Urban Blue Spaces Research Articles

An assessment of how street view imagery and remote-sensing data of green and blue spaces can explain variations in housing prices: a case study in Suzhou, China

ABSTRACT Urban blue and green spaces have significant influences on housing prices. In this study, we employed three data sources of blue and green space data sources (street view images, remote-sensing indicators, and land use data) and compared the variations of the three data sources of data in housing prices in Suzhou, China. The Spearman correlation showed street view data and remote sensing data reflect different perspectives of blue and green spaces. In terms of green spaces, street view greenery demonstrated the highest explanatory power for housing prices. This finding suggests that residents favour street greenery than Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and green space land use data. Regarding blue spaces, Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) exhibited the highest explanatory power for housing prices. This can be attributed to the fact that NDWI effectively captures water bodies around residential areas. The findings of this study have significant implications for urban planning and real estate development.

Blue space resilient urban planning to enhance severely distressed thermal environment

Water resilience is a vital aspect of current smart city planning. Maintaining the quality and volume of urban blue spaces can benefit local ecology, environment, and social well-being. The application of geospatial techniques provides an opportunity to achieve such goals in a spatially and temporally effective manner. While researchers often highlight city-level environmental problems, location-based solutions are insufficient, particularly for the rapidly sprawling Asian cities—the current work aimed to examine the water-resilient urban planning scopes for an Indian tropical megacity. The work assessed a major environmental hazard, i.e., urban heat island, which appeared to cover 9.6 % to 17.4 % of the area of the city region during the summer months. The importance of blue spaces in mitigating heat islands was quantified using data from nearly 150 waterbodies, including a river, a vast wetland, and multiple lakes and urban tanks. Linear and logarithmic models established how the cooling effect increases with larger water bodies. Blue space ranging between 1.8 km2 and 2.3 km2 was recommended as the smallest yet effective size for future recreational zones. Incorporating ambient wind patterns further aided in deciding the locations of blue wedges that can be key for heat island mitigation. Moreover, to substantially amplify the blue resource recharge rate in a cost-effective manner, a multi-parameter decision analysis was carried out. Overlay of five surface characteristics contributed to planning sites for surface infiltration systems. The entire framework of the work was built to achieve sustainable development goals.

Healthy urban blue space design: Exploring the associations of blue space quality with recreational running and cycling using crowdsourced data

Urban blue space offers substantial health benefits by encouraging population physical activity. Despite much evidence on the nature-health nexus, the relationship between blue space and recreational exercises remains under-studied, limiting the realisation of health benefits in blue space design. Using crowdsourced data, including volunteered geographic information and street view image data, this study investigates the associations of blue space quality with recreational running and cycling in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Results show that recreational exercise levels on street segments vary based on the blue space type and design. Compared to inland canals and rivers, small-scale recreational waterbodies are more conducive to running but not cycling, while both activities tend to cluster around the Nieuwe Maas River. Interestingly, the Water View Index shows a general negative association with both activities after adjusting for the blue space type. Besides the waterbody characteristics, eye-level environmental factors, including higher Green View Index, lower building density, more diverse land use, greater connected street network and fewer traffic elements, are associated with more running and cycling exercises. Results for visual complexity and neighbourhood population composition are mixed depending on the exercise type. These findings are further translated into spatial design patterns for developing exercise-supportive and health-promoting blue spaces.

Spatial heterogeneity and interaction effect of urban blue and green spaces on housing prices

Rapid urbanization presents policymakers and planners with the challenge of balancing public open spaces design with the conservation and improvement of natural resources. A comprehensive understanding of the land economic value of urban blue-green spaces (UBGS) holds immense significance for urban sustainable development, urban spatial justice and the promotion of human well-being. In this study, the MGWR model is employed to discuss the heterogeneous effects of UBGS on housing prices in Hangzhou. Additionally, the interaction effect between blue space and green space was examined at the district level, and the specific locations and spatial patterns were identified. The results show that (1) different types, features and accessibility of UBGS have different degrees and spatial scale of effect on housing prices, and will be affected by other attributes of UBGS; (2) in 30.92% of the main urban area of Hangzhou, the effect of blue spaces and green spaces on housing prices exhibits an interactive effect. The spatial patterns are divided into blue-green positive synergistic, antagonistic and negative synergistic regions; (3) green space has positive and negative effects on housing prices, while blue space has positive effects on housing prices at the regional level. The existence of water bodies can promote the positive effect of green spaces on housing prices or alleviate the negative effect. The results indicate that planners must transcend the singular focus on blue or green space planning and instead consider both in an integrated manner. This outcome can provide valuable references for UBGS planning.

The value of green and blue space: Walkability and house prices

Urban green and blue spaces are important amenities within highly urbanised areas which offer social, economic and ecological benefits and provide a number of valuable direct and indirect ecosystem of services to surrounding land uses, urban households integral to sustainable urban development. Existing research has revealed that green and blue spaces are not uniform environmental amenities, but rather a set of distinct goods comprising aesthetic and hydro-morphological characteristics therefore which can influence property values. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to examine the heterogeneity of green and blue spaces using 4985 sales transactions applying quantile regression to investigate the proximity effects of these urban amenities on property prices within the Belfast Metropolitan area, Northern Ireland. The findings show premiums for green features range between 3.0 % and 3.6 %, with blue space proximity to the coastline and lakes commanding premiums of 7.3 % and 5.3 %. Conversely, walking distance to large rivers shows a negative pricing effect of 3.8 %. The results further reveal some evidence of distance decay effects with proximity for green and blue space amenities. The quantile findings show empirical evidence of a U-shape relationship for a number of the green space amenities, indicating that lower and higher priced houses value proximity to these urban amenities differently. For urban blue spaces, the findings reveal that living near to a lake or the coastline observes larger premiums for higher priced properties. Moreover, the highest priced dwellings exhibit a higher negative pricing effect with walkability to urban rivers than those in the lowest priced properties. Overall, the findings provide empirical evidence to inform urban design and planning in line with sustainable development goals and biodiversity strategies for inclusive, and accessible public spaces within cities.

Associations of Urban Blue and Green Spaces With Coronary Artery Calcification in Black Individuals and Disadvantaged Neighborhoods.

Proximity to urban blue and green spaces has been associated with improved cardiovascular health; however, few studies have examined the role of race and socioeconomic status in these associations. Data were from the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults). We included longitudinal measurements (1985-1986 to 2010-2011) of blue and green spaces, including percentage of blue space cover, distance to the nearest river, green space cover, and distance to the nearest major park. Presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) was measured with noncontrast cardiac computed tomography in 2010 to 2011. The associations of blue and green spaces with CAC were assessed with generalized estimating equation regression with adjustment for demographics, individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status, health-related behaviors, and other health conditions. We conducted stratified analyses by race and neighborhood deprivation score to investigate whether the association varied according to social determinants of health. The analytic sample included 1365 Black and 1555 White participants with a mean±SD age of 50.1±3.6 years. Among Black participants, shorter distance to a river and greater green space cover were associated with lower odds of CAC (per interquartile range decrease [1.45 km] to the river: odds ratio [OR], 0.90 [95% CI, 0.84-0.96]; per 10 percentage-point increase of green space cover: OR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.95]). Among participants in deprived neighborhoods, greater green space cover was associated with lower odds of CAC (per a 10 percentage-point increase: OR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.80-0.99]), whereas shorter distance to the park was associated with higher odds of CAC (per an interquartile range decrease [5.3 km]: OR, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.00-1.15]). Black participants in deprived neighborhoods had lower odds of CAC with shorter distance to a river (per an interquartile range decrease: OR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.82-0.98]) and greater green space cover (per a 10 percentage-point increase: OR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.75-0.97]). There was no statistical interaction between the blue and green spaces and race or neighborhood characteristics in association with CAC. Longitudinally, shorter distance to a river and greater green space cover were associated with less CAC among Black participants and those in deprived neighborhoods. Shorter distance to a park was associated with increased odds of CAC among participants in deprived neighborhoods. Black participants residing in more deprived neighborhoods showed lower odds of CAC in association with greater exposure to river and green space cover.

How hydrological components of urban blue space influence the thermal milieu?

Present study examines the possible improvement of thermal discomfort mitigation. Unlike prior researches, which focused primarily on cooling effects of urban blue space, this study, instead of physical presence of blue space considers its hydrological components. The aim of the study is to better understand the role hydrological components like water consistency depth etc. In temperature regulation. The work uses field surveys and modeling to demonstrate how these hydrological factors influence the cooling effect of blue space, providing insights on urban thermal management. To fulfill the purpose, spatial association of hydrological components blue space with its thermal environment and cooling effects was assessed. The control of hydrological components on the surrounding air temperature was examined by conducting case studies. Resultsreveals greater hydro-duration, deeper water, and higher Water Presence Frequency (WPF) produce greater cooling effects. The study demonstrates a favorable correlation between hydrological richness and temperature reduction. The study also analyzes how land use and wetland size affect temperature, emphasizing the significance of hydrological conservation and restoration for successful temperature mitigation. Due to their hydrology, larger wetlands are able to moderate temperature to some extent, whereas smaller, fragmented wetlands being hydrologically poor are not so influential in this regard.With these results, the present study reaches beyond to the general understanding regarding the cooling effects of the urban blue spaces. While the previous studies primarily focused on estimating the cooling effect of urban blue space, the current one shows its synchronization with the hydrological characteristics. Novelty also entrusts here, through the modeling and field survey current study demonstrates deeper and consistent water coverage in the urban blue space for maximum period of a year pronounces the cooling effect. In addition, in this cooling effect, the role of land use which is a strong determinant of many aspects of the urban environment is also highlighted. Since all these findings define specific hydrological feature, the study has several practical implications. Mare restoration of urban blue space is not enough to mitigate the thermal discomfort. In order to optimize the cooling effect, the conservation of the hydrological richness is essential. The hydrological richness of the smaller wetlands and the edge of the larger wetlands is to be improved. The connection of these wetlands with the adjacent mighty may strengthen the hydrology. The vegetation was found to promote the cooling effect whereas shorter building helped in spreading the cooling effect. Such finding drives to incorporate the blue space with the green infrastructure along with restricting the building height atleast at the edge of the blue space.

Water Colour Shapes Diving Beetle (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) Assemblages in Urban Ponds.

Dramatic land-use changes in urban landscapes can drive water colour darkening by washing compounds, such as organic matter and iron, from terrestrial ecosystems into urban blue space, consequentially affecting aquatic communities. Here, I studied how pond water colour changes along an urban gradient and how diving beetles (Dytiscidae) respond to the water colour gradient in 11 ponds with fish and 15 ponds without fish in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. I found that the pond water colour exhibited a non-significant decreasing pattern along the urban gradient, indicating that urbanisation may not necessarily drive brownification in urban ponds. Dytiscid species richness and abundance exhibited significant positive correlations with increasing water colour in ponds with fish but no significant correlation in ponds without fish. Some species, such as Agabus spp. and Dytiscus spp., appeared tolerant to highly coloured water, whereas some species, such as Hyphydrus ovatus and Hygrotus spp., tended to occur in clear water, indicating that brown water may provide dytiscids with prey refuges, but some species are intolerant to brown water. The study highlights the importance of urban pondscape heterogeneity to meet the needs of aquatic invertebrates that prefer different water colours and for the multifunctioning of urban ponds.

“Knowing My Way around” – The Role of Urban Spaces for Migrant Identity Content and Sense of Belonging in Germany

ABSTRACT Sense of belonging (SoB) and identity content have been studied focusing on social relations, but, as we suggest, might also involve a spatial dimension. The present project set out to better understand the relationship between space, SoB and identity content in the context of relocation. The research consisted of qualitative semi-structured and go-along interviews with 36 external migrants who live in four different German cities: Berlin, Bremen, Leipzig or Stuttgart. Using Thematic Analysis four themes were developed: Spaces to stand out and fit in, spaces of being oneself, spaces of well-being and spaces of familiarity. Results indicate that certain spaces, such as all-white or discriminatory spaces stimulate “foreigner”-identity content and evoke feelings of non-belonging. Other spaces, such as blue-green, aesthetic, familiar concept or multicultural spaces allow participants to experience identity continuity and develop SoB. Furthermore, results show two sides of being perceived in public spaces, and the importance not only of positive daily interactions, but of immersing oneself passively into social life, of blending in and of celebrating one’s culture. Results are discussed with a special focus on the role of “nodding encounters” and urban blue green spaces.

Using big data to analyze how and why users value urban blue spaces in Spain

One of the objectives outlined in the 2030 Agenda is to make cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable (Goal 11). This study analyzed the ratings (quantitative data), and opinions (qualitative data) of over half a million Google Maps reviews to discern how urban blue spaces (beaches and inland blue spaces) and green spaces (parks and ornamental gardens) were valued by users and the reasons behind their ratings, with a specific emphasis on the role played by the presence of water in these environments. The main findings indicated a more positive rating for blue spaces than green spaces. In addition, the qualitative analysis showed that aesthetic values were the most commented upon and appreciated feature of these spaces, followed by aspects related to physical activity, social interactions, relaxation, air quality, biodiversity, and those associated with the conservation and cleanliness of these spaces. These findings align with those from previous studies, suggesting a higher preference for blue spaces and a greater willingness to pay for houses and hotel rooms offering views of water.

Photo-able Urban Green-Blue Spaces

Urban green–blue spaces (UGBSs) are increasingly integrated into the urban fabric transformation, playing a pivotal role in shaping everyday interactions and experiences with nature in the Anthropocene era. Crowdsourcing, facilitated by digital technologies, has emerged as a novel methodological advance for accessing subjective place-based information, allowing the public to produce and share photographs at an unprecedented scale. As people can now readily capture and disseminate images on social media from virtually any location, these photographs contribute to the digital representation of places. Many studies have leveraged social media imagery to explore mental maps of cities, place perceptions, and ecosystem services. This raises fundamental questions: What are the UGBSs that promote photography across cities? What are the similarities and differences among cities’ photogenic UGBSs? And how do cities’ photogenic UGBSs relate to the happiness of their inhabitants? This study investigates these questions through an analysis of 203,020 photographs, taken from social media, of sites across 186 cities over a five-year period (2014 to 2018). Employing Google Cloud Vision and topic modelling with a state-of-the-art neural network model, photographs are clustered and used to identify cross-city features. The correlation between prevalence of photogenic UGBSs and levels of happiness is investigated using linear regression analysis. The results show that UGBSs eliciting photography practice are predominantly characterised by water-related subjects, confirming a widespread aesthetic appreciation for urban blue spaces. Perceptions of UGBSs exhibit significant variability among cities, offering a metric to assess environmental policy efficacy. Lastly, a positive association is found in high-income contexts between number of social media photographs of UGBSs and subjective well-being, while this correlation is not significant in middle- and low-income contexts. This sheds light on human–nature relationships by providing global evidence of how aesthetic appreciation of urban nature influences human well-being.

Solitude for Urban Dwellers through "Urban Blue Spaces" in Colombo

Many urban dwellers are suffering from various psychological issues due to the lack of solitude. Previous research has found that Blue Spaces have more potential to promote solitude among people when compared to other natural settings. This is because of the attraction that humans have towards water and the ability of water to trigger restful involuntary attention, which in turn helps to promote solitude. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to identify the characteristics/attributes of Urban Blue Space (UBS) that promotes solitude, in the context of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Three cases namely Mt. Lavinia beach, Diyawanna lake and South West Beira lake are selected and analysed using a mixed method of research such as observations, on-site photographs, questionnaires and unstructured interviews. Findings indicated that physical attributes of water such as fluidity, sound, lighting and accessibility, the physical attributes of space such as being away, extent, soft fascination and compatibility are the factors that mainly contribute to an enhanced experience of solitude among urban dwellers. Site conditions also have an impact to a certain extent, as they help to create favourable settings in which people can seek solitude. These findings will contribute towards better design and management of UBS in the future.

Anthropogenic impacts on urban blue space and its reciprocal effect on human and socio-ecological health

Quantifying anthropogenic impacts on blue space (BS) and its effect on human and socio-ecological health was least explored. The present study aimed to do this in reference to the urban BS transformation scenario of Eastern India. To measure BS transformation, Landsat image-based water indices were run from 1990 to 2021. Anthropogenic impact score (AIS) and 7 components scores of 78 selected BS on 70 parameters related data driven from the field. Total 345 respondents were taken for human and socio-ecological health assessment. For this, depression (DEP), anxiety (ANX), stress (STR), physical activities (PA), social capital (SC), therapeutic landscape (TL) and environment building (EB) parameters were taken. The result exhibited that BS was reduced. About 50% of urban core BS was reported highly impacted. Human and socio-ecological health was identified as good in proximity to BS, but it was observed better in the cases of larger peripheral BS. AIS on BS was found to be positively associated with mental health (0.47–0.63) and negatively associated with PA, SC, TL and EB (−0.50 to −0.90). Standard residual in ordinary least square was reported low (−1.5 to 1.5) in 95% BS. Therefore, BS health restoration and management is crucial for sustaining the living environment.

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Blue Space in Beijing and the Identification of Multifactor Driving Mechanisms Using Remote Sensing

With rapid urban development in Beijing, there is a critical need to explore urban natural resources and understand their underlying mechanisms. Urban blue space (UBS) has gained increasing attention due to its potential to drive microcirculation, mitigate heat islands, and enhance residents’ well-being. In this study, we used remote sensing data to extract UBS in Beijing and employed exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) methods to examine its spatial and temporal development over the past two decades. We adopted a mesoscopic perspective to uncover the full spectrum of landscape patterns and quantitatively simulate the mechanisms influencing the area of UBS and landscape patterns. Our findings are as follows: (1) The UBS area in Beijing exhibited fluctuating growth from 2000 to 2020. (2) Spatial clustering of UBS was stable with subtle changes. (3) The ecological conditions in Beijing improved over the last 21 years, indicated by increased habitat diversity and richness, while notable landscape fragmentation posed significant challenges. (4) Science and technology management-related factors, such as UEM, EDUI, and STI, emerged as the most influential mechanisms for the UBS area. The coefficients for these factors were 0.798, 0.759, and 0.758, respectively. Following closely were vegetation conditions (NDVI) with a coefficient of 0.697 and an annual average temperature (T) with a coefficient of 0.692. (5) Precipitation was identified as the most vital influencing factor for the UBS landscape, with a significant correlation coefficient of 0.732. It was followed by residential population (POP), with a coefficient of 0.692, and economic conditions represented by gross domestic product (GDP), with a coefficient of 0.691.

Natural Dose of Blue Restoration: A Field Experiment on Mental Restoration of Urban Blue Spaces

Urban Blue Spaces (UBS) have been found to be beneficial to people’s mental health. Yet, the empirical evidence for how and why different types of urban blue spaces could promote residents’ mental health is still limited. Accordingly, 164 observation samples were collected for this experiment relating to the restorative perception of environmental exposure. The effects of two exposure behaviors (15 min of viewing and 15 min of walking) on psychological recovery in three different urban blue spaces settings (Urban River, Urban Canal, Urban Lake) were investigated in a field experiment. These are the main findings of this current study: (1) all three UBSs increased vitality, feelings of restoration, and positive emotions, and decreased negative emotions; (2) the mental restoration effects between walking and viewing among the three UBSs showed no significant differences; (3) of the three UBSs, urban rivers and urban lakes were the most restorative, while urban canals were less so; (4) the concept of “natural health dose” is proposed, where the health experiences of different UBSs in urban settings can show differences depending on the natural components and their levels of the environment (blue, blue + green, blue + blue). The results of this experiment can provide fundamental evidence that can contribute to building healthy cities through the management and design of different blue spaces.

Innovative Urban Blue Space Design in a Changing Climate: Transition Models in the Baltic Sea Region

Waterfront areas in cities are subject to constant changes. The desire to integrate the transformed waterside areas with the urban fabric involves shaping high-quality public spaces related to water, which are often referred to as urban blue spaces (UBS). The aim of the research was to examine the transformation processes of urban waterfront areas in the Baltic Sea Region and identify emerging transition models and types of blue public spaces. The methodological framework of this study is based on qualitative analysis of urban form with respect to coastal and riverine waters. An introductory analysis of 50 cases of transformations was conducted, and 12 were selected for further investigation: Tallinn, Pärnu (Estonia), Copenhagen, Køge, Aarhus (Denmark), Helsinki, Turku (Finland), Stockholm, Malmö, Luleå, Sundsvall, and Ystad (Sweden). As the outcome of the study, the authors indicate that the existing hard land–water interfaces were transformed into soft transition zones where new types of blue public spaces were created with different relationships to water. Synergies were identified between public space design, flood protection measures, and climate adaptation schemes. Finally, the findings highlight the need to verify the existing planning regulations and make them more flexible and effective in guiding the sustainable waterfront design processes.

Research on Social Service Effectiveness Evaluation for Urban Blue Spaces—A Case Study of the Huangpu River Core Section in Shanghai

Urban blue spaces (UBSs) hold significant value in terms of public health, tourism economy, and residents’ well-being. The Huangpu River in Shanghai, renowned as a global urban blue space, currently faces challenges such as unequal service capacity across sections and varying levels of spatial vitality. This study incorporates the concept of “service effectiveness” into public space evaluation. Drawing inspiration from the 4E (economics, efficiency, equity, and effectiveness) principles of effectiveness evaluation, a social service effectiveness evaluation system is constructed to measure service efficiency and effect. Through the literature research, 6 primary indicators and 12 secondary indicators are set to investigate the utilization rate and realization effect of the UBS. The evaluation system utilizes field surveys, text analysis, and remote-sensing techniques to collect relevant data. Through standardized calculations, different aspects of the indicators are integrated into a single evaluation criterion. The “overall effectiveness index” and the “efficiency–effect balance index” is introduced to quantitatively analyze the overall effectiveness characteristics, including spatial characteristics and time-varying characteristics, as well as efficiency–effect balance and imbalances. The evaluation located three low-effectiveness sections and three imbalanced sections at the north and south ends of the core section of the Huangpu River. The influence factors of effectiveness are analyzed through correlation test and literature studies, mainly including the urban hinterland, service facilities, environmental quality, and management publicity factors. This study aims to provide research ideas and methods for waterfront area planning and city-refined management.

Keep Calm and Go Out: Urban Nature Exposure, Mental Health, and Perceived Value during the COVID-19 Lockdown

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of incorporating nature-based solutions in urban design, in order to create sustainable and resilient cities. Inspired by these events, the present study aims at exploring the mental health benefits of nature exposure during the outbreak. Secondarily, we investigate changes in use patterns towards urban green spaces (UGS) and urban blue spaces (UBS) and whether extreme conditions, such as these of a lockdown, can lead to an increase in people’s appreciation of urban nature. Through an online survey, we observed that the pandemic resulted in a decrease in the frequency of visitation to UGS/UBS (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found for exercise (p < 0.001) and socialization (p < 0.05) as main drivers for visiting urban nature pre- and post-lockdown. Accordingly, visitation rates for forests (p < 0.05), playgrounds (p < 0.001), and the sea (p < 0.001) differed significantly when comparing the two periods. In people’s perception, UGS/UBS are important for the urban fabric (89%). Our structural equation model indicated that nature exposure had a beneficial effect on participants’ mental health (p < 0.001). Pathways that explain the relationship between nature exposure and post- lockdown value were nature relatedness, motivation, and perceived importance of UGS/UBS. No mediation could be extracted for nature exposure and mental health. Our findings show the positive association between nature exposure and mental health improvement, especially in times of crisis, as well as a shift in the “value domain” towards urban nature.

Assessment of Heat Mitigation Services Provided by Blue and Green Spaces: An Application of the InVEST Urban Cooling Model with Scenario Analysis in Wuhan, China

Natural infrastructure is essential in reducing thermal discomfort caused by the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Optimizing and planning green and blue spaces can help establish nature-based urban heat mitigation strategies that benefit sustainable urban development. Most current studies on urban heat mitigation have focused on the single heat reduction effect of green space or blue space, while there has been a lack of research on the combined cooling effects of blue and green spaces. Moreover, existing heat mitigation models and methods cannot directly guide the optimization of blue–green spatial patterns at the urban scale. This has led to an unclear relationship between heat mitigation effects and blue–green spatial patterns. Based on land use data, meteorological data, and biophysical information as inputs, this paper utilized the InVEST urban cooling model (UCM) and scenario analysis method to simulate urban heat mitigation patterns by setting up different blue–green space configuration scenarios. The relative contribution of blue–green space changes to the variation of heat mitigation benefits was quantitatively estimated using the difference comparison method, and the relationship between heat reduction effects and urban blue–green spatial patterns was elucidated using spatial analysis methods. The results show that the InVEST UCM captured some of the variability in the surface thermal response of Wuhan and can be applied to the modeling of urban heat mitigation patterns. Furthermore, they show that consideration of the cooling effect of water evaporation can improve the simulation accuracy to some extent. In Wuhan, there were regional differences in heat mitigation patterns and the heat mitigation effect was significantly higher in the suburbs than in the city. Additionally, urban parks, lakes, and mountains with surface or block distribution had noticeable cooling benefits. Finally, the scenario simulation results demonstrate that green space was more efficient at mitigating heat, while blue space was more critical for the geographical partitioning of the UHI. These findings can provide a reference for the planning and optimal management of urban blue and green spaces, as well as for the design of heat reduction policies.

The Impact of the Type and Abundance of Urban Blue Space on House Prices: A Case Study of Eight Megacities in China

Urban blue spaces (UBS) have been shown to provide a multitude of cultural ecosystem services to urban residents, while also having a considerable impact on the surrounding community’s house prices. However, the impact of different types of UBS and the effect of their abundance on house prices have been largely understudied. This study aims to address this gap by examining the impact of different types of UBS on house prices using eight megacities in China as a case study. Spatial hedonic price models are developed to assess the impact of different types of UBS on house prices, and differences in their impact across cities are identified. Variance partitioning analysis is also used to decompose the relative contributions of UBS variables and explore the relationship between UBS-attributable premiums and the abundance of UBS. The results indicate that lakes and the main river have a significant positive impact on house prices in most cities, while the impact of small rivers on house prices varies across cities. The influence of UBS variables differs significantly across cities, but these differences are not solely driven by the abundance of UBS. This study provides valuable information for UBS planning and management and contributes to the equitable distribution of urban public services.