Benefits Of Urban Green Spaces Research Articles

Assessment of the Spatial Variation of the Economic Benefits of Urban Green Spaces in a Highly Urbanized Area

Urban green spaces play a vital role in improving the quality of life and well-being of urban residents. However, their economic benefits in different spatial contexts within highly urbanized areas remain a critical yet understudied topic. This study delves into the economic value of urban green spaces in Cheongju City, Republic of Korea, and investigates the distance-decay features associated with the proximity of green spaces to residential properties. Two spatial econometric models were employed to address these questions: the spatially autoregressive (SAR) model and the generalized additive model (GAM). The SAR model was used to assess the economic benefits of urban green spaces, whereas the distance decay of these benefits was examined with the GAM. Empirical analyses revealed that small-sized parks or forests under 20 ha hold greater economic value when in proximity to residential areas compared to medium-sized parks or forests between 20 and 200 ha. Conversely, large parks or forests over 200 ha appeared to have a disamenity effect, negatively impacting property prices when in close proximity. The GAM’s smooth functions illustrated that the distance-decay effect was shorter for small-sized green spaces and exhibited an inverted U-shape for large-sized ones, resulting in a negative benefit of proximity. Our findings suggest that urban green spaces have a positive impact on property prices, but this effect may not apply uniformly to large-sized parks or forests. Therefore, to enhance the residents’ welfare, green infrastructure policies should prioritize the provision of accessible small- and/or medium-sized parks or forests near residential areas.

Travel preference: an indicator of the benefits of urban green space

ABSTRACT Urban Green Space (UGS) plays a crucial socio-cultural role in improving the quality of life. Assessment of quantity, quality, and accessibility determines whether the UGS are important social benefits. The travel preference of urban residents is a good indicator for the social relevance of UGS. This study integrates remote sensing and geographic big data to quantitatively analyze and evaluate the social benefits of urban green space. We propose a Green Social Benefit Index (GSBI) based on remote sensing retrieval and classification of urban green space. The GSBI is combined with the data on population mobility to investigate the influence of urban green space on residents’ behavior. The results show that urban residents prefer to move around in places with a higher quantity and quality of urban green space. The magnitude of the influence of urban green spatial features on population heat difference shows that accessibility > quantity > quality. The social benefits of urban green space are higher in middle centers compared to urban centers and city borders. The relationship between urban mobility and urban green space may suggest how to improve the distribution of green space in urban areas. This study could be a reference for the government planning department.

Study on the Supply and Demand Relationship and Enhancement of Cooling Benefits of Urban Green Spaces - A Case Study of Haidian District of Beijing Municipality

The balance between the health risks associated with urban heat and the cooling benefits provided by vegetation is crucial for managing thermal hazards in cities. In this study, we used remote sensing technology to analyze temperature inversion and calculate evapotranspiration of vegetation. Based on these findings, we assessed the extent to which cooling benefits match the demand in densely built-up urban areas. We also determined priority areas for planning interventions. The results show that: (1) there is an obvious spatial mismatch between the demand for high-temperature risk links and the supply of cooling benefits in the supply and demand matching of urban cooling benefits in Haidian District, Beijing. (2) The supply of cooling benefits in Haidian District of Beijing shows a pattern of weakening from the edge of the built-up area to the middle, in which green areas and water systems have a cooling radiation effect on the surrounding built-up environment. (3) The urban high-temperature risk zone in Haidian District of Beijing is related to the type of urban sub-surface, with large areas of continuous impermeable sub-surface becoming heat source points in the city. This study provides suggestions and guidance for heat risk urban planning based on vegetation adjustment in cities by exploring the role of urban trees on urban climate, and comparing the supply and demand of cooling benefits of urban green spaces.

High-resolution emission inventory of biogenic volatile organic compounds for rapidly urbanizing areas: A case of Shenzhen megacity, China

The effects of volatile organic compounds on urban air quality and the ozone have been widely acknowledged, and the contributions of relevant biogenic sources are currently receiving rising attentions. However, inventories of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are in fact limited for the environmental management of megacities. In this study, we provided an estimation of BVOC emissions and their spatial characteristics in a typical urbanized area, Shenzhen megacity, China, based on an in-depth vegetation investigation and using remote sensing data. The total BVOC emission in Shenzhen in 2019 was estimated to be 3.84 × 109 g C, of which isoprene contributed to about 24.4%, monoterpenes about 44.4%, sesquiterpenes about 1.9%, and other VOCs (OVOCs) about 29.3%. Metropolitan BVOC emissions exhibited a seasonal pattern with a peak in July and a decline in January. They were mainly derived from the less built-up areas (88.9% of BVOC emissions). Estimated BVOCs comprised around 5.2% of the total municipal VOC emissions in 2019. This percentage may increase as more green spaces emerge and anthropogenic emissions decrease in built-up areas. Furthermore, synergistic effects existed between BVOC emissions and relevant vegetation-based ecosystem services (e.g., air purification, carbon fixation). Greening during urban sprawl should be based on a trade-off between BVOC emissions and ecosystem benefits of urban green spaces. The results suggested that urban greening in Shenzhen, and like other cities as well, need to account for BVOC contributions to ozone. Meanwhile, greening cites should adopt proactive environmental management by using plant species with low BVOC emissions to maintain urban ecosystem services while avoid further degradation to ozone pollution.

Evaluation of the Seasonal Thermal Environmental Benefits of Urban Green Space in the Core Areas of Urban Heat Island

The core areas of the urban heat island (CAUHI) are the most concentrated and closely associated with humans, and they are key to managing the urban heat island (UHI). It is widely acknowledged that one of the best ways to reduce the risk of UHI is the creation of urban green spaces (UGSs). However, most of the current studies are based on the grid or block scale to explore the impact of UGS on UHI. The key to mitigating the urban heat environment is to plan urban UGS rationally in the CAUHI and explore the thermal environmental benefits of UGS. This paper provides an assessment model for the thermal environmental advantages of UGS and uses ten UGS metrics as explanatory factors for seasonal land surface temperature (LST). It quantitatively evaluates the potential differences in landscape characteristics between LST and UGS under different seasons, as well as the seasonal impact on CAUHI. This study found the following: (1) The overall distribution pattern of CAUHI shows a characteristic of spreading from the central part to the surrounding area. Most of the extremely significant CAUHI is dispersed in the center and southeastern regions of the city, where there is a much greater density of impermeable surfaces and essentially no distribution of CAUHI on the natural surface represented by forest land and water bodies. (2) Except for the aggregation index (AI), correlation analysis revealed that other metrics were highly connected with LST. Among the metrics used in this study, the largest patch index (LPI) and landscape division index (DIVISION) had the highest significant correlation with LST. Patch density (PD) was strongly negatively correlated with LST, indicating that fragmented and complex UGS patches could promote vegetation cooling. (3) The green environmental benefit index (GEBI) results showed a significant degree of spatial and temporal variability in the extracted CAUHI. This study found higher GEBI values in the larger thermal patches and lower GEBI in the surrounding smaller patches. The highest mean GEBI was found in winter, at 0.6083, and the largest distribution of large high-value patches. This study revealed the geographical and temporal variability of UGS and CAUHI, and with the help of the constructed scientific evaluation model, it offered suggestions for the optimization of urban greenery.

Assessment of Ecological Benefits of Urban Green Spaces in Nanjing City, China, Based on the Entropy Method and the Coupling Harmonious Degree Model

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are an important spatial carrier for carbon sequestration in the national land space. The urban ecosystem is a highly harmonious composite ecosystem of nature, society, and the economy. Therefore, this study constructed an evaluation system of the UGS ecological benefit based on two subsystems–the natural environment and the social economy–in order to quantitatively evaluate the construction level of the UGS ecological benefit in Nanjing City and to reveal its temporal evolution characteristics. The entropy method was applied to assess the ecological benefits of UGSs in Nanjing City, China, from 2011 to 2020. The coupling harmonious degree model was utilized to analyze the dynamic coordination relations among subsystems. The Robust regression analysis was used to verify the evaluation results. The results showed that: (i) Between 2011 and 2020, UGS ecological benefits in Nanjing City exhibited a substantial and consistent upward trend. (ii) Between 2011 and 2020, the coupling harmonious degree among the subsystems of UGS ecological benefits in Nanjing City showed an overall rising trend of fluctuation. With the enhancing of the coupling harmonious degree among the subsystems of UGSs, the ecological benefit of UGSs will be significantly improved. (iii) The comprehensive evaluation score of the social and economic subsystem of UGS in Nanjing City was higher than that of the natural environment subsystem; this highlights the significant constraints posed by the natural environment on the construction of UGSs in Nanjing City. The research conclusion provides a decision basis for realizing the collaborative optimization of the natural environment and the social economy in Nanjing City and further promotes the sustainable development of the UGS ecological environment.

Historical redlining and park use during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from big mobility data.

Despite the health benefits of urban green space, disparities in its access and use have long existed. Emerging evidence suggests an adverse impact of redlining, a discriminatory practice decades ago, on multiple health outcomes. However, whether and to what degree redlining contributes to these disparities remains unknown particularly during a pandemic. With newly available mobility data tracking the locations of large numbers of mobile devices, this study links historical redlining with changes in green space use during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examines how changes in park visits during the lockdown period (3/23/2020-8/2/2020) are associated with redlining across census tracts in three large U.S. cities. HOLC neighborhood redlining grade data were merged with SafeGraph mobility data at census tract level for New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Ordinary Least Square regressions were conducted to assess the association between dominant redlining grade and relative change in park visits in census tracts by comparing the lockdown period to the reference period. Spatial error and lag models were also used to account for potential spatial autocorrelation. Park visits during the lockdown period in 2020 decreased by at least one-third in the three cities. The influence of redlining varied across neighborhoods and cities. In New York City, neighborhoods with more redlined areas experienced the largest drop, sharper decreases concentrated in neighborhoods previously graded as "best" or "still desirable" in Philadelphia, but the effect was barely present in Chicago. In addition, changes in park visits are positively correlated between neighborhoods in New York City and Chicago, but it's not observed in Philadelphia. Using emerging big mobility data, our study revealed large drops in park visits, a better measure than commonly-used access measures in capturing green space exposure, during the lockdown period. We found that historical redlining has a lasting impact on current green space use. More decreases in park visits were observed in the redlined areas in New York City, but patterns vary by neighborhood and city due to local-specific neighborhood dynamics. And changes in park visits were spatially, positively correlated across places.

Socio-demographic and neighbourhood factors influencing urban green space use and development at home: A population-based survey in Accra, Ghana.

In Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions, there has been very little systematic attempt to document the uses and perceived health benefits of urban green spaces in cities and the factors influencing usage. We therefore sought to establish the availability, accessibility and use of urban green spaces, and the perceived health benefits in an African population. We also ascertained the factors influencing use and development of green spaces at home. A population-based survey was conducted in Accra, the capital city of Ghana, spanning 11 Municipal and 3 Sub-Metropolitan areas. Multivariable binary logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders was used to establish the association between green space use and development at home, and socio-demographic, neighbourhood and health factors. Odds ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated from the models. Several socio-demographic (gender, age, marital status, occupation, ethnicity, religion) and district-level (population density, income level, neighbourhood greenness) factors were associated with use of green spaces and development of green spaces at home in Accra. Residents who were worried about depletion of green spaces in their community were more likely to develop green spaces at home. In neighbourhoods with moderate and high level of greenness, residents were less likely to develop green spaces at home. Five-percent and 47% of green space users in Accra reported witnessing an improvement in their physical and mental health, respectively, from use of green spaces. The study findings can inform policy action for promoting use and development of green spaces in African cities and for mitigating depletion and degradation of the limited urban greenery.

Estimating Urban Green Space Irrigation for 286 Cities in China: Implications for Urban Land Use and Water Management

Urban green space has increased significantly in many cities in China as a result of rapid urbanization. Despite various environmental and societal benefits of urban green space, its irrigation water use has become an important yet under-researched issue in urban water management. Using a newly developed green space evapotranspiration and soil water budgeting model coded in Python, this research estimated the irrigation water requirement of urban green space for 286 cities at the prefecture level and above in China, with daily meteorological data in 1986–2011, the distribution and areas of urban green space from the 30 m resolution “Essential Urban Land-Use Categories in China” database, and green space types from the 10 m resolution “10 m resolution global land cover” database. The estimated annual average irrigation water requirement of urban green space for these 286 cities was 8.7 billion m3, accounting for over 20% of residential water consumption in the cities where data on residential water use were available. We also investigated the spatiotemporal variation of urban green space irrigation water requirement and the factors that influence such variations. To the best of our knowledge, this study develops the first set of results of urban green space irrigation for all major cities in China, thus providing useful insights for green space irrigation and urban water man-agement in the context of rapid urbanization and sustainable water management.

Estimation of the Three-Dimension Green Volume Based on UAV RGB Images: A Case Study in YueYaTan Park in Kunming, China

Three-dimension green volume (3DGV) is a quantitative index that measures the crown space occupied by growing plants. It is often used to evaluate the environmental and climatic benefits of urban green space (UGS). We proposed the Mean of neighboring pixels (MNP) algorithm based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) RGB images to estimate the 3DGV in YueYaTan Park in Kunming, China. First, we mapped the vegetated area by the RF algorithm based on visible vegetation indices and texture features, which obtained a producer accuracy (PA) of 98.24% and a user accuracy (UA) of 97.68%. Second, the Canopy Height Mode (CHM) of the vegetated area was built by using the Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Digital Terrain Model (DTM), and the vegetation coverage in specific cells (1.6 m × 1.6 m) was calculated based on the vegetation map. Then, we used the Mean of neighboring pixels (MNP) algorithm to estimate 3DGV based on the cell area, canopy height, and vegetation coverage. Third, the 3DGV based on the MNP algorithm (3DGV_MNP), the Convex hull algorithm (3DGV_Con), and the Voxel algorithm (3DGV_Voxel) were compared with the 3DGV based on the field data (3DGV_FD). Our results indicate that the deviation of 3DGV_MNP for plots (Relative Bias = 15.18%, Relative RMSE = 19.63%) is less than 3DGV_Con (Relative Bias = 24.12%, Relative RMSE = 29.56%) and 3DGV_Voxel (Relative Bias = 30.77%, Relative RMSE = 37.49%). In addition, the deviation of 3DGV_MNP (Relative Bias = 17.31%, Relative RMSE = 19.94%) is also less than 3DGV_Con (Relative Bias = 24.19%, Relative RMSE = 25.77%), and 3DGV_Voxel (Relative Bias = 27.81%, Relative RMSE = 29.57%) for individual trees. Therefore, it is concluded that the 3DGV estimation can be realized by using the Neighboring pixels algorithm. Further, this method performed better than estimation based on tree detection in UGS. There was 377,223.21 m3 of 3DGV in YueYaTan Park. This study provides a rapid and effective method for 3DGV estimation based on UAV RGB images.

Monitoring and assessment of urban green space loss and fragmentation using remote sensing data in the four cities of Malawi from 1986 to 2021

Urban green spaces enhance cities' natural beauty, boost biodiversity, and promote the health and happiness of city residents, among other benefits. Despite the benefits of urban green spaces, their spatial configuration and composition are impacted by urban expansion. This study aims to investigate the spatial-temporal fragmentation trends of urban green spaces in four cities in Malawi (Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe, and Mzuzu). We, therefore, applied multi-temporal Landsat images to understand trends in urban green spaces from 1986 to 2021. Five landscape metrics, namely: percentage of land area (PLAND), number of patches (NP), patch density, largest patch index (LPI), landscape shape index (LSI), and mean patch size (MPS), were used to quantify the degree of urban green space fragmentation in Fragstats software. The results showed an increase in the NP, PD, and LSI and a decline in the LPI and MPA in the four cities. This is an indication of fragmentation and a reduction in green space. Rapid urbanisation has resulted in the loss and fragmentation of urban green space areas, which has been attributed to the rapid expansion of built-up areas at the expense of green spaces. The present study is the first to incorporate landscape metrics to understand the spatial heterogeneity of the composition and configuration of green spaces in all the cities of Malawi. The findings of this study contribute to an understanding of how urban growth impacts fragmentation and the loss of urban green spaces and offer valuable insights for better spatial planning and management of cities.

Calculating optimal scale of urban green space in Xi'an, China

With the acceleration of urbanization in China, urban problems have become increasingly serious, and have led to the concept of the Park City. This concept involves a consideration of the comprehensive value of green space in order to give full play to the maximum benefit of that green space and, thus, realize the sustainable development of the city. Therefore, an exploration of the optimal scale of urban green space will have theoretical and practical significance for the construction of the Park City and the rational allocation of urban land resources. Taking Xi'an as an example, the present paper comprehensively considers the socioeconomic and ecological benefits of urban green space, and calculates its optimal scale. The results indicate that: (i) in terms of the socioeconomic benefits alone, the per capita amount of green area in Xi’an needs to be larger than 11.08 m2, and there is no theoretical optimal size; (ii) in terms of ecological benefits alone, the per capita amount of green area in Xi’an needs to be greater than 22.98 m2; (iii) in terms of the combined socioeconomic and ecological benefits, the per capita amount of green area of Xi’an needs to be greater than 24.89 m2; (iv) the optimal scale for any city is more siginficantly impacted by the ecological effects than by the socioeconomic effects; (v) to satisfy the development and construction needs of various cities, with their individual characteristics, the optimal urban green space scale should be explored according to the target city’s developmental stage and land use situation. The methods and results of the present study are intended to provide a reference for the future construction of Park Cities in China, as well as the planning of green space systems in other cities globally, and to open new prospects for future research.

The influence of outdoor play spaces in urban parks on children's social anxiety.

Urban green spaces are critical to the healthy development of children's social interactions and activities. However, the relationship between urban green spaces for children's activities and the alleviation of children's social anxiety remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the link between spatial characteristics and social anxiety in children. To explore the coupling relationships among green space, play space, and social anxiety, an assessment of children's play spaces and levels of social anxiety was performed using self-reported data, OpenStreetMap captured the characteristic indicators of urban parks, and the ArcGIS and SPSS softwares were used for the mathematical analysis. The results showed that (1) both the NDVI and 10-min accessibility were significantly negatively related to children's social anxiety; (2) the diversity of service facilities, surfacing materials, and the attractiveness and challenge of the environment were negatively related to children's social anxiety; (3) there were significant differences between activity types and social anxiety. These results provide design references and a theoretical basis for improving the benefits of urban green space on children's health and wellbeing.

User Satisfaction and the Social and Environmental Benefits of Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study of Thimphu City, Bhutan

Urban green spaces provide important recreational, social, and ecological benefits in urban settings. Understanding of the use and benefits associated with green spaces amongst urban residents is crucial in developing appropriate urban green infrastructure strategies. This study explored visitors’ levels of satisfaction with the benefits, characteristics, and determined factors influencing visitor satisfaction with urban green spaces. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey from a random sample of 125 visitors from three urban green spaces in the capital city of Bhutan, Thimphu. Visitors' satisfaction with urban parks was assessed based on their quality, social, and environmental benefits. Descriptive statistics and an ordered logistic-regression model were used to analyze the data. Results indicate that visitors were satisfied with quality as well as the social and ecological benefits of green spaces. Results also revealed that factors significantly influencing visitor satisfaction included educational level, frequency of visit, day visit, distance from home, quality of the urban park, social benefits, and ecological benefits. Overall, the study stresses the importance of optimizing green infrastructure planning in order to promote social and environmental well-being in the face of the growing populations in urban areas.

A Multi-Objective Optimization of Physical Activity Spaces

Optimizing the location of physical activity spaces (PAS) to ensure health, equity and efficiency has long been an important issue in urban planning. Given the health benefits of urban green spaces (UGS), taking Gongshu District in Hangzhou as a case, we examine the issue of where such PAS should be located to optimize three objectives: (1) minimize the distance between PAS and UGS; (2) maximize the accessibility of PAS and (3) maximize the population that falls within the coverage range. This study develops a multi-objective optimization of physical activity spaces model (MOPAS) based upon multi-objective particle swarm optimization to yield a set of non-dominated Pareto optimum solutions that can be used to determine the most practical tradeoffs between the conflicting objectives. It compares the advantages and disadvantages of the Pareto solutions and evaluates the construction situation of locations and the implementation feasibility. Decision-makers can choose the best solution according to subjective preferences and objective conditions. The MOPSO holds great promise for improving the location optimization of PAS and the methods applied can be adapted to support multi-objective optimization of facilities in urban planning globally.

Urban Green Space for Sustainable Environmental Health in Relation to Pandemic Crises

Trace the timeline of a pandemic such as Ebola, SARS, and SARS-CoV-2. All these extremely infectious viruses led to a worldwide pandemic starting in 2002. All these three viruses are transmitted to humans by animals from the jungle. The novel human coronavirus COVID-19 is now the fifth documented pandemic since the 1918 influenza pandemic. Questions about pandemics are on the rise these days, and it is widely discussed in the media. Recently, awareness about urban green spaces is rising in this era, and numerous researchers claim that appropriate landscape planning and design with the conception of sustainability able to produce a beneficial and responsive environment for healthy urban improvement in relation to pandemic crises. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of urban green spaces for sustainable environmental health. The result shows that the role of urban green spaces improves immune system function, increases social capital and cohesion, reduces mortality, and increases life expectancy, reduces potential negative health impacts, and makes urban beautification healthier. In addition, the finding shows the benefits of urban green spaces in pandemics, for example improving mental health and stress reduction, improving physical health, decreasing the risk of disease transmission, and improving social cohesion.

Change of Residents’ Attitudes and Behaviors toward Urban Green Space Pre- and Post- COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed and influenced people’s attitudes and behaviors toward visiting green spaces. This paper aims to explore the association between residents’ health and urban green spaces (UGS) through an in-depth study of changes in residents’ use of UGS under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wuhan East Lake Greenway Park was selected as the location for the field survey and in-depth interviews. At the same time, an online survey was also conducted (total number = 302) regarding participants’ physical and mental health and their attitude and behavior toward the UGS. A paired sample t-test and binary logistic regression were performed to investigate the association between participants’ health and UGS during COVID-19. The results show that: (1) the COVID-19 pandemic has primarily changed the leisure patterns of parks, with potential impacts on the physical and mental health of participants; (2) the purpose, frequency, timing, and preferred areas of participants’ park visits have changed to varying degrees after the pandemic, highlighting the important role and benefits of UGSs; (3) the physical and mental health of participants and urban development issues reflected by UGS use are prominent. This study reveals that awareness of the construction and protection of UGSs is an important prerequisite for ensuring the health of urban residents.

The Application of Geographical Information Systems and the Analytic Hierarchy Process in Selecting Sustainable Areas for Urban Green Spaces: A Case Study in Hue City, Vietnam

In recent years, there has been growing awareness about the roles and benefits of urban green spaces (UGSs), particularly in the context of mitigating the negative effects of climate change, which have become increasingly serious. In Vietnam, the government has allocated considerable resources to the development of UGSs in many cities. However, regarding implementation, UGS development in Vietnam faces many challenges; many cities find it difficult to meet the set criterion regarding the number of green spaces per capita. This research was conducted in Hue City, which is known as one of the greenest cities in Vietnam. The results show that there are twenty-one UGSs in Hue City (with a total area of 88.67 ha). These are located primarily along the Huong River and around the Hue Imperial Citadel. However, under government stipulations, the current number of UGSs is not considered sufficient in proportion to the local population, and will not accommodate the future growth of the population. We applied the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) along with the participation of local residents, using six criteria to map potential areas for future UGS planning. In this, the distance from existing residential areas to potential UGS locations is the most important criterion. The suitability map identified 684 hectares of Hue City as highly suitable for UGSs. This research also proposes a scenario for UGS planning in Hue based on retaining the existing green spaces combined with creating another 35 green spaces, comprising a total area of 167 hectares. This is to meet the needs of local residents by 2030.

Classifying Urban Green Spaces using a combined Sentinel-2 and Random Forest approach

Abstract. Environmental and human benefits of Urban Green Spaces (UGSs) have been known for a long time. However, the definition of a reasonable greening strategy still remains challenging due to the lack of sufficient baseline information as well as a lack of consensus what constitutes a UGS. Therefore, accurate identification of the existing green spaces in cities is crucial for developing UGS inventories for urban planning and resource management activities. In this paper we explore the potential of freely available highest resolution multi-spectral remote sensing imagery to identify large homogeneous as well small heterogeneous UGSs. The approach of using a Random Forest classification on Sentinel-2 imagery is shown to be useful to identify various UGSs with a 97 % accuracy. Freely available data and a relatively straightforward implementation of the proposed approach makes it a valuable tool for decision and policy makers.

Approach to user group-specific assessment of urban green spaces for a more equitable supply exemplified by the elderly population

The use of urban green spaces (UGS) depends on its quality, which is perceived very differently by diverse socio-demographic groups. In particular, elderly people have special demands on the UGS quality. It is essential to know these demands to create an equitable UGS supply. We present an approach to determining some qualitative aspects and the supply of cultural ecosystem services of diverse forms of UGS. This is realised by combining user demands with actual UGS features. In a concrete example, we assessed the UGS quality and supply for both the general population and the subset of elderly people. For the latter group, the activities of relaxing and observing nature, as well as the UGS feature of benches, were found to be significantly more important than for the general population. Nevertheless, this had only a minor impact on the assessed aspects of UGS quality and supply, with little differences detected between the two groups. In Dresden (Germany), we determined that almost half of the elderly population are not provided with high-quality UGS. In these areas, urban planning must increase the UGS quality while taking user demands into account to ensure just access to the positive benefits of UGS for the elderly.