Residential Greenery: State of the Art and Health-Related Ecosystem Services and Disservices in the City of Berlin

Inclusively accessible green areas are essential for livable cities. The residential greenery on a door’s step of urban dwellers has rarely been the subject of research. Here we provide insights into the state of the art of residential greenery in Berlin, Germany. We focus on socially disadvantaged neighborhoods exposed to high loads of environmental stressors and belonging to four relevant building types of Central European cities. 32 plots in eight sample areas were randomly chosen and surveyed during 2017 and 2018. We surveyed the presence of structural elements, the presence and abundance of woody species and the health-related ecosystem (dis-)services (i.e., species’ air filtration and allergenic potential). We analysed the similarity among tree species to assess plant use patterns. The air cleaning and allergenic potential of woody species were assigned based on literature. In order to discuss strategies to improve residential greenery, we performed an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of these green spaces. We revealed a high dissimilarity of woody species assemblages across sites and within different building types, indicating no common plant use fashion. Recorded species provide moderate to high air filtering capacity. One to two third of all trees have a high allergenic potential that has to be addressed in future plant use decisions. Bike racks, benches, lights and playgrounds are common elements, whereas bioswales, facade-bound greening, atrium, fountains or ponds are rare. Their implementation can enhance the health and wellbeing of local residents. Building-attached greenery can improve densely built up areas of the Wilhelminian period, whereas space-intensive measures can be implemented in the spacious greenery of row–buildings settlements of the 1920s–1970s and of large housing estates of the 1970s–1980s. We revealed a high motivation for (co-)design and care by residents and discussed strategies on transformation towards multi-functional, healthy and biodiversity-friendly residential greeneries.Peer Reviewe

A DRONE TO DETECT AND DELINEATE WETLANDS - SOON A REALITY?

In the context of a project named “Watershed and Water Resources” conducted in the Gard département by students at AgroParisTech (Nancy centre) in partnership with the firm Geofalco, a study of the possibilities for using photographs taken by a drone (an unmanned, remotely piloted aircraft) for the purposes of detecting and delineating wetlands was undertaken. The study was able to better assess the potential of drones for detection and delineation of wetlands, as well as their usefulness for mapping natural habitats, detecting plant species, defining and planning management action along with its monitoring and assessment. The multiple applications of drones were briefly evaluated in the context of the management of natural spaces, particularly wetland environmentsDans le cadre d’un projet intitulé Bassin versant et ressources en eau, mené dans le Gard par des étudiants d’AgroParisTech (centre de Nancy) en partenariat avec la société GeoFalco, une étude des possibilités d’utilisation de photographies issues d’un drone (avion téléguidé sans pilote) dans le but de détecter et délimiter des zones humides a été menée. Cette mission a permis de mieux cerner les potentialités des drones pour la détection et la délimitation des zones humides, mais aussi leur utilité dans la cartographie des habitats naturels, la détection d’espèces végétales, la définition et la planification des actions de gestion ainsi que leur suivi et leur évaluation. Les multiples applications des drones ont été brièvement évaluées dans le cadre de la gestion des espaces naturels et en particulier des milieux humide

Water sensitive design potentials in Paris, Berlin, and Budapest revisited

Impacts of extreme weather events are increasing due to ongoing climate change. Floods in the urban areas not just damage properties but also threat human life. Coping with these challenges in metropolises of old Europe is difficult as the ex-istent building structures and combined rainwater and sewage systems originating from the 19th century. We compare three old European capital cities (Berlin, Budapest and Paris) regarding rainwater management concepts. We identify important spatial land use types of blue-green infrastructure and corresponding measures for the implementation towards a more water sensitive management by using the case study approach