Urban Green Infrastructure Development Research Articles

Optimizing urban green infrastructure using a highly detailed surface modeling approach

Urban trees and forests show a better ecosystem with many benefits, including pure air quality. The development of urban green infrastructure (UGI) creates a better management system that greatly impacts social values in an urban system. The UGI and construction activities are receiving much attention for their effectiveness in addressing various urban ecological, social and economic issues. Using green infrastructure in stormwater management can reduce the influence on urban sewerage systems and, eventually, on building water resources. The main goal of the research is to optimize the green infrastructure to provide a less-pollution, well-organized, and pleasurable environment for the inhabitants. Various models are used to study the present rainfall-runoff scenario, but the stormwater management model (SWMM) is the most preferable and suggested model. Once the parameters are accessed, optimizing the green infrastructure (GI) will be easy. A complete SWMM model is evaluated over the complete surface, and a hydrological measurement is presented. The evaluation study presents various component percentages: asphalt (37%), green (27%), ceiling (21%), grit (12%), and cemented area (2%), which provides rainproof coverage of approximately 60%. A design is developed about the diverse events of GI in urban exploiting the SWMM and demonstrates its stimulus on the rainfall-runoff behaviour. In recent years, very little attention has been given to green spaces in urban areas, which not only increases pollution but also decreases the urbanization. Therefore, urban green spaces are more important to improve air quality and resident living standards. Over the given scenario and the rainfall event, a decline of the quantitative discharge parameters is evident, such as discharge volume (i.e., from 3.6 to 61.8) and the peak discharge rate (i.e., from 5.4 to 62.7%). The simulation results show that green areas give high satisfaction with low construction costs, which shows the superlative performance ratio of the examined measures. From the investigation, it is also recommended to have green areas and public spaces in impervious urban areas, which greatly reduced the runoff in the project area.

Using fs/QCA to explore the influencing factors of urban green infrastructure development and its combinational drivers: the case of the Yangtze River Delta region of China.

High levels of urban green infrastructure (UGI) development can help mitigate the climate, biodiversity, and habitat crises faced by cities and support the achievement of sustainable urban development. Based on the relevant data of 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta region obtained from 2011 to 2020, this study measured the development level of natural and geographic conditions, economic development, urban construction, social and cultural development, and eco-environment quality and urban green infrastructure (UGI); evaluated the development trend of UGI in the region during the 12th Five-Year Plan and 13th Five-Year Plan by using entropy TOPSIS; and used fs/QCA to explain the high-level development path of each city toward the achievement of a green infrastructure. The results showed that (1) the development level of UGI in the Yangtze River Delta region decreases from southeast to northwest, and gradually decreases from Shanghai, Hangzhou, and other central cities. (2) There were several different configurations of high levels and non-high levels of UGI development drivers across regions, confirming the existence of multiple causality and asymmetry indices in the drivers of UGI. (3) During the "12th Five-Year Plan" and the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, the conditions needed to achieve a high level of UGI gradually became stricter, expanding from nature-social culture and urban construction-eco-environmental drivers to nature-urban construction, nature-social culture-eco-environmental, urban construction-economy-social culture-eco-environmental drivers. Research findings can provide greater guidance and implications for future sustainable urban development.

Assessment of Policy and Legal Frameworks of Urban Green Infrastructure Development: Republic of Guinea

Urban green infrastructure has become crucial to sustainable cities’ development because it offers many advantages, including better environmental quality, increased social well-being, and increased economic prosperity. The evaluation and monitoring of the implementation of policies are essential elements of the development of urban green infrastructure because they demonstrate the will of political decision-makers to assess the implementation’s success and adapt it to the observed need. This article sets out existing institutional structures, institutional plans, and institutional policies linked to creating urban green infrastructure in three study cities: Conakry, Kankan, and Dubreka. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and policy analysis. The study used primary data collection methods, including questionnaires and interviews with key informants, to gather first-hand information from decision-makers, planners, managers, and other organizations involved in developing and managing urban green infrastructure at regional and local levels. In addition, this study used primary data collection, facilitating the collection of first-hand information reinforced by questionnaires. A simple random sampling method was also adopted, which improved the selection of a sample of 330 respondents. Most government officials and academics agree that current policies regarding green urban infrastructure have not been implemented. The study has identified several shortcomings in existing political and legal frameworks, in particular the lack of coordination and coherence between the ministries and the government agencies involved, insufficient financial and human resources, the lack of attention, the lack of transparency in the process of developing policies and regulations, the low involvement of the private sector, the need to strengthen technical capacity, and poor urban green infrastructure strategies. These actions are necessary to develop essential policies and procedures that improve the development of green urban infrastructure. In order to overcome these obstacles, efforts must be made to improve coordination and collaboration between stakeholders, strengthen technical capacity, increase public participation, and improve transparency in the process of policies and regulation.

Картографирование экосистемных услуг парковых зон Воркуты в целях совершенствования планировочных решений

Urban green infrastructure development is one of the main ways to achieve sustainable development of cities. The most important role in this process belongs to park areas, squares, street landscaping, etc. This function is achieved due to presenting a wide range of ecosystem services: regulatory, supporting, information and provisioning. Studies of green infrastructure ecosystem services pools are of particular importance for cities of the Russian Federation Arctic Zone, whose population reaches 50–300 thousand people: Murmansk, Apatity, Vorkuta, Norilsk etc. Environmental and socio-economic characteristics of cities control the demand for certain services of their green infrastructure. This should be taken into account in municipal planning. Vorkuta parks were formed mainly on wasteland areas with willow thickets, swamps, ravines, etc., which were subsequently recultivated. Ecosystem services of five Vorkuta parks and their various combinations were considered. These combinations differ depending on the variations of geoecological characteristics of the park’s location. Such characteristics include the state of vegetation cover, location on a slope, presence of a water reservoir, position in relation to major highways, etc. The studied elements of Vorkuta green infrastructure have significant differences both in functional role and social value. T he priority ecosystem services of these territories are regulatory (filtration of polluted air, regulation and filtration of surface runoff, control of temperature regime of the permafrost layer covered by soils, erosion processes control, regulation of microclimate and noise pollution); informational (recreational, aesthetic, formation of a sense of place, etc.), to a lesser extent, due to the severity of natural conditions—supporting (biodiversity support, formation of biogeochemical cycles). The map “Ecosystem services of Vorkuta parks” was compiled based on territorial binding of priority ecosystem services.

Assessing the environmental performance of plastic-based and felt-based green wall systems in a life-cycle perspective

With the remarkable growth of cities and the increase of built-up areas, mitigation of urban heat island effects has become one of the most crucial challenges in social and environmental sustainability with significant impacts on public health. This has led to an increasing development of urban green infrastructure. Among those nature-based solutions, green wall systems have been receiving a growing attention, being a passive technology with their ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, improve air quality and reduce the heat island effect in urban environments. Despite that growing interest in studying the functions and features of such green systems, and the various types of living walls nowadays available, most studies evaluate their energy efficiency and performance only during the use phase. This study aimed to assess the overall environmental performances of two types of green walls in a life cycle perspective, considering the embodied energy, greenhouse gas emissions, materials and energy consumption, and embodied carbon. After collecting inventory data related to all components and processes of each system, a life cycle assessment with cradle to gate approach has been performed to compare the performances of a felt-based system without organic growth medium and a system based on plastic modules with organic growth medium. The main impacts have been detected in the production stage and materials used in systems structure. By comparing the results achieved in the 16 impact categories analyzed, the felt-based system showed the highest overall impact, with the use of fertilizers and aluminum components playing a crucial part. Polypropylene used to produce the panels, water used for plant irrigation and potting soil composition are the main environmental impact contributors in the plastic-based system. The results pointed out the importance of accurate choice of materials for the design and production of green walls.

The role of impact assessment in the development of urban green infrastructure: a review of EIA and SEA practices in Thailand

ABSTRACT Impact assessment (IA) processes can potentially play important roles in driving green infrastructure (GI) planning and design, as well as establishing how GI can contribute to environmental planning objectives. In this paper, we explore how IA (strategic environmental assessment – SEA and environmental impact assessment – EIA) can support the development of GI in Thailand. A framework is designed which is used to reflect on how IA addresses and integrates GI in development at strategic and project levels. Based on a review of 18 EIAs and 4 SEAs from Thailand, it is established that whilst the consideration of GI in SEA (which is not yet compulsory in Thailand) has remained limited, consideration of green spaces for mitigating negative impacts in statutory EIA has been happening frequently. An important reason for this is that regulatory requirements imply that EIA should consider GI (referred to as ‘green spaces’). An important recommendation arising is that GI functions should be addressed in IAs, on the one hand to integrate different policies related to GI; and on the other hand to strengthen implementation of urban GI development.

Green Infrastructure Development in Urban Areas: Case Studies of Samutsakhon, Krathumbaen and Banphaeo Municipalities in Samut Sakhon Province

Though the development of green infrastructure in parks in Samut Sakhon province has been continuously implemented, there are still no research studies that have explicitly demonstrated the parks’ potential, nor any public opinions toward the development of urban green infrastructure in the parks that would be productive for the planning to efficiently improve and provide urban green infrastructure. As a result, this study had the following objectives: 1) To analyze the potential and networks of urban green infrastructure in parks in Samut Sakhon province, 2) To analyze the satisfaction of using the services and requirements of the urban green infrastructure development in the parks in Samut Sakhon province, and 3) To propose development guidelines in urban green infrastructure for the parks of Samut Sakhon province. The research instruments comprised a questionnaire, and the data were analyzed by using a scalogram. The results found that high-potential parks were not large in size, but they had all the complete components, as well as green infrastructure featured in the attributes of patch, matrix, and mosaic. Nevertheless, the green infrastructure development featured in the attribute of the corridor had disappeared in several sites of the green infrastructure in the parks. Likewise, the green networks of the parks, specifically those in the high-potential category, were not successive by walking. For this reason, the people were mostly satisfied with the convenient accessibility of the parks, but there were the requirements of paving the footpath, improving the landscape, and adding a variety of activities in the parks. Therefore, the development guidelines of urban green infrastructure in the parks should formulate more areas in the attribute of the corridor at the riverside and on the streets, conserve and increase the park areas by allowing public participation in the management, as well as apply urban planning measures to obtain the park area. In addition, a footpath and bike lane should be safely constructed in the high-potential parks. Simultaneously, the landscape should be adjusted in the low- and moderate-potential parks by launching pilot projects in the parks of the governmental agencies. 

Urban Green Infrastructure for Poverty Alleviation: Evidence Synthesis and Conceptual Considerations

The multiple benefits of urban green infrastructure (UGI) that support sustainable cities are increasingly acknowledged, and yet the bulk of research over the past decade or so has focused on only a small subset of the numerous benefits, notably recreation, physical and mental health, and regulating services. In contrast, there is very little information on the contribution of UGI to several of the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular SDG 1 of reducing poverty, despite the pervasiveness of poverty globally. This paper considers the diverse direct and indirect ways in which UGI can contribute to poverty alleviation, drawing on the limited evidence from various regions of the world. The direct links between UGI and poverty alleviation is via three means, namely provision of (1) consumptive or provisioning goods such as wild foods and firewood, (2) employment in UGI development, maintenance, and restoration, and (3) land for urban agriculture, income generation and dwelling. There are also a number of indirect links such as cash savings, improved physical and mental health, improved social networks, improved educational outcomes, and regulation of potential natural disasters. However, the commonly unequal distribution of UGI within and between cities means that the poverty alleviation potential and benefits are inequitably distributed, often against those who are most in need of them, i.e., the urban poor. This demands greater attention to promoting the equitable distribution and quality of UGI and mainstreaming of UGI into poverty reduction strategies and programmes and vice versa, as well as greater examination of the links between UGI and poverty alleviation in a greater range of contexts.

Facilitating Multifunctional Green Infrastructure Planning in Washington, DC through a Tableau Interface

Multifunctional urban green infrastructure (UGI) can regulate stormwater, mitigate heat islands, conserve biodiversity and biocultural diversity, and produce food, among other functions. Equitable governance of UGI requires new tools for sharing pertinent information. Our goal was to develop a public-access geographic information system (GIS) that can be used for comprehensive UGI planning in Washington, DC (the District) and to create an e-tool for UGI in the form of Tableau dashboards. The dashboards allow stakeholders to identify (1) existing UGI and (2) potential areas for new UGI including urban agriculture (UA). They also allow users to manipulate the data and identify priority locations for equitable UGI development by applying population vulnerability indices and other filters. We demonstrate use of the dashboards through scenarios focusing on UA in the District, which currently has 150 ha of existing UGI in the form of documented projects and an additional 2734 ha potentially suitable for UGI development. A total of 2575 ha is potentially suitable for UA, with 56% of that area in Wards 5, 7, and 8, which are largely food deserts and whose residents are primarily Black and experience the greatest inequities. Our work can serve as a model for similar digital tools in other locales using Tableau and other platforms.

Historical Development of Urban Green Infrastructure and Possibilities of its Implementation in the Republic of Croatia

Research has been motivated by a wide range of concepts of the term urban green infrastructure. As the aim was to indicate a clear basis for the term, an investigation of its development was a necessity, not only in the European, but also in a broader context. Although green infrastructure is included in the 21st century policies of protection and development of EU landscapes, its foundations can be traced back to the models of ideal Renaissance towns and urbanist concepts mainly from the 19th and 20th century. In these historical periods used concepts meant urban landscapes as systems, a part of the environment, as seen in green corridors, green belts, green wedges, green networks and through the perception of urban green systems. As a modern concept the urban green infrastructure has been upgraded with developed roles, extending functions, scopes and scales from previous historical models. In that sense it maintains its social role of improving the quality of life in towns, while at the same time defining town texture with its urban morphological significance. At the same time it also develops ecological values and extends its scale to nonurban local, regional and international contexts. Despite its benefits, spatial planning documents in the Republic of Croatia still lack measures and actions which would recognise the true benefit of green infrastructure in spatial development.

Living Heritage in the Urban Landscape. Case Study of the Budapest World Heritage Site Andrássy Avenue

Historic allées and urban avenues reflect a far-sighted and forward-thinking design attitude. These compositions are the living witnesses of olden times, suggesting permanence. However, the 20th century’s urban development severely damaged the environment, therefore hundred-year-old mature trees are relatively rare among city avenues’ stands. Due to the deteriorated habitat conditions, replantation may be necessary from time to time. However, there are a large number of replanted allées and urban avenues considered historical monuments, according to the relevant international literature in urban and living heritage’s preservation. The renewal often results in planting a different, urban tolerant taxon, as seen in several examples reviewed. Nevertheless, the allée remains an essential urban structural element, though often with a changed character. The Budapest Andrássy Avenue, a city and nature connection defined in the late 19th century’s urban landscape planning, aimed to offer a splendid link between city core and nature in Városliget Public Park. The 19–20th century’s history and urban development are well documented in Hungarian and several English publications, though current tree stock stand and linear urban green infrastructure as part of the urban landscape need a detailed survey. The site analyses ran in 2020–early 2021 created a basis for assessing the allées and the whole avenue as an urban ecosystem and a valuable case study of contemporary heritage protection problems. Andrassy Avenue, the unique urban fabric, architecture, and promenades have been a world heritage monument of cultural value since 2002. The allées became endangered despite reconstruction type maintenance efforts. The presented survey analyses the living heritage’s former renewal programs and underlines the necessity of new reconstruction concepts in urban heritage protection. We hypothesize that urban green infrastructure development, the main issue in the 21st century to improve the urban ecological system and human liveability, may support heritage protection. The Budapest World Heritage Site is worthwhile for a complex renewal where the urban green ecosystem supply and liveable, pedestrian-friendly urban open space system are at the forefront to recall the once glorious, socially and aesthetically attractive avenue.

A Methodology for Assessing the Implementation Potential for Retrofitted and Multifunctional Urban Green Infrastructure in Public Areas of the Global South

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) provides multiple functions that combine ecological and social benefits. UGI is being increasingly promoted and implemented in the Global North. In other parts of the world, such as in the Global South, infrastructures for UGI implementation and promotion are sparse. The state of infrastructure development and informal settlements in the Global South present different constraints and demands that should be explicitly addressed. This study presents an approach to addressing the specific conditions and physical limitations of UGI development in urban areas of the Global South. A four-step methodology was developed to assess the implementation potential for retrofitted and multifunctional urban green infrastructure in public areas. This methodology consists of (1) an initial site analysis, (2) defining design criteria and general strategies, (3) exploring the different dimensions of multifunctionality as the basis for deriving spatial typologies, and (4) assessing spatial suitability for potential placements for UGI elements. The methodology was applied to a study area in the metropolitan region of San Jose, Costa Rica. The results indicate the potential to improve the hydrological (up to 34% of surface runoff reduction), ecological (an increase of green space by 2.2%, creation of 1500 m length of roadside greenery and two new habitat types), and social conditions (2200 m of road type upgrading) of the site through UGIs. This assessment of different multifunctionality dimensions can serve as a guide for future UGI promotion and implementation in urban areas of the Global South.

A Methodology for Assessing the Implementation Potential for Retrofitted and Multifunctional Urban Green Infrastructure in Public Areas of the Global South

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) provides multiple functions that combine ecological and social benefits. UGI is being increasingly promoted and implemented in the Global North. In other parts of the world, such as in the Global South, infrastructures for UGI implementation and promotion are sparse. The state of infrastructure development and informal settlements in the Global South present different constraints and demands that should be explicitly addressed. This study presents an approach to addressing the specific conditions and physical limitations of UGI development in urban areas of the Global South. A four-step methodology was developed to assess the implementation potential for retrofitted and multifunctional urban green infrastructure in public areas. This methodology consists of (1) an initial site analysis, (2) defining design criteria and general strategies, (3) exploring the different dimensions of multifunctionality as the basis for deriving spatial typologies, and (4) assessing spatial suitability for potential placements for UGI elements. The methodology was applied to a study area in the metropolitan region of San José, Costa Rica. The results indicate the potential to improve the hydrological (up to 34% of surface runoff reduction), ecological (an increase of green space by 2.2%, creation of 1500 m length of roadside greenery and two new habitat types), and social conditions (2200 m of road type upgrading) of the site through UGIs. This assessment of different multifunctionality dimensions can serve as a guide for future UGI promotion and implementation in urban areas of the Global South.

Urban Green Infrastructure Development as Perceived by Urban Household in Chittagong City of Bangladesh

Aims: Along with different initiatives in public and private sectors Chittagong city dwellers are also contributing to increasing urban greenery. This study was aimed to find their perception and contribution to urban greenery development.
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the Chittagong city of Bangladesh in four different residential areas between May 2019 and June 2019.
 Methodology: We have surveyed 100 respondent families who were selected through purposive random sampling. After sorting we have used MS excel 2010 to analyze the data.
 Results: The study revealed that household people covered 13.04% of the total household area by greener infrastructure which is about 179.07sq.ft per household. In this study it is found that 49.99% of the respondents practice indoor plantation, 62.44% have roof-top gardening where only 17.61% have gardens in their premises. 128 species have been in their household area of which 36 flowerings, 33 fruits 36 vegetables, 12 medicinal additionally 11 are ornamental plant species. It has also revealed in the study that 14% house-hold directly uses the roof where 86% use containers for their rooftop garden. They use compost manure, inorganic fertilizer, and food waste as manure. Where 6% prefer composting, 73% is food waste and 21% use inorganic fertilizer. According to 27% of people, the environmental benefits derived from the household greenery are the main reason for developing their garden where 26% claimed it for recreation, 24% for aesthetic and 13% for the religious benefit and only 10% do it for monetary benefit.
 Conclusion: Household people can be an important catalyst for “Urban green infrastructure development.” Hope this study will be an expedient caseworker on the way of planning for sustainable Chittagong city development which will embed the Environment and Urbanism in a frame of ‘Sustainable Urban Development’.

Research on sustainable development of urban green infrastructure based on social ecosystem framework

The green infrastructure in a city is an important part of the modern infrastructure that introduces the ecological environment as an influential factor in the traditional people-oriented construction concept. The urban green infrastructure system is built through a series of green infrastructure. This paper mainly focuses on the following levels: first, we discusses the construction of urban green infrastructure systems, and proposes that the implementation space should be clearly defined to complete the preliminary construction of the system; second, we build and select the implementation space with typical characteristics, which is valuable and useful to the city-'blue line space', and then rely on the 'blue line space' as the basis to carry out urban green infrastructure system basic network from the construction strategy and methods construction research.

Research on sustainable development of urban green infrastructure based on social ecosystem framework

The green infrastructure in a city is an important part of the modern infrastructure that introduces the ecological environment as an influential factor in the traditional people-oriented construction concept. The urban green infrastructure system is built through a series of green infrastructure. This paper mainly focuses on the following levels: first, we discusses the construction of urban green infrastructure systems, and proposes that the implementation space should be clearly defined to complete the preliminary construction of the system; second, we build and select the implementation space with typical characteristics, which is valuable and useful to the city-'blue line space', and then rely on the 'blue line space' as the basis to carry out urban green infrastructure system basic network from the construction strategy and methods construction research.

Evaluating Policy and Legal Frameworks of Urban Green Infrastructure Development in Ethiopia

Policy monitoring and evaluation are important elements of the policy cycle, this help to initiate policy-makers to assess the proper implementation and adjust it as appropriate. This paper aims to evaluate the existing policy, strategies, and institutional arrangement on the development of urban green infrastructure in the three study areas; namely Hawassa, Wolayita Sodo, and Bodity town. Analyzing policy documents, key informant interview, and questionnaire survey were used to collect the required data. Descriptive statistics and policy analysis were also used to analyze the collected data from different sources. The study revealed that different strategies and standards were developed by the federal government, but it is not practically exercised at the regional and local level. The majority of government officials and experts agreed that existing policies and strategies related to UGI is not properly implemented. On the other hand, lack of policy and strategies are the major limitation in the development and management of UGI. Almost majority of the respondents confirmed that weak institutional arrangement has contributed to the poor implementation of UGI development. Lack of attention and awareness, the weak institutional arrangement is the main responsible factors for the absence of proper policy and poor implementation of strategies concerning UGI. Thus, actions needed for all the development of proper policies and strategies to improve UGI development.

The secret ingredient - the role of governance in green infrastructure development: through the examples of European cities

The first signs of considering green infrastructure in the process of urban planning appeared long before WWII with the developments of Chicago and Paris, for example, in the late 19th century. In order to relieve the increasingly crowded centres of fast-growing cities, the afforestation of public spaces and the creation of more liveable existing spaces became increasingly important; this includes the development and renovation of parks and water surfaces to adapt to urban needs and requirements, making the development of urban green infrastructure more important than in the past. Over time, green infrastructure developments grew more detailed and complex; since the end of the 20th century, they have become one of the most important goals of urban development, focusing on the environment and healthy living conditions. In the early stages of project development, the needs of urban residents and the active utilisation of green areas are factors of growing importance; refining design and construction has also become a more intricate process. Significant changes to the original style of plans has taken place over the past decades, evolving with the needs of the era and technological advances, requiring suitable action to maintain pace with enhanced developments.

Local communities’ perceptions and use of urban green infrastructure in two Ethiopian cities: Bahir Dar and Hawassa

The main objective of this study is to examine local communities’ perceptions and use of green infrastructure (GI) in two case study cities: Bahir Dar and Hawassa in Ethiopia. The study employed a binary logistic regression model to identify factors that affect perceptions of GI. The result shows that people have distinct patterns of usage and positive perceptions towards GI in their respective cities. The regression results show that gender, age, accessibility, safety, education level, type of green infrastructure, level of awareness, location and opportunities for social activities are statistically significant predictors of perception. It is evident that urban GI development that addresses local communities’ perceptions needs to be sensitive to these variables.

Drivers for urban green infrastructure development and planning in two Ethiopian cities: Bahir Dar and Hawassa

ABSTRACTUrban green infrastructure is an approach to sustainable urban development. The aim of this research is to examine the drivers for urban green infrastructure development and planning in Bahir Dar and Hawassa cities in Ethiopia. Data was collected using focus group discussion, interview and observation. In this study, we concentrated on the main drivers for urban green infrastructure planning and development, environmental stewardship, spatial planning, economic development, policy issues, local/regional needs, stakeholders’ interest and strategies/action plans. The results show that, among the listed drivers, the top priority drivers in Bahir Dar are spatial planning, economic development and environmental stewardship. In Hawassa, these are similar although top is economic development and second is spatial planning followed by environmental stewardship.