consumption pattern for leisure services, housing, transport or other public utilities. The analysis can represent a complementary method for extracting green areas at urban level and can support the data collection for calculating urban sustainability indicators.</p>

scholarly journals BUILT ENVIRONMENT: MODELLING THE URBAN SPACE

2019 ◽  
Vol XLII-2/W11 ◽  
pp. 595-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Guzzetti ◽  
K. L. N. Anyabolu ◽  
L. D’Ambrosio ◽  
G. Marchetti
Keyword(s):  
Urban Space ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Facility Management ◽  
Complex Environment ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Urban Open Space ◽  
Historical Significance ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
Environment Modelling

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> In urban areas, the “built” is defined by many different elements. Not only buildings but also open spaces containing green areas, viability, urban furniture, underground facilities. While the H-BIM sector focuses, rightly, on buildings of great historical significance, in our case it is been consider a part of the built that it usually not analyse: the urban open space. One of the interesting themes is the possibility of having a single tool that integrates the different objects present in a complex environment such as the urban area. The process with BIM model could allow a huge saving in terms of time and costs considering public tender, maintenance or construction phase of a project. Facility management operating through BIM is another relevant theme considering the whole life of a construction. Finally, another important theme is the connections between elements above the ground (visible elements) and subsoil (not visible elements), not only for the administrations but also if related to the HBIM environment.</p><p>The paper reports the analysis of the experience performed, particularly related to questions about detail and accuracy of the BIM model.</p><p>A methodology for modelling open spaces is been assuming, it is described possible improvements and considerations on the result.</p>

scholarly journals Urban agriculture as a keystone contribution towards securing sustainable and healthy development for cities in the future

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. G. Skar ◽  
R. Pineda-Martos ◽  
A. Timpe ◽  
B. Pölling ◽  
K. Bohn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Community Gardens ◽  
Healthy Development ◽  
Vertical Farming ◽  
Integrated Agriculture ◽  
Water Waste

Abstract Research and practice during the last 20 years has shown that urban agriculture can contribute to minimising the effects of climate change by, at the same time, improving quality of life in urban areas. In order to do so most effectively, land use and spatial planning are crucial so as to obtain and maintain a supportive green infrastructure and to secure citizens' healthy living conditions. As people today trend more towards living in green and sustainable city centres that can offer fresh and locally produced food, cities become again places for growing food. The scope of urban agriculture thereby is to establish food production sites within the city's sphere; for example, through building-integrated agriculture including concepts such as aquaponics, indoor agriculture, vertical farming, rooftop production, edible walls, as well as through urban farms, edible landscapes, school gardens and community gardens. Embedded in changing urban food systems, the contribution of urban agriculture to creating sustainable and climate-friendly cities is pivotal as it has the capacity to integrate other resource streams such as water, waste and energy. This article describes some of the current aspects of the circular city debate where urban agriculture is pushing forward the development of material and resource cycling in cities.

scholarly journals Environmental Urbanization Assessment Using GIS and Multicriteria Decision Analysis: A Case Study for Denizli (Turkey) Municipal Area

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Erdal Akyol ◽  
Mutlu Alkan ◽  
Ali Kaya ◽  
Suat Tasdelen ◽  
Ali Aydin
Keyword(s):  
Decision Analysis ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Multicriteria Decision Analysis ◽  
Multicriteria Decision ◽  
The City

In recent years, life quality of the urban areas is a growing interest of civil engineering. Environmental quality is essential to display the position of sustainable development and asserts the corresponding countermeasures to the protection of environment. Urban environmental quality involves multidisciplinary parameters and difficulties to be analyzed. The problem is not only complex but also involves many uncertainties, and decision-making on these issues is a challenging problem which contains many parameters and alternatives inherently. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) is a very prepotent technique to solve that sort of problems, and it guides the users confidence by synthesizing that information. Environmental concerns frequently contain spatial information. Spatial multicriteria decision analysis (SMCDA) that includes Geographic Information System (GIS) is efficient to tackle that type of problems. This study has employed some geographic and urbanization parameters to assess the environmental urbanization quality used by those methods. The study area has been described in five categories: very favorable, favorable, moderate, unfavorable, and very unfavorable. The results are momentous to see the current situation, and they could help to mitigate the related concerns. The study proves that the SMCDA descriptions match the environmental quality perception in the city.

Freedom and control: a state of balance in public space

Facilities ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (11/12) ◽  
pp. 606-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianjiao Zhao ◽  
Kin Wai Michael Siu
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Policy Design ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Systematic Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
And Control

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to determine how to achieve a balance between freedom and control in public space. It analyses the relationship between freedom and control to identify phenomena and offer users and policymakers instructions for achieving that balance. Public space, including privately owned public space, is important to urban living. People have both the right to use public space and the responsibility to protect it. Both freedom and control should exist in public space in an appropriate combination. It is impossible and inappropriate for us to ask for absolute freedom or endure unreasonable control. Design/methodology/approach – A case study of Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) reveals typical freedom/control relationships. Quantitative descriptions are given based on field observations. Findings – Freedom and control are primary factors affecting the quality of urban life and management of city space. They depend on and conflict with each other. The balance between freedom and control is a balance between diverse spaces. The “freedom space” belonging to both citizens and authorities determines whether freedom and control are balanced. Ethics and strategies constitute control. Only when each authority and user obtains a proper freedom space can freedom and control achieve balance in public space. Research limitations/implications – Freedom and control differ across cities because they are both affected by culture, history and tradition. As each city has its own characteristics, the freedom and control in each open space are distinctive. Balancing freedom and control requires an understanding of a city’s background and the era. While this paper does not attempt to achieve this understanding, further studies could devote more attention to dimensions of time and location. Practical implications – The findings provide recommendations for users, policymakers and construction and management companies that will allow the management of harmonious and high-quality open spaces. Social implications – Freedom and control are two main factors affecting quality of life. The balance between freedom and control may bring a harmony and stable society environment. It would benefit both the authority and the people a lot. Originality/value – This study provides a systematic analysis of freedom and control in public space and makes a valuable contribution to quality urban space policy, design and management.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document