Deep Green Diagnostics: Urban Green Space Analysis Using Deep Learning and Drone Images

Nowadays, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and this number continues increasing. Consequently, there are more and more scientific publications that analyze health problems of people associated with living in these highly urbanized locations. In particular, some of the recent work has focused on relating people’s health to the quality and quantity of urban green areas. In this context, and considering the huge amount of land area in large cities that must be supervised, our work seeks to develop a deep learning-based solution capable of determining the level of health of the land and to assess whether it is contaminated. The main purpose is to provide health institutions with software capable of creating updated maps that indicate where these phenomena are presented, as this information could be very useful to guide public health goals in large cities. Our software is released as open source code, and the data used for the experiments presented in this paper are also freely available.

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Evaluation of the Equity and Regional Management of Some Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of Main Urban Area of Xi’an City

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070813 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 813

Author(s):

Hui Dang ◽

Jing Li ◽

Yumeng Zhang ◽

Zixiang Zhou

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Green Space ◽

Well Being ◽

Urban Green Space ◽

Green Spaces ◽

Deposition Flux ◽

Urban Green ◽

Xi’An City

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.

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Male and female bats differ in their use of a large urban park

Journal of Urban Ecology ◽

10.1093/jue/juz015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Krista J Patriquin ◽

Cylita Guy ◽

Joshua Hinds ◽

John M Ratcliffe

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Green Space ◽

Prey Availability ◽

Radio Telemetry ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Urban Environments ◽

City Centre ◽

Adult Males ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Green Spaces

Abstract Understanding how wildlife respond to ever-encroaching urbanization is of great concern. Bats are the second-most speciose mammalian order and while many appear to be urban adapted, we currently have a limited understanding of their demography and habitat use within urban environments. Using a combination of captures to obtain demographic data, radio-telemetry to examine foraging and roosting behaviour, and data on diet and prey availability, we examined how big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), a synurbic species, use an urban green space (High Park) in Canada’s largest city centre, Toronto. We found that adult males outnumbered adult females more than two to one and that males were found throughout the park, while females were concentrated in an area with greater access to water, but lower prey availability. We also found that bats of both sexes were in poorer body condition than reported for other non-urban areas, including a site within southern Ontario. Our data suggest that High Park may not provide adequate resources for reproductive females as they were never found roosting in the park and beetles, their preferred prey, were limited. Although previous studies suggest urban green spaces may offer refuge to bats, most have not considered sex-specific responses to urbanization as they have largely been based on acoustic surveys. Our study therefore highlights the importance of considering demographic differences in response to urbanization to better inform urban management plans and green space development.

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A Novel Intelligent Classification Method for Urban Green Space Based on High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs12223845 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (22) ◽

pp. 3845

Author(s):

Zhiyu Xu ◽

Yi Zhou ◽

Shixin Wang ◽

Litao Wang ◽

Feng Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Deep Learning ◽

High Resolution ◽

Classification Accuracy ◽

Green Space ◽

Urban Green Space ◽

Classification Method ◽

Deciduous Trees ◽

Remote Sensing Images ◽

Urban Green

The real-time, accurate, and refined monitoring of urban green space status information is of great significance in the construction of urban ecological environment and the improvement of urban ecological benefits. The high-resolution technology can provide abundant information of ground objects, which makes the information of urban green surface more complicated. The existing classification methods are challenging to meet the classification accuracy and automation requirements of high-resolution images. This paper proposed a deep learning classification method for urban green space based on phenological features constraints in order to make full use of the spectral and spatial information of green space provided by high-resolution remote sensing images (GaoFen-2) in different periods. The vegetation phenological features were added as auxiliary bands to the deep learning network for training and classification. We used the HRNet (High-Resolution Network) as our model and introduced the Focal Tversky Loss function to solve the sample imbalance problem. The experimental results show that the introduction of phenological features into HRNet model training can effectively improve urban green space classification accuracy by solving the problem of misclassification of evergreen and deciduous trees. The improvement rate of F1-Score of deciduous trees, evergreen trees, and grassland were 0.48%, 4.77%, and 3.93%, respectively, which proved that the combination of vegetation phenology and high-resolution remote sensing image can improve the results of deep learning urban green space classification.

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THE EFFECT OF GREEN SPACE ON THE LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN HUE CITY

Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology ◽

10.15625/2525-2518/55/4c/12141 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 55 (4C) ◽

pp. 129

Author(s):

Nguyen Bac Giang

Keyword(s):

Surface Temperature ◽

Land Surface Temperature ◽

Land Surface ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Green Space ◽

Satellite Image ◽

Urban Green Space ◽

Landsat 8 ◽

Urban Green ◽

Study Results

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.

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Investigating the Patterns and Dynamics of Urban Green Space in China’s 70 Major Cities Using Satellite Remote Sensing

Remote Sensing ◽

10.3390/rs12121929 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 1929 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wenhui Kuang ◽

Yinyin Dou

Keyword(s):

Green Infrastructure ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Green Space ◽

Urban Ecosystem ◽

Urban Green Space ◽

Western China ◽

Urban Green ◽

Effective Strategies ◽

Data Platform ◽

Western Zone

Urban green space (UGS) plays a pivotal role in improving urban ecosystem services and building a livable environment for urban dwellers. However, remotely sensed investigation of UGS at city scale is facing a challenge due to the pixels’ mosaics of buildings, squares, roads and green spaces in cities. Here we developed a new algorithm to unmix the fraction of UGS derived from Landsat TM/ETM/8 OLI using a big-data platform. The spatiotemporal patterns and dynamics of UGSs were examined for 70 major cities in China between 2000 and 2018. The results showed that the total area of UGS in these cities grew from 2780.66 km2 in 2000 to 6764.75 km2 in 2018, which more than doubled its area. As a result, the UGS area per inhabitant rose from 15.01 m2 in 2000 to 18.09 m2 in 2018. However, an uneven layout of UGS occurred among the coastal, western, northeastern and central zones. For example, the UGS percentage in newly expanded urban areas in the coastal zone rose significantly in 2000–2018, with an increase of 2.51%, compared to the decline in UGS in cities in the western zone. Therefore, the effective strategies we have developed should be adopted to show disparities and promote green infrastructure capacity building in those cities with less green space, especially in western China.

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The Hidden Potential of Informal Urban Greenspace: An Example of Two Former Landfills in Post-Socialist Cities (Central Poland)

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13073691 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 3691

Author(s):

Andrzej Długoński ◽

Diana Dushkova

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Green Infrastructure ◽

Green Space ◽

Local Community ◽

Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽

Local Society ◽

Urban Green ◽

Large Cities ◽

Spatial Policy ◽

The Given

The present study described analyses of two similar informal recreational green areas (former constructional waste disposal landfills) in two large cities (Warsaw city and Łódź city). On the basis of local society’s opinions, the land use conditions related to current accessibility, management, safety, cleanliness, variety and diversity of facility and vegetation, neighbourhood and connections with the urban green infrastructure of the given sites were studied. Overall feedback posted by the site users indicated that, despite temporary land use, both sites are good leisure areas that provide cultural ecosystem services to the citizens. However, their undefined development makes them to varying degrees neglected and risky spaces, especially for the local community. The reflection of the results of the present study may help the local authorities to manage the spaces of former landfills in accordance with the needs of the local society as well as define new functions of informal urban green space in the sustainable spatial policy in post-socialist cities in Poland and Eastern Europe.

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Urban Green Space Arrangement for an Optimal Landscape Planning Strategy for Runoff Reduction

Land ◽

10.3390/land10090897 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 897

Author(s):

Byungsun Yang ◽

Dongkun Lee

Keyword(s):

Green Infrastructure ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Green Space ◽

Water Cycle ◽

Urban Green Space ◽

Space Distribution ◽

Urban Water ◽

Stormwater Treatment ◽

Urban Green ◽

Urban Water Cycle

Increased impervious surfaces due to urbanization have reduced evaporation and infiltration into the soil compared with existing natural water cycle systems, which causes various problems, such as urban floods, landslides, and deterioration of water quality. To effectively solve the urban water cycle issue, green infrastructure using urban green space has emerged to reduce runoff and increase evaporation. It has the advantage of restoring the water cycle system of urban areas by complementing the failure of conventional stormwater treatment systems. However, urban areas under high-density development have limited green space for stormwater treatment. Hence, it is necessary to efficiently utilize street trees and small green spaces to improve the urban water cycle through green space. In this study, we simulated different green space distribution scenarios in the virtual domain to find the optimal strategy of green space planning. Compared to clustered scenarios, dispersed green space distribution scenarios and placing green space downstream were more effective in reducing the runoff amount. The paper provides insights into the considerations for determining green space spatial plan and zoning regulations for stormwater treatment by green infrastructure.

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Public Perceptions of the Value of Urban Trees in the River Rouge Watershed

Michigan Academician ◽

10.7245/0026-2005-41.3.310 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 310-331 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

ANDREA OLIVE ◽

LARA RUSCH ◽

ANGELA AYERS

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Green Space ◽

Public Attitudes ◽

Urban Forestry ◽

Urban Green Space ◽

Urban Trees ◽

Tree Planting ◽

Individual Responsibility ◽

Urban Green ◽

Personal Benefit

ABSTRACT This study examines attitudes toward urban green space among homeowners in the River Rouge Watershed of southeast Michigan. Trees play a significant role in urban areas by providing numerous environmental, economic and social benefits to community residents. But public attitudes toward trees are not well understood. Through survey research we found that residents are most likely to value trees for personal benefit (like shade) but that social reasons are also valuable (improving the neighborhood). We also illustrate that cost is not an impeding factor in willingness to plant trees. Finally, our study reveals that homeowners felt tree planting is both an individual responsibility as well as a government responsibility. On the basis of these findings, we recommend that urban forestry policy should focus on education and outreach in an attempt to marry tree-planting initiatives to the individual benefits of trees as well as the community benefits of urban green space.

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The Sensitivity of Urban Heat Island to Urban Green Space—A Model-Based Study of City of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos10030151 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 151 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Dikman Maheng ◽

Ishara Ducton ◽

Dirk Lauwaet ◽

Chris Zevenbergen ◽

Assela Pathirana

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Vegetation Cover ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Green Space ◽

Urban Green Space ◽

Urban Green ◽

Suburban Areas ◽

Green Areas ◽

Urban Heat ◽

The Impact

Urbanization continues to trigger massive land-use land-cover change that transforms natural green environments to impermeable paved surfaces. Fast-growing cities in Asia experience increased urban temperature indicating the development of urban heat islands (UHIs) because of decreased urban green space, particularly in recent decades. This paper investigates the existence of UHIs and the impact of green areas to mitigate the impacts of UHIs in Colombo, Sri Lanka, using UrbClim, a boundary climate model that runs two classes of simulations, namely urbanization impact simulations, and greening simulations. The urbanization impact simulation results show that UHIs spread spatially with the reduction of vegetation cover, and increases the average UHI intensity. The greening simulations show that increasing green space up to 30% in urban areas can decrease the average air temperature by 0.1 °C. On the other hand, converting entire green areas into urban areas in suburban areas increases the average temperature from 27.75 °C to 27.78 °C in Colombo. This demonstrates the sensitivity of UHI to vegetation cover in both urban and suburban areas. These seemingly small changes are average grid values and may indicate much higher impacts at sub-grid levels.

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Urban Green Development Planning Opportunities and Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from Bamenda City, Cameroon

International Journal of Global Sustainability ◽

10.5296/ijgs.v1i1.11440 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jude Ndzifon Kimengsi ◽

Zephania Nji Fogwe

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Green Space ◽

Urban Green Space ◽

City Council ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Urban Greening ◽

Urban Green ◽

Daunting Task ◽

The City ◽

Green City

World urban areas are increasingly dabbling with the triple challenge of pollution, congestion and environmental degradation. The quest for sanity and healthy urban living led to the introduction of urban green space initiatives. Green space has become primordial in urban areas as it enhances public health, recreation, amenities and property values through its location, accessibility, proximity and serviceability. In a bid to develop an urban green space in Bamenda, the City Council identified the Bamenda escarpment in 2011 for protection. This was followed by a Green City Initiative now captioned the Green City Project. The Bamenda City Council partnering with the UN-Habitat and the Dordrecht/Gorinchem City Councils of the Netherlands seeks to implement an urban greening project with major focus to map out potential areas for creating parks in Bamenda. This project which is a novelty in the rapidly changing urban landscape of Cameroon seeks to contribute to building a green economy that enhances nature, environmental protection and at the same time offers economic and social benefits to its citizens. In this study, we examine the opportunities and challenges of urban greening in Bamenda. Some 50 inhabitants around the escarpment were purposively sampled while council authorities and other stakeholders were interviewed in the Bamenda I municipality in order to assess the opportunities, challenges and prospects for the project. This was complemented by secondary data obtained from the Bamenda City Council. The conclusion drawn is that the initiative will provide opportunities for employment, generate revenue for the City Council and prevent uncontrolled city sprawl against the backdrop of the relatively unstable nature of the foothills (due to mass wasting processes) and land use competition, largely driven by population growth and the daunting task of relocating prior users. We therefore argue in favour of the effective application of urban development policies to restrict encroachment around the area and to engage in slope stabilization where necessary.

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