scholarly journals Going local – Providing a highly detailed Green Infrastructure geodata set for assessing connectivity and functionality

2021 ◽  
Vol 89 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Florian Danzinger ◽  
Stefan Fuchs ◽  
Thomas Wrbka
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Landscape Planning ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Water Network ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Corine Land Cover ◽  
Austrian Case

Green Infrastructure (GI) defined as a strategically planned network of natural and semi-natural areas is a key strategy in the European biodiversity strategy and the landscape connectivity agenda. To implement this approach in Central Europe’s (CE) landscape planning policies the Interreg project MaGICLandscapes (ML) tried to operationalise the GI concept in CE as well as in nine case studies, to provide land-managers, policy makers and communities with tools and knowledge, at different spatial levels. Based on the example of the Austrian case study area, the aim of this paper is to present an easy to use approach, as implemented in ML, for producing a highly-detailed regional GI database to overcome the difficulty of realising comprehensive biotope mapping surveys as well as the rather coarse resolution of CORINE Land Cover (CLC). By compiling regional cadastral and agricultural information, highly detailed data on the water network as well as Pan-European High Resolution Layers (HRL), this detailed representation of the regional GI network allows to enhance the regional applicability and acceptance of GI initiatives and provides a crucial foundation for assessing GI connectivity and functionality to develop evidence-based strategies and action plans through stakeholder involvement to direct future actions and investment in GI.

scholarly journals Methods for identifying green infrastructure

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica Honeck ◽  
Arthur Sanguet ◽  
Martin A. Schlaepfer ◽  
Nicolas Wyler ◽  
Anthony Lehmann
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Political Decisions

AbstractNature forms interdependent networks in a landscape, which is key to the survival of species and the maintenance of genetic diversity. Nature provides crucial socio-economic benefits to people, but they are typically undervalued in political decisions. This has led to the concept of Green Infrastructure (GI), which defines an interlinked network of (semi-)natural areas with high ecological values for wildlife and people, to be conserved and managed in priority to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. This relatively new concept has been used in different contexts, but with widely diverging interpretations. There is no apparent consensus in the scientific literature on the methodology to map and implement GI. This paper serves as an informed primer for researchers that are new to GI mapping understand the key principles and terminology for the needs of their own case-study, and as a framework for more advance researchers willing to contribute to the formalization of the concept. Through a literature review of articles on creating GI networks, we summarized and evaluated commonly used methods to identify and map GI. We provided key insights for the assessment of diversity, ecosystem services and landscape connectivity, the three ‘pillars’ on which GI identification is based according to its definition. Based on this literature review, we propose 5 theoretical levels toward a more complex, reliable and integrative approach to identify GI networks. We then discuss the applications and limits of such method and point out future challenges for GI identification and implementation.

scholarly journals An Integrated Indicator Framework for the Assessment of Multifunctional Green Infrastructure—Exemplified in a European City

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 1869
Author(s):  
Jingxia Wang ◽  
Stephan Pauleit ◽  
Ellen Banzhaf
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
European City ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Retrospective Assessment ◽  
Indicator Framework ◽  
Illustrative Case Study ◽  
Spatially Oriented

The aim of this study is to provide an integrated indicator framework for the Assessment of Multifunctional Green Infrastructure (AMGI) to advance the evolution of the Green Infrastructure (GI) concept, and simultaneously deliver an approach do conduct a GI assessment using remote sensing datasets at multiple spatial and spectral scales. Based on this framework, we propose an explicit methodology for AMGI, while addressing the multi-dimensional pillars (ecology, socio-economy, socio-culture, and human health) for urban sustainability and the multifunctionality of GI. For the purpose of validation, we present the extensive process of employing our framework and methodology, and give an illustrative case exemplified in a European city, i.e., Leipzig, Germany. In this exemplification, we deployed three stages regarding how a single assessment can be conducted: from conceptual framework for priority setting, contextual assessment, to retrospective assessment. In this illustrative case study, we enclosed 18 indicators, as well as identified hot and cold spots of selected GI functions and their multifunctionality. A clear framework and methodology is crucial for the sustainable management of spatially oriented GI plans over time and for different stakeholder groups. Therefore, GI planners and policy makers may now refer to our integrative indicator framework and provided application methodology as common grounds for a better mutual understanding amongst scientists and stakeholders. This study contributes to discourses regarding the enhancement of the GI concept and is expected to provoke more discussion on the improvements of high-quality Remote Sensing (RS) data as well as the development of remote sensing-based methods at multiple spatial, temporal, and spectral scales to support GI plans.

Sham Surgery

2020 ◽  
pp. 37-59
Author(s):  
Eric M. Patashnik ◽  
Alan S. Gerber ◽  
Conor M. Dowling
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Arthroscopic Surgery ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Knee Oa ◽  
Medical Societies ◽  
Systemic Problems ◽  
Based Medicine ◽  
Evidence Based Care

This chapter presents a detailed case study of a sham knee surgery case. The knee case is illustrative of systemic problems in the promotion of evidence-based medicine. Clearly, many medical societies are failing to take seriously their professional responsibility to deliver evidence-based care to patients and ensure that the nation does not squander scarce health care dollars on treatments of dubious worth. The chapter describes how the orthopedic community mostly ignored clear warnings that the arthroscopic surgery for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee might not be effective. It also reviews the Moseley-Wray study's findings and looks at the less than optimal responses they prompted from medical societies and policy makers. The chapter then considers the debate surrounding another procedure for knee OA (arthroscopic partial meniscectomy) that has grown in popularity despite a lack of evidence, and identifies signs of the same performance pathologies.

scholarly journals MetaConnect, a new platform for population viability modelling to assist decision makers in conservation and urban planning

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvain Moulherat ◽  
Elvire Bestion ◽  
Michel Baguette ◽  
Matthieu Moulherat ◽  
Stephen C.F. Palmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Population Viability Analysis ◽  
Main Tool ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Viability Analysis ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn a context of global change, scientists and policy-makers require tools to address the issue of biodiversity loss. Population viability analysis (PVA) has been the main tool to deal with this problem. However, the tools developed during the 90s poorly integrate recent scientific advances in landscape genetics and dispersal. We developed a flexible and modular modelling platform for PVA that addresses many of the limitations of existing software. MetaConnect is an individual-based, process-based and PVA-oriented modelling platform which could be used as a research or a decision-making tool. Here, we present the core base modelling of MetaConnect. We demonstrate its potential use through a case study illustrating the platform’s capability for performing integrated PVA including extinction probability estimation, genetic differentiation and landscape connectivity analysis. We used MetaConnect to assess the impact of infrastructure works on the natterjack toad metapopulation functioning.

scholarly journals A Framework for Optimizing Green Infrastructure Networks Based on Landscape Connectivity and Ecosystem Services

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 10053
Author(s):  
Xuemin Shi ◽  
Mingzhou Qin ◽  
Bin Li ◽  
Dan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Yellow River ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Urban Landscapes ◽  
Spatial Pattern Analysis ◽  
Least Cost Path

Optimizing the layout of green infrastructure (GI) is an effective way to alleviate the fragmentation of urban landscapes, coordinate the relationship between urban development and urban ecosystem services, and ensure the sustainable development of cities. This study provides a new technical framework for optimizing GI networks based on a case study of Kaifeng, an exemplar of many ancient cities along the Yellow River in China. To do this, we used a morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) methodology and combined it with Procedure for mAthematical aNalysis of lanDscape evOlution and equilibRium scenarios Assessment (PANDORA) model to determine the hubs of the GI network. Then we employed a least-cost path approach to simulate potential corridors linking the hubs. We further identify the key ‘pinch points’ of the GI network that need priority protection based on circuit theory. Altogether, this framework takes patches that have a high level of ecosystem services and are more important in maintaining overall connectivity as hubs, thereby improving the accuracy of hub identification. Moreover, it establishes a direct connection between GI construction and ecosystem services, and improves biodiversity conservation by optimizing the network structure of GI. The results of the case study show that this framework is suitable for GI planning and construction, and can provide effective technical support for the formulation of urban sustainable development strategies.

scholarly journals Evaluating environmental and ecological landscape characteristics relevant to urban resilience across gradients of land-sharing-sparing and urbanity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Dennis ◽  
Katherine L. Scaletta ◽  
Philip James
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Landscape Planning ◽  
Landscape Connectivity ◽  
Urban Resilience ◽  
Land Sharing ◽  
Land Sparing ◽  
Landscape Characteristics ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Ecological Landscape

AbstractWithin urban landscape planning, debate continues around the relative merits of land-sparing (compaction) and land-sharing (sprawl) scenarios. Using part of Greater Manchester (UK) as a case-study, we present a landscape approach to mapping green infrastructure and variation in social-ecological-environmental conditions as a function of land sparing and sharing. We do so for the landscape as a whole as well as for areas of high and low urbanity. Results imply potential trade-offs between land-sparing-sharing scenarios relevant to characteristics critical to urban resilience such as landscape connectivity and diversity, air quality, surface temperature, and access to green space. These trade-offs may be particularly complex due to the parallel influence of patch attributes such as land-cover and size and imply that both ecological restoration and spatial planning have a role to play in reconciling tensions between land-sparing and sharing strategies.

Misophonia: An Evidence-Based Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-690
Author(s):  
C. S. Vanaja ◽  
Miriam Soni Abigail
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Case History ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Management Option ◽  
Pure Tone Audiogram

Purpose Misophonia is a sound tolerance disorder condition in certain sounds that trigger intense emotional or physiological responses. While some persons may experience misophonia, a few patients suffer from misophonia. However, there is a dearth of literature on audiological assessment and management of persons with misophonia. The purpose of this report is to discuss the assessment of misophonia and highlight the management option that helped a patient with misophonia. Method A case study of a 26-year-old woman with the complaint of decreased tolerance to specific sounds affecting quality of life is reported. Audiological assessment differentiated misophonia from hyperacusis. Management included retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy based on the principles described by P. J. Jastreboff and Jastreboff (2014). A misophonia questionnaire was administered at regular intervals to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. Results A detailed case history and audiological evaluations including pure-tone audiogram and Johnson Hyperacusis Index revealed the presence of misophonia. The patient benefitted from intervention, and the scores of the misophonia questionnaire indicated a decrease in the severity of the problem. Conclusions It is important to differentially diagnose misophonia and hyperacusis in persons with sound tolerance disorders. Retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy can help patients who suffer from misophonia.

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