Parametric (Geo)Design for Test Planning

The revised Swiss Spatial Planning Act (RPG 2016) pursues the goal of inward settlement development to slow down urban sprawl and better protect arable land. This needs to be addressed in planning processes, as quality-oriented and sustainable internal densification is required. The Geodesign Framework by Steinitz is suitable for supporting such planning processes with public participation, where models and visualizations help to convey the complex systemic interrelationships to stakeholders. This paper presents a process model based on Geodesign that integrates GIS and Parametric Design, so that effects on internal densification caused by changes to building regulations can be quantified and communicated. In addition to an overview of the process model, selected results from its tests and verification are presented. The results suggest that the model approximates real interrelations well and is a suitable basis for further work

〈Original Papers〉Validating ALOS PRISM DSM-derived surface feature height: Implications for urban volume estimation

Urban volume, such as urban built volume (UBV), can be used as a proxy indicator for measuring the intensity and spatial pattern of urban development, and for characterizing social structure, intensity of economic activity, levels of economic supremacy, and levels of resource consumption. Urban volume estimation requires two basic input data: (1) urban footprint (built footprint for UBV and green footprint for urban green volume (UGV)); and (2) height data for urban features (herein called surface feature height (SFH)). A digital surface model (DSM) and a digital terrain model (DTM) can be used to extract SFH, i.e., by subtracting the DTM from the DSM. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data are often used to generate DSMs and DTMs. However, the availability of LiDAR data remains limited. The recent release of ALOS World 3D topographic data provides an alternative data source for DSMs and potentially for DTMs. However, the potential of ALOS PRISM DSM for deriving SFH has not been rigorously assessed, especially at the micro level. In this study, we validated six sets of 5 m ALOS PRISM DSM-derived SFH data across six test sites (Tokyo (Japan), Beijing (China), Shanghai (China), Surabaya (Indonesia), Tsukuba (Japan), and Lusaka (Zambia)). We described the grid-based method used to derive a DTM from a DSM and how this method was applied. We then validated the derived SFH data through comparison with recorded building height (RBH) data. Across the six test sites, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of the ALOS PRISM DSM-derived SFH data ranged from 7 m (Tsukuba) (approximately 2 building floors) to 81 m (Beijing) (approximately 27 building floors). The ALOS PRISM DSM-derived SFH data for lower buildings (e.g., RBH 100 m) and larger and denser cities (Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai). Factors that may have influenced the validation results were considered, as were the implications of the findings on urban volume estimation

Sense of presence and sense of place in perceiving a 3D geovisualization for communication in urban planning – Differences introduced by prior familiarity with the place

Technological development towards increased visual quality and accessibility has made photorealistic 3D geovisualizations an interesting tool for communication in urban planning. Particularly the ability to support perception is important in assessing 3D geovisualizations’ effectiveness for communication. We applied both the concept of sense of presence, i.e. effectiveness of the medium, and sense of place, i.e. meanings and affordances, in a user study conducted through a web-based 3D geovisualization. The study addressed a shopping mall in Helsinki, Finland. We collected a sample of adolescent respondents (n = 122), both familiar and unfamiliar with the geovisualized place in question. Adolescents responded to a survey addressing their perceptions of the mall after the virtual visit. The results indicate that prior familiarity with the place affects the results with the sense of presence, sense of place and preferred urban planning outcome. Familiar respondents were more likely to prefer preservation of the mall. The results show how sense of presence and sense of place work in interplay in the perception of a photorealistic 3D geovisualization. Perception is not only dependent on the realism the 3D geovisualization is able to transmit but also on the individual knowledge and experiences of the audience. According to the results, 3D geovisualizations are best used as supportive tools in communication for urban planning and secondary to a real visit.</p

Visualizing urban development: improved planning & communication with 3D interactive visualizations

Master of Landscape ArchitectureDepartment of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community PlanningBrent Chamberlain3D interactive visualizations can communicate complex urban design ideas to communities to improve planning (Bertol & Foell, 1997; Bishop et al., 2008; Griffon et al., 2011; Lange & Bishop, 2005). Unfortunately, many landscape architects, urban designers, and city planners currently re-frame from using such gaming technology capable of creating 3D interactive visualizations (Deane, 2015a). Many firms use verbal descriptions with images. This method is insufficient for facilitating feedback (Bratteteig & Wagner, 2010; Gordon, et al, 2010; Stakeholder Engagement, 2009; Zhang, 2004). According to Lange and Bishop (2005) there is no reason why real-time visualizations should not be used in urban design. Design fields will be moving toward procedural modeling software that is code-based to quickly model urban development (Flachbart & Weibel, 2005). However, this type of software, i.e., ESRI CityEngine, is only being used by approximately 10% of firms (Deane, 2015a). This paper is one of the first to analyze how ESRI CityEngine can be used and improved to support the workflow of landscape architects, urban designers, and planners for urban development projects. The project explored ESRI CityEngine’s procedural modeling and metric capabilities, and how it could be used to visualize a proposed Urban Core Residential District in Manhattan, Kansas. This process involved applying CGA (computer generated architecture) rules to GIS data, to model trees, streetscapes, landscapes, and buildings. Visuals that were produced include a CityEngine Web Scene and a Unity game

Conceptual and methodological challenges of ecosystem services mapping in urban regions

Mit dem weltweiten Bevölkerungswachstum sowie veränderten Konsumverhalten ist der Bedarf an natürlichen Ressourcen und Energie gestiegen. Die zunehmende Urbanisierung und Verstädterung, die wirtschaftlichen Verflechtungen und die Globalisierung verschärfen die Situation und lassen die Nachfrage weiter steigen. Infolgedessen haben sich viele nicht nachhaltige Praktiken in der Land- und Forstwirtschaft, im Bergbau und in der Energieerzeugung entwickelt, die zu einer veränderten Flächennutzung, einem allgemeinen Raubbau an den natürlichen Ressourcen, einer ineffizienten Abfallwirtschaft und Umweltverschmutzung sowie Biodiversitätsverlust führen. Der Zustand unserer Ökosysteme verschlechtert sich schneller denn je, wodurch die Fähigkeit der Ökosysteme, lebenswichtige Ökosystemleistungen bereitzustellen, ernsthaft beeinträchtigt wird. Mit dem Begriff Ökosystemleistungen werden alle Beiträge von Ökosystemen auf das menschliche Wohlbefinden zusammengefasst. Ökosystemleistungen können den Menschen direkt oder indirekt zugutekommen, sei es wirtschaftlich, materiell, oder in Form einer Stärkung ihrer mentalen und körperlichen Gesundheit. Da sich der Rückgang der Ökosystemleistungen negativ auf das menschliche Wohlbefinden auswirkt, fordern engagierte Umweltschützer*innen, Wissenschaftler*innen sowie zwischenstaatliche Organisationen zunehmend den Schutz und die Wiederherstellung der Ökosysteme und ihrer Leistungen. Das Konzept der Ökosystemleistungen stellt ein sehr aktives Forschungsfeld dar, da es sich mit den gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen im Zusammenhang mit dem Klimawandel, dem Verlust der biologischen Vielfalt, der Umweltverschmutzung, der nicht nachhaltigen Landnutzung und der Umweltgerechtigkeit auseinandersetzt. Trotz der wachsenden Anzahl an Forschungsaktivitäten wird das Konzept der kosystemleistungen in der Politik und Entscheidungsfindung bisher nur im begrenzten Maße genutzt. Zwei der Hauptfaktoren, die dafür verantwortlich sind, sind die anhaltenden konzeptionellen Herausforderungen und die Anwendungsbarrieren, die gegenwärtig mit den Ansätzen zur Bewertung und räumlichen Darstellung von Ökosystemleistungen verbunden sind. Die vorliegende Dissertation hebt diese konzeptuellen und methodischen Unsicherheiten und Herausforderungen im urbanen Kontext hervor und betrachtet folgende Forschungsfragen näher: 1. Welche Trends lassen sich bei der Erfassung und Bewertung von Ökosystemleistungen in städtischen Gebieten beobachten? 2. Welche konzeptionellen Herausforderungen bestehen bei der räumlichen Erfassung von Ökosystemleistungsangebot und -nachfrage? 3. Mit welchen Problemen sind die derzeitigen Ansätze zur Erfassung und Bewertung von Ökosystemleistungen konfrontiert und wie können diese am besten überwunden werden?Global population growth and changes in consumer behaviour have led to an increased requirement for energy and natural resources. The rise in urbanisation, economic interdependencies and globalisation exacerbates the situation and further increases the demand. As a result, many unsustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, mining and energy generation have emerged, leading to land-use changes, a general overexploitation of natural resources, inefficient waste management and pollution. The state of our ecosystems and global biodiversity are deteriorating faster than ever and this is having a severe impact upon the ability of ecosystems to provide services. Ecosystem services is a term used to cover all the contributions ecosystems make to human well-being. Ecosystem services can directly or indirectly benefit people, be it economically, materially or in terms of improving their mental and physical health. As the decline of ecosystem services has a negative impact on human well-being, dedicated environmentalists, scientists and intergovernmental organisations are increasingly calling for the protection and restoration of ecosystems and their services. There is a very active research field engaged with the ecosystem services concept, which addresses the social challenges related to climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, unsustainable land use and environmental justice. Despite the growing number of studies assessing and mapping ecosystem services, the ecosystem services concept has as yet only been able to have a limited impact upon real-world policy and decision-making. Two of the main factors responsible for this are the persistent conceptual challenges and application barriers currently inherent to ES mapping approaches. This thesis emphasises these conceptual and methodological uncertainties and challenges in an urban context and considers the following research questions in more detail: 1. What are the trends in mapping and assessing ecosystem services in urban areas? 2. What are the conceptual challenges in mapping ecosystem service supply and demand in urban regions? 3. What issues do current ecosystem service mapping approaches face and how can these best be overcome

Ponte de Sor, Estocolmo e Gliwice como exemplos

Hoje em dia, a vida do ser humano, nas cidades, é cada vez mais caótica e, cada vez mais, os que lá habitam, sofrem com as consequências desse estilo de vida, prejudiciais para a saúde humana. Exemplos desta situação são os elevados níveis de poluição (nomeadamente atmosférica e sonora), o sedentarismo crescente associado à perda do hábito de andar a pé e da prática de atividade física, nomeadamente ao ar livre, a saída de casa muito cedo e o regresso a horas tardias, nas suas deslocações pendulares, com implicações na redução dos momentos de interação entre os cidadãos (quer em família, quer em comunidade), entre outros fatores. Este estilo de vida tem-se vindo a revelar como causador de problemas nocivos à saúde humana, quer em termos físicos como obesidade, diabetes, problemas cardiovasculares, quer em termos de doenças mentais como o stress, a depressão e a ansiedade, quer ainda em termos sociais. Neste contexto, a partir da pesquisa bibliográfica, poder-se-á referir que os espaços verdes, independentemente do grau de urbanização, são considerados por vários autores, com mais ênfase nos últimos quinze anos, como elementos redutores destas problemáticas. Assim, os objetivos desta dissertação, face a estas questões, são encontrar um conjunto de boas práticas associadas aos benefícios da existência dos espaços verdes na cidade, que contribuam para uma boa saúde humana. Para os estudos de caso, foram escolhidas três cidades europeias: Gliwice, na Polónia, Estocolmo, na Suécia, e Ponte de Sor, em Portugal. Serão abordados, não de forma exaustiva, nem de modo a caraterizar todos os espaços verdes que nelas existem, nas suas várias dimensões, tais como, forma, localização, caraterísticas, tipos, entre outros, mas servindo de suporte aos conhecimentos teóricos que, nesta matéria, foram recolhidos na revisão de literatura. Quer isto dizer que a principal vertente metodológica desta dissertação é a análise crítica da pesquisa bibliográfica aplicada à abordagem dos espaços selecionados nas três cidades europeias escolhidas, sobre os benefícios dos espaços verdes na saúde humana. Entre outros aspetos a literatura permitiu concluir que: 1-Em Gliwice, embora existam espaços verdes atrativos, bem cuidados e bonitos, o facto de alguns deles terem uma envolvente de um tecido edificado pouco qualificado (sujo de poluição, monocromático ou marcado pelo estigma da história), repercute-se numa perceção negativa, nos cidadãos, ao nível da imagem urbana; 2-Em Estocolmo, as preocupações com os detalhes inerentes à estética, quer dos espaços verdes (como a diversidade cromática das espécies vegetais que são escolhidas), quer da envolvente (a escolha criteriosa de tons cromáticos quentes, em contraste com a reduzida luminosidade inerente às caraterísticas da exposição solar), transmitem aos cidadãos uma perceção de bem-estar; 3- Em Ponte de Sor, os espaços verdes existentes têm a particularidade de integrarem a presença da água como elemento fundamental, reforçando a perceção, ao nível da sua fruição pelos cidadãos residentes e utentes, de contato e proximidade com a natureza; 4- Os espaços verdes influenciam a qualidade de vida nas cidades, promovendo a melhoria de saúde da população, uma vez que são impulsionadores de convívios sociais, incentivam a prática de desporto e o bem-estar psicológico.Today, the life of the human being, in the cities, is increasingly chaotic and, increasingly, those who live there suffer from the consequences of that lifestyle, harmful to human health. Examples of this are the high levels of pollution (including air and noise), physical inactivity increased associated with the loss of the habit of walking and physical activity, especially outdoors, leaving home very early and return to late hours, in their commuting, with implications in reducing the moments of interaction between citizens (whether in family or in the community), among other factors. This lifestyle has been revealed as causing harm human health problems, both in physical terms as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, both in terms of mental disorders such as stress, depression and anxiety, although in terms social. In this context, from the literature, it may also be noted that green spaces, regardless of the degree of urbanization, are considered by many authors, with more emphasis in the last fifteen years as reducing elements of these problems. The objectives of this thesis, address these issues, is to find a set of good practices associated with the benefits of the provision of green spaces in the city that contribute to good health. For the case studies were chosen three European cities: Gliwice, Poland, Stockholm, Sweden, and Ponte de Sor, Portugal. Will be addressed, by no means exhaustive, nor to characterize all the green spaces that exist in them, in its various dimensions such as shape, location, characteristics, types, etc., but aim to support the theoretical knowledge that in this matter were collected in the literature review. This means that the main methodological aspects of this work is the critical analysis of literature, leading to the state of the art about the benefits of green spaces on human health, the scale of cities. Among other things the literature concluded that: 1-In Gliwice, although there are attractive green spaces, well maintained and beautiful, the fact that some of them have an engaging of a built unskilled tissue (dirty pollution, monochrome or marked by the stigma of history), has repercussions on a negative perception the citizens, the level of urban image; 2-In Stockholm, concerns about the details of aesthetic, whether green spaces (such as chromatic diversity of plant species that are chosen) or the environment (the careful choice of chromatic warm colors in contrast to the low light inherent in features sun exposure), convey to citizens a sense of well-being; 3- In Ponte de Sor, existing green spaces have the particularity to integrate the presence of water as a fundamental element, reinforcing the perception at the level of your enjoyment by residents and users of contact and closeness to nature; 4 Green spaces influence the quality of life in cities, promoting the improvement of population health, as they are drivers of social gatherings, encourage sports and psychological well-being

Measuring Urban Green Space in Australia

The Hort Innovation Green Cities project “Measuring Australia’s Green Space Asset” (MUGS) undertook a global review of urban green space (UGS) measurement research and engaged with Australian stakeholders to gauge current practice. The overall aim of the project was to foster best-practice UGS planning and management by juxtaposing the scientific state of the art with the contextualised needs expressed by potential Australian end users. The synthesis of findings informed a ‘blueprint’ which sketches the contours of a possible nationally consistent UGS decision-support framework. The framework is illustrated with a worked example from Australia (rapid assessment of urban green space assets using satellite imagery)

An assessment of amount, distribution and use of urban green spaces in small towns of the Eastern Cape

Most regions of the developing world are experiencing large-scale urbanisation, with urban population growth outstripping rural growth. This is most marked in small and medium-sized towns as opposed to megacities. Urbanisation is associated with numerous changes in social, economic and ecological states and dynamics. A key one, of interest in this study, is the sustainability and liveability of the growing towns and cities. The retention, provision and maintenance of multifunctional urban green infrastructure are a core strategy in this regard. This study therefore sought to assess the amount, distribution and use of urban green spaces within South Africa using small towns of the Eastern Cape. The primary research included sixteen aerial images of which eight were historical aerial photographs and another eight were the latest aerial images of the selected study towns. Historical and latest aerial images were digitised to classify the types and calculate the amount of urban green space. GIS mapping, interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with urban residents to understand how these green spaces are used. The analytical tools in this study derived from social science included household surveys of 180 randomly selected respondents in small towns. Fifteen types of green spaces were identified in the sample towns. The study further revealed that green spaces are not distributed equally in different suburbs of small towns, generally being less green spaces, especially formal parks and recreation areas, in poorer areas. The results indicated a decline of green spaces with urbanisation, and most marked in fast growing towns. The results suggested that urban residents frequently visited urban green spaces, with most respondents favouring the use of green spaces for social and cultural benefits. How use of different spaces was strongly gender related, with males favouring less developed green space types (such as commonages and woodlands) and females for formal areas such domestic and institutional gardens and churchyards. Respondents also identified various challenges associated with using and accessing urban green spaces, with pollution, crime and lack of maintenance in particular. The study shows the importance of GIS as a mapping tool that can be used to provide information for ecological planning in rapidly changing urban environment. The research process generated several lessons that need to be taken into consideration when designing urban landscapes, most importantly relating to the diversity, quantity, quality and maintenance of urban green spaces

Urban morphology and ecosystem services: a historico-geographical study of fringe belts and urban green spaces in Birmingham, UK

Cities have tended to be treated by ecologists as essentially physical entities unconnected to the concerns of historical geographers. In contrast, urban morphologists have tended to focus on how urban physical expressions of culture have changed over time: such an approach has stimulated research on the characteristics and planning of the form of cities that has been largely divorced from concerns about ecosystem services. This is somewhat paradoxical in light of the significant areas of most cities that are vegetated and the increasing evidence of the value to society of these green spaces. This thesis examines the connection between urban morphological research on the fringe-belt concept, as developed by M. R. G. Conzen and others, and the character and distribution within cities of major areas of green space. The principal focus is on how green spaces within fringe belts that are embedded within cities (for example, parks, allotment gardens, golf courses, and land attached to educational and medical institutions) have changed over time, especially during the past 100 years. Detailed studies of fringe-belt sites in Birmingham reveal a decline in green space over time but maturation of surviving green space towards mature wood-grassland. Comparisons are made with residential areas

Nature-Based Solutions for Restoration of Ecosystems and Sustainable Urban Development

This volume examines the applicability of nature-based solutions in ecological restoration practice and in contemporary landscape architecture by bringing together ecology and architecture in the built environment. Green infrastructure is used to address urban challenges such as climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and stormwater management. In addition, thermal comfort nature-based solutions reintroduce critical connections between natural and urban systems. In light of ongoing developments in sustainable urban development, the goal is a paradigm shift towards a landscape that restores and rehabilitates urban ecosystems. The ten contributions to this book examine a wide range of successful cases of designing healthier, greener and more resilient landscapes in different geographical contexts, from the United States of America and Brazil, through various European regions, to Singapore and China. While some chapters attempt to conceptualize the interconnections between cities and nature, others clearly have an empirical focus. Therefore, this volume provides a rich body of work and acts as a starting point for further studies on restoration of ecosystems and integrative policies such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals