Green Space Research Articles

Effects of soil compaction on above- and belowground interactions during the early stage of forest development

Forested green spaces in urban and peri-urban areas are expected to serve multiple roles, including providing ecosystem services and maintaining species diversity and soil health, both of which are particularly important for human health. However, soil compaction is a major cause of soil degradation in urban areas and brownfields (abandoned, previously developed land). We examined the effects of compaction on soil physicochemical properties, tree species richness, tree basal area, and the functional diversity of microbial communities in an immature volcanic soil through a long-term (14-year) field experiment. Our experimental results showed that soil compaction reduced not only both tree species richness and biomass but also the multifunctionality of soil microbial communities. Furthermore, tree species richness was significantly positively related to soil microbial decomposition activity. These findings provide evidence of above- and belowground interactions and underscore their importance in the design of urban forests using ecosystem-based solutions.

Equity Evaluation of Green Space in the Central Urban Area of Wuhan from the Perspective of 30-Minute Community Life Circle

Equity Evaluation of Green Space in the Central Urban Area of Wuhan from the Perspective of 30-Minute Community Life Circle

Multi-scenario Simulation and Landscape Connectivity Evaluation of the Evolution of Green Space Ecological Network in Central Urban Area of Shanghai

Multi-scenario Simulation and Landscape Connectivity Evaluation of the Evolution of Green Space Ecological Network in Central Urban Area of Shanghai

Evaluating objective and perceived ecosystem service in urban context: An indirect method based on housing market

Ecosystem service (ES) evaluation is usually based on the stocks of natural resources and their functions. However, the value of ES in the urban area depends on human activities more than the existence of natural resources. This research implements an indirect market method by integrating hedonic housing price model to assess ES in urban context from both objective (remote sensing) and subjective perspectives (street view image). Machine learning tools are employed to investigate the impacts of objective and perceived ES on housing prices based on a case study in Wuxi, China. The analytical results suggest that the contribution of ES to house prices in Wuxi ranges from 0% to 10.85%. Further investigation found that visible trees are the most important ES factor of housing price, more important than the coverage of green space. We also find that the quality of blue-green spaces might modify the value of ES, while the poor landscape design and water pollution in the central urban area made the values of ES low in the housing market. This study proves that the indirect method based on the housing market is helpful in valuing ES in the urban context. The high importance of perceived blue-green spaces in ES encourages more efforts on landscape design rather than only increasing coverage.

The Effectiveness of Green Open Spaces in Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Emissions in the Area of PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Regional 3 Subregional Jawa

Introduction: Green spaces serve as various ecological purposes, most notably the removal of pollutants. Although PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) Regional 3 Subregional Jawa was estimated to have quite significant carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the company had provided green open space in multiple locations. Calculating the effectiveness of green open spaces in absorbing CO2 emissions in the area of Pelindo Subregional Jawa was the aim of this study. Methods: The primary data used was observation, and secondary data were gathered through document and literature studies. The dependent variable was the calculation of carbon dioxide emissions, while the independent variable was the effectiveness of green open spaces (land cover types and green open spaces area). The IPCC 2006 equations were used for data analysis. Results and Discussion: The estimated carbon dioxide emissions at Pelindo Subregional Jawa came from the following sources: 1,945.51 tons from electricity consumption; 1,845.97 tons from ships; 1,102.30 tons from operational, employee, and passenger vehicles; and 4.49 tons from genset usage. That amounted to 4,898.27 tons per year overall. Based on the calculation, it was found that the green open space could absorb 4,434.94 tons of CO2 per hectare annually. Conclusion: The existing green open spaces in the area of Pelindo Subregional Jawa were not enough to absorb CO2 emissions, as CO2 emissions still left a residual of 463.33 tons/year.

Stress and the City: Mental Health in Urbanized vs. Rural Areas in Salzburg, Austria

Background: Living in the city is associated with a higher risk of suffering from stress, anxiety, and depression. Due to an increase of migration to the city, the association between mental health and city life is highly relevant to society. Methods: We analyzed data of 9573 participants (Ø 55.3 years, SD = 7.4) of the Paracelsus 10,000 study (Salzburg, Austria) who were classified into having or not having depressive symptoms. Population density, green space, and noise around the home address of the participants were collected and tested for correlations with mental health defined by depressive symptoms. We additionally tested whether migration status influenced the effect of urbanization on mental health. Results: There is a positive correlation between degree of urbanization and the probability of suffering from depressive symptoms (p = 0.011), yet this effect is independent of the migration background (p = 0.581). Participants in areas with high residential density were significantly more likely to suffer from poor mental health (p = 0.006 unadjusted). No significant association could be found between mental health and noise (p = 0.126 unadjusted) or green space neither regarding distance to closest green space (p = 0.549 unadjusted), nor size of green space (p = 0.549 unadjusted). Conclusions: In the Paracelsus 10,000 cohort, living in the city is associated with lower mental health, especially in participants with a high population density in the direct neighborhood. This might be due to social stress yet does not reflect minority stress in migrants. However, the influence of noise pollution and green space on mental health is limited in this cohort.

The Impact of Urban Architecture on the Lifestyle and Health of the People of Mehrauli, South Delhi

This research investigates the intricate relationship between urban design and its influence on human health and lifestyle, focusing on the specific case of Mehrauli, South Delhi. The study aims to understand how urban development can affect public health and explore the principles of New Urbanism that could mitigate these risks. Through a mixed-method approach, the study analyzes the impact of various architectural factors, such as building design, green spaces, and infrastructure, on the physical and mental health of residents. The research delves into specific health concerns, including non-communicable diseases, mental health issues, and the overall quality of life in the urban environment. By examining existing literature and conducting surveys among residents, the study identifies key areas where urban architecture can be improved to promote healthier lifestyles and enhance the overall well-being of the community. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and architects to create more sustainable and health-promoting urban environments.

Possibility of Integrated Planning for Parks, Greenbelts and Street Space in South Korea

Background and objective: Planning for parks and greenbelts is crucial in public housing district plans. This study was conducted to explore the possibility of expanding parks and greenbelts by adjusting street space according to legal bases and suggest a model for expanding parks and greenbelts by reducing the area of roads in new town planning.Methods: The research site, Public Housing District ‘Wangsuk 2’ near Seoul City, is part of the 3rd Phase New Towns. It is being developed according to the government’s policy to expand the housing supply in the Seoul metropolitan area. The legal possibilities related to land, housing, and roads were reviewed, the site was analyzed through the land use plan of Wangsuk 2, and an integration model was developed, applied, and evaluated.Results: An integrated street park model was designed, which integrates sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and planting strips planned as part of road facilities with adjacent parks or greenbelts. The road sections of the site that require the improvement of street space were selected for the model application. As a result of the simulation, the total length of the integrated street parks was about 4 km, the area of parks and greenbelts expanded by 15,901 m², increasing the ratio of park and greenbelt area by 0.7%, and the ratio of road area decreased from 17.1% to 16.4%.Conclusion: Integrated street parks expand green space in new town development while providing a safe and comfortable passage for visitors, pedestrians, bicycle/PM users, and drivers. This study is significant in that it presents an alternative to expanding green space that can improve street space and urban environment, which residents can experience daily.

EVALUATION OF PLANTS BASED ON ECOLOGICAL TOLERANCE CRITERIA: A CASE STUDY OF URBAN OPEN GREEN SPACES IN RIZE, TURKIYE

In addition to aggressive urbanization, climate change and ecological challenges also have serious negative effects on urban green areas. Moreover, the selection of inappropriate plants in urban green space landscape projects increases the severity of these negatives. Therefore, inappropriate plant selection is considered a significant threat to the sustainability of urban green spaces. This situation highlights the importance of selecting plants with high ecological tolerance in urban park landscape projects. In this study, all tree, shrub, and ground cover plants identified in 11 urban parks and open green areas in Rize province were evaluated in terms of ecological tolerance criteria (air pollution, drought, wind, temperature, cold, and salinity). A total of 223 plant taxa were examined (77 native, 3 semi-native, 143 exotic), and it was determined that 149 taxa (49 native, 100 exotic) were sensitive to at least one of these criteria, while the remaining 74 taxa (27 native, 47 exotic) had sufficient tolerance to all ecological variables examined. Prunus serrulata Lindl. ‘Kanzan’ was identified as the taxon with the weakest ecological tolerance, and the resilience statuses of the other taxa were presented in the assessment table created. As a result, it was found that there are taxa used in Rize urban open green areas that pose risks against ecological factors, and recommendations were made for future landscape planting projects.

A Systematic Review of the Impact of Changes to Urban Green Spaces on Health and Education Outcomes, and a Critique of Their Applicability to Inform Economic Evaluation

Several reviews have consolidated the evidence on the impact of living near an urban green space on improving health and education outcomes and reducing mortality. However, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of specific improvements to these urban green spaces, which would help decision-makers make informed decisions on how to invest in urban green spaces. Therefore, this review synthesizes the impact of more specific changes to, or investments in, urban green spaces on health and education outcomes, synthesizes the cost-effectiveness of these interventions, and critiques the applicability of the evidence for an economic evaluation. We find that interventions targeted towards improving play areas or fitness equipment tended to have mostly positive impacts on physical activity, while interventions on improving walking path, or the overall greenery showed a more mixed impact on physical activity. There were only two studies on the impact of changes to urban green spaces on mental health, with only one finding a positive association of the intervention with depression, and there were no studies measuring the impact of changes to urban green spaces and educational outcomes. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, we find that typically very small improvements are required to make the interventions a cost-effective policy choice; however, we found several limitations with using the existing evidence to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Overall, we found that most of the evidence does suggest that improvements to urban green spaces can lead to improvements in physical activity, but further research is needed on the impact on mental health and educational outcomes. Furthermore, additional evidence with longer time horizons, multi-sectoral benefits, distributional outcomes, and more consistent outcome measures would assist in informing cost-effectiveness and may ultimately lead to improved decision-making around investments for urban green spaces in specific contexts.

Eco-Friendly Office Platform: Leveraging Machine Learning and GIS for Carbon Footprint Management and Green Space Analysis

This research focuses on developing an innovative platform to manage carbon footprint data related to office activities and monitor green spaces, integrating geoinformatics and machine learning technologies. The platform addresses the lack of automated systems for tracking carbon emissions, particularly in high paper consumption environments, such as those involving printing and photocopying. Additionally, it monitors green spaces within corporate settings, an aspect often overlooked in existing systems. The study demonstrates the platform’s capability to automate carbon footprint calculations and provide accurate assessments of green areas, achieving a high accuracy rate of 96.22% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.92. The results confirm the platform’s ability to deliver both comprehensive and granular environmental insights, supporting decision making for more sustainable office environments. The key novelty of this study lies in the integration of real-time data capture with geoinformatics and machine learning to efficiently track both carbon footprints and green spaces. This approach offers a practical solution to a gap in environmental data management in office settings, enabling organizations to align their practices with sustainability goals. The platform’s precise, automated system contributes significantly to the development of eco-friendly workplaces, highlighting its academic and practical value in the field of environmental sustainability.

Contested Urban Green Spaces in India: Complex Dynamics of Environmental Development

This research paper examines the proliferation of urbanization in contemporary India has led to a pressing need for the preservation and expansion of green spaces within cities. As rapid development continues to reshape the landscape, the importance of green spaces in promoting ecological balance, enhancing public health, and fostering social well-being becomes increasingly evident. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the issues and challenges associated with green spaces in modern India.

Measurement Model of Sustainable Servicescape and Service Quality on Green Space and Environmental Satisfaction

Measurement Model of Sustainable Servicescape and Service Quality on Green Space and Environmental Satisfaction

Urban green spaces and public realm design in Cairo: Enhancing quality of life and environmental sustainability

The paper explores the pressing challenges and promising initiatives in enhancing urban green spaces and the public realm in Cairo, a metropolis grappling with rapid population growth and environmental degradation. As the city struggles with density, air pollution, and a shortage of green areas—far below the recommended standard for urban health—the article highlights key efforts to revitalize public spaces. Notable projects include the creation of large parks like Al-Azhar Park, the redevelopment of the Nile riverfront through projects such as Mamsha Ahl Misr, and the introduction of green infrastructure solutions like street trees, green roofs, and sustainable urban drainage systems. Despite these advancements, Cairo faces significant obstacles, including limited public land, budget constraints, and water scarcity. However, there are opportunities to address these challenges through innovative urban agriculture, public-private partnerships, and community participation in green space development. The paper suggests that through continued investment and thoughtful urban design, Cairo can foster a more sustainable, livable environment. By integrating green infrastructure into future development projects, the city holds potential to transform its landscape and improve the quality of life for its residents in the coming decades.

Listening to the Green Voices of the Elderly: A Qualitative Exploration of Satisfaction with Age-Friendly Recreational Landscapes in Residential Green Spaces

The study focuses on Lianyungang City, China, a context that provides valuable insights into factors influencing the design of aging-friendly recreational landscapes in residential green spaces. It is essential to enhance the refurbishment of such areas and give older adults healthy and enjoyable outdoor spaces. The research conducted 31 semi-structured interviews, employing coding analysis with the assistance of qualitative analysis software NVivo12Plus and utilizing the rootedness theory. The study identified six core influencing factors and 23 constituent factors that impact satisfaction with aging-friendly recreational landscapes in residential green spaces. Coding analysis revealed that recreational facilities, community participation, management, green space design, microclimate, and safety are the six main influencing factors. Recreational facilities were the most significant influence on satisfaction with aging-friendly recreational landscapes in residential green spaces. At the same time, community participation was crucial in influencing satisfaction with these landscapes. Finally, the article offers recommendations for optimizing aging-friendly recreational landscapes in China’s residential green spaces, considering the context of China’s aging society.

Green infrastructure as understood by stakeholders in small and medium-sized towns in Poland

Motives: In urban governance processes involving local communities, green infrastructure (GI) is an important proxy for the local quality of life. In this paper, the authors focus on GI in small and medium-sized Polish towns, which attracts much less research interest than that in large cities. The study covered 97 towns, and it included desk research and a questionnaire survey of local authorities and NGOs.Aim: The aim of the study was to determine whether residents are involved in the management of urban GI, whether local authorities and communities have identified the need to develop new GI, and whether they are taking appropriate measures to maintain and preserve the existing GI resources. Another objective was to examine the priority of existing GI resources in governance policies.Results: The levels of citizen participation and GI management in small and medium-sized towns were ranked. The general observation is that green spaces are not an effective participation tool in small towns. The situation has gradually improved in medium-sized cities and towns within metropolitan regions, but this does not seem to be a determining factor.

Enhanced Cross-Entropy Technique for Triangular Fuzzy Neutrosophic Multiple-Attribute Decision-Making and Applications to Quality Evaluation of Urban-Park Environmental Design

The evaluation of urban park environmental design quality is essential for ensuring that parks meet community needs and environmental sustainability. By comprehensively considering indicators such as functionality, aesthetics, sustainability, and user experience, this evaluation helps designers optimize spatial layouts and enhance the efficiency and aesthetic value of parks. Additionally, good environmental design promotes ecological protection, improves the quality of life for residents, and adds more green spaces to the city, making parks an integral part of daily urban life. The evaluation of urban park environmental design quality is framed as a multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) problem. This study introduces the triangular fuzzy neutrosophic number cross-entropy (TFNN-CE) method, which integrates traditional cross-entropy with triangular fuzzy neutrosophic sets (TFNSs). Subsequently, the TFNN-CE technique for MADM is established. A numerical example illustrating the evaluation of urban park environmental design quality is provided, alongside several comparative analyses to highlight the advantages of the proposed approach. The key contributions of this research are as follows: (1) the TFNN-CE technique is introduced through the integration of cross-entropy and TFNSs; (2) the TFNN-CE technique is formulated to address MADM problems using TFNSs; (3) an empirical application for assessing urban park environmental design quality is presented to validate the proposed methodology; (4) comparative studies are conducted to substantiate the rationality of the TFNN-CE technique.

Pengembangan Taman untuk Meningkatkan Integrasi Lingkungan Hijau di Universitas Sunan Giri Surabaya

The development of the park at Sunan Giri University Surabaya aims to improve the integration of the green environment on campus through the utilization of ecological, social, cultural, economic, and aesthetic functions of the park as a green open space. This research uses the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) method to develop the park as a green space at Sunan Giri University Surabaya. The ABCD method focuses on utilizing community assets, such as available land and the support of the academic community, to design parks that function ecologically, aesthetically, socially, and economically. Through observation and focus group discussions, community needs and potentials were identified for garden planning. Project implementation was carried out in stages involving active participation from the campus community. The results showed that the developed garden successfully improved the aesthetics and tidiness of the campus environment and supported social and cultural functions. The evaluation showed that the success of the program was influenced by community support and land availability, despite challenges such as dry soil conditions. The development of this garden is expected to become a model of environmental sustainability and strengthen the university's image as an institution that cares about the environment.

What has Contributed to Green Space Inequities in U.S. Cities? A Narrative Review

Much research has documented green space inequities, but no review has examined their determinants holistically. To address this gap, we conduct a narrative review to synthesize the historical and recent mechanisms contributing to green space inequities in U.S. cities. We identify 77 publications covering this topic and find that two complementary macro-mechanisms shape green space inequities: residential segregation and unequal green space investments. Historical mechanisms include racial residential segregation, redlining, and postwar suburbanization. More recent mechanisms include nonprofits’ involvement in green space provision, green gentrification, and contemporary plans. Moving toward green space equity requires addressing both historical and current mechanisms.

An Integrated Approach to Green and Bioclimatic Design in High-Rise Mixed-Use Buildings: A Case Study of Green Skyscrapers

Urbanization has led to challenges such as resource strain and environmental degradation, prompting the need for innovative solutions. High-rise mixed-use developments offer a way to maximize land use efficiency, but traditional designs often neglect green spaces, leading to energy inefficiency and a lack of connection with nature. This paper discusses the role of plants, integration of plants and bioclimatic design principles in addressing urban challenges. This study explores the integration of plants and bioclimatic design principles in high-rise mixed-use developments. This paper also explains the fundamental principles and design considerations for high-rise buildings, focusing on structural systems, earthquake resistance, and wind load effects. In conclusion, integrating plants and bioclimatic design principles in high-rise mixed-use developments is important for creating sustainable and livable urban environments. By prioritizing green spaces and sustainable design practices, developers can contribute to a greener skyline and a more sustainable future.