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Global climate change has precipitated a surge in urban flooding challenges, prompting the imperative role of green infrastructure (GI) as the linchpin of sponge city construction to enhance urban sustainability and resilience. But the evaluation of urban stormwater resilience faces challenges due to the lack of a comprehensive evaluation framework taking the intrinsic features of the resilience system into account and the insufficient coverage of alternative scenarios' performance under multiple rainfall return periods. This study, focusing on Fengxi New City, China, evaluates the suitability of GI (i.e., green roofs, rain gardens, and permeable pavements) and constructs a stormwater management model (SWMM) for urban stormwater hydrological simulation. This study also establishes a comprehensive urban stormwater resilience evaluation system and uses quantitative methods to unify the performances of scenarios under different rainfall return periods. Our analytical findings elucidate that the suitability of GI is predominantly concentrated in the northern and western areas of the study area, with the smallest suitable area observed for permeable pavements. Divergent GIs exhibit disparate performances, with rain gardens emerging as particularly efficacious. Importantly, the combination of multiple GIs yields a synergistic enhancement in resilience, underscoring the strategic advantage of adopting a diverse and integrated approach to GI implementation. This study facilitates a deeper understanding of urban stormwater resilience and assists in informed planning decisions for GI and sponge cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rain gardens are used to solve urban problems related to the negative impact of stormwater. (1) Scientific contributions from different countries provide general guidelines for the design and operation of rain gardens in different geographical areas. Given the small spatial scale of rain gardens, the use of existing infiltration models often leads to design errors. (2) The purpose of this paper is to develop a hydrological model by introducing a system of equations that extends the ability to calculate the rate, flow rate and time of saturation of layers with moisture and rainwater leakage from the rain garden system. (3) The results obtained allow us to describe the dynamic processes of passage and saturation of layers of the rain garden at a certain point in time, which extends the ability to calculate the flow rate. It was established that the smaller the area of the rain garden compared to the area of the catchment basin, the faster it reaches its full saturation. Increasing the thickness of the rain garden layers allows for an increase in the efficiency of water retention at a lower value of the area ratio. (4) The practical significance of the results obtained is especially important for the correct description of hydrodynamics in the system and determining the optimal conditions for the effective functioning and management of the rain garden structure for any climatic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nature-based solutions (NBS) in urban areas offer an opportunity to improve environmental conditions and to reduce CO2 emissions towards establishing climate-neutral cities in the next few decades. Furthermore, the implementation of NBSs—vertical or horizontal green infrastructures on public facilities—could in particular improve both climate, including outdoor thermal conditions on a micro-scale (especially during the summer season) and the energy demand of buildings as well as save heating energy during the winter period. Results: On both selected buildings, extensive green roofs were implemented as an NBS intervention. The analysed data were obtained using the monitoring systems (from 2019 to 2022) installed on two public buildings in Novi Sad (Republic of Serbia) and Osijek (Republic of Croatia), with a focus on climate/bioclimate characteristics and thermal transmission capacities. Four automatic weather stations (AWS) were used for microclimate monitoring, along with the heat flow meter (HFM) method, to measure the alterations in the thermal transmittance (U value) of a flat concrete roof before and after energy refurbishment and the installation of a green roof. The outcomes of this study show that the air temperatures (Ta) and globe temperatures (Tg) near the green roof are lower by 0–3 °C for Ta and by 0–16.5 °C for Tg than the values captured by the AWSs at other locations. An even more interesting fact is that the green roof has a constant cooling potential during tropical nights, and based upon this research, the cooling value is around 2 °C for Tg (the Ta value is not distinct). The thermal transmittance results show that more savings can be achieved by applying a green roof with an 8 cm thick substrate: U values decreased by 50–69%, as measured by two different heat flux sensors. Conclusions: Nature-based solutions, such as the implementation of an extensive green roof, have positive effects on diverse aspects of urban environments and building energy savings, which are particularly evident in extreme seasons, both summer and winter. Applying the proposed monitoring and assessment system could help local communities in their efforts to reduce carbon-based emissions. This paper provides a good example of the implementation of NBSs on a local- and a micro-scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two modules were designed for high school science students to investigate the performance of a rain garden installed on school property. The rain garden, a green infrastructure system which allows soil infiltration, was installed to reduce impacts to urban streams and can increase the community's resilience to flooding. By involving students in the analysis of this mitigation strategy, students learned new technical skills, gained varied experiences in collecting and analyzing data, were exposed to new STEM careers, and learned about local issues that impact their community while collaborating with local professionals. In each module, students used their authentic data to address research questions. In the first module, students conducted a land survey and calculated the volumetric capacity of the rain garden. In the second module, students collected rainfall data using rain gauges and analyzed various aspects of rainfall collection. Although these modules were focused on a rain garden already installed on school property, they can be implemented at schools without this mitigation strategy present. The surveying module can easily be applied to measure any land surface feature, and the rain gauge module can be implemented anywhere as it is focused on rainfall collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, the harmful effects of industrial activity and consumer society have resulted in global warming. Governments and international organizations are looking for ways to monitor activities of individuals and companies to assess their ecological impact. Unfortunately, such an approach would easily be seen as a mass surveillance tool. This is why we are proposing in this paper a novel privacy-aware global infrastructure for ecological footprint calculator based on the Internet of things and blockchain. Indeed, we take advantage of the data collection capacity of the Internet of things, the anonymization provided by public key identification and encryption, and the immutability of blockchain to implement this global system. A three-stage approach was used to validate our architecture: modeling in Petri nets to verify that the infrastructure fulfills all the required missions, implementing the three central authorities with python to record parameters such as durations, and finally modeling in queuing networks to demonstrate stability. The blockchain and Internet of things parts are used in a purely abstract manner relying on standard concepts; therefore, we have not implemented them. The experiments have produced very promising results. We have shown that for the simplest form of queue modeling, the involved servers have a utilization rate that is close to 50 % and that the overall waiting time remains below one minute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of roads into wilderness areas and biodiversity hotspots in the Global South seems inevitable and is predicted to bring about significant biodiversity loss. Even so, existing widespread strategies aiming to mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of roads on the environment have been of limited effectiveness. These tactics, including construction of fencing, wildlife crossings on paved roads, and establishment of protected areas along the roads, are unlikely to be sufficient for protecting diverse species assemblages from roadkill, habitat fragmentation, and anthropogenic activity in tropics. This indicates the need for integration of more ambitious approaches into the conservation toolkit, such as the constructing tunnels, covered ways, and elevated roads. Although these tools could significantly support conservation efforts to save tropical biodiversity, to date, they are rarely considered. Here, we discuss factors which determine the need for application of these approaches in the Global South. We highlight the often-overlooked long-term benefits associated with the application of the proposed tools. We also discuss the potential challenges and risks, and the ways to minimise them. Hopefully this article will encourage practitioners to integrate these strategies into conservation toolkits and allow policy-makers and investors to make informed decisions on sustainable road infrastructure development in the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green infrastructure plays a crucial role in sustainable city development by offering a multitude of benefits, including improved environmental quality, increased social well-being, and enhanced economic prosperity. Evaluation and monitoring of regulatory implementation stand as essential components in the advancement of urban green infrastructure (GI) as they indicate the efficacy of regulatory acts and enable the assessment of their implementation success and adaptability to identified needs. This study identifies barriers and drivers based on the views of 352 professionals surveyed between 2018 and 2023 in Serbia. The primary data collection method employed questionnaire surveys. This study identified a range of barriers within existing legal frameworks, foremost of which include the lack of coordination and coherence between relevant ministries and governmental agencies, insufficient financial and human resources, the lack of transparency in the regulation development process, the need for strengthening technical capacities, and the absence of an adequate urban GI strategy. This research serves as a foundation for conceptualising GI regulatory elements that enhance urban GI development. Addressing these barriers necessitates efforts to improve coordination and collaboration among stakeholders, increase public participation, and enhance transparency in the regulatory process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing body of research into the environmental and socio-economic benefits of green infrastructure supports the case for it to be positioned as a form of critical infrastructure, particularly in urban settings. It is broadly recognized that extreme weather and climate change pose significant risks to critical infrastructure systems linked to the provision of services, including electricity, water, communications, and transport, and consequently risk assessments and associated adaptation strategies are common practice. However, although green infrastructure is also at risk from extreme weather and climate change, threatening the realization of benefits that it can deliver in urban settings, associated risks to green infrastructure are not widely understood or assessed in practice. This paper discusses the status of existing research on this topic and uses this as a foundation for a Greater Manchester (UK) case study that assesses the risk of low water availability to grassed areas, which represent a key element of the city-region's green infrastructure. In doing so, the paper demonstrates how risks linked to extreme weather and climate change can be assessed spatially to inform green infrastructure planning. In summary, this paper aims to raise awareness of extreme weather and climate change risk to urban green infrastructure, present an empirical case study and associated methodological approach on this topic, and ultimately support efforts to enhance the resilience of urban green infrastructure to extreme weather and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate the adverse impacts of urban stormwater on streams, watershed managers are increasingly using low-impact development and green infrastructure (LID-GI) stormwater control measures, such as rain gardens—vegetated depressional areas that collect and infiltrate runoff from rooftops and driveways. Their catchment-scale performance, however, can vary widely, and few studies have investigated the cumulative performance of residential rain gardens for event runoff control in intermediate-sized (i.e., 1–10 km2) suburban catchments. We modeled three years of continuous rainfall-runoff from a 3.1 km2 catchment in Columbia, MD, USA, using the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Various extents of rain garden implementation at residential houses were simulated (i.e., 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% coverage) to determine the effects on peak flow, runoff volume, and lag time. On average, treating 100% of residential rooftops in the catchment reduced peak flows by 14.3%, reduced runoff volumes by 11.4%, and increased lag times by 3.2% for the 223 rainfall events during the simulation period. Peak flow reductions were greater for smaller storm events (p < 0.01). Our results show that residential rain gardens can significantly improve the runoff response of suburban catchments, and that they represent an effective and relatively low-cost option for urban watershed management and restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing vegetation into towns and cities, for example through establishing green corridors which ensure a continuous character of urban green areas is a way to counteract negative effects of urban climate. The aim of the study was to assess the role of a green corridor and the contribution of vegetation to regulating the level of hourly tropospheric ozone concentrations in Legnica. Hourly values of tropospheric ozone concentrations (O3, μg m-3) and wind directions (D, °) collected between 2011 and 2014 from an urban background station for air quality monitoring of the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection were used in the study. To prepare a land cover map, data from the Database of Topographic Objects provided by the Geodesy and Cartography Department of the Marshal's Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodship were used. The estimations of frequency of hourly O3 concentrations for given seasons of the year and the analysis of land cover within 2 km from the measuring point were made based on an 8-wind compass rose. In summer, the frequency of hourly O3 concentrations was assessed for every direction and for every hour of the day. A Pearson correlation matrix was generated to illustrate the relationship between land cover type and the frequency of pollution coming from each direction, Between 21:00 and 6:00, increased frequency of hourly O3 concentrations in the 0-40 μg m-3 range coming from the southwest was recorded, which accounted for 70-90% of all concentration ranges. Correlation analyses showed a statistically significant relationship between increased high vegetation coverage and decreased frequency of hourly O3 concentrations in the 41-80 μg m-3 range. It was demonstrated that between 2011 and 2014, during summers, hourly O3 concentrations <40 μg m-3 came most frequently from the direction characterised by the highest total share of vegetation-covered land. On the other hand, pollutants with concentrations in the 41-80 μg m-3 range came more frequently at night time from the directions characterised by compact and dense development. The obtained results demonstrated that in summer, the urban park, the Kaczawa River and the green areas along the river play an important role as a green ventilation corridor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the goal of achieving sustainable development and carbon neutrality. Addressing environmental pollution and remediating land damage have become critical challenges in resource-based cities and regions with low land use efficiency. As a response, this study focuses on the 23 provinces where China's coal resource-based cities are situated. Utilizing data from 2014 to 2020, this research employs the SBM-Undesirable model, which considers undesirable outputs in efficiency calculations, and the Tobit regression test. It aims to explore the spatio-temporal variations in industrial transformation within resource-based cities and its impact on the efficiency of green space utilization. Furthermore, it analyzes the characteristics and the extent of the influence of factors such as industrial structure adjustments on urban land use efficiency, maximizing the output of land as a factor of production. The results show that: (1) Over the 7-year period studied, China consistently made nationwide adjustments to land area and land use structure to meet the needs of urban development (2) The regression test results show that the industrial transformation of resource-based cities can promote the improvement of green space utilization efficiency. The positive influence coefficient is 0.064 and is significant at a 1% level. (3) Environmental regulation, government expenditure, international trade, and green cover play a positive role in promoting green land use. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners seeking to foster sustainable development in resource-based cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban trees and forests show a better ecosystem with many benefits, including pure air quality. The development of urban green infrastructure (UGI) creates a better management system that greatly impacts social values in an urban system. The UGI and construction activities are receiving much attention for their effectiveness in addressing various urban ecological, social and economic issues. Using green infrastructure in stormwater management can reduce the influence on urban sewerage systems and, eventually, on building water resources. The main goal of the research is to optimize the green infrastructure to provide a less-pollution, well-organized, and pleasurable environment for the inhabitants. Various models are used to study the present rainfall-runoff scenario, but the stormwater management model (SWMM) is the most preferable and suggested model. Once the parameters are accessed, optimizing the green infrastructure (GI) will be easy. A complete SWMM model is evaluated over the complete surface, and a hydrological measurement is presented. The evaluation study presents various component percentages: asphalt (37%), green (27%), ceiling (21%), grit (12%), and cemented area (2%), which provides rainproof coverage of approximately 60%. A design is developed about the diverse events of GI in urban exploiting the SWMM and demonstrates its stimulus on the rainfall-runoff behaviour. In recent years, very little attention has been given to green spaces in urban areas, which not only increases pollution but also decreases the urbanization. Therefore, urban green spaces are more important to improve air quality and resident living standards. Over the given scenario and the rainfall event, a decline of the quantitative discharge parameters is evident, such as discharge volume (i.e., from 3.6 to 61.8) and the peak discharge rate (i.e., from 5.4 to 62.7%). The simulation results show that green areas give high satisfaction with low construction costs, which shows the superlative performance ratio of the examined measures. From the investigation, it is also recommended to have green areas and public spaces in impervious urban areas, which greatly reduced the runoff in the project area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green infrastructure (UGI), a key component of nature-based solutions (NbSs), plays a vital role in enhancing urban resilience. Nonetheless, the absence of a thorough resilience evaluation for UGI has hindered the efficacy of its design and implementation. This article proposes an innovative urban environmental resilience index (ERI) framework designed to evaluate the lifecycle performance of UGI. First, a coupled environmental resilience evaluation system is proposed that encompasses indicators for the adaptation to acute disturbances and the mitigation of chronic pressures. Second, the inventive formulas for calculating the environmental resilience index are presented, which establish the weighting of indicators through Delphi-analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis, and the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), GaBi, and i-Tree models are employed for the quantitative assessment. Third, four representative UGI scenarios in urban built-up areas have been selected for comparative analysis and in-depth discussion by calculating the resilience index. This research presents UGI solutions as adaptive measures for "Black Swan" events and "Gray Rhino" phenomena, offering significant case studies and methodological frameworks which will inform future endeavours in green and sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely recognized that natural infrastructure plays a pivotal role in sustaining Indigenous communities globally. Natural infrastructure encompasses ecosystems and environments that either occur naturally or have been deliberately altered through human intervention to provide multiple benefits for the environment and human wellbeing. While there has been extensive scholarly discussion regarding the importance of natural infrastructure in securing the livelihoods of Indigenous populations in developing nations and passing down their critical knowledge from one generation to another, the literature has not explicitly analyzed how Indigenous knowledge has facilitated the protection and conservation of natural infrastructure. Also, there has been limited analysis of the economic benefits of their conservation eorts. This article, utilizing bibliometric analysis as its methodological approach, aims to unpack how Indigenous knowledge has facilitated the protection and conservation of natural infrastructure. Several key themes emerged from this bibliometric analysis, including Indigenous governance strategies aimed at mitigating deforestation and addressing climate change and collective action taken to preserve natural infrastructure. Among others, a positive economic consequence of all three themes lies in their ability to improve the livelihood of Indigenous peoples by creating opportunities to receive payment for ecosystem services [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change seriously threatens human systems, properties and livelihoods. Global projections suggest a continuous increase in the frequency and severity of weather events, with severe outcomes. Although the trends and impacts are highly variable depending on location, most studies tend to concentrate on either the urban or rural areas, with little focus on peri-urban areas. Yet, in Sub-Saharan Africa, peri-urban areas display unique characteristics: inadequate infrastructure, unplanned development, weak governance, and environmental degradation, all of which exacerbate flood impact and thus need academic attention. This study contributes to filling this gap by assessing the flood vulnerability of roads in peri-urban Accra and its implications for mobility. Based on the fieldwork, the study delineated and analysed potential zones within the research locations. The researchers calculated roads' absolute and relative lengths, using a spatial overlay (intersection) of potentially flooded roads with the total road network within the grid cells of 500 m by 500 m. These measures were adopted and used as exposure measures. The findings revealed that over 80% of roads with lengths between 100 m and 500 m were exposed to floods. Some areas had higher exposure indices, with absolute road lengths ranging from 1.5 km to 3.2 km and relative road lengths between 0.8 and 1.0. There were significant variations in road exposure between and within neighbourhoods. Depending on the depth and duration of the floodwater, residents may be unable to access their homes or carry out their daily activities. In conclusion, this study highlights the differential vulnerability of peri-urban areas to road flooding and recommends targeted provision of flood-resilient infrastructure to promote sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The services provided by green infrastructures may lead to a decrease in climate-related ecological, social, and health risks, especially in the urban environment. Consequently, the best guarantee to make this environment as safe as possible is to increase the extent of green areas, taking into consideration the functional importance, and climatic–ecological peculiarities of the area. These are also issues for the Republic of Armenia's (RA) capital Yerevan. There the current conditions of the green areas of Yerevan city do not meet the expected requirements of the climatic–ecological development of urban areas. The green area per capita is 8 m2, which is unevenly distributed within 12 different administrative districts of Yerevan city. The aim of this research was to study the natural climatic and ecological conditions of Yerevan city and the status of the green areas of the city. The eco-biological indicators of the trees and shrubs growing in Yerevan green areas have been assessed, and the more resilient plant species have been singled out. All 12 administrative districts of Yerevan have been mapped and the green area per capita for each administrative district has been calculated. The received data have been combined with health indicators and suggestions have been made to add green areas in Yerevan according to the functional significance and sustainability of shrubby species and to their decorative and phyto-filtration properties. The city has unfavorable climatic conditions. It is located in the northern section of the subtropical climatic zone and has a distinct dry continental climate. Temperatures above +40 °C are typical, while winter is rather cold and sometimes temperatures may drop below −20 °C (in January 2008, it dropped to −27.6 °C). The amount of atmospheric precipitation has reduced by 9%. The city is counted as one of the driest urban areas of the South Caucasus. The other unfavorable ecological conditions are heavy traffic, the city's open landfill, the concentration of industrial enterprises, large-scale construction works, etc. The atmospheric concentrations of particulate matter (PM), gases and heavy metals have been detected to exceed the permitted limits. In terms of health care, the death cases due to various diseases (acute respiratory, vascular, and cancer) have increased, which requires complex activities to reduce environmental pollution and to improve the microclimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional urban drainage infrastructure is gradually failing to attain sustainable development goals. Effective techniques for adapting to climate change at the city level include the use of urban green drainage infrastructure (UGDI). This study aims to assess the inherent barriers to UGDI in Ghana. Primary data was gathered from 62 built environment professionals. Analytical tools included a component factor analysis and mean score ranking. A factor analysis revealed four components explaining 67.967% of the total variance in the barriers to UGDI. Lack of knowledge, information and awareness of UGDI was ranked as the most critical implementation barrier. It is recommended that the adoption of UGDI evolves from being an alternative to a "necessity" given that its significance is evident in the current climatic change crises. This is a novel attempt to expose the inherent barriers of UGDI systems in Ghana through the innovation diffusion theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity compensation policies have emerged around the world to address the ecological harms of infrastructure expansion, but historically compliance is weak. The Westminster government is introducing a requirement that new infrastructure developments in England demonstrate they achieve a biodiversity net gain (BNG). We sought to determine the magnitude of the effects of governance gaps and regulator capacity constraints on the policy's potential biodiversity impacts. We collated BNG information from all new major developments across six early‐adopter councils from 2020 to 2022. We quantified the proportion of the biodiversity outcomes promised under BNG at risk of noncompliance, explored the variation in strategies used to meet developers' biodiversity liabilities, and quantified the occurrence of simple errors in the biodiversity metric calculations. For large developments and energy infrastructure, biodiversity liabilities frequently met within the projects' development footprint. For small developments, the purchase of offsets was most common. We estimated that 27% of all biodiversity units fell into governance gaps that exposed them to a high risk of noncompliance because they were associated with better‐condition habitats delivered on‐site that were unlikely to be monitored or enforced. More robust governance mechanisms (e.g., practical mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement) would help ensure the delivery of this biodiversity on‐site. Alternatively, more biodiversity gains could be delivered through off‐site biodiversity offsetting. For the latter case, we estimated that the demand for offsets could rise by a factor of 4; this would substantially increase the financial contributions from developers for conservation activities on private land. Twenty‐one percent of development applications contained a simple recurring error in their BNG calculations. One‐half of these applications were approved by councils, which may indicate under‐resourcing in council development assessments. Our findings demonstrate that resourcing and governance shortfalls risk undermining the policy's effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal erosion is a growing problem worldwide and seriously threatens coastal infrastructure ecosystems and communities, particularly in areas where urban development has encroached on natural shorelines. Salty urbanism, an approach to urban design that incorporates natural features and works in harmony with coastal environments, offers a promising solution to this problem. This review explores strategies for coastal erosion reduction, particularly emphasizing community participation within the context of salty urbanism. By investigating the advantages of incorporating salty urbanism and community engagement in coastal management through a literature study, this paper explores a case study-Paradeep, a coastal city in India. The aim is to comprehend how salty urbanism principles have been assimilated into coastal erosion initiatives in Paradeep and to identify potential opportunities for further integration to maximize benefits. The results emphasize the importance of integrating salty urbanism and community participation into coastal erosion management strategies, especially in coastal areas where these principles are either lacking or only minimally incorporated, often without a clear recognition of the term "salty urbanism" itself. Utilizing a mixed-methods research approach, the study integrates primary data from case studies and interviews, along with inferences from literature studies to gain valuable insights from coastal community residents and stakeholders. The findings will provide a significant contribution to advancing strategies and initiatives that advocate for sustainable coastal development and management by suggesting ways to incorporate a community participation-based salty urbanism approach in similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most people now prefer to live in cities, and the urban population has grown significantly. The decrement of urban green corridors causes an essential need for livability in highly populated areas. The needs of population health and sustainable city development are put under prolonged stress by the shortage of publicly accessible green infrastructure and its placement in inappropriate areas. The inventory of green corridor areas and the distribution of significant infrastructure are not fully understood, thus encouraging conflicts between residents and wildlife and increasing flood risk in their vicinity. Optical satellite images were required to (1) develop a green corridor (GC) map, (2) investigate the green infrastructure (GI) demand with the existing land use, and (3) propose new green trails (GT) in the Kuantan district using a geospatial approach. NDVI and site suitability analysis were carried out on Landsat OLI and Sentinel-2 MSI images, which were integrated with GIS tools to achieve all the objectives. A GC map has been developed, and five new proposed areas for GI development have been identified. Based on the results, 5 proposed green trails (3 long GTs, 2 short GTs) with a total length of 79.3 km are scattered in the Kuantan district at the most suitable site, identified using a geospatial approach. This study supports SDG 15: Life on Land, where green corridors reinforce biological connectivity, provide conducive space for high-populated areas, and minimize the negative impact of urbanization on the designed areas of GC, GI and GT in the developing city of Kuantan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China announced a shift towards green infrastructure, green investment and green financing at the 2019 Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in response to criticisms of the negative environmental impact of some earlier BRI infrastructure projects. The objective of this paper is to explore whether there has been a shift in Malaysia towards the new green-aspired goals of the BRI in terms of green governance and projects. The key findings of this paper suggest that there is no discernible shift to green projects as nongreen investments are also accepted. Malaysia has requirements for green governance, but implementation can be an issue. Host economies, like Malaysia, must take ownership of green requirements for there to be a sustained shift towards green governance. Likewise, China’s investments have to comply with local laws, which can improve the environmental impact when local laws and regulations are judiciously implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global warming increases the atmospheric water‐holding capacity, consequently altering the frequency, and intensity of extreme hydrological events. River floods characterized by large peak flow or prolonged duration can amplify the risk of social disruption and affect ecosystem stability. However, previous studies have mostly focused on univariate flood magnitude characteristics, such as flood peak or volume, and there is still limited understanding of how these joint flood characteristics (i.e., magnitude and duration) might co‐evolve under different warming levels. Here, we develop a systematical bivariate framework to project future flood risk in 11,528 catchments across the globe. By constructing the joint distribution of flood peak and duration with copulas, we examine global flood risk with a bivariate framework under varying levels of global warming (i.e., within a range of 1.5–3.0°C above pre‐industrial levels). The flood projections are produced by driving five calibrated lumped hydrological models (HMs) using the simulations with bias adjustment of five global climate models (GCMs) under three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP126, SSP370, and SSP585). On average, global warming from 1.5 to 3.0°C tends to amplify flood peak and lengthen flood duration across almost all continents, but changes are not unidirectional and vary regionally around the globe. The joint return period (JRP) of the historical (1985–2014) 50‐year flood event is projected to decrease to a median with 36 years under a medium emission pathway at the 1.5°C warming level. Finally, we evaluate the drivers of these JRP changes in the future climate and quantify the uncertainty arising from the different GCMs, SSPs, and HMs. Our findings highlight the importance of limiting greenhouse gas emission to slow down global warming and developing climate adaptation strategies to address future flood hazards. Plain Language Summary: Floods with large peak flow or prolonged duration can have considerable impacts on infrastructure and ecosystems, and may become more severe in a warmer planet. However, due to the complex interplay between the climate system and hydrological processes, our understanding of future flood risk remains limited. We use copula‐based approach to establish the joint distribution of flood peak and duration to examine future flood risk under varying levels of global warming. The results show that most catchments across the globe are likely to experience heightened flood risk in response to climate change, with an amplification effect on flood risk as temperature increases from 1.5 to 3.0°C. Our findings emphasize the urgency of limiting greenhouse gas emission to adapt to future flood hazards under global climate change. Key Points: We project future daily streamflow by a cascade model chain in 11,528 catchments across the globeWe evaluate shifts in future global flood risk with a copula‐based framework under different warming levelsGlobal warming from 1.5 to 3.0°C has a significant impact on flood intensification, with an amplification effect on flood peak and duration [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Africa has a lower proportion of urban areas compared to other continents, yet it is experiencing rapid urbanization, which is posing a significant threat to the urban ecosystem. This study presents the results of a bibliometric analysis from publications on urban green spaces (UGS) research in African cities. From the Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases, 264 articles on UGS research in Africa were included in this study. This research topic experienced rapid growth, as more than 68% of all the articles were produced in the past five years, where about 63% of the studies included in this analysis were carried out in only four countries. Most of the studies were carried out at the intracity scale, with the main focus being on the ecosystem services provided by UGS. Change detection and overall UGS mapping studies show that high-income cities have a high percentage of UGS, while many African cities exhibited lower green coverage. We commend the work from researchers; however, there is still a gap to fill both in terms of high-quality datasets and state-of-the-art technology usage, and there is also a need for more comparative studies among cities and countries at the continental scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reviews and categorises ports' green initiatives to reduce their polluting emissions and improve their overall environmental performance. These categories facilitate comparisons between different practices and allow the identification of common trends and challenges. Through a systematic review that combines both academic and industry sources, green port practices including strategies, tools, infrastructures, and initiatives were identified. This methodology enhances the credibility and reliability of the findings by thoroughly reviewing the available literature and data. Overall, 380 records of green practices explored by ports and port-related stakeholders worldwide have been reviewed. The practices' main elements, characteristics, implementation challenges, and indicative environmental outcomes are highlighted. The results show that the most commonly discussed green solutions are driven mainly by the regulation requirements and ports' own interest to develop environmentally friendly operations, while at the same time remaining competitive in terms of sustainability in the port industry. Consequently, the most widely explored solutions include (i) Shore Side Electricity–Onshore Power Supply, (ii) alternative fuels, (iii) circular economy, and (iv) waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research is to provide a numerical evaluation of the occurrence of New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles in urban plans, using four key indicators: GI (green infrastructure), POS (public open space), PSN (public and social needs), and UR (urban reconstruction). The initial step in the research involves determining numerical quantitative indicators with target reference values, which are then used as a measure of compliance with the vision of the NEB. Indicators are modeled based on elements embedded in urban plans and implemented in a framework for evaluating these plans. Through the analysis of collected data, a comparison is made with the set goals and values of the NEB, thus enabling the assignment of ratings for occurrence and identification of areas where improvements are needed. The research results for Rijeka point to the need for planning new green areas, maintaining and developing street networks, and increasing pedestrian and park areas. Additionally, there is a suggested need to increase content to meet public and social needs and expand areas planned for urban reconstruction. The research results emphasize the importance of monitoring and adjusting urban plans to the NEB platform to achieve sustainable and balanced urban development goals, highlighting the need for continuous improvement in the quality of urban planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coordinated development of rural infrastructure and ecological environment is an effective way to improve agricultural productivity. The primary focus of the current research is how the two can work together to promote regional economic development in rural areas and in related fields. This study takes the western region as the research object, constructs an evaluation index system for rural infrastructure and ecological environment, and uses the Min-max Scaling method, coupling coordination model, gray GM (1, 1) model, and standard deviation elliptical model for evaluation. The trends and driving factors for the coordinated development of rural infrastructure and ecological coupling in the region from 2012 to 2021 are analyzed. The main results are as follows: (1) Except for Tibet, Qinghai, and Ningxia, the coupling degree of rural infrastructure and the ecological environment in western China reached the maximum level during the research period, also the coordination degree showed a gradual upward trend. (2) A prediction for the development and evolution of rural infrastructure and the ecological environment in western China indicates a trend of agglomerative development in the southern region. (3) By strengthening the construction of reservoirs, improving sanitary conditions, improving cultivated land use area and forest coverage, and controlling soil erosion, the coordinated development of the two can be effectively promoted. The purpose of this study is to promote the sustainable and coordinated development of rural infrastructure and ecological environment, and to provide a reference for policy formulation in the relevant sectors and other countries and regions with similar situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) or nature-based solutions (NBSs) are widely implemented to collect, store and infiltrate stormwater. The buildup of pollutants is expected in NBSs, and Dutch guidelines advise monitoring the topsoil of bio-swales every 5 years. In the Netherlands, almost every municipality has implemented bio-swales. Some municipalities have over 300 bio-swales, and monitoring all their NBSs is challenging due to cost and capacity. In this study, 20 locations where bio-swales with ages ranging between 10 and 20 years old were selected for a field investigation to answer the following question: is the soil quality of bio-swales after 10 years still acceptable? Portable XRF instruments were used to detect potential toxic elements (PTEs) for in situ measurements. The results showed that for copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb), 30%, 40% and 25% of the locations show values above the threshold and 5%, 20% and 0% above the intervention threshold, meaning immediate action should be taken. The results are of importance for stakeholders in (inter)national cities that implement, maintain, and monitor NBS. Knowledge of stormwater and soil quality related to long-term health risks from NBS enables urban planners to implement the most appropriate stormwater management strategies. With these research results, the Dutch guidelines for design, construction, and maintenance can be updated, and stakeholders are reminded that the monitoring of green infrastructure should be planned and executed every 5 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a city's green infrastructure is increasingly being driven by low-carbon innovation (LCI). However, knowledge of how LCI affects green economic efficiency (GEE) in China is largely unknown. This study investigates the spatial effects of LCI on GEE in 285 Chinese prefecture-level cities. The empirical findings show that LCI exerts significant beneficial effects on its GEE but negative effects on its neighbors. The positive direct effects on GEE are offset by negative indirect effects due to the lack of spatial linkage effect and the existence of the siphon and crowding-out effects among cities. Using a mediating effect model, we have identified three channels of LCI that affect GEE: industrial structure, energy consumption structure, and human capital. A further heterogeneity analysis indicates that the impacts of LCI on GEE differ by region and city development level. Furthermore, LCI in the building, greenhouse gas treatment, transportation, and sewage and pollutant treatment categories could greatly enhance local GEE. The findings herein provide an empirical experience for accurately accessing the spatial effect of LCI on GEE, and offer a critical decision-making reference for implementing a cross-city green linkage development mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: As an integral component of urban space, green space assumes a pivotal role in the purification and filtration of air, provision of recreational opportunities, and augmentation of the aesthetic allure of the urban landscape. In contemporary urban settings, the significance of urban green spaces is widely acknowledged and embraced as an indispensable facet of the city. The consequences of urban expansion and the resulting environmental problems have indefinitely made the presence of green spaces and their proper distribution essential. Meanwhile, it is necessary to pay attention to achieving spatial balance in the distribution of urban parks, as they are an important component of urban green spaces, particularly in large cities. The population in Karaj city in Iran, has experienced an excessive increase, particularly in the last three decades. This has resulted in the rapid expansion of urban areas the destruction of the natural landscape and the structural pattern of both natural and artificial ecosystems. The city of Karaj, formerly known as Baghshahr, has transformed into a metropolis, with only a few traces of its once abundant urban green spaces remaining. This research aims to evaluate the demand for green space and the distribution capacity among the districts of 3 and 8 of Karaj city. The objective of the current study is to provide solutions based on spatial justice to increase the use of green space. METHODS: The current research utilizes a combination of descriptive-analytical and critical methods, as well as documentary and survey methods. To analyze and evaluate the condition of green spaces and their mapping, information, and data from relevant organizations and satellite images have been utilized within specific spatial-temporal scales and GIS software. FINDINGS: The results showed that the highest weight obtained was related to participation, with a weight of 0.118. This was followed by social capital, with a weight of 0.116 percent. The lowest weight was related to public services, with a weight of 0.040. CONCLUSION: District 3 has more green space than District 8 due to the presence of gardens and trees planted by the municipality on the outskirts of the district. Additionally, the political ecology in these neighborhoods has not been impacted by District 3. However, Jahanshahr and Molana neighborhoods in District 8 have a high per capita population due to their small population and large areas of parks. Additionally, the presence of Family, fruit, Fateh and small Iran Gardens, contribute to the high population density in these neighborhoods. However other areas in the district experience a significant shortage of urban green spaces and are affected by the influence of political ecology at both the neighborhood and regional levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an important element of urban renewal in highly urbanized areas, pocket parks with small size, flexible layout and daily accessibility are becoming a major component of green infrastructure and the mainstay of outdoor recreation space expansion in high-density urban centers. Nevertheless, the absence of a comprehensive framework for evaluating the potential of pocket park construction (PPC), one that integrates diverse influencing factors on a macro scale, has resulted in the random installation of such spaces, often failing to optimize the utilization of urban land. Addressing this critical lacuna, we propose an approach to evaluate PPC potential from a city-scale perspective, which is used to support the determination of which land units should be prioritized for PPC. A complete and feasible workflow was also established to identify potential land units, construct an index system for PPC combining demand and supply levels, quantitatively calculate indices based on remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS), accurately evaluate PPC potential using an entropy-weighted TOPSIS model, and develop targeted renewal strategies. A case study in Dalian, China, demonstrated the applicability and implications of the workflow. The results showed that it is flexible and easy to adapt to different local contexts, allowing evaluators to introduce parameters considering the availability of local data, and will help decision makers to build pocket parks in the most effective plots, providing a strong reference for high-quality development in other high-density urban centers facing the contradiction between ecological construction and land scarcity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducing vegetation into towns and cities, for example through establishing green corridors which ensure a continuous character of urban green areas is a way to counteract negative effects of urban climate. The aim of the study was to assess the role of a green corridor and the contribution of vegetation to regulating the level of hourly tropospheric ozone concentrations in Legnica. Hourly values of tropospheric ozone concentrations (O3, μg m-3) and wind directions (D, °) collected between 2011 and 2014 from an urban background station for air quality monitoring of the Provincial Inspectorate for Environmental Protection were used in the study. To prepare a land cover map, data from the Database of Topographic Objects provided by the Geodesy and Cartography Department of the Marshal's Office of the Lower Silesian Voivodship were used. The estimations of frequency of hourly O3 concentrations for given seasons of the year and the analysis of land cover within 2 km from the measuring point were made based on an 8-wind compass rose. In summer, the frequency of hourly O3 concentrations was assessed for every direction and for every hour of the day. A Pearson correlation matrix was generated to illustrate the relationship between land cover type and the frequency of pollution coming from each direction, Between 21:00 and 6:00, increased frequency of hourly O3 concentrations in the 0-40 μg m-3 range coming from the southwest was recorded, which accounted for 70-90% of all concentration ranges. Correlation analyses showed a statistically significant relationship between increased high vegetation coverage and decreased frequency of hourly O3 concentrations in the 41-80 μg m-3 range. It was demonstrated that between 2011 and 2014, during summers, hourly O3 concentrations

Introduction. In 2023, an increase in cases of urban flooding was recorded worldwide. The amount of stormwater has increased manifold, but there is nowhere to apply this supernumerary resource in the cities. Water-sensitive design of territories should become a priority in the planning of cities and updating of normative documents of the urban sphere in the face of global warming.Materials and methods. The given analysis of climatic data of the study area is of key importance in calculating the irrigation rate for the functioning of green infrastructure in urban conditions. It is proposed to consider vegetative irrigation — the most important and regulated watering activity, which is vital for all plants in urban conditions.Results. Stormwater management will reduce irrigation costs and simplify the maintenance of urban green spaces throughout growing season. The amendments and additions proposed by the authors of the regulatory documents of the Russian Federation in the field of green infrastructure will facilitate the implementation of a new ecosystem approach in practice. The light conditions for the high-quality functioning of the green infrastructure in the study area are also considered.Conclusions. The author’s biotopes are sustainable by technological solutions of engineering preparation of the territory, developed in the context of the spirit of the place using plants of local flora based on the developed regulatory recommendations for the new concept of water-sensitive design of the urban environment.

Rain gardens have gained importance in recent years as a green infrastructure strategy. These gardens, created to capture, filter, and absorb runoff from impervious surfaces, offer a sustainable method for addressing water-related challenges in urban areas. Incorporating rain gardens into urban areas not only addresses the challenges of heavy rainfall and flooding but also brings about ecological advantages by encouraging biodiversity, improving water quality, increasing resilience, and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of urban settings. Plant selection in rain gardens plays a crucial role in their effectiveness and sustainability. The research focused on exploring the importance of carefully choosing plants for rain gardens, aiming to help in selecting the most suitable flora and creating visually appealing, resilient, and ecologically important landscapes. For this purpose, Izmir Katip Celebi University was selected as a study area. The first step was to locate an appropriate space for a rain garden and evaluate its potential for a rain garden implementation. Next, plants suitable for a rain garden in a temperate climate were listed. Among these plants, those that can be found in Izmir were selected after contacting nurseries. Only fourteen of them were available. Utilizing the plants listed that align with the project requirements and the plant design criteria such as diverse color, high density, and proportion outlined in the literature review, a proposal for a rain garden design was recommended. Since the rain garden consists of three different zones (dry, wet, and moderate), the plants were arranged accordingly. This design was tailored to suit existing conditions, such as a temperate climate and proximity to the building. Factors like varying climate conditions or alternative rain garden placements were not accounted for in this design. Given the necessity for diverse plant selections in varying climates, research carried out across different regions holds significant value. This study, conducted in Izmir province, will enrich existing literature and provide municipalities with crucial guidance in plant selection in a rain garden project, offering valuable insights.

Applying green infrastructure measures helps to retain water in the land during wet periods, which in turn makes it more available during periods of drought. Water retention reduces the volume of rainwater that transforms into surface runoff, allowing for the increase in the intensity of evapotranspiration and infiltration, which helps to establish a catchment with a balanced hydrologic cycle that’s effectively more resistant to the consequences of climate change. With increasing popularity of introducing Low Impact Development (LID) solutions in highly urbanised catchments characterised by a high runoff coefficient, it is important also to reduce rainwater runoff in residential areas with lower density of housing. This work presents a numerical assessment of green infrastructure (green roofs, rain gardens, permeable paving and rainwater harvesting) performance in increasing retention in a catchment area consisting of single-family houses. The numerical model of potential residency in Ożarów, Poland was developed in SWMM 5.2. software, replicating local conditions with input infiltration data collected through on site and laboratory testing, as well as data gathered during a period of registering local evaporation and precipitation conditions. After running a series of simulations of three rain events, varying in their duration and intensity, the model was enhanced with green infrastructure solutions by the utilisation of LID Controls option in SWMM. With rainfall simulations resulting in varying rainwater outflow hydrographs and with differences in the volume of collected rainwater outflow, the results of LID application were consistent with the reduction of the peak rainwater outflow (reduction rate 61.90-67.99%), as well as the decrease in rainwater outflow volume (reduction rate 61.17-62.12%). This research promotes the hydrologic effectiveness of introducing green infrastructure in low density housing establishments.

Abstract Background Linear transportation infrastructures (roads, railways, oil and gas pipelines, powerlines and waterways) are recognized as important contributors to the fragmentation of species habitats. On the other hand, verges of linear transportation infrastructures (road and railway embankments, strips of grass under power lines or above buried pipelines, or waterway banks) form vast networks of continuous habitats. While the loss of natural habitats still poses a significant threat to biodiversity, verges can provide habitats or corridors in anthropogenic areas, although this potential for conservation remains controversial. The current paper is the first synthesis of evidence addressing this topic for vascular plants (except strictly aquatic species) in temperate ecosystems. We asked the following question: can linear transportation infrastructure verges constitute habitats and/or corridors for vascular plants in temperate ecosystems? Methods We conducted a systematic literature survey using two online bibliographic databases, three search engines, specialist websites, and by sending a call for literature to subject experts. We also integrated studies from a previous systematic review with an overlapping scope. We successively screened the articles for relevance on titles, abstracts and full texts using criteria detailed in an a priori protocol. We then used six specific questions to categorize the selected studies and critically assess them. These questions encompassed the potential of verges as habitats and corridors for vascular plants, and the effects of landscape and management on these potentialities. We created a database of the studies with low and medium risk of bias. We synthesized results for specific questions in narrative syntheses. Finally, studies about the habitat role of verges that met the criteria for a meta-analysis were used for quantitative syntheses. Review findings Our systematic literature survey yielded 101,524 search results. After critical appraisal, we included in our systematic review 294 articles that reported 316 studies. Most studies were conducted along road verges or waterway banks, with only a handful of studies involving powerlines, railways or pipelines. We were not able to draw conclusions on the role of verges as corridors for vascular plants as too few relevant studies were obtained. Regarding the habitat function of verges however, meta-analyses were conducted based on 205 cases from 47 primary studies that compared abundance and/or species richness in verges vs habitats away from transportation infrastructure for exotic, native or all species together. For non-highway road verges, both the abundance and richness of exotic species were higher on non-highway road verges, but we found no significant differences among species in general, or for native species specifically, which implies that alien species would often add but not subtract species. A wide variety of management practices were also represented in the evidence base. Overall, systematic impacts on species richness or abundance rarely emerged, but human interventions were seldom neutral and usually altered, at least temporarily, the balance between the native and exotic flora or among various functional groups. Conclusions We identified a major knowledge gap regarding the potential of linear transportation infrastructure verges as corridors for vascular plants. Thus, we call for more research on this particular topic, especially as the evidence synthesis underlined the potential of verges as habitat for exotic and invasive flora.

[Objective] The purpose of this paper is to systematically explore the optimized conversion paths and mechanisms between shrinking urban inefficient industrial land and green infrastructure, and to provide a reference for the intensive and efficient use of shrinking urban inefficient industrial land in China. [Methods] Taking Mudanjiang City, a typical shrinking city, as an example, this study selected the relevant data in 2021 and constructed an identification indicator system of inefficient industrial land use and a performance assessment indicator system of green infrastructure by analytic hierarchical process (AHP) analysis. It used the TOPSIS method for the quantitative evaluation of inefficient industrial land use, and used the ecosystem service value (ESV) correction coefficient method and Fragstats tool for the quantitative evaluation of green infrastructure performance. An optimization model of low-efficiency industrial land based on the performance improvement of green infrastructure was established, and the conversion mechanism of low-efficiency industrial land to green infrastructure was further revealed. [Results] (1) There are 160 land parcels in the state of inefficient utilization in the built-up area of Mudanjiang City (447.30 hm2 in total), accounting for 45.71% of the total number of industrial sites, while green infrastructure is 4950.37 hm2, accounting for 42.18% of the built-up area of the city, with the distribution decreasing from south to north. (2) With the help of the optimal utilization model of inefficient industrial land based on green infrastructure performance improvement, it was found that 303.80 hm2 of inefficient industrial land in Mudanjiang could be converted into green infrastructure. (3) After optimization simulation, 67.92% of in the low-efficiency industrial land is converted to green infrastructure, which leads to 10.18% improvement in the overall performance of green infrastructure. [Conclusion] Using the case of Mudanjiang City, it was empirically demonstrated that the conversion mechanism of low-efficiency industrial land in shrinking cities based on the improvement of green infrastructure performance can prevent inefficient industrial land use and improve the overall performance of green infrastructure. By preventing inefficient industrial land use from further negatively affecting urban development, it can promote the high-quality development of shrinking cities through “exchanging stock for increment”, and provide a reference for research related to the spatial optimization of shrinking cities.

Green cities are described as the environmental influences by expanding recycling, decreasing waste, increasing housing density, lowering emissions while intensifying open space, and boosting sustainable local businesses. Green infrastructures (GI) are progressively related to urban water management for long-term transitions and immediate solutions towards sustainability. Urban green spaces (UGS) play a vital role in conserving urban environment sustainability by giving various ecology services. In this study, big data analytics-based urban green space planning design (BDA-UGSPD) has been introduced. Luohe city and the Shali River area have been chosen as the study area owing to the high number and a considerable assortment of UGS. Monitoring has been conducted in the Shali river to evaluate water quality for irrigation for agriculture. The Master Plan Scenario had a compact green space system, and the urban land use layout has been categorized by systematization and networking, and it did not consider the service capacity of green spaces. The Planning Guidance Scenario initialized constraint states, which provide more rigorous and effective urban spaces. It enhanced the service functions of the green space model layout. The simulation findings illustrate that the proposed BDA-UGSPD model enhances the land-use classification accuracy ratio by 92.0%, probability ratio by 90.6%, decision-making ratio by 95.0%, climate change adaptation ratio by 94.5%, water quality assessment ratio by 95.9%, and reduces the root mean square error ratio by 9.7% compared to other popular approaches.

Within peri-urban landscapes, this research investigated the complexity of the balance between urban development and green infrastructure preservation, with a specific focus on Harku municipality, Estonia. This study aimed to understand the interplay between cultural ecosystem services (CESs) and residents’ well-being. Aligned with the EU Nature Restoration Law, this research explored long-term dynamics in peri-urban areas’ CES conservation. The methodology included creating scenarios by combining new secondary data with the author’s prior studies, which covered landscape belts, CES values, and residents’ perceptions of satisfaction with the environment and recreation opportunities collected through a municipal survey. While residents expressed satisfaction in coastal and green spaces, a distinct decline was evident near villages with industrial and agricultural features, highlighting the landscape’s impact on well-being. This study identified case-study-specific threats related to rapid urbanisation and put forward constructive policy recommendations. The goal was to develop effective and sustainable strategies for preserving nature through ecosystem service-based frameworks, enhance community well-being, and account for landscape dynamics through scenario planning.

This study examines the spatio-temporal dynamics of Acacia auriculiformis in Lubumbashi city, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in the context of rapid urbanization following the liberalization of the mining sector. The city has experienced significant demographic growth and unplanned spatial expansion, resulting in a decrease in vegetation cover. The introduction and proliferation of A. auriculiformis, an exotic tree species, have occurred without strategic planning or monitoring. Utilizing digitized remote sensing imagery from 2006, 2014, and 2021, we quantified the expansion of A. auriculiformis along the urban–rural gradient. Additionally, a floristic inventory conducted in 2021 provided insights into tree diversity within A. auriculiformis plantations. Our findings indicate a substantial increase in the number and area of A. auriculiformis patches, predominantly in urban zones. However, the patch values, highest in 2006, were shown to decline by 2021, especially in urban areas. The floristic inventory identified 39 tree species within A. auriculiformis plantations, including predominant species such as Albizia lebbeck, Albizia alba, and Leucaena leucocephala. Notably, 20 of these species are exotic, with half being invasive. In contrast, the 19 indigenous species were primarily found in peri-urban areas. While a greater number of tree species were observed in urban zones, larger average diameters were recorded in peri-urban zones. The persistence and expansion of A. auriculiformis in a landscape characterized by declining tree cover suggest its potential sustainability in this setting. However, A. auriculiformis plantations have facilitated the establishment of predominantly exotic and potentially invasive species. These findings highlight the need for the strategic management of A. auriculiformis and associated exotic flora to mitigate their spread and to consider their role in the restoration of degraded lands.

Green walls, along with green roofs, parks, and vertical gardens, belong to the green infrastructure of cities, which will encompass the majority of humanity in the coming decades. Green infrastructure benefits both urban residents and nature in the urban landscape, although there is no scientific consensus on the extent to which green walls, especially green facades, impact biodiversity in cities. This study examined the influence of green facades on the richness of mammals, birds, and invertebrates, considering the species and age of the plants comprising the green facade in a medium-sized city located in southwestern Poland. It was found that the implementation of green facades significantly enhances species’ biodiversity compared to non-vegetated walls. Four synanthropic bird species were nesting on green facades: Eurasian collared dove ( Streptopelia decaocto), blackbird ( Turdus merula), house sparrow ( Passer domesticus) and woodpigeon ( Columba palumbus). For the beech marten (Martes foina), the green facades are a hunting ground for birds and their eggs. This simple and effective method of creating green walls provides benefits to local wildlife by creating habitats, shelter, and foraging opportunities for selected species. However, it is difficult to determine whether green facades contribute to the formation of ecological corridors in urban environments. The study also examined the social aspect related to the establishment and maintenance of green facades on the surveyed buildings.

The transition to sustainable power infrastructure necessitates integrating various renewable energy sources efficiently. Our study introduces the deterministic balanced method (DBM) for optimizing hybrid energy systems, with a particular focus on using hydrogen for energy balance. The DBM translates the sizing optimization problem into a deterministic one, significantly reducing the number of iterations compared to state-of-the-art methods. Comparative analysis with HOMER Pro demonstrates a strong alignment of results, with deviations limited to a 5% margin, confirming the precision of our method in sizing determinations. Utilizing solar and wind data, our research includes a case study of Cairo International Airport, applying the DBM to actual energy demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Linear transportation infrastructures (roads, railways, oil and gas pipelines, powerlines and waterways) are recognized as important contributors to the fragmentation of species habitats. On the other hand, verges of linear transportation infrastructures (road and railway embankments, strips of grass under power lines or above buried pipelines, or waterway banks) form vast networks of continuous habitats. While the loss of natural habitats still poses a significant threat to biodiversity, verges can provide habitats or corridors in anthropogenic areas, although this potential for conservation remains controversial. The current paper is the first synthesis of evidence addressing this topic for vascular plants (except strictly aquatic species) in temperate ecosystems. We asked the following question: can linear transportation infrastructure verges constitute habitats and/or corridors for vascular plants in temperate ecosystems? Methods: We conducted a systematic literature survey using two online bibliographic databases, three search engines, specialist websites, and by sending a call for literature to subject experts. We also integrated studies from a previous systematic review with an overlapping scope. We successively screened the articles for relevance on titles, abstracts and full texts using criteria detailed in an a priori protocol. We then used six specific questions to categorize the selected studies and critically assess them. These questions encompassed the potential of verges as habitats and corridors for vascular plants, and the effects of landscape and management on these potentialities. We created a database of the studies with low and medium risk of bias. We synthesized results for specific questions in narrative syntheses. Finally, studies about the habitat role of verges that met the criteria for a meta-analysis were used for quantitative syntheses. Review findings: Our systematic literature survey yielded 101,524 search results. After critical appraisal, we included in our systematic review 294 articles that reported 316 studies. Most studies were conducted along road verges or waterway banks, with only a handful of studies involving powerlines, railways or pipelines. We were not able to draw conclusions on the role of verges as corridors for vascular plants as too few relevant studies were obtained. Regarding the habitat function of verges however, meta-analyses were conducted based on 205 cases from 47 primary studies that compared abundance and/or species richness in verges vs habitats away from transportation infrastructure for exotic, native or all species together. For non-highway road verges, both the abundance and richness of exotic species were higher on non-highway road verges, but we found no significant differences among species in general, or for native species specifically, which implies that alien species would often add but not subtract species. A wide variety of management practices were also represented in the evidence base. Overall, systematic impacts on species richness or abundance rarely emerged, but human interventions were seldom neutral and usually altered, at least temporarily, the balance between the native and exotic flora or among various functional groups. Conclusions: We identified a major knowledge gap regarding the potential of linear transportation infrastructure verges as corridors for vascular plants. Thus, we call for more research on this particular topic, especially as the evidence synthesis underlined the potential of verges as habitat for exotic and invasive flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent climatic changes have profoundly impacted the urban microclimate, exposing city dwellers to harsh living conditions. One effective approach to mitigating these events involves incorporating more green infrastructure into the cityscape. The ecological services provided by urban vegetation play a crucial role in enhancing the sustainability and livability of cities. However, monitoring urban vegetation and accurately estimating its status pose challenges due to the heterogeneous nature of the urban environment. In response to this, the current study proposes utilizing a remote sensing-based classification framework to enhance data availability, thereby improving practices related to urban vegetation management. The aim of the current research is to explore the spatial pattern of vegetation and enhance the classification of tree species within diverse and complex urban environments. This study combines various remote sensing observations to enhance classification capabilities. High-resolution colored rectified aerial photographs, LiDAR-derived products, and hyperspectral data are merged and analyzed using advanced classifier methods, specifically partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and object-based image analysis (OBIA). The OBIA method demonstrates an impressive overall accuracy of 95.30%, while the PLS-DA model excels with a remarkable overall accuracy of 100%. The findings validate the efficacy of incorporating OBIA, aerial photographs, LiDAR, and hyperspectral data in improving tree species classification and mapping within the context of PLS-DA. This classification framework holds significant potential for enhancing management practices and tools, thereby optimizing the ecological services provided by urban vegetation and fostering the development of sustainable cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-renewable nature and continuously increased consumptions of bitumen is a serious challenge for the development of infrastructure, especially for the constructions and maintenances of asphalt pavements. To cope with this situation, some sustainable strategies are needed. Extensive efforts have been made to improve the resilience, sustainability and circularity of asphalt pavements. Among them, the utilisation of bio-based materials is one of the most promising measures. This paper systemically reviewed the state-of-theart knowledge in the development of bio-bitumen. Wood-based oils, waste cooking oils and manure-based bio-bitumen were selected as the review objectives. It was revealed that all bio-based oils currently being used are more suitable for serving as additives like softeners, rejuvenators, or modifiers rather than as alternative of binders. One of the most promising utilisations of biooils is as rejuvenators, potentially antioxidants as well. Incorporating polymers with bio-oils is another feasible practice to improve the performance of biobitumen. Causation should be taken when producing bio-based bitumen since compatibility might have some kind of influence on the performance and this issue should be addressed carefully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban greenways (UGW) are increasingly recognized as vital components of urban green infrastructure (UGI). While existing research has provided empirical evidence on the positive impacts of UGW on physical health, studies focusing on the effects on mental health remain limited. Moreover, previous investigations predominantly compare UGW as a whole with other built environments, neglecting the influence of specific vegetation designs along UGW on mental health. To address this research gap, we conducted a randomized controlled experiment to examine the impact of vegetation design along UGW on stress reduction and attention restoration. A total of 94 participants were randomly assigned to one of four UGW conditions: grassland, shrubs, grassland and trees, or shrubs and trees. Utilizing immersive virtual reality (VR) technology, participants experienced UGW through a 5-min video presentation. We measured participants' subjective and objective stress levels and attentional functioning at three time-points: baseline, pre-video watching, and post-video watching. The experimental procedure lasted approximately 40 minutes. Results of the repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that participants experienced increased stress and mental fatigue after the stressor and decreased levels following the UGW intervention. Furthermore, between-group analyses demonstrated that the shrubs group and the grassland and trees group exhibited significantly greater stress reduction than the grassland group. However, there are no significant differences in attention restoration effects between the four groups. In conclusion, virtual exposure to UGW featuring vegetation on both sides positively affected stress reduction and attention restoration. It is recommended that future UGW construction incorporates diverse vegetation designs, including shrubs or trees, instead of solely relying on grassland. More research is needed to explore the combined effects of shrubs and trees on mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nature-based solutions are increasingly recognized as vital components of urban resilience strategies, particularly within the framework of green infrastructure. This study aims to propose an approach that fosters symbiosis between green and gray infrastructure to address the challenges posed by climate change in urban environments. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of guidelines and scientific literature to inform the selection of species and the design of root containers for urban tree planting. Additionally, we performed a multicriteria analysis and assessed water comfort to guide decision-making regarding species selection in specific city areas. Results: The methodology was applied to a case study in Bogotá, yielding insights applicable to any city with basic knowledge of suitable species for planting in built public spaces. Crucial criteria for selecting local species for sidewalks were identified, including size, permeability, soil compaction characteristics, and climatic adaptability. A list of desirable species adapted to all humidity zones of the case study city was generated. Hydrological sizing methods proposed are contingent upon both the species to be planted and the geometry of the streets. Discussion: The approach and findings presented in this study promote the development of trees and their ecosystem services while mitigating potential damage to surrounding infrastructure. Conclusion: Implementing strategies that facilitate symbiosis between green and gray infrastructure contributes to urban resilience and aids in climate change adaptation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visiting urban green and blue spaces improves the quality of life in cities as it helps to preserve human-nature bonds. In this context, the role of urban parks and forests has been well-recognised; however, much less is known about the landscapes of inland water bodies. To fill this gap, the study aimed to identify spatiotemporal patterns of recreational activities in the urban riverscape in relation to the visitors' residential proximity. Also, survey results were combined with spatial and remote sensing data to determine how the spatial characteristics of the riverscape affect its recreational use. The case of Warsaw, Poland, was used. The results indicated that the riverscape serves as a local park for the neighbouring communities, while it is rather a warm-weekend attraction for far-living ones. Visitors concentrate in the city centre, and spread out along the communication paths; however, spatial patterns of the magnitude of particular activities also show interbank differences. Spatial error models of drivers of riverscape recreation revealed (1) the multifaceted role of trees in densely visited areas and (2) the importance of physical availability for contact with the urban river. These findings expand knowledge on the recreational use of urban rivers by exploring its place-related motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving geo-information decision evaluation is an important part of geospatial decision support research, particularly when considering vulnerability, risk, resilience, and sustainability (V-R-R-S) of urban land–water systems (ULWSs). Previous research enumerated a collection of V-R-R-S conceptual component commonalties and differences resulting in a synthesis concept called VRRSability. As a single concept, VRRSability enhances our understanding of the relationships within and among V-R-R-S. This paper reports research that extends and deepens the VRRSability synthesis by elucidating relationships among the V-R-R-S concepts, and organizes them into a VRRSability conceptual framework meant to guide operationalization within decision support systems. The core relationship within the VRRSability framework is 'functional performance', which couples land and water concerns within complex ULWS. Using functional performance, we elucidate other significant conceptual relationships, e.g., scale, scenarios and social knowledge, among others. A narrative about the functional performance of green stormwater infrastructure as part of a ULWS offers a practical application of the conceptual framework. VRRSability decision evaluation trade-offs among land and water emerge through the narrative, particularly how land cover influences water flow, which in turn influences water quality. The discussion includes trade-offs along risk–resilience and vulnerability–sustainability dimensions as key aspects of functional performance. Conclusions include knowledge contributions about a VRRSability conceptual framework and the next steps for operationalization within decision support systems using artificial intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within peri-urban landscapes, this research investigated the complexity of the balance between urban development and green infrastructure preservation, with a specific focus on Harku municipality, Estonia. This study aimed to understand the interplay between cultural ecosystem services (CESs) and residents' well-being. Aligned with the EU Nature Restoration Law, this research explored long-term dynamics in peri-urban areas' CES conservation. The methodology included creating scenarios by combining new secondary data with the author's prior studies, which covered landscape belts, CES values, and residents' perceptions of satisfaction with the environment and recreation opportunities collected through a municipal survey. While residents expressed satisfaction in coastal and green spaces, a distinct decline was evident near villages with industrial and agricultural features, highlighting the landscape's impact on well-being. This study identified case-study-specific threats related to rapid urbanisation and put forward constructive policy recommendations. The goal was to develop effective and sustainable strategies for preserving nature through ecosystem service-based frameworks, enhance community well-being, and account for landscape dynamics through scenario planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban communities in environmentally sensitive areas face escalating challenges due to climate change and inadequate infrastructural support, particularly in underserved regions like southside Norfolk, Virginia. This area, characterized by its vulnerability to flooding and a predominantly low-income population, lacks equitable inclusion in broader urban flood protection plans. This research focuses on the development of community-centered resilience strategies through active engagement and collaboration with local residents. The methodology centered around building trust and understanding within the community through a series of interactions and events. This approach facilitated a two-way exchange of information, enabling the research team to gather crucial insights on community-valued assets, prevalent flooding issues, and preferred flood mitigation solutions. The engagement revealed a significant increase in community knowledge regarding climate change, sea level rise, and stormwater management. Residents expressed a strong preference for green infrastructure solutions, including rain gardens, permeable pavements, and living shorelines, alongside concerns about pollution and the need for infrastructure redesign. The outcomes of this community engagement have initiated plans to develop tailored, nature-based flooding solutions. These results are set to inform future urban planning and policy, offering insights to the City of Norfolk and the United States Army Corps of Engineers for potential redesigns of flood intervention strategies that are more inclusive and effective. A template for participatory research to inform coastal hazard management includes cross-sector collaboration, a long-term engagement commitment, and education and surveying opportunities to align solutions to lived, local experiences. This template allows for community trust building, which is especially important in environmental justice communities. The study highlights the importance of community involvement in urban resilience planning, demonstrating that local engagement is essential in shaping community-centric solutions and equitable environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]