scholarly journals Modelling Physical Accessibility to Public Green Spaces in Switzerland to Support the SDG11

Geomatics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-398
Author(s):  
Camille Chênes ◽  
Gregory Giuliani ◽  
Nicolas Ray

Urban sprawl has a strong impact on the provision and use of green spaces and, consequently, on the benefits that society can derive from these natural ecosystems, especially in terms of public health. In looking at the Sustainable Development Goals and other regional policy frameworks, there is a strong need for quantifying access to green spaces. This study presents and applies a methodology to model the physical accessibility at national and sub-national scales to public green spaces (i.e., urban green spaces and forests) in Switzerland, using AccessMod and ArcGIS travel time functions. We found that approximately 75% and 36% of the Swiss population can access the nearest urban green space within 5 min and 15 min, respectively, using motorized transport. For motorized access to the nearest forest patch, 72% and 52% of the population are within 5 min and 15 min, respectively. When considering only the main urban areas, approximately 55% of the population can walk to the nearest urban green space within 5 min. However, a high heterogeneity in access exists at cantonal and municipal levels, depending on road density, green space density, and population distribution. Despite some possible challenges in correctly delineating public green spaces, our methodology offers a replicable approach offering not only insights into sustainable urban development, but also the facilitation of comparison with other European countries.

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 813
Author(s):  
Hui Dang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Yumeng Zhang ◽  
Zixiang Zhou

Urban green spaces can provide many types of ecosystem services for residents. An imbalance in the pattern of green spaces leads to an inequality of the benefits of such spaces. Given the current situation of environmental problems and the basic geographical conditions of Xi’an City, this study evaluated and mapped four kinds of ecosystem services from the perspective of equity: biodiversity, carbon sequestration, air purification, and climate regulation. Regionalization with dynamically constrained agglomerative clustering and partitioning (REDCAP) was used to obtain the partition groups of ecosystem services. The results indicate that first, the complexity of the urban green space community is low, and the level of biodiversity needs to be improved. The dry deposition flux of particulate matter (PM2.5) decreases from north to south, and green spaces enhance the adsorption of PM2.5. Carbon sequestration in the south and east is higher than that in the north and west, respectively. The average surface temperature in green spaces is lower than that in other urban areas. Second, urban green space resources in the study area are unevenly distributed. Therefore, ecosystem services in different areas are inequitable. Finally, based on the regionalization of integrated ecosystem services, an ecosystem services cluster was developed. This included 913 grid spaces, 12 partitions, and 5 clusters, which can provide a reference for distinct levels of ecosystem services management. This can assist urban managers who can use these indicators of ecosystem service levels for planning and guiding the overall development pattern of green spaces. The benefits would be a maximization of the ecological functions of green spaces, an improvement of the sustainable development of the city, and an improvement of people’s well-being.


Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 876
Author(s):  
Silvija Krajter Ostoić ◽  
Ana Marija Marin ◽  
Martina Kičić ◽  
Dijana Vuletić

Background and Objectives: Cultural ecosystem services of urban green spaces are increasingly important and often recognized as such by people living in urban areas. Qualitative studies on perception of cultural ecosystem services from urban green spaces are still rare. Previous studies addressed only certain types of urban green space and often only some services. There is a lack of understanding how people perceive cultural ecosystem services from different types of tree-based urban green spaces. Hence, the purpose of the study was to explore whether and how people perceive and use cultural ecosystem services of different types of tree-based urban green spaces. Materials and Methods: Focus groups were conducted with citizens in each city district. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and transcripts analyzed in MAXQDA software. We used bottom up code-category-theme approach to analyze the data without predefined set of codes or categories. Results: Place attachment, aesthetic and recreational services were more recognized than educational and cultural identity services. For place attachment, most important single attributes were positive memories, and good maintenance, while most important categories were facilities, existence of emotional ties, possibility of experiences, recreational use and access. Presence of specific tree species and presence of trees in general were most important attributes for aesthetic services, while possibility of experiences and trees were the most important categories. Conclusions: People perceived various cultural ecosystem services from tree-based urban green space, even though some services more than others. Recreation may be the underlying goal of our participants when interacting with tree-based urban nature. Forests, parks were recognized as those providing multiple cultural ecosystem services. However, other types of green spaces were also recognized as bearers of these services, albeit with less services and attributes attached. It supports the importance of careful planning of urban green spaces in terms of providing a variety of green space types. The study provides basis for later quantification of cultural ecosystem services (CES) from tree-based urban green space.


2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Aevermann ◽  
Jürgen Schmude

AbstractUrban green spaces provide ecosystem services that can be used by the local population. The valuation of these ecosystem services in urban areas gives information for stakeholders and decision-makers to improve urban planning processes. In addition, this information can be used to provide a better understanding of how urban green spaces should be managed. In this study, we quantify and monetize four ecosystem services (carbon sequestration and storage, air pollution removal, runoff reduction, groundwater recharge) provided by the urban green space of Schlosspark Nymphenburg in Munich, Germany. We classify four different land cover types (tree, grass/herbaceous, water, impervious) to calculate different amounts of ecosystem services according to the land cover type. In addition, we quantify the maintenance costs which this urban green space causes to the city of Munich. The interpretation, communication and risks of valuations studies are discussed.


Author(s):  
Yi Fan Koh ◽  
Ho Huu Loc ◽  
Edward Park

Cultural ecosystem services has been increasingly influential in both environmental research and policy decision-making, such as for urban green spaces However, its popular definition conflates the concepts of ‘services’ and ‘benefits’ which made it challenging for planners to employ it directly for urban green space management. One the most widely used definition of this non-tangible ecosystem services are “functions of environmental spaces and cultural activities which may then result in the enjoyment of cultural ecosystem benefits”; yet the latter itself have never found its way into official laws and regulations. In this study, via a case study in Singapore, we propose new evidence to re-evaluate and re-position the two of the most important emerging concepts in managing the green spaces in urban areas. Using the transdisciplinary mixed methods of public participation GIS and social media text mining analysis, a wealth of cultural ecosystem services and their associated benefits were reported. This was especially so with regards to recreational and aesthetic services and experiential benefits. Recommendations to improve the park were also suggested, alongside sharing of methodological considerations for future research. Overall, this paper recommends the employment of the redefined cultural ecosystem services conceptual framework to generate relational, data-driven and actionable insights to better support urban green space management, which is not only useful to Singapore governments but also world-wide relevant.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoosun Cho ◽  
Seulggie Choi ◽  
Sumin Seo ◽  
Gyeongsil Lee ◽  
Sang Min Park

Abstract BackgroundsAlthough studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of green spaces on general well being, the benefits of urban green spaces on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are still unclear. In this retrospective cohort study, we sought to ascertain the connection between the presence of green spaces in urban environments and risk of AD.MethodsThe study sample comprised 294,983 participants, aged 40–74 years, and was derived from the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Sample Cohort. We used data of area (m2) and amount of artificial parks in 2005, provided by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Starting from 2009, after removing those who received a dementia diagnosis within 1–3 years of gathering the index data, participants received follow-up AD testing. The Cox proportional-hazards model was utilized to establish the adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of AD risk, based on the amount of urban green space area.ResultsCompared to the quartile with the least amount of green space, participants in the highest urban space quartile had a reduced risk of receiving an AD diagnosis (aHR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.99). The mediating effect of green space presence on AD was stronger among those in higher household income brackets (aHR 0.80, 95% CI 0.65–0.99), with more comorbidities (aHR 0.78, 95% CI 0.64–0.96), and without disabilities (aHR 0.82, 95% CI 0.69–0.97).ConclusionsLiving in urban areas with increased green space coverage may ultimately result in a lower risk of being diagnosed with AD. Urban planning strategies capable of boosting the total coverage of urban green space may assist in reducing AD risk.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atefe Ahmadi ◽  
Nahid Sajadian ◽  
H. Jalaliyan ◽  
Narges Naghibirokni

Public land-uses in many cities are not able to present desirable services to citizens because of some problems such as high population density, lack of regularity in establishment and site-selection, and lack of attention to accessibility radius and population thresholds. This problem is magnified in big cities especially for land-uses such as green spaces. In urban supplying services only increasing of services is not a reason for proper supplying services but more important is optimized distribution of these centers. In this regard, present paper based on descriptive-analytical method as well as GIS follows optimized distribution of green space in the cities according to site-selection principals of urban green space. Case study is region 7 of Ahvaz municipality which has a population of 150215 persons and 2.78 green space capita, and this amount in addition to significant difference to standards determined by environment united nations (20-25 for a person), has been not distributed optimally. Regarding this city locating warm and dry zone of the earth, it is very important to select an optimized site for green spaces .Hence, in order to select a proper and optimized site for the green spaces according to site-selection principals layers (criteria) such as vicinity to residential centers, educational centers, cultural centers, urban infrastructures and establishments, commercial centers, hygienic centers, industrial centers and wastelands and etc. have been used. Research results in fuzzy logic valued region lands based on their importance in recognizing optimized location. Afterward, these lands were compared with land-use map and it was distinguished that lands with very good, good, and medium degree were placed close to residential, cultural, and educational centers which had more governmental ownership, and lands with weak and very weak degree were placed far from compatible land-uses, and were more placed close to industrial, administrative, hygienic sportive, and commercial centers which often had private ownership, therefore, they were not suggested for creating green space.


2021 ◽  
Vol 263 (1) ◽  
pp. 5780-5791
Author(s):  
Omid Samani ◽  
Verena Zapf ◽  
M. Ercan Altinsoy

Urban green spaces are intended to provide citizens with calm environments free of annoying city noises. This requires a thorough understanding of noise emission and related exposure to sounds in green spaces. This research investigates noise perception in various spots in an urban green space. For this purpose, the study has been conducted in the grand garden of the city of Dresden. The garden covers 1.8 square kilometers of various landscapes, including water streams, park railways, fountains, bridges, roads for bicycles and pedestrians etc. Noise perception was investigated at eleven spots with emphasis on four noise types: nature noise, human noise, traffic noise, and technical noise. In parallel, audio-visual recordings were conducted for each spot to identify the connection between the perceptual measures and the psychoacoustic parameters. These spots are categorized based on the resulting perception and psychoacoustic parameters. In addition, the visual effect of each spot on final perception is investigated. Eventually, annoyance for each spot is identified based on the corresponding participants' perception and is associated with the relevant psychoacoustic parameters.


2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (4C) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Nguyen Bac Giang

This paper presents the analysis of the effect of urban green space types on land surface temperature in Hue city. Data are collected with temperature monitoring results from each green space type and the interpretation of surface temperature based on Landsat 8 satellite image data to determine temperatures at different times of the year. Results showed that there was a significant correlation between types of urban green space and the surface temperature. Types of green space with a large area and vegetation indexes have a greater effect on temperature than areas with a smaller green space do. Green space types including forest green space, dedicated green space and agriculture green space have the most effect on the surface temperature. The forest area has the greatest influence on the temperature with a temperature difference of more than 1.6 degrees Celsius at 9:00 in the daytime. Besides, the results extracted from satellite images also show that the area of urban green space going to be reduced makes a contribution to increase the surface temperature of urban areas. The study results have established foundation for planning the green spaces in climate change challenges in Hue City.


2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 626-644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayu Wu ◽  
Qingsong He ◽  
Yunwen Chen ◽  
Jian Lin ◽  
Shantong Wang

Gated communities have become a common feature in recent decades and have been shown to lead to social inequality to the detriment of the poorest social classes. Because access to urban green space is crucial for both physical health and spiritual pleasure, it is often regarded as an indicator of social justice; however, there are many references to the current inequity in urban green space accessibility. Our study aimed first to measure the potential spatial accessibility of green space in the central urban area of Beijing; then to evaluate the socio-economic disparities in green space accessibility; and finally, to assess the effect of the policy of “opening up gated residential communities” on urban green space accessibility. We adopt the Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment to assess the spatial accessibility of green spaces in each residential zone in the central area of Beijing, and the ordinary least squares model was used to evaluate the inequity in accessibility caused by socio-economic disparities. The results reveal that lower income residential zones have remarkably lower access to green spaces. Next, by comparing the differences in accessibility equity between two comparable scenarios in which all communities have dismantled their fences, we unexpectedly find that the inequity of access to urban green space does not improve but becomes more pronounced. We attribute this result to socio-spatial polarization. Our findings can be used by urban planners to target current urban planning system reform and by policymakers to focus closely on the gradual spatial polarization between the rich and the poor.


Author(s):  
Yashaswini S* ◽  
Shankar B

Improving the Accessibility of Urban Green Space (UGS) is an integral part of city planning system. People with better access to green space enjoy a wide range of health benefits. Therefore, it is a crucial element to be taken care and nourished in a land use framework. Mysore City is one of the planned large cities in India. The City had a population of about 0.9 million in 2011 and it is estimated to cross the million mark by 2021. There is a growing consciousness on health and wellbeing among the people resulting an increasing demand for urban green spaces both at neighbourhood and city levels. The accessibility helps in promoting usage of UGS and maintaining the balance in environment within the city areas. The main aim of this paper is to study the existing scenario of the UGS within the planning district-12 and to analyse the green space accessibility. The land use of Mysuru city is analysed to understand the city and the micro level land use analysis of Planning district-12 is made. The existing scenario of the UGS within the study area and its accessibility is analysed using different accessibility indicators. Considering the key findings, issues and challenges are identified. Later the suggestions and recommendations for the identified issues is proposed to enhance the green spaces quality and accessibility at neighbourhood levels. The Accessible Natural Green space Standard (ANGst) type of accessibility analysis has been carried to know UGS functionality. Henceforth urban green space network at Planning District levels (local levels) in the City of Mysuru is prepared as a model which can be implemented to the city as whole at the later stages


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