scholarly journals Allergenic potential of Platanus L. species in urban environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
Rusana Tsvetanova
Keyword(s):  
Urban Environment ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
World Economy ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Plane Tree ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Allergenic Potential ◽  
The World ◽  
High Level

Abstract The species of the genus Platanus L. are widely used in urban green infrastructure in Bulgaria and abroad, but are proven to be a serious source of allergen pollen emissions. The number of people, affected by pollinosis, is increasing every year and this affects the world economy and health of the population in a high level. The pollen of the plane tree is light, very small and spreads anemophilically. This is one of the genera that produce the largest amount of pollen per inflorescence. This makes Platanus a tree of a high allergy potential that has the tendence to get higher in time, because of its increasing use in urban green spaces. The aim of this study is to collect data for allergy potential of the three species of plane tree in some of the European countries, where the allergy is a significant problem, and to compare the sensitization of patients to its pollen in Bulgaria.

scholarly journals Experiential Contacts with Green Infrastructure’s Diversity and Well-Being of Urban Community

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazlina Mansor ◽  
Ismail Said ◽  
Ismail Mohamad
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Small Town ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Publishing House ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Infrastructure Network

The study explores the significance of residents’ experience with an array of green infrastructure in Taiping, a small town in central Peninsular Malaysia. It argues that the existence of a composite of greenery and open spaces in a town that has diversity contributes to sense of well-being of residents. Green infrastructure network is a composite of various types of greenery and open spaces linked by streets, waterways and drainages encircling and connecting urban areas, at all spatial scales. In Taiping, the green infrastructure network consists of a town park, street planting, open spaces of public buildings, pocket spaces between shop-houses, school playfields, neighbourhood open space, home gardens, and river corridors. Questionnaires (n=335) and semi-structured interviews (n=33) explored the diversity of the green infrastructure in the town and the causal relationship to well-being—physical, cognitive and social. The data suggested that green infrastructure afford residents diversity of experience. Diverse experiences of green infrastructure network, physically and visually attract residents to participate in active activities, to socialize and to perform other transactional activities outside their homes. Therefore, the effects from the participation trigger many positive moods such as serenity, relaxation, comfort and satisfaction. Moreover, in physical and social terms, experiencing urban green spaces such as parks and gardens afford town residents active living, and community participation and harmony. There were modest relationships between the dimensions of diversity with the well-being dimensions, suggesting that residents felt diversity affect their sense of well-being. Hence, the results implicate that urban green spaces are essential amenity for towns and cities that afford an individual and a community physical, cognitive and social well-being. Keywords:     Green infrastructure, Small town, Diversity, Well-being © 2017 The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, UniversitiTeknologi MARA, Malaysia.

A MSPA-Based Approach of Urban Green Space System Planning

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 5972-5979
Author(s):  
Qing Chang ◽  
Yao Qiu ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Jian Sheng Wu
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Spatial Pattern Analysis ◽  
Space System ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Land Use Decisions

Urban green spaces are considered as the life support system in a city, if systematically planned, developed, and maintained, they may provide various ecosystem services in a sustainable way. By integrating the morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and the green infrastructure (GI) network based on GIS, this study provided an urban green space planning method to guide urban sustainable spatial development and land use decisions in the Longgang District of Shenzhen in China. The approach has a robust performance in identifying the vital hubs and linkages in the urban green space system. It is hoped that this plan model based on MSPA, the function connectivity of urban green spaces could be farther strengthened so that some key zones in landscape pattern could be protected in the future development.

scholarly journals Estimation of the Allergenic Potential of Urban Trees and Urban Parks: Towards the Healthy Design of Urban Green Spaces of the Future

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cariñanos ◽  
Grilo ◽  
Pinho ◽  
Casares-Porcel ◽  
Branquinho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Trees ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Allergenic Potential ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ornamental Species

The impact of allergens emitted by urban green spaces on health is one of the main disservices of ecosystems. The objective of this work is to establish the potential allergenic value of some tree species in urban environments, so that the allergenicity of green spaces can be estimated through application of the Index of Urban Green Zones Allergenicity (IUGZA). Multiple types of green spaces in Mediterranean cities were selected for the estimation of IUGZ. The results show that some of the ornamental species native to the Mediterranean are among the main causative agents of allergy in the population; in particular, Oleaceae, Cupressaceae, Fagaceae, and Platanus hispanica. Variables of the strongest impact on IUGZA were the bioclimatic characteristics of the territory and design aspects, such as the density of trees and the number of species. We concluded that the methodology to assess the allergenicity associated with urban trees and urban areas presented in this work opens new perspectives in the design and planning of urban green spaces, pointing out the need to consider the potential allergenicity of a species when selecting plant material to be used in cities. Only then can urban green areas be inclusive spaces, in terms of public health.

scholarly journals Is the Qi experience related to the flow experience? Practicing qigong in urban green spaces

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0240180
Author(s):  
Shih-Han Hung ◽  
Ching-Yung Hwang ◽  
Chun-Yen Chang
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Methods ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Flow Experience ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Quantitative And Qualitative Methods

People experience a healthy energy gained from the environment and an inner feeling, called the Qi experience. The flow experience has been a popular topic in Western studies, especially within the fields of psychology and health, and in all kinds of activities. Our current study used quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the relationship between the Qi experience and the flow experience. After collecting data using open-ended questions, we integrated and connected the Qi experience into five orientations: (1) the feeling of Qi; (2) the mind; (3) Qi and consciousness; (4) physical, mental, and spiritual benefits; and (5) the feeling of Tao. The results revealed a high level of consistency between the flow experience and the Qi experience (r = 0.90, p<0.00, which supports the conclusion that the concept of the flow experience in Qigong activity seems to be the same as that in East Asian disciplines, called the Qi experience.

scholarly journals Mapping Methodology of Public Urban Green Spaces Using GIS: An Example of Nagpur City, India

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 2166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shruti Lahoti ◽  
Mohamed Kefi ◽  
Ashish Lahoti ◽  
Osamu Saito
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Data ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Thematic Map ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
The City

Faced with a lack of fine grain data availability, in rapidly emerging urban centers of developing nations, the study explored a mapping methodology to create thematic map of public urban green space (UGS). Using GIS, a thematic map of Nagpur city, India was prepared. The objective was to prepare spatial data that are relevant for planners and policy makers, with detailed UGS typologies and to update the status of overall availability and distribution of hierarchical recreational green spaces in the city. The spatial and non-spatial data with added attributes gathered through fieldwork resulted in a holistic dataset, with high accuracy of thematic map (0.93 kappa coefficient). The recorded status of different typologies as well as the distribution of recreational UGS shows disparity in the distribution of UGS. The eastern part of the city grossly lacks UGS provisions, which is compensated by the western part with larger availability of natural green spaces. The mapping methodology is novel and effective for recording qualitative status, analyzing their spatial distribution and prioritizing the provisions of UGS. Future research integrating these spatial data with more qualitative research can provide a holistic view on benefits of UGS provisions and thus facilitate effective UGS governance aiming towards better green infrastructure and hence broader urban sustainability.

scholarly journals Scalable Green Infrastructure—The Case of Domestic Private Gardens in Vuores, Finland

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4571
Author(s):  
Outi Tahvonen
Keyword(s):  
Built Environment ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Stormwater Management ◽  
Habitat Diversity ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Vegetation ◽  
Urban Fabric ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Water Vegetation

The planning, implementation, and everyday use of the built environment interweave the green and grey components of urban fabric tightly together. Runoff from grey and impermeable surfaces causes stormwater that is managed in permeable surfaces that simultaneously act as habitats for vegetation. Green infrastructure (GI) is one of the concepts that is used to perceive, manage, and guide the components of urban green spaces. Furthermore, GI pays special attention to stormwater management and urban vegetation at several scales at the same time. This study concentrated on scalable GI in domestic private gardens. A set of garden designs in Vuores, Finland were analyzed and developed by Research by Design. The aim was to study how garden scale choices and designs can enhance GI at the block and neighbourhood scales to rethink design practices to better integrate water and vegetation throughout the scales. As a result, we propose a checklist for designers and urban planners that ensures vegetation-integrated stormwater management to enhance habitat diversity in block scale and possibility to use blocks of private plots for ecological networks. The prerequisite for garden designers is to be capable to balance between water, vegetation, and soil, and their processes and flows in detail the scale.

scholarly journals Greening Blocks: A Conceptual Typology of Practical Design Interventions to Integrate Health and Climate Resilience Co-Benefits

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (21) ◽  
pp. 4241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Barron ◽  
Sophie Nitoslawski ◽  
Kathleen L. Wolf ◽  
Angie Woo ◽  
Erin Desautels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Space Design ◽  
Climate Resilience ◽  
Adaptation Response

It is increasingly evident that exposure to green landscape elements benefits human health. Urban green space in cities is also recognized as a crucial adaptation response to changes in climate and its subsequent effects. The exploration of conceptual and practical intersections between human health, green spaces, and climate action is needed. Evidence-based guidance is needed for stakeholders, practitioners, designers, and citizens in order to assess and manage urban green spaces that maximize co-benefits for both human health and climate resilience. This paper proposes interventions that provide strategic green space enhancement at the neighborhood and block scale. We propose eight tangible green space interventions and associated metrics to integrate climate resilience and population health co-benefits into urban green space design and planning: View from within, Plant entrances, Bring nature nearby, Retain the mature, Generate diversity, Create refuge, Connect experiences, and Optimize green infrastructure. These interventions represent a hierarchy of functional design concepts that respond to experiential qualities and physical/psychological dimensions of health, and which enhance resilience at a range of social scales from the individual to the neighborhood. The interventions also reveal additional research needs in green space design, particularly in neighborhood-level contexts.

scholarly journals Urban Green Space Fragmentation and Urbanization: A Spatiotemporal Perspective

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangzheng Li ◽  
Wei Zheng ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Junhui Liang ◽  
Shuang Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Patterns ◽  
Shape Index ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Geographically Weighted Regression Model ◽  
Nighttime Light Data ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
High Level

Urbanization leads to the occupation of green areas, directly contributing to a high level of fragmentation of urban green spaces, which, in turn, results in numerous socioeconomic and environmental problems. Consequently, an understanding of the relationships between patterns of urban green spaces and urbanization processes is essential. Although previous quantitative studies have examined this relationship, they have not included an exploration of spatial heterogeneities in the effects of urbanization on the spatial patterns of urban green areas. We therefore applied a spatiotemporal perspective to examine the above relationship, while considering the wider planning context. First, we quantified the extent of fragmentation of urban green spaces using landscape metrics comprising the largest patch index (LPI) and landscape shape index (LSI). Next, using the calculated spatial metrics and nighttime light data (NTL) for central Beijing for the period 1992–2016, we applied a geographically weighted regression model to assess variations in the spatiotemporal effects of urbanization on the fragmentation of urban green spaces. The results showed that urbanization initially occurred mainly in the northern parts of Beijing, whereas urbanization of southern urban fringe areas occurred after 2008. The reduction in green spaces along with increasing fragmentation and complex spatial patterns are indicative of issues relating to Beijing’s rapid urbanization and planning policies. This study contributes to an understanding of how urbanization influences fragmentation of urban green spaces and offers insights for the planning of urban green spaces from the perspective of promoting sustainability.

scholarly journals ATMOSPHERIC AIR AND GREENNESS AS INDICATORS OF COMFORT OF A COMPACT CITY (BY EXAMPLE OF KYIV)

2021 ◽  
pp. 69-75
Author(s):  
Ye. Tsyhanok ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
Air Quality Index ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Compact City ◽  
Atmospheric Air ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

The goal of the article is to study the geographical distribution and provision of urban green spaces to the residents of a large city on the example of Kyiv, assess the real state of green infrastructure, and reveal the relationship between air quality and comfort of living in some districts of the capital. To achieve this goal, we have analysed the compliance of Kyiv with the requirements of the compact sustainable city conception; and proposed an original method of substantiating the level of comfortable living, taking into consideration the air quality. According to the method we have evaluated the drawings of the effective Kyiv development Master plan and the one being elaborated, the regulatory documents of the Kyiv City Council, the registries of public recreation zones, OpenStreetMap and Google Map geospatial data and annual concentrations of main air pollutants of different Kyiv districts. Several thousand contours of all urban green spaces with an area of more than one hectare in Kyiv’s cartographic base has been processed and a number of major indicators of the modern conditions of the green infrastructure of Kyiv in all ten city districts have been calculated. Additionally, the average annual concentrations of main air pollutants and the Air Quality Index in different Kyiv districts have been calculated. We have identified a number of significant shortcomings in the functioning of the state monitoring of atmospheric air pollution in Kyiv, and substantiated the criteria for placing the air quality monitoring stations and sensors for the efficient measuring of the concentration of pollutants. Based on processing all significant indicators, such as the Greenness Index, Green Space Provision Index, Air Quality Index, the administrative districts of Kyiv have been ranked to assess the level of the comfortable and safe urban environment. We have calculated the integrated City comfort living Index that is based on important indicators of urban green spaces and allows to assess the complex state of the green infrastructure in Kyiv. It is also a key criterion of its compliance with modern requirements to the sustainable compact city. The analysis of the condition and distribution of urban green spaces has revealed their irregular distribution in the majority of districts and insufficient provision of green areas in the highest-density neighborhoods, despite their high Given the numerous shortcomings of the green infrastructure development in Kyiv (uneven territorial distribution, insufficient provision for the population), it is necessary to revise the legal framework in terms of geoecological assessment of all urban green spaces and their functions. Among the promising areas of further research, priority is given to determining the quality of green spaces, calculating the uniformity of their spatial distribution, pedestrian and transport accessibility for the city residents to the elements of green infrastructure, including protected areas. The relevance of the research is due to the fruitless search for the compromises between locally based densification, urban development and preservation of urban green structures, which leads to deterioration of air quality and general environmental condition of Kyiv, reducing its socio-economic development, increasing incidences of disease.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document