Interactive spatial planning of urban green infrastructure – Retrofitting green roofs where ecosystem services are most needed in Oslo

Zander S Venter,David N Barton,Laura Martinez-Izquierdo,Johannes Langemeyer,Francesc Baró,Timon Mcphearson

doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101314

Abstract

Spatial multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is increasingly being used to inform urban green infrastructure planning. We explore the use of modern cloud computing technologies (Google Earth Engine) to facilitate public access to spatial MCDA of ecosystem services from green infrastructure. Using the spatial prioritization of green roof retrofitting in Oslo, Norway, as a case study, we present a web application that is a generalizable tool for engaging stakeholders in spatial planning of ecosystem restoration and nature-based solutions. In our application, green roof designers, owners and operators identified the relative importance of a suite of potential ecosystem services (ES) gained from retrofitting of green roofs, conditional on preference profiles expected by users of different building functional types. The ES assessed included temperature regulation, stormwater runoff mitigation, habitat for biodiversity, aesthetic value, and noise reduction. In Oslo we found high spatial correlation in ES deficits, implying that even large differences in stakeholder preferences for individual ES will lead MCDA to identify common interests in the spatial targeting of green roofs. Nevertheless, we found the interactive spatial MCDA web application to have potential for improving planning process efficiency in engaging stakeholders. In more heterogenous urban landscapes, with lower spatial correlation of individual ES, spatial MCDA also has scope to improve the output efficiency of spatial targeting of nature-based solutions such as green roofs. Link to web application: https://nina.earthengine.app/view/green-roof-mcda.

Highlights

Green infrastructure is expanding rapidly in cities around the world as a nature-based solution for meeting multiple sustainability and resilience goals (Andersson et al, 2019; Frantzeskaki et al, 2019; Keeler et al 2019)
In this study we evaluate prioritization green roof locations at city scale with building-level resolution, using an interactive multi-criteria decision analysis implemented in a Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform
Under these conditions even large differences in stakeholder preferences for individual ecosystem services (ES) in multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) will lead to common interests in spatial targeting of green roofs

Summary

Introduction

Green infrastructure is expanding rapidly in cities around the world as a nature-based solution for meeting multiple sustainability and resilience goals (Andersson et al, 2019; Frantzeskaki et al, 2019; Keeler et al 2019). Technological systems (SETS) framework has been used in urban ecology (McPhearson et al, 2016; Keeler et al, 2019) to understand that solu tions such as green roofs depend on many aspects of the urban envi ronment including: the structural integrity of building roofs, the maintenance and stewardship aspects, the local and regional climate, the type of green roof ecosystem designed and installed, the legal frameworks to enable green roof installation, and many other SETS contexts that interact to impact the benefits that green roofs can provide, including different perceptions of and preferences for benefits Green roofs provide both public and privately appropriated ES in urban areas, including improved storm-water management, better regulation of building temperatures and reduction of CO2 emissions, reduced urban heat-island effects, increased urban wildlife habitat, reduced noise pollution due to the absorption of sound waves through soil and plants, enhanced community safety and quality of life, provide areas for recreation and opportunities to enjoy outdoor living spaces, contribution to local food production and boost the local economy creating jobs in many sectors (Susca et al, 2011; Turner et al, 2011; Whittinghill and Rowe, 2012; Berardi et al, 2014; Van der Horst et al, 2013). The retrofitting of green roofs on buildings that are often unused can contribute to solving challenges related to climate change and rapid urbanization (Benedict & McMahon, 2002; Bugliarello, 2006)

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