Cities under Pressure: Strategies and Tools to Face Climate Change and Pandemic

Francesca Moraci,Tiziana Campisi,Maurizio Francesco Errigo,Celestina Fazia,Francesco Castelli

doi:10.3390/su12187743

Francesca Moraci, Tiziana Campisi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187743

Copy DOI

Abstract

This paper investigates the problems and stresses of the contemporary city, mainly due to natural and health factors, related to climate change and the pandemic COVID19. Besides highlighting the characteristics of climate change and the ongoing pandemic, this study focuses on the analysis of the main effects and consequences that these phenomena have produced on the city and the vulnerabilities of the urban system. To understand how these events have impacted the urban environment, directly and indirectly, this research undertakes to define some specific indicators capable of comparing the phenomena and assessing their repercussions. The Methodology is based on the following focal points: on the analysis of the urban shocks that have affected the cities in the last decade, on the comparison between contemporary survey data and those relating to historical trends, on the definition of the main urban sectors particularly affected by the onset of urban shocks, and on the definition of strategies, actions, and tools deemed to be effective in the implementation of a post-pandemic and climate-proof city. These results were achieved through complementary urban design and tools capable of creating a post-pandemic and climate-proof adaptive city, within a cross-disciplinary approach.

Highlights

Climate Change and Urban PressuresNowadays, the shocks, stresses, and pressures cities are forced to face have noticeably increased; these include floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, volcanic eruptions, pandemics, chemical spills and explosions, terrorism, power outages, financial crises, cyber-attacks, and conflicts
The final result is the arrangement of actions, strategies, and tools that can contribute to the achievement of a resilient and climate-proof city, with a view to a post-pandemic reconsideration of spaces and infrastructures
The following two paragraphs have been written within the field of Geotechnical Engineering and Transport Engineering

Summary

Introduction

Climate Change and Urban PressuresNowadays, the shocks, stresses, and pressures cities are forced to face have noticeably increased; these include floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, volcanic eruptions, pandemics, chemical spills and explosions, terrorism, power outages, financial crises, cyber-attacks, and conflicts. The main aim of this paper, the outcome of a research path that began a few years ago and is still in the midst of its activity, is to demonstrate that some disciplines selected here (Urban Planning, Transport Engineering, and Geotechnics), can be advocates of a technical-scientific reflection. This will lead to the development of intervention tools capable of mitigating territorial vulnerability, by increasing the effectiveness of responses to stimuli and environmental adaptation and mitigation. The final result is the arrangement of actions, strategies, and tools that can contribute to the achievement of a resilient and climate-proof city, with a view to a post-pandemic reconsideration of spaces and infrastructures

Results

Discussion

Conclusion