Rethinking urban areas: an example of an integrated blue-green approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1534-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Rozos ◽  
C. Makropoulos ◽  
Č. Maksimović
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Green Approach ◽  
Green Areas

The provision of high quality urban water services, the assets of which are often conceptualised as ‘blue infrastructure’, is essential for public health and quality of life in the cities. On the other hand, parks, recreation grounds, gardens, green roofs and in general ‘green infrastructure’, provide a range of (urban) ecosystem services (including quality of life and aesthetics) and could also be thought of as inter alia contributors to the mitigation of floods, droughts, noise, air pollution and urban heat island (UHI) effects, improvement of biodiversity, amenity values and human health. Currently, these ‘blue’ and ‘green’ assets/infrastructure are planned to operate as two separate systems despite the obvious interactions between them (for example, low runoff coefficient of green areas resulting in reduction of stormwater flows, and irrigation of green areas by potable water in increasing pressure on water supply systems). This study explores the prospects of a more integrated ‘blue-green’ approach – tested at the scale of a household. Specifically, UWOT (the Urban Water Optioneering Tool) was extended and used to assess the potential benefits of a scheme that employed locally treated greywater along with harvested rainwater for irrigating a green roof. The results of the simulations indicated that the blue-green approach combined the benefits of both ‘green’ and ‘blue’ technologies/services and at the same time minimised the disadvantages of each when installed separately.

Dynamic evaluation of small urban green areas at local level using GEOBIA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana-Maria Popa ◽  
Diana Andreea Onose ◽  
Ionut Cosmin Sandric ◽  
Simona Raluca Gradinaru ◽  
Athanasios Alexandru Gavrilidis
Keyword(s):  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Consumption Pattern ◽  
Urbanization Process ◽  
Dynamic Evaluation ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Areas ◽  
Green Areas

<p>Urban green infrastructure has various benefits known as ecosystem services such as regulating, cultural, provisioning and supporting services. Among the provided benefits there are decrease of air temperature, increasing humidity and mitigating urban heat island as regulating services; human-nature relations as cultural services; improving air quality, carbon sequestration as provisioning services and photosynthesis, nutrient and water cycling as supporting services. The high intensity of the urbanization process across the last decades coupled with weak legislative frameworks resulted both in large areas affected by urban sprawl and densification of the existing urban fabric. Both phenomenon generated loss in open spaces, especially green areas. In the context of the sustainable urbanization promoted by HABITAT Agenda, the knowledge related with the distribution, size and quality of urban green areas represents a priority. The study aim is to identify small urban green areas at local level at different time moments for a dynamic evaluation. We focused on small urban green areas since they are scarcely analysed even if their importance for the urban quality of life Is continuously increasing given the urbanization process. We used satellite imagery acquired by Planet Satellite Constellations, with a spatial resolution of 3.7 m and daily coverage, for extracting green areas. The images were processed using Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) techniques implemented in Esri ArcGIS Pro. The spatial analysis we performed generated information about distribution, surfaces, quality (based on NDVI) and dynamic of small urban green areas. The results are connected with the local level development of the urban areas we analysed, but also with the population consumption pattern for leisure services, housing, transport or other public utilities. The analysis can represent a complementary method for extracting green areas at urban level and can support the data collection for calculating urban sustainability indicators.</p>

scholarly journals From City- to Site-Dimension: Assessing the Urban Ecosystem Services of Different Types of Green Infrastructure

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrycia Brzoska ◽  
Aiga Spāģe
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Planning ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Green Roofs ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Scale Structures

Cities have a wide variety of green infrastructure types, such as parks and gardens. These structures can provide important ecosystem services (ES) with a major impact on human well-being. With respect to urban planning, special consideration must be given to such green infrastructure types when implementing measures to maintain and enhance the quality of life. Therefore, generating knowledge on the urban ES of differently scaled green infrastructure types is important. This systematic literature review provides an overview of existing studies which have explicitly investigated the urban ES of differently spatial-scaled green infrastructure types. By reviewing 76 publications, we confirm rising academic interest in this topic. The most frequently assessed urban ES belong to the category Regulating and Maintenance. Only a few have considered individual small structures such as green roofs or single gardens; green spaces are often aggregated into one, mostly city-wide, object of investigation, with resulting oversimplifications. Moreover, generalizing methods are mostly applied. Simultaneously, many studies have applied methods to evaluate location-specific primary data. More research is needed on small-scale structures, in particular to consider site-, and thus location-specific, parameters in order to successfully implement the ES concept into urban planning and to obtain realistic results for ES assessments.

scholarly journals Sustainable Development of Urban Green Areas for Quality of Life Improvement—Argument for Increased Citizen Participation

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (18) ◽  
pp. 4868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihaela Constantinescu ◽  
Andreea Orîndaru ◽  
Ștefan-Claudiu Căescu ◽  
Andreea Pachițanu
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Sustainable Urban Development ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
Life Improvement ◽  
Degree Of Association

Considering the imperative need for sustainable urban development, this article argues for increased citizen participation in the decision-making process, as it generates better outcomes (due to a wider range of perspectives) and also makes people better citizens, as they will be partially responsible for the results. One major dimension of urban areas’ which needs a sustainable development is represented by parks, which can be directly associated to citizens’ quality of life (QoL). Thus, we have conducted direct research (face-to-face interviews) of park visitors in order to analyze the perceived impact of green areas on their quality of life. From all the QoL dimensions, we have selected six which are directly linked to park visits—health (mental and physical), social interaction, education and culture, family life, freedom, and connection with nature—in order to determine the perceived degree of association between them, as well as the specific activities done in the park that impact those six dimensions. The research results were used to develop a conceptual model which links quality of life to park visits, a model that can and should be used by public authorities in order to build a collaborative process for urban sustainable development.

scholarly journals Identification of Arboreal Vegetation and Potential Areas in the Commercial Center of Capitão Poço, Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 462
Author(s):  
Washington Duarte Silva da Silva ◽  
Jordan Luis Campos Modesto Pereira ◽  
Milton Garcia Costa ◽  
Adriane Dos Santos Santos ◽  
Magda Do Nascimento Farias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Vegetation ◽  
Green Areas ◽  
Man And Nature ◽  
Commercial Center

Green spaces are urban spaces that bring man and nature closer together, positively influencing the quality of life of the population. The planning of green spaces is essential in urban areas and Geographic Information Systems (GIS’s) are tools capable of assisting in the identification, management and monitoring of these spaces. The objective of the work was to map the urban vegetation and carry out a survey of potential areas for parks and green areas in the commercial center from the municipality of Capitão Poço - PA. The study was carried out in the commercial center from Capitão Poço, PA - Brazil by obtaining images from the Google Earth software and photointerpreted with the aid of the QGIS software. Finally, the current and potential tree green areas were identified in the georeferenced images. The survey of green areas in the commercial center identified that only 4.74% of the total area contains tree vegetation, in addition to 53% of this vegetation being found around the mother church and the municipal square of Alvorada. For potential green areas, it was found that the commercial center has 5,873.5% more potential areas in relation to current tree vegetation. In this sense, it is observed that the commercial center from the municipality of Capitão Poço contains a low proportion of areas with arboreal vegetation and a high potential for the implantation of parks, forests and other types of green areas.

scholarly journals Influence of Different Types of Land Use on the Contents of Potentially Toxic Elements and De-icing Salts in Roadside Soils and Trees in Urban Areas

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 8985
Author(s):  
Jin-Hee Ju ◽  
Ju-Young Park ◽  
Yong-Han Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Green Infrastructure ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Electronic Conductivity ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Roadside Soil ◽  
Roadside Soils ◽  
Green Areas

In order to manage the urban environment and reduce pollution, it is essential to determine potentially toxic elements and de-icing salts in roadside soils and plants, which are major components of green infrastructure. A field study was conducted to elucidate the influence of land use on potentially toxic elements and de-icing salts in roadside soil and trees in urban areas. The effect of land use was determined in commercial, residential, industrial, and green areas of Cheongju city. The roadside soil and plant samples were collected from four different sites along a major roadway in the city. The chemical parameters determined were pH, electronic conductivity, potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, As, Pb, Ni), and de-icing salts (Na, Ca, Mg). The pH, electronic conductivity, potentially toxic elements (except copper), and de-icing salt values were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the land use. On the other hand, the potentially toxic element (except zinc and nickel) levels in roadside tree leaves (Ginkgo biloba) were not affected by the different land use, whereas the de-icing salt levels were significantly different (p < 0.05). The enrichment factor (EF) of potentially toxic elements was found to be lower than that of de-icing salts with the highest values of sodium in green areas and of magnesium in commercial areas. These results provide information on the implications of land use, including the surrounding area of influenced roadside soil and plant chemistry for the urban ecosystem.

scholarly journals Perceived and objective availability of green and blue spaces and quality of life in people with dementia: results from the IDEAL programme

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Tzu Wu ◽  
◽  
Linda Clare ◽  
Ian Rees Jones ◽  
Sharon M. Nelis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Deprivation Level ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Interaction Terms ◽  
Perceived Availability ◽  
People With Dementia

Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between quality of life and both perceived and objective availability of local green and blue spaces in people with dementia, including potential variation across rural/urban settings and those with/without opportunities to go outdoors. Methods This study was based on 1540 community-dwelling people with dementia in the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) programme. Quality of life was measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) scale. A list of 12 types of green and blue spaces was used to measure perceived availability while objective availability was estimated using geographic information system data. Regression modelling was employed to investigate the associations of quality of life with perceived and objective availability of green and blue spaces, adjusting for individual factors and deprivation level. Interaction terms with rural/urban areas or opportunities to go outdoors were fitted to test whether the associations differed across these subgroups. Results Higher QoL-AD scores were associated with higher perceived availability of local green and blue spaces (0.82; 95% CI 0.06, 1.58) but not objective availability. The positive association between perceived availability and quality of life was stronger for urban (1.50; 95% CI 0.52, 2.48) than rural residents but did not differ between participants with and without opportunities to go outdoors. Conclusions Only perceived availability was related to quality of life in people with dementia. Future research may investigate how people with dementia utilise green and blue spaces and improve dementia-friendliness of these spaces.

Impact of adenotonsillectomy on the quality of life of patients operated on at the Hospital de Clínicas, Paraguay

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Carlos Mena Canata ◽  
Rebeca Noemí Ruiz Vallejos
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study is to determine the impact of adenotonsillectomy on the quality of life of postoperative patients.The study is observational, cross-sectional, and retrospective. The files of all postoperative adenotonsillectomy patients in Otorhinolaryngology Service, Hospital de Clínicas, San Lorenzo Paraguay. The Obstructive sleep apnea – 18 questionnaire (OSA 18) was applied, asking patients about symptoms before and after surgery. An effective sample of 143 postoperative patients was obtained. The average age was 6.05 ± 2.08 years, 55.10% (81) were male and 44.89% (66) were female, 65.30% (96) were from urban areas and 34.69% (51) from the rural areas. The t test was performed for means of two paired samples, comparing the results of the Obstructive sleep apnea – 18 questionnaire surveys before and after surgery which presented a significant difference (p <0.05) with a tendency to improve the quality of life after surgery. It has been shown that there is a significant difference, a considerable improvement in the quality of life of patients after adenotonsillectomy.

scholarly journals Quality of life of the elderly population during the virus Covid-19 pandemic with special reference to agriculturists

2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1155-1167
Author(s):  
Pavle Radanov ◽  
Ivana Lešević ◽  
Pavle Brzaković ◽  
Dragan Pajić
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Elderly Population ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Special Importance ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
State Of Emergency ◽  
The Republic

In the Republic of Serbia, on March 15 th , 2020 Government decided to declare a state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic. One of the measures was a movement ban for people over 65 in urban areas and those over 70 in rural areas. This research should indicate how people over 65 in urban areas have endured this situation, especially in relation to the same population in rural areas, as well as implications of the movement ban on the quality of life of the elderly population. Special importance is given to the rural population engaged in agriculture. A tool of data collection in this research was anonymous survey. Respondents' answers were statistically processed, which led to clear conclusions about the large negative consequences for the elderly population, including the agricultural activities in rural areas. Covid-19 is still present, which opens further questions related to the quality of life of the elderly population, if necessity for similar measures recurs in the future.

scholarly journals The Quality of Life of Coronavirus Disease Survivors Living in Rural and Urban Area of Riau Province, Indonesia

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
Suyanto Suyanto ◽  
Shashi Kandel ◽  
Rahmat Azhari Kemal ◽  
Arfianti Arfianti
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
The Status ◽  
Rural And Urban Area

This study assesses the status of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among coronavirus survivors living in rural and urban districts in Riau province, Indonesia. The cross-sectional study was conducted among 468 and 285 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) survivors living in rural and urban areas, respectively in August 2021. The St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was used to measure the HRQOL of COVID-19 survivors. A higher total score domain corresponds to worse quality of life status. Quantile regression with the respect to 50th percentile found a significant association for the factors living in rural areas, being female, having comorbidities, and being hospitalized during treatment, with total score of 4.77, 2.43, 7.22, and 21.27 higher than in their contra parts, respectively. Moreover, having received full vaccination had the score 3.96 in total score. The HRQOL of COVID-19 survivors living in rural areas was significantly lower than in urban areas. Factors such as living in rural areas, female sex, having comorbidities, and history of symptomatic COVID-19 infection were identified as significant predictors for lower quality of life. Meanwhile, having full vaccination is a significant predictor for a better quality of life. The results of this study can provide the targeted recommendations for improvement of HRQOL of COVID-19 survivors.

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