Multiparameter vegetative stress index to estimate green roof well-being within urban green infrastructure

Assessing the potential of strategic green roof implementation for green infrastructure: Insights from Sumida ward, Tokyo

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) within sustainable stormwater management provides numerous benefits to urban residents, including urban heat island (UHI) mitigation. Cost–benefit analyses (CBA) for UGI have been conducted at neighborhood level with a focus on stormwater management, but valuations of reductions in heat-related hospitalizations and mortality are lacking. These benefits create significant social value; the quantification thereof is essential for urban planning in providing a scientific foundation for the inclusion of UGI in UHI mitigation strategies. This study assesses the potential of three UGI scenarios developed for an urban neighborhood in Berlin, Germany. First, climate data analyses were conducted to determine the cooling effects of tree drains, facade greening, and green roofs. Second, a CBA was performed for each scenario to value UHI mitigation by estimating the damage costs avoided in reduced heat-related hospitalizations and fatalities, using the net present value (NPV) and benefit–cost ratio (BCR) as indicators of economic feasibility. The results indicate heat mitigation capabilities of all three UGI types, with tree drains achieving the strongest cooling effects. Regarding economic feasibility, all scenarios achieve positive NPVs and BCRs above one. The findings confirm the potential of stormwater management in mitigating UHI and generating substantial social value.

Mitigating urban heat and air pollution considering green and transportation infrastructure

More than 50% of the world population now lives in urban areas, and the urban population is projected to reach 6.3 billion in 2050, most of which will reside in less developed countries (United Nations 2012). Urban green infrastructure as parks, forests, street trees, green roofs, gardens, and cemeteries is especially in an urbanized world of crucial importance as it is the main carrier of ecosystem services and improves the quality of life for urban residents. For instance, it supports regulating ecosystem services by increasing water infiltration (Haase and Nuissl 2007; Pauleit and Duhme 2000) and has positive impacts on the microclimate regulation (Gill et al. 2007; Hamada and Ohta 2010). Furthermore, urban green provides recreational facilities and offers urban residents the possibility to get in touch with nature (Matsuoka and Kaplan 2008) and supports the local food supply through allotment gardens (Barthel et al. 2013). Green infrastructure as a concept has been developed within the last two decades. It commonly refers to the connective matrices of green spaces that can be found in and around urban and urbanfringe landscapes (Mell 2008) or is simply defined as urban and periurban green space systems (Tzoulas et al. 2007). Due to its provision of numerous complementary ecological, economic, and social benefits, green infrastructure not only enables planners to develop multifunctional, innovative, and sustainable places (Mell 2008), but also promotes ecosystem and human health and wellbeing (Tzoulas et al. 2007) and provides abiotic, biotic, and cultural functions to advance and contribute to urban sustainability (Ahern 2007). Urban green infrastructure is closely related to human wellbeing and biodiversity in urban areas (Gaston 2010; Richter and Weiland 2012) and plays an important part in urban ecology. In recent years, in some published books on urban ecology, urban green was factored into investigations regarding how cities and their sociocultural, economic, and environmental systems can be managed in a way that allows producing sustainable cities (Alberti 2008; Endlicher 2011; Gaston 2010; Niemela et al. 2010; Richter andWeiland 2012). However, urban green mostly plays just a minor part when talking about atmospheric processes such as urban heat islands or climate change (Alberti 2008; Endlicher 2011). The studies on urban green infrastructure also focus on human perception, educational values of urban wilderness as part of urban green or social benefits by urban gardening (Richter and Weiland 2012; Endlicher 2011). However, only a few papers have investigated the recreational services in developing countries (Jim and Chen 2006, 2009). In some regional case studies, for instance, designers have paid more attention to implementing theoretical principles and government requirements in urban planning or landscape architecture, but lack technical support from ecological and geographical perspectives (Li et al. 2005; Jim and Chen 2003). Therefore, it is urgently necessary to improve the research scope and methods linking function, ecosystem services, planning, and the design of urban green infrastructure in the pursuit of urban sustainable development (Mao et al. 2012; Chang et al. 2007).

Green roofs—rooftops that are partially or completely covered with vegetation growing in soil medium over a waterproof membrane—have gained momentum over the past six years as building owners recognize their advantages over conventional roofing in terms of better energy efficiency and reduced rain runoff. Now local governments are exploring incentives for moving the practice into the mainstream. A look at cities that are leading the country in green roof coverage reveals a growing range of policy tools.

Synergistic control of urban heat island and urban pollution island effects using green infrastructure

The urban heat island (UHI) effect might cause extreme weather, which would seriously affect people’s health, increase energy consumption and cause other negative impacts. To construct urban green spaces is a feasible strategy to effectively weaken the UHI effect. In this study, the cooling effect of green spaces on the UHI effect was carefully investigated in summer and winter in Harbin city. Specifically, the vegetation index and surface temperature information were extracted by the grid method, and based on this data, the relationship between the urban green space and the UHI effect was analyzed quantitatively. In summer, the cooling effect is more significant. The average cooling extent reached 1.65 °C, the average maximum temperature change was 7.5 °C, and the cooling range was mainly 120 m. The cooling effect can be improved by adjusting the green space area, perimeter and shape. Increasing the green area (within 37 ha) or the green circumference (within 5300 m) can most economically improve its cooling effect. The shape factor would significantly affect the cooling effect within 0.03. The simpler the green space shape, the more obvious the cooling effect. In contrast, in winter the green spaces had a certain cooling effect when there was no snow cover or little snow cover, although this was still less significant compared with the situation in summer. The average cooling extent reached 0.48 °C, the average maximum temperature change was 4.25 °C, and the cooling range was mainly 90 m. However, there is no correlation between urban green space and the UHI effect in areas mainly covered by ice and snow. This work could provide protocols for urban green space design to effectively control the UHI effect of sub-frigid cities.

Cooling Detroit: A socio-spatial analysis of equity in green roofs as an urban heat island mitigation strategy

The impacts of existing and hypothetical green infrastructure scenarios on urban heat island formation.

The phenomenon of Urban Heat Island (UHI) will be exacerbated in the coming years by rising surface temperatures due to urban growth. Implementation of urban green infrastructure (UGI) such as green roof, green wall, parks, road trees can help reduce temperatures in urban areas, including reducing pollution. Currently, there is no information available for land managers to determine the right strategy for UGI implementation based on a spatial approach. So that a framework is arranged to determine UGI priorities and elections in creating a compact eco-city. The framework is supported by a review of scientific literature related to UHI phenomenon in Surabaya, UGI and urban heat island mitigation in comparative descriptive and gap analysis. UGI implementation priorities are allocated based on observing the location of urban heat island using Landsat 8 OIL TIRS, behavioral Exposure and spatial land-use patterns are taking a result in Kali Rungkut sub-district, East Surabaya.

Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) plays a pivotal role in shaping sustainable cities by integrating natural elements into the urban landscape. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted contributions of UGI towards enhancing environmental quality, social well-being, and economic resilience in urban settings. As cities continue to grapple with challenges such as climate change, air and water pollution, and the urban heat island effect, UGI emerges as a key solution for fostering urban sustainability. The review delves into the various components of UGI, encompassing green spaces, urban forests, green roofs, and permeable surfaces. It examines how these elements collectively contribute to mitigating environmental issues by absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing air pollutants, and attenuating the impacts of extreme weather events. Additionally, UGI serves as a biodiversity hotspot, supporting diverse flora and fauna within urban boundaries. Beyond its environmental benefits, UGI significantly influences social dynamics and well-being. The presence of green spaces fosters recreational opportunities, promotes mental health, and strengthens community cohesion. Accessible and well-designed green infrastructure contributes to equitable distribution of environmental benefits, addressing environmental justice concerns in urban areas. Economically, UGI proves to be an asset for cities by enhancing property values, reducing energy consumption through temperature regulation, and supporting local businesses. The review explores successful case studies of cities that have effectively implemented UGI to achieve sustainable urban development, drawing insights into best practices and potential challenges. This comprehensive review underscores the integral role of Urban Green Infrastructure in creating sustainable and resilient cities. By addressing environmental, social, and economic dimensions, UGI emerges as a holistic approach that aligns with the evolving needs of urban populations and the imperatives of a sustainable future. Understanding the intricacies of UGI implementation provides a foundation for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers to collaboratively work towards fostering greener, healthier, and more sustainable urban environments.

Kayseri, a densely urbanized province in Türkiye, grapples with pressing challenges of air pollution and limited green spaces, accentuating the need for strategic urban planning. This study, utilizing Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellite imagery, investigates the evolution of land surface temperatures (LST) and urban heat island (UHI) effects in key districts—Kocasinan, Melikgazi, Talas, and Hacılar—between 2013 and 2022. This research has been complemented with an analysis of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Normalized Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI), exploring correlations among the LST, UHI, NDVI, and NDBI changes. The findings indicate that a significant portion (65% and 88%) of the study area remained unchanged with respect to the NDVI and NDBI differences. This research’s findings reveal that a substantial portion (65% and 88%) of the study area exhibited consistency in the NDVI and NDBI. Noteworthy increases in the NDVI were observed in 20% of the region, while only 4% exhibited higher NDBI. Strikingly, the UHI displayed strong negative correlations with the NDVI and robust positive correlations with the NDBI. The LST changes demonstrated a reduced temperature range, from 21 to 51 °C in 2013, to 18 to 40 °C in 2022. Localized environmental factors, notably at the National Garden site, showcased the most significant temperature variations. Notably, the UHI exhibited strong negative correlations with the NDVI and strong positive correlations with the NDBI. The study’s results emphasize the interplay among the NDBI, LST, and UHI and an inverse relationship with the NDVI and NDBI, LST, and UHI. These findings hold implications for urban planning and policymaking, particularly in the context of resilient and sustainable land use planning and the UHI mitigation. This research underscores the intricate interplay among the NDBI, LST, and UHI, highlighting an inverse relationship with the NDVI. These findings hold crucial implications for resilient and sustainable urban planning, particularly in mitigating the UHI effects. Despite limited vacant spaces in Kayseri, geospatial techniques for identifying potential green spaces can facilitate swift UHI mitigation measures. Acknowledging Kayseri’s complex dynamics, future research should delve into the UHI responses to urban morphology and design, extending this methodology to analyze the UHI effects in other Turkish cities. This research contributes to a broader understanding of UHI dynamics and sustainable urban planning practices, offering valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and researchers alike.

Urban green spaces have become increasingly recognized as essential components in the adaptation and mitigation of climate change impacts within rapidly urbanizing environments. This review critically examines the multifaceted roles of urban green infrastructure-encompassing parks, urban forests, green roofs, vertical gardens, and permeable landscapes-in enhancing urban resilience to climate extremes. The paper synthesizes recent advances in the understanding of how urban vegetation and landscape interventions contribute to reducing the urban heat island effect through evapotranspiration, shading, and albedo modification, with empirical evidence demonstrating local temperature reductions of up to 4°C. Additionally, the review explores the effectiveness of green spaces in managing stormwater runoff via bio-swales, rain gardens, and permeable pavements, which collectively reduce peak flow rates and improve groundwater recharge. The carbon sequestration potential of urban green infrastructure is assessed, highlighting the capacity of mature urban forests and innovative green roof systems to capture and store atmospheric carbon. The integration of smart technologies, such as IoT-based soil moisture sensors and remote sensing for vegetation health monitoring, is discussed as a means to optimize the management and performance of urban green spaces. The review also addresses the socio-economic co-benefits, including improved air quality, enhanced public health, increased property values, and greater social cohesion. Key challenges are identified, such as fragmented governance, limited funding, and inequitable access to green infrastructure, particularly in marginalized urban communities. Case studies from global cities illustrate successful strategies for mainstreaming nature-based solutions and integrating green infrastructure into urban planning frameworks. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, policy innovation, and community engagement to maximize the adaptive and mitigative potential of urban green spaces. This comprehensive synthesis aims to inform urban planners, policymakers, and researchers about the strategic importance of green infrastructure in fostering climate-resilient and sustainable cities.

The city of Chicago has experiences of Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomena and a good example is its widely reported heat wave of 1995. This study conducted an ecological evaluation of Chicago’s UHI phenomena using LANDSAT TM of 2010, almost 15 years after the lethal heat wave and subsequently implemented various UHI mitigation efforts. The thermal characteristics of the city were assessed with a Land Surface Temperature (LST), a parameter retrieved from LANDSAT TM 6; a thermal-infrared (TIR) band (10.40 to 12.50μm), using mono-window algorithm. The ecological evaluation was made using an Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI), which quantitatively evaluated the UHI effects on the quality of urban life. The accuracy of the model was assessed against theoretical relationships between the LST, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI). The LST of Chicago ranges from 18oC in Urban Cool Islands (UCI) to 44oC in UHI. In Chicago, although the cooling effects of Lake Michigan, downtown’s sky-high buildings, and urban parks and green spaces have worked together to suppress the concerns of UHI effects locally, still some areas experience a high UHI. In general, 25% of the city experiences ecologically bad or worse UHI effects, indicating a need for continued UHI mitigation efforts.

Regulating urban surface runoff through nature-based solutions – An assessment at the micro-scale