Distribution Of Urban Green Spaces Research Articles

Exploring the equitable inclusion of diverse voices in urban green design, planning and policy development: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionDespite the increasingly evidenced positive impacts of green space on human physical and mental health, green spaces remain inequitably distributed across different socioeconomic groups. Urban planning and design should prioritise...

Patterns and causes of soil heavy metals and carbon stock in green spaces along an urbanization gradient

The surge in urbanization has correspondingly given rise to exacerbated carbon footprint and burgeoning heavy metal (HM) contamination, constituting a critical impediment to the realization of environmentally sustainable urban development pathways. Therefore, it is highly essential to investigate the impacts of urbanization process on soil carbon, heavy metals (HMs), as well as their interrelationships. Employing remote sensing and land use data within a 45 km radius in Chongqing, this study selected 31 sites to assess the variation in urban green spaces (UGSs) carbon sequestration capabilities and associated HM pollution risks across differing urbanization levels. Results showed that urbanization dynamics and land use history play a more decisive role than current anthropogenic management in shaping the distribution of soil carbon and HMs within urban environments. The average soil organic carbon (SOC) distribution of UGSs is 8.47 mg ha−1 (1.50–24.20 mg ha−1), concurrent with moderate HM pollution showing Ni: 32.03–33.50 mg kg−1, Pb: 27.93–29.65 mg kg−1, Cu: 26.97–41.20 mg kg−1, while Cd exhibits the most severe pollution range of 0.23–0.30 mg kg−1. The rate of urbanization significantly influences SOC stocks, exhibiting an increase when the urbanization rate is below 70.79 % and a decrease upon surpassing this threshold. The concentration of HMs is predominantly determined by the historical usage of the land, with a marked escalation correlating with the duration of land utilization history. These relationships were quantitatively modeled through the application of fitted linear functions. The structural equation model demonstrated that UGSs operating without anthropogenic disturbance tend towards degradation, indicating that temporary homeostasis might be sustained via the addition of N and P nutrients and pH modulation. In conclusion, we formulate an Urban Green Spaces Development Hypothesis that aims to shed light on the multifaceted challenges encountered by cities amidst varying degrees of urbanization and, concurrently, to probe potential ameliorative strategies.

Scale matters: How spatial resolution impacts remote sensing based urban green space mapping?

Urban green spaces (UGS) provide ecological and habitat benefits such as carbon sequestration, oxygen production, humidity increase, noise reduction, and pollution absorption. UGS maps derived from remote sensing images serve as the fundamental data for urban planning and carbon sequestration assessments. However, the spatial resolution of remote sensing image and the pattern of urban structures significantly influence UGS mapping, making it challenging to obtain accurate UGS maps. To investigate the impact of spatial resolution on UGS mapping, this study utilized five different spatial resolution datasets: Gaofen2 (1 m, 4 m), Sentinel2 (10 m), and Landsat8 (15 m, 30 m). Random forest, LightGBM, and support vector machine were employed to map UGS, and the accuracies of UGS maps at different spatial resolutions were compared. Subsequently, the spatial distribution patterns of uncertainties in UGS maps were analyzed from both overall and urban functional zone perspectives. Furthermore, the uncertainty analysis of UGS mapping was conducted considering different landscape patterns in urban functional zones. The results indicate: (1) UGS map varies at different spatial resolution. Higher uncertainties associated with coarser spatial resolutions. Medium and coarse spatial resolution images inadequately capture the fine-grained distribution of urban green spaces. (2) Uncertainty in UGS mapping at different spatial resolutions is generally consistent in spatial distribution. From a functional zoning perspective, the accuracy of green space mapping over non-natural zones is sensitive to spatial resolution. (3) The distribution pattern of UGS patches affects the accuracy of UGS mapping. Uncertainty can be reduced in UGS mapping at medium and coarse spatial resolutions based on UGS landscape pattern indices by multiple linear regression, random forest and LightGBM model. This study comprehensively reveals that uncertainties in mapping UGS from multi-spatial resolution remote sensing images vary across urban functional zones and landscape pattern indices, and it is the first attempt to propose methods for UGS area correction based on landscape pattern indices. The results of this study will facilitate the application of remote sensing data at different spatial resolutions in urban areas.

Correction: Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia

Correction: Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia

The spatial heterogeneity of urban green space distribution and configuration in Lilongwe City, Malawi.

Urban green spaces provide several benefits related to the quality of urban life. The existence and spatial arrangement of these spaces within neighbourhoods and functional land uses have significant implications for the well-being of urban dwellers. Previous studies on green spaces in urban areas of Malawi have focused on a broader and macro-level perspective, offering insightful information on general trends in different cities. However, there is a significant research shortage in localised understanding, which requires carrying out micro-level assessments concentrating on land use zones and neighbourhoods within these cities. In this study, we used remote sensing data and landscape metrics to understand the distribution and configuration of urban green spaces in the city's neighbourhoods and functional land uses and their relationship with urban form. The study revealed that 20% of neighbourhoods fail to meet the WHO-recommended standard of 9 m2 of green space per person, with a predominant concentration of these undersupplied areas in high-density and quasi-residential zones. In addition, 56.2% of Lilongwe City's total green area was contained under functional land uses. Particularly, high-rise residential, medium-density residential, low-density residential, quasi-residential, high-rise flat area, commercial class, high-rise commercial, heavy industry, light industry, and government land use zones contained 17.3%, 12.0%, 22.2%, 12.0%, 4.1%, 6.4%, 6.1%, 5.0%, 1.6%, and 13.3% of the total green spaces in functional land uses, respectively. Importantly, this research found significant correlations between urban form metrics, namely building coverage, building density, building perimeter area ratio, road density, and the distribution and configuration of urban green spaces. This necessitates an integrated approach to urban planning and design, emphasising the importance of balancing development with green space preservation.

Study on the Contribution of Informal Green Space to Urban Green Space Accessibility in Qingdao

With the continuous improvement of China’s urbanization, the upgrading of the living environment and consumption demand by residents has stimulated the development of green urban spaces. To truly benefit the green ecology of residents and promote the ecologically sustainable development of the city, the investigation of this study found that only focusing on formal green space is not effective enough, and informal green space with high contact frequency and diversified types of green space are often ignored. This study sets up two scenarios of whether or not the informal green space system is considered in Qingdao city, and obtains accessibility under two scenarios by constructing a transportation network through ArcGIS. The results show that the accessibility distribution of urban green space is more uniform when informal green space is considered when compared with no consideration for informal green space, which reveals and emphasizes the contribution of informal green space in improving the accessibility of urban green space.

The Influence of Spatial Heterogeneity of Urban Green Space on Surface Temperature

Urban green space (UGS) has been recognized as a key factor in enhancing the urban ecosystem balance, particularly in arid areas. It is often considered an effective means to mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) effect. In this study, the reference comparison method was utilized to optimize the process of nighttime lighting data; the random forest classification method was employed to extract UGS data; and the radiative transfer method was applied in land surface temperature (LST) inversion. Additionally, moving window analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the results. The objective of this research was to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of UGS and LST and to explore their bivariate local spatial autocorrelations by calculating four landscape metrics, including the aggregation index (AI), edge density (ED), patch density (PD), and area-weighted mean shape index (Shape_am). It was found that the distribution of UGS in the study area was uneven, with higher temperatures in the eastern and western regions and lower temperatures in the central and southern regions. The results also revealed that ED, PD, and Shape_am were negatively correlated with LST, with correlation coefficients being −0.469, −0.388, and −0.411, respectively, indicating that UGS in these regions were more effective in terms of cooling effect. Conversely, AI was found to be positively correlated with LST (Moran’ I index of 0.449), indicating that surface temperatures were relatively higher in regions of high aggregation. In essence, the fragmented, complex, and evenly distributed green patches in the study area provided a better cooling effect. These findings should persuade decision makers and municipal planners to allocate more UGS in cities for UHI alleviation to improve quality of life and enhance recreational opportunities.

Multi-method analysis of urban green space accessibility: Influences of land use, greenery types, and individual characteristics factors

Urban green spaces (UGS) are an important foundation for supporting sustainable urban development and benefiting the well-being of residents. However, access to green spaces is a complex and dynamic process. Existing studies have mainly used a single method to assess UGS accessibility, and research on influencing factors has less focused on a multi-variable perspective. In this study, we innovatively integrated four methods—Container, Distance, Gravity, and 2SFCA—to assess UGS accessibility at the LSOA level in Inner London. We examined the impact of urban land use patterns, green space types, and individual characteristics on UGS accessibility. Then, Spearman's correlation analysis and the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model were used to check the relationship between multiple variables with UGS accessibility. The main findings are as follows: (1) The UGS accessibility results based on the multi-method reflect the variation in the distribution of UGS in Inner London, with more than 80% of LSOAs having below-average UGS accessibility; (2) UGS accessibility is significantly influenced by multiple factors, particularly race, income, education, crime, office, residential, and non-park (multiple green space types beyond parks). This study highlights inequalities in UGS accessibility and suggests strategies for policymakers to improve the integration of UGS in urban planning.

Urban Green-Space: Environmental Justice & Green Gentrification

In cities across the world, both in the global South and North, the distribution of urban green spaces exhibits stark inequalities. Affluent neighborhoods are often graced with abundant, well-maintained parks and green areas, offering residents a higher quality of life and environmental benefits. In contrast, communities with lower incomes and minority populations frequently face a scarcity of such spaces, and the green areas they do have tend to be of lower quality. This disparity not only reflects broader social and economic inequities but also has significant implications for public health, environmental justice, and social cohesion. Efforts to rectify this imbalance, while well-intentioned, can inadvertently lead to gentrification. Improving green spaces in underserved neighborhoods often makes these areas more attractive to higher-income groups, driving up property values and living costs. This process can displace long-term, lower-income residents, ironically exacerbating the very inequalities such initiatives aim to address. The resulting gentrification can also lead to increased homelessness among the most vulnerable populations. Thus, urban planners and policymakers face a complex, paradoxical challenge: how to equitably enhance urban greenery without contributing to gentrification and the further marginalization of low-income communities. This dilemma underscores the need for inclusive, carefully considered strategies in urban environmental planning that prioritize the needs and voices of all residents, especially those in historically marginalized communities.

Application of LA-UNet network model in remote sensing classification of urban green space

The accurate identification and monitoring of urban green space is of great significance in urban planning and ecological management. In view of the complex background of urban green space, the traditional remote sensing classification technology is prone to the problem of misalignment and adhesion. Taking Yuhua District of Changsha City as the research area and Gaofen-2 (GF-2) remote sensing image as the data source, we proposed a remote sensing classification method for urban green space based on the LA-UNet model, which was based on the UNet model. We introduced the DWTCA channel attention mechanism module to improve the attention of the network to green space information, and used the CARAFE module to up sample the extracted features to achieve accurate classification of trees, shrubs and other land types in the complex background of the city. The results showed that the LA-UNet model had the best classification effect of urban green space when using standard false color remote sensing images. The overall accuracy and mean intersection over union were 96.3% and 90.9%, which were 2.8% and 6.1% higher than the UNet model, respectively. In the Potsdam public dataset, the overall accuracy and mean intersection over union of the LA-UNet model were also better than those of the UNet model, which increased by 0.9% and 1.8%, respectively, indicating that the LA-UNet model had good robustness and versatility. In summary, the proposed LA-UNet model could effectively alleviate the problems of misalignment and adhesion of urban green space, with advantages in the remote sensing classification of urban green space. The improved LA-UNet model had a smaller parameter volume than the UNet model, which could effectively improve the classification accuracy of urban green space. This study would provide a methodological reference for the accurate classification and understanding the spatial distribution of urban green space.

Urban green space exposure is low and unequally distributed in an Amazonian metropolis

AbstractUrban green spaces are important for interactions between people and non-human nature, with their associated health and well-being impacts, although their distribution is often unequal. Here, we characterize the distribution of urban green spaces in Belém, the largest city in the Amazon Delta, and relate it to levels of human development and social vulnerability across the city; this is the first such analysis to be conducted for a Brazilian Amazon city. We first conducted a supervised maximum likelihood classification of images at 5–m spatial resolution taken in 2011 by the RapidEye satellites to map the distribution of green space across the urban part of the municipality of Belém. We then calculated two measures of urban green space at the level of human development units: the proportional cover of vegetation (Vegetation Cover Index; VCI) and the area of vegetation per person (Vegetation Cover per Inhabitant; VCPI), and we used hurdle models to relate them to two measures of socioeconomic status: the Social Vulnerability Index and the Human Development Index, as well as to demographic density. We find that VCI and VCPI are higher in more socially vulnerable areas. We explain how this pattern is driven by historical and ongoing processes of urbanization, consider access to urban green space and the benefits to human health and well-being and discuss equitable planning of urban green space management in the Amazon. We conclude that the assumption that urban greening will bring health benefits risks maintaining the status quo in terms of green exclusion and repeating historical injustices via displacement of socially vulnerable residents driven by demand for access to urban green spaces.

Inequalities in urban green space distribution across priority population groups: Evidence from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand

Growing evidence has shown that urban green space (UGS) in neighbourhoods can substantially enhance residents' well-being. This study focuses on the possible inequitable UGS distribution among priority population groups of city-dwellers in the region of Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand. UGS availability was calculated using coverage ratio of service area and Overlap/cumulative opportunity. UGS accessibility was measured using Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area. Bivariate analysis, spatial regression, ordinary least squares estimation, and Moran's I were employed to explore the potential inequality between UGS distribution and priority population groups. The results revealed that most deprived neighbourhoods tended to have more UGS availability but less accessibility. Children, adolescents and elderly were likely to have less potential opportunity to choose different UGS to visit. Areas with a higher proportion of Māori had less UGS availability and Pacific populations had less accessibility. Neighbourhoods with a higher proportion of Asian people had more UGS availability but less accessibility. This study adds new evidence to UGS inequality in priority population groups by contributing a regional investigation in a developed country. The results can inform policy makers and planners on where and how to implement UGS and on which groups to focus on to prevent further disparities.

Is the spatial distribution of urban green space associated with crime in Chicago?

During past decades, much progress has been made to elucidate the relationship between the quantity of urban green space and crimes, but less is known about how their spatial distribution is associated with crimes. Therefore, this study aims to understand how the composition and configuration of urban green space are related to crimes in metropolitan cities in the United States. Our study performed landscape analysis using 756 census tracts for violent crimes and non-violent crimes in Chicago from 2017 to 2021 while controlling socioeconomic status. Spatial lag models showed that tree canopies were negatively associated with crime rates, while grass areas were positively associated with crime rates. In terms of the spatial distribution, there were more crime incidents in irregularly shaped green spaces compared to reguraraly shaped green spaces. On the contrary, disconnected tree canopies were more likely to have lower crime rates. Aggregated (i.e., a single large) also tended to have less crime rates. The results of our study provide some evidence of the role of the spatial distribution of urban green space on crimes and shed light on the ways to reduce crimes through effective urban green space planning

Correction: Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia

Correction: Assessing the morphological distribution of urban green spaces for the future sustainable greenery planning: a case study of Penang, Malaysia

Investigating equitable access of children and seniors to urban green spaces and its relationship with neighborhood walkability: a case study of Tehran, Iran

ABSTRACT This study investigates the distribution of urban green spaces for children and seniors in Tehran, delving into their connection with demographic attributes and the walkability of neighborhoods. The findings reveal an unequal distribution, confirmed by the Gini index for children (0.57) and seniors (0.62). Moreover, the Multiple Regression Analysis revealed that the apartment occupancy rate (r = –0.19) and migrant rate (r = –0.13) were inversely correlated with seniors’ access to green spaces, whereas the employment rate (r = 0.16), intersection density (r = 0.27), and land use mix (r = 0.20) exhibited positive associations. Additionally, concerning children, the findings indicated positive correlations between intersection density (r = 0.25) and land use mix (r = 0.12) and their access to green spaces. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a co-benefits strategy and taking into account demographic characteristics and neighborhood walkability in urban planning and decision-making to ensure fair access to urban green spaces for vulnerable populations. Implementing strategies like establishing green spaces in areas with lower walkability and improving neighborhood connectivity can greatly improve the accessibility of urban green spaces for both children and seniors.

Spatio-temporal patterns and accessibility of green spaces in Kumasi, Ghana

Urban green spaces (UGS) are a central part of cities and offer multiple ecological and social benefits necessary for a higher quality of life of inhabitants. However, rapid unguided urban growth together with planning policies on rezoning can lead to transformation of UGS to commercial, residential, and other uses. These processes of land use change result in inequities in the distribution of UGS in the city. Yet, data and metrics that capture changes in the geography of UGS is scarce within African cities. This paper addresses this need by examining the spatio-temporal geography of UGS at the neighborhood-scale in Kumasi, the next biggest city in Ghana. Five (5) UGS distribution indicators were computed from remote sensing data for 2013 and 2020 and compared across neighborhoods. Further, a GIS network analysis method was deployed to analyse access to parks in Kumasi. The results showed that between 2013 and 2020, green spaces in Kumasi became fragmented and disconnected despite a slight increase in quantity. The level of UGS fragmentation was found to significantly vary among the neighborhoods. Fragmentation and depletion in UGS were profound at the outskirts of Kumasi while majority of the population cannot access the nearest park under 30-min’ walk. These findings contribute to a complete and holistic understanding of the distribution and accessibility of UGS at the neighborhood level in cities and disparities in UGS exposure in the Global South. The findings provide important insights for urban policies while the data and methods serve as blueprints for local authorities, particularly in Ghana to track their progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11, target 7.

Which green is more equitable? A study of urban green space equity based on morphological spatial patterns

Urban green space (UGS) is an important factor in sustainable urban development. However, cities often experience unequal access to UGSs during the process of development, due to factors such as shrinkage and spreading. Many cities worldwide are facing urban shrinkage, which may lead to the deterioration of urban spatial environments and aggravation of inequities. In addition, due to urban land and financial constraints, it is not possible to maintain UGS equity by simply increasing the number of UGSs. Therefore, it is necessary to explore what defines a reasonable UGS structure from an equity perspective to support sustainable urban development. In this study, the UGS equity index of Yokosuka City was measured using the Gini coefficient. Morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) was used to understand the morphological structure of UGSs in different regions and to transform them into potential structural classes. Finally, a UGS equity prediction model was constructed by ridge regression to provide a UGS morphological structure that is conducive to equitable UGS development. The main results indicate that 1) UGS inequity exists in Yokosuka; 2) no relationship was found between population decline and UGS inequity in Yokosuka; 3) UGS distribution is more equitable in towns with higher land values and population aging; 4) Islet, edge, loop, and branch components play an important role in the equitable development of UGS, and their corresponding potential UGS morphology is fragmentation, complexity, internal connectivity, and partial connectivity, respectively. This study further improves the analytical framework for describing the morphological structure of UGSs based on MSPA from a morphological perspective and provides a spatial morphological strategy to support the equitable development of UGSs.

Exploring the Spatial Relationship between Street Crime Events and the Distribution of Urban Greenspace: The Case of Porto, Portugal

In post-pandemic, climate-changing societies, the presence of urban greenspace assumes paramount functions, at the same time that socio-economic crises and shocks augment vulnerabilities and insecurities. The recent literature on environmental criminology argues that the geography of crime is not random, and that the presence of greenery, due to its impact on well-being and the environment, can have positive associations with feeling safe; although the opposite effect can occur if spaces are not properly designed or maintained. In this paper, the case study of Porto, Portugal, is presented; one of the municipalities with higher crime rates, that also pledged to double the available greenspace in the near future. As a way to support decision-making, the aim of this study was to present an overall exploratory diagnosis of how street crime patterns, of different typologies, spatially co-exist with greenspaces. Using a 10-year street crime dataset at the segment level, descriptive quantitative methods with the support of GIS have been applied to plot crime’s spatial distribution over time, as well as the walking accessibility to greenspaces. The results confirm crime’s geographical non-randomness, with distinct categories occupying specific locations, even though there was a consistently proportional distribution in the different distance bands. On the contrary, the cumulative effect of the proximity to greenspaces was variable. Almost half of the city’s street crimes (46%) were within a 5 min walking distance of greenspaces, but they were much closer to smaller inner-city urban gardens, with higher densities of street crimes (hot spots), than to larger municipal parks, where lower densities (cold spots) were seen.

Assessing Distributional and Perceived Equity of Urban Green Spaces in Qingdao’s Historic Urban Area

Urban green spaces (UGSs) satisfy citizens’ physical and psychological demands and are considered an integral part of sustainable urban development. However, the distribution of UGS is often uneven, especially in historic urban areas with high building density and limited facilities, thus leading to issues of green inequity. This study examines two dimensions of green equity in Qingdao’s historic urban area, distributional equity and perceived equity, based on a fine-grained division of units and districts. Distributional equity is analyzed using the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (G2SFCA) method and Gini coefficient to accurately calculate the equity in distribution and accessibility of UGSs. The perceived equity is assessed through the green view index (GVI) and location quotient of the streets, which represents citizens’ visual perception of green quality. Based on these analyses, a dual-perspective evaluation model of green equity is conducted, and the results show a significant imbalance of greenery supply and population demand in the historical urban area of Qingdao. This disequilibrium in green spaces leads to 62.20% of people living with low green equity, while only 8.12% experience high green equity. To maximize social justice, priority should be given to improving the 15 districts with low green equity; doing so could effectively reduce green inequity within historic urban areas where facilities and resources are relatively scarce, thereby improving the efficiency of urban renewal efforts.

Changing Patterns of Urban Green Spaces in Akure, Nigeria

Greenery and natural landscapes are vital to human well-being, especially in cities. Notably, the majority of people aspire to live in cities in search of opportunities and a better quality of life, which harms urban green spaces, also known as the "lungs of the city." Current debates on urban planning and sustainable development in Nigeria and around the world are fundamentally influenced by the rapid growth of urbanization and the ensuing domination of concrete spaces over natural spaces. This study examined patterns in Akure's urban green areas while taking into account the spatiotemporal pattern of vegetation cover between 1984 and 2022. The collected satellite imagery was analyzed using the ArcGIS application program, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to calculate the rate and patterns of urban green space. Over time, changes in the spatial distribution of urban green spaces and the growth of non-green spaces were monitored and estimated. The depletion's implications for planning were addressed. To educate and inform urban residents about the protection, conservation, and preservation of natural landscapes within urban landscapes, it is thought that examining and analyzing the physical planning and environmental consequences of unchecked depletion of urban green spaces will be useful for making sustainable environmental policy decisions in harnessing the resources potentials.