The Multifunctional Benefits of Green Infrastructure in Community Development: An Analytical Review Based on 447 Cases

Donghyun Kim,Seul-Ki Song

doi:10.3390/su11143917

Abstract

This article describes the relationship between the design features of green infrastructure and the benefits of multifunctionality. To do so, it examines the descriptive linkages between 12 design features and nine benefits using 447 project case studies from the American Society of Landscape Architects. Multiple benefits of green infrastructure were found in 65% of the projects, regardless of the number of applied design features. The major green infrastructure design features with multiple benefits were: bioretention areas, permeable pavements, grassed swales, rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, and curb cuts. The major benefits of applied design features were: enhanced economic capacity, educational opportunities, improvements to the built environment, and enhanced environmental soundness. The findings show that the multiple benefits of green infrastructure’s multifunctionality can be inferred in many current cases. Knowing the relationship between design features and their benefits for green infrastructure would facilitate selecting optimal design features to achieve specific goals and planning outcomes. For communities that require a range of complex benefits, a multifunctionality-based green infrastructure will advance highly acceptable climate change adaptation measures.

Highlights

Green infrastructure (GI) is a planned or managed spatial structure and network of interconnected environmental features, natural areas, open spaces, and landscapes [1,2,3]
The findings suggest the types of GI design features that generally lead to each kind of benefit
This study showed GI’s multifunctional benefits for local communities through a review and exploratory analysis based on 447 cases

Summary

Introduction

Green infrastructure (GI) is a planned or managed spatial structure and network of interconnected environmental features, natural areas, open spaces, and landscapes [1,2,3]. The characteristics of GI’s multiple functions have been discussed as a policy measure that can promote sustainable development and smart growth [10,11,12]. There have been some critical discussions concerning the applicability of GI’s multifunctionality, which involves employing the limited process of spatial interactions to draw benefits from GI [13,14]. Some studies suggest reasons for this lack of perspective, such as that some stakeholders and policymakers fail to recognize GI, undervalue the various functions and benefits that it provides during the decision-making process [17,18,19], and lack an understanding of GI’s practical applications [1,2]

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