Distribution Of Urban Green Spaces Research Articles

Accessibility analysis and optimization strategy of urban green space in Qingdao City Center, China

Rapid urbanization in China results in an uneven distribution of Urban Green Space (UGS) resources. This study aims to provide a scientific basis for optimizing the layout of UGS during the urban renewal process. This study takes Qingdao City Center of China as an example. Using the expanded model of Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method, different search thresholds are set based on the service scale and radius of UGS. This analysis delves into the distribution characteristics of UGS accessibility by walking. The results show that the accessibility of UGS in the Qingdao City Center presents an obvious circular structure, with Badaguan Block and Jinmen Block as the high-value core of accessibility that gradually decrease toward the periphery. There is a significant gap between the supply of UGS and the actual demand of the residential population, and 65.49% of residential quarters in Shinan District have lower accessibility of UGS than the average level of the whole district. According to the results of accessibility analysis, the optimization strategies and spatial intentions are proposed from three aspects: the renewal of existing spaces, the integration and utilization of resources, and the improvement of the UGS system.

Inclusive green environment for all? An investigation of spatial access equity of urban green space and associated socioeconomic drivers in China

The inequitable distribution of urban green spaces (UGS) has attracted increasing attention given the important role of green environments for sustainable development. However, many recent studies have yielded different results between cities in different geographic regions and development stages and even within the same city. Hence, this study addresses two research gaps in the green justice literature: (1) What are the spatial equity levels of different types of UGS, and what are their differences as well as spatial distribution characteristics? (2) What differences exist in the spatial equity levels of UGS in cities at various socioeconomic stages? On the basis of these gaps, we explain why contradictory findings have been found in the existing literature. This study focuses on three types of UGS in China, namely, community green spaces, street greenery, and public parks, and explores the driving effects of socioeconomic factors on the spatial equity of UGS in 263 Chinese cities. The results show that GDP and the population growth rate increase the spatial equity of community green spaces and street greenery. By contrast, economic development and increased in-migration can worsen the equity level of public green space accessibility. Our study provides evidence and insights for Chinese central and local governments to implement highly effective and sustainable greening programs to promote inclusive urban greening in Chinese cities.

The Function of Urban Green Space in Avoiding Disasters in Central Shanghai, China

Urban green space is an essential green infrastructure and spatial guarantee for sustainable development in Shanghai, China. Additionally, its spatial layout’s rationality directly influences the city’s disaster prevention and reduction effect. To use the buffer analysis method, this study selected the ArcGIS 9.0 software platform for making a quantitative analysis of disaster-proof green space service capacity in downtown Shanghai based on relevant construction standards and specifications. The results showed the following: (1) the distribution pattern of disaster-proof green space in downtown Shanghai is less homogeneously distributed in the central area but more homogeneously distributed in the edge area; (2) the service area of all disaster-proof green spaces in the central urban area of Shanghai accounted for 85.07% of the total area, with a service population of 12,516,600. Less than 15% of the area was still uncovered, meaning 2,196,700 people were unserved. These results suggest that the buffer radius of disaster-avoidance green space reaches 400 m. It covers the largest area and serves the largest population, accounting for more than 50% of the central urban area. The mismatch between urban green space distribution and population distribution patterns affected the service effect difference of green space for disaster avoidance. Therefore, new urban green spaces, stadiums, school playgrounds, and other open spaces could be added to enhance the (emergency) urban disaster avoidance ability of central urban areas; (3) the whole central urban area should form an urban mesh disaster avoidance system by combining points, lines, and surfaces with emergency and temporary shelters as first-level disaster avoidance points, fixed and central shelters as second-level disaster avoidance points, urban branch roads and secondary roads as disaster avoidance channels, and expressways and main urban roads as disaster-relief channels.

Uneven Distribution of Urban Green Spaces in Relation to Marginalization in Mexico City

The present study examines the spatial distribution and level of accessibility of urban green spaces (UGSs) within the context of Mexico City, with a particular focus on their relationship with marginalization. The study examined five distinct categories of UGSs based on their size and subsequently analyzed their total surface area per capita in relation to their correlation with the marginalization index. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis, and correlations were computed to investigate the relationships between variables. We found 1353 UGSs accessible for public use with a total area of 2643 ha. Seventy-four percent of them had <1 ha of surface area, and 51% were located in only three municipalities that were mostly middle- and high-income. These municipalities concentrated a higher area of green spaces per capita. We found a negative correlation between the marginality index and the area of UGSs per municipality; the lower the marginality index was, the higher the area of green spaces. These results suggest that a bad distribution of UGSs can increase environmental injustice since urban environmental services are unequally distributed, affecting particularly marginalized populations. This research is a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge regarding the accessibility of UGSs in Mexico City, particularly in connection to marginalized communities. It emphasizes the significance of this topic in the context of environmental justice, urban sustainability, and the formulation of urban policy decisions. By engaging with these concerns, individuals can strive to foster a city that promotes fairness and well-being for all of its residents.

Analysis on the Rationality of Urban Green Space Distribution in Hangzhou City Based on GF-1 Data

With its ecological, economic, and social benefits, urban green space (UGS) plays an important role in urban planning. Accordingly, it is also an important indicator in the evaluation of urban liveability. However, the extraction and statistical analysis of UGS are difficult because urban land use involves complex types and UGS exhibits fragmented distribution and common vegetation extraction models such as the NDVI model and pixel bipartite model. In addition, there are few studies that analyze UGS in Hangzhou with a pixel decomposition model. Therefore, applying the mixed pixel decomposition model with GF-1 data, the following three objectives were set in this study: (1) analyzing the temporal changes of UGS in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou from 2018 to 2020; (2) analyzing the spatial distribution characteristics of UGS in the six main urban areas of Hangzhou in 2020; (3) analyzing the rationality and influencing factors of UGS distribution in Hangzhou. In Shangcheng District, the overall UGS area increased from 2018 to 2020 due to the increase in forest area rather than grassland area. As for the main built-up area in Hangzhou, medium and high coverage of UGS were primarily observed, with an overall high level of greening and a relatively uniform vegetation cover. Only a few areas showed very low UGS coverage. Some differences were observed among administrative regions under the influence of topography, but the overall coverage is high. At the same time, the distribution of UGS in Hangzhou is closely related to policy guidance, the needs of urban residents, and the requirements of economic development. This research not only can provide a new way to analyze UGS features in Hangzhou but also provides scientific guidance for governments in urban planning.

Urban Green Spaces Distribution and Disparities in Congested Populated Areas: A Geographical Assessment from Pakistan

Urban green spaces are considered the most important element for keeping the balance between good environmental conditions, infrastructure development, and social sustainability in cities. Nevertheless, urban green spaces are declining in developing countries due to the fast diffusion of different human activities, raising the potential risk of social injustice and urban ecology meltdown. This study brings the example of Shahdara Town, a suburban area of Lahore, the second largest city and one of the most populated ones in Pakistan. In Shahdara Town, the scarcity of urban green spaces seems to achieve an unequal distribution of restorative places within crowded residential areas. By coupling the vegetation spectral index NDVI and Lahore institutional data to detect green spaces, this study maps the urban green area distribution and compares it with the population settlement pattern. An analysis was made to assess possible spatial relationships between green areas distribution, population density, and the social–economic profile of the residents. The distribution and accessibility of green spaces resulted insufficient for Shahdara Town’s population, highlighting local issues from a social perspective. The imbalanced provision of green spaces for densely populated areas is a big challenge for urban planners and policymakers because it jeopardizes the city life-quality and local ecological justice. Only the effort of conducting a good spatial assessment during urban planning processes can lead to a balanced and equal distribution of urban green spaces in developing cities, ensuring social and ecological justice for the population.

Capacity Assessment of Urban Green Space for Mitigating Combined Sewer Overflows in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area

Among the countermeasures against combined sewer overflow (CSO), urban green space (UGS) has been proven effective. However, few studies have examined the effects of UGS on CSO at the municipal scale. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a novel method for estimating the relation of the area of UGS to CSO based on a case study in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which includes 10 sewersheds. This method integrates surface runoff modeling, sewer network analysis, and response analysis for estimating CSO and its response to the UGS proportion in each sewershed. This method is based on public data of topographic features, land-related data, and rainfall characteristics. Specifically, the CSO discharge is estimated to be the difference between the rainwater inflow to a terminal treatment plant and the maximum capacity of the sewer systems in each sewershed. The results revealed that the amount of CSO increases exponentially with the intensity of rainfall. In addition, a response analysis showed that the increase in UGS proportion would mitigate CSO in all sewersheds, particularly in the case where the UGS proportion increased from 5% to 10%. Overall, the present method allows us to estimate CSO in relation to rainfall pattern and the distribution of UGS in a sewershed without actual CSO records.

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

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

Space Accessibility and Equity of Urban Green Space

Urban green space is an essential form of infrastructure for cities, providing a significant spatial guarantee for sustainable urban development, an essential ecological, social, and cultural function, and an important symbol of urban modernisation and civilisation. However, with the development of cities, urban problems are becoming more serious, such as the increase in impervious surfaces and urban heat islands and the decrease in urban green space and liveability. Therefore, this study integrates the theories and methods of landscape ecology and spatial syntax with GIS technology to construct a comprehensive model for examining the spatial accessibility of green spaces based on remote images and landscape pattern indices, using Fuzhou City as the study area. The study then incorporates demographic variables to explore the characteristics of an equitable distribution of urban green space at the street scale. The results show that the accessibility of green space in the urban areas of Fuzhou decreases from the centre to the periphery. From north to south, there is a trend of ‘low-high-low’, with the northern region exhibiting the lowest accessibility, followed by the southeastern region, and then the western region. In terms of spatial equity in green space, Fuzhou has a more significant share of surplus green space provision, both in terms of the number of streets and area. This shows that the surplus of green space in Fuzhou is greater than the deficit and that the distribution of space is fair. We hope this study will not only help people gain a deeper understanding of green space but also provide a reference for their rational planning and management, thereby improving the accessibility and equity of urban green space as well as their quality and configuration. We also expect it to provide valuable theoretical and technical support for the planning of ecological functions and sustainable development.

A Decision Support Tool for Green Infrastructure Planning in the Face of Rapid Urbanization

Multifunctional green infrastructure, a key component of compact sustainable cities, is challenged by the pressures associated with rapid urbanization. In this paper, we present a method that uses remote sensing, GIS modeling and stakeholder engagement to produce a decision support tool that communicates the availability and need for green infrastructure benefits. The case study presented is the City of Tshwane, South Africa, a Global South city facing rapid urbanization. We found that this method of mapping green infrastructure benefits can provide simultaneous oversight on multiple objectives for green infrastructure, including climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and equitable distribution of urban green space. We found that low-scoring benefit areas occur in dense urban areas where small-scale nature-based solutions or rehabilitation activities are required. Moderate benefit scores occurred in parts of the city that are vulnerable to urban expansion and densification activities, warranting the careful planning of green infrastructure provision, and that moderate-to-high-scoring areas can be protected as conservation areas. The results are discussed in terms of the role of decision support tools for urban planning practice. Composite indexes can provide important guidance to decision-makers involved in spatial planning and urban upgrading and expansion activities.

Exploring Urban Green Space Optimization of the Urban Walking Life Circle in Fuzhou, China.

The spatial distribution of urban green spaces (UGS) is closely related to the health of residents and the ecological pattern of cities. Exploring the equity of UGSs plays an important role in urban planning and also provides guidance for urban development. Taking the main urban area of Fuzhou City as an example, this study uses network big data and census data to pinpoint the population demand, evaluates the accessibility and equity of UGS within the basic living circle, neighborhood living circle and daily living circle of residents at the scale of residential and sub-districts. Based on the G2SFCA model, we also quantify the actual effective UGS's service capacity. Then, using the scale and travel range as the entry point, we further discuss the similarities and differences under different scales and different travel ranges. Finally, optimization strategies are proposed for the construction status. The results show that: (1) The spatial allocation of urban green space resources varies significantly, and there is a serious inequity in the spatial distribution of urban green space under pedestrian conditions; (2) The results of UGS accessibility, equity, and service capacity in Fuzhou at both residential and sub-district scales are consistent; (3) Urban construction should be multi-level overall planning, combined with local economic and social development factors in accordance with local conditions to take measures. The results of the study can provide a scientific reference for the optimization of the spatial distribution of UGS.

Evaluation of Green Spaces in Hilla City According to Green Network Concept

The study focuses on the feasibility of connecting urban green spaces at an urban scale through a network because of the population growth and land use changes at the expense of green areas, which has led to the fragmentation and destabilization of the ecosystem in the Hilla city center in Babylon province /Iraq. The methodology will be according to two stages: first, the current state assessment was used to determine the encroachment of the areas. Secondly, it uses the gravity model and the least-cost path model in GIS to determine the level of interaction between nodes. Therefore, the research hypothesis was that connecting strong nodes to a comprehensive and integrated network increases the strength of the interaction. According to the results, there is no clear hierarchy in the distribution of urban green spaces within Hilla city, with only two levels: locality and urban on the urban level, there is no possibility of establishing a network between green spaces because of three factors: encroached uses mainly the residential, distance between patches and the node weight.

Assessment of Urban Green Space Distribution within the Scope of European Green Deal Using NDVI Indice; Case of Nicosia/Cyprus

In this study, the urban green space distribution was determined, and the city's compliance with the European Green Deal was evaluated. Firstly, Landsat 8 satellite images were radiometrically corrected with the Quantum GIS software. Then, NDVI was produced using the Red-Green-Blue and Near-Infrared bands of the processed data obtained. Finally, the NDVI image with a value between -1 and +1 was reclassified to define urban open green spaces. The classification data showed that open green areas have a nonhomogeneous distribution throughout the city, and the amount of green space per capita is approximately 200 m². According to the classification results of Northern Nicosia, a surface area of 475 km², the amount of green space is calculated as 16m², constituting 2.97%. Thus, it has been concluded that open green regions are denser in certain parts of the city than others and do not have a homogeneous distribution that can serve the whole town.

Research on Promoting Carbon Sequestration of Urban Green Space Distribution Characteristics and Planting Design Models in Xi’an

Urban green space is considered to reduce the concentration of forcing factors of climate change such as the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Promoting carbon sequestration efficiency within a limited urban green space has become a practical challenge that must be faced in urban sustainability. This study proposed three design models and a list of high carbon sequestration plants. Based on the research on the distribution and change in carbon sequestration in urban green spaces, combined with field surveys and remote sensing images, this study analyzed the main factors affecting carbon sequestration. The results showed that the carbon sequestration capacity in urban green space tends to decrease gradually along with the change in forest structure in a time series of the years 2000, 2007, 2014, and 2019, and this trend was mainly related to the characteristic factors of plant communities in urban green spaces: the carbon sequestration of plants was significantly positively correlated with DBH (diameter at breast height) and community density; positively correlated with hierarchical structure. In addition, we put forward a list of plants with high carbon sequestration, including Styphnolobium japonicum, Salix babylonica, Pittosporum tobira, Spiraea salicifolia, and Iris pseudacorus, proposed three planting design models for different green spaces and habitats to improve the efficiency of carbon sequestration in urban green spaces, and established the community structure models of high carbon-fixing plants which can be directly applied to practical projects. It also explored the sustainable design approach of ecological processes in low-carbon cities.

Planning small for winning big: Small urban green space distribution patterns in an expanding city

While major urban areas are expanding, becoming more crowded, vegetated lands areshrinking. Built-up densification limits the planning of large urban green spaces,depriving urban dwellers of the benefits provided by such structures. In this context,small public urban green spaces (SPUGS) become of high value for urban landscapes,and their distribution throughout the city should aim to compensate the lack of largergreen areas. The driving forces of SPUGS distribution may be linked to the urbanfunctions they are usually paired with.The current study aimed to determine which are the urban functions that benefit ofhigher amounts of SPUGS in their proximities and to map the distribution and densityof SPUGS within Bucharest, helping us expose the green deprived communities.Results revealed that multi-dwelling residential areas are the ones with higher share ofSPUGS within walking distance. Nevertheless, analysis on SPUGS deprivation withinthe city showed that communist planned residential neighbourhoods are greener thanthe ones developed in the past three decades. Healthcare and commercial functionswithin the city recorded smaller shares of SPUGS in their proximity, highlighting thatvulnerable groups (such as ill people) are exposed to less vegetation, and that publicplanning documents are not encouraging developers to allocate more land for greenfeature development.These results are relevant for projecting the quality of outdoor environmentsthroughout Romania’s capital and for assessing potential future managementchallenges. The outcomes of this research provide local policy makers and plannerswith the vulnerable areas in which immediate action for expanding the greeninfrastructures should take place. At the same time, the methodological approachdescribed in the study proved to be efficient in assessing the distribution of SPUGSthroughout the city and the determinants of this distribution. It can be easily replicatedin other cities by scholars and planners.

Measuring spatial accessibility and supply-demand deviation of urban green space: A mobile phone signaling data perspective.

The reasonable distribution of urban green space (UGS) is a topic that urban researchers have been exploring for a long time. Solving the imbalance between the supply and demand of UGS plays an important role in improving the health level of a city. This study examines the central urban area of Hefei as an example. We developed a modified Gaussian two-step floating catchment area method and used the path planning model of Gaode Map to evaluate the accessibility of UGS under different transportation modes and different time thresholds while integrating mobile phone signaling data. Additionally, a fine-scale analysis of the actual supply and demand relationship of UGS was conducted by integrating the accessibility evaluation results with the recreational situation of UGS to analyze the deviation of supply and demand to further discuss the spatial distribution equilibrium of UGS. The main conclusions are as follows. (1) The spatial distribution of UGSs in the central urban area of Hefei is uneven. Different time thresholds and different transportation modes have a significant impact on the UGS accessibility evaluation results. (2) With the increase in the time threshold or travel distance, the number of grids above the moderate accessibility level generally increases. The spatial distribution of the grids with moderate, high and highest accessibility level present different patterns of contiguous, clusters, and spots distribution. (3) After combining these results with the actual recreational situation of UGS, we found that the overall demand in the central urban area exceeds the supply at the 15-min threshold, while the overall supply exceeds the demand at the 30-min threshold. The grids with balanced supply and demand or more supply than demand have comprehensive parks with a moderate population density and strong road connectivity in the neighborhood. This study strengthens the data granularity and improves the accuracy of accessibility evaluation by integrating mobile phone signaling data with the path planning model of Gaode Map. Also, we evaluate the accessibility with multi-transport modes and different time thresholds, which can bring more practical guidance for optimizing the distribution of UGS.

INVESTIGATION OF URBAN GREEN SPACE (UGS) ACCESSIBILITY IN ADELAIDE METROPOLITAN AREA USING NETWORK ANALYST

Abstract. Urban Green Space (UGS) is one of the essential components of the urban systems for promoting quality of life in urban areas and sustainability. Planning and designing accessible public green spaces are critical for urban life as cities' most available natural environment. Walkable accessibility of UGS is one of the essential indicators of people's health and wellbeing. This paper aims to evaluate the walking accessibility of UGS through Adelaide Metropolitan Area at the local councils level using Network Analyst in GIS. The results show that the councils of Norwood Payneham and St Peters, Charles Sturt and the City of Adelaide have the most walking accessibility to UGS for the residents in their area. In contrast, Mount Barker, Playford and Adelaide Hills councils have the least walking accessibility. Therefore, UGS distribution is unequal throughout the study area, and local councils close to or around the inner part of the metropolitan area have more accessible green spaces.

Evaluation of urban green space per capita with new remote sensing and geographic information system techniques and the importance of urban green space during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recently conducted study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encouraged access to urban green space for the public over the prevalence of COVID-19 in that exposure to urban green space can positively affect the physical and mental health, including the reduction rate of heart disease, obesity, stress, stroke, and depression. COVID-19 has foregrounded the inadequacy of green space in populated cities. It has also highlighted the extant inequities so as to unequal access to urban green space both quantitatively and qualitatively. In this regard, it seems that one of the problems related to Malatya is the uncoordinated distribution of green space in different parts of the city. Therefore, knowing the quantity and quality of these spaces in each region can play an effective role in urban planning. The aim of the present study has been to evaluate urban green space per capita and to investigate its distribution based on the population of the districts of Battalgazi county in Malatya city through developing an integrated methodology (remote sensing and geographic information system). Accordingly, in Google Earth Engine by images of Sentinel-1 and PlanetScope satellites, it was calculated different indexes (NDVI, EVI, PSSR, GNDVI, and NDWI). The data set was prepared and then by combining different data, classification was performed according to support vector machine algorithm. From the landscaping maps obtained, the map was selected with the highest accuracy (overall accuracy: 94.43; and kappa coefficient: 90.5). Finally, by the obtained last map, the distribution of urban green space per capita and their functions in Battalgazi county and its districts were evaluated. The results of the study showed that the existing urban green spaces in the Battalgazi/Malatya were not distributed evenly on the basis of the districts. The per capita of urban green space is twenty-four regions which is more than 9m2 and in twenty-three ones is less than 9m2. The recommendation of this study was that Türkiye city planners and landscape designers should replan and redesign the quality and equal distribution of urban green spaces, especially during and following COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, drawing on the Google Earth Engine cloud system, which has revolutionized GIS and remote sensing, is recommended to be used in land use land cover modeling. It is straightforward to access information and analyze them quickly in Google Earth Engine. The published codes in this study makes it possible to conduct further relevant studies.

Space poverty driving heat stress vulnerability and the adaptive strategy of visiting urban parks

Climate change and urbanisation have exacerbated social inequities. Increasing urban heat has made high-density housing units a vulnerability hotspot. Alternatives to extended air-conditioning are required. This research sought evidence on using urban parks as a sustainable alternative by low-income households deprived of adequate living space. We interviewed occupants of tiny flats (approx. 10 m2), known as subdivided units, and compared their park visiting routines and thermal comfort practices with other urban dwellers in Hong Kong. The substandard conditions of these small units have contributed to dwellers' sensitivity and lower capacity to adapt to summer heat, resulting in heat-related illness. The space-poor households have taken a wider range of adaptive actions and visited urban parks more frequently for cooling. Their higher mobility between home and nearby parks has shortened their home-stay time that would otherwise demand residential space cooling. The findings are important for reconsidering and redressing the uneven distribution of urban green spaces. Poor housing conditions and heat stress have forced disadvantaged households to seek refuge from natural cool spaces, such as vegetated and shaded areas of urban parks. Measures for increasing their accessibility, availability and capacity for heat mitigation are conducive to pro-poor and pro-climate spatial planning.

Wealth and land use drive the distribution of urban green space in the tropical coastal city of Haikou, China

Urban green spaces (UGSs) provide a plethora of ecosystem services that benefit humans and wildlife within cities. UGS both promotes and is affected by overall urban ecological health, which can be measured by a wide range of indices. In this study, we investigated the distribution patterns and drivers of UGS within the tropical coastal city of Haikou, Hainan, China over the past decade using a combination of remote sensing data and field work. We interpreted Google earth images from 2010 and 2020 to determine the land cover of UGS within Urban Functional Units (UFUs). We collected socioeconomic variables to test if wealth, site age, and land use determine the proportion of UGS in the city. We found that the proportion of UGS in parks was the highest among all UFUs in 2010 and 2020. In general, UGS increased with maintenance frequency and housing price, which are proxies for the luxury effect. However, land use also played a role in UGS distribution across UFUs, especially in transportation areas, recreation and leisure districts, and residential districts. Haikou is similar to other cities in showing a positive luxury effect on the distribution of UGS. Our results highlight the key roles that parks, colleges and universities, and research institute areas have played in maintaining stable green space within Haikou over the past decade. We suggest that relatively recently implemented governmental programs to increase green space elsewhere in the city may not yet have achieved success within the time span that we analyzed.