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Evaluating the impact of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) via appropriate indicators and metrics has attracted, in the past few years, significant interest. In response to this, the European Commission has recently published a handbook that aims to serve as a guide towards the evaluation of NBS impacts (EC, 2021) based on current available knowledge and state-of-art technologies and practices. The evaluation process, which involves the development and estimation of pertinent metrics, is crucial across the different NBS implementation stages, i.e., from the selection and design of effective NBS interventions to the NBS efficiency evaluation and potential improvement of the deployed systems. Within this context and as part of the work that was carried out for the euPOLIS project, an integrated indicator-based methodological framework is proposed herein for assessing the multi-dimensional aspects and impacts associated with the implementation of NBS in urban environments. The proposed framework employs different types of indicators with distinct functions and purposes and aims at providing structured guidance to practitioners and urban planners throughout all the different NBS analysis, deployment, and evaluation stages.

[EN] There is significant potential for energy recovery through the use of micro-hydropower installations in water supply systems (WSS). To exploit the full potential of hydro energy in balance with the optimal hydraulic performance and water supply service, multi-objective management tools are needed. This paper presents the application of four management tools: (1) an energy audit to evaluate the potential hydro energy in the water pressurised systems of Alcoy; (2) multi-criteria decision-making methods for the selection of the preferred energy-efficient operation of a system with a pump-storage reservoir and hydro-turbines in the Algarve; (3) a numerical dynamic tool for optimal turbine operation in the water distribution of Langhirano; and (4) an urban water optioneering tool to estimate the hydropower potential of the external aqueduct network in Athens. These methods showed that through an integrated approach the WSS can be optimised for both hydraulic performance and hydro energy production.