Placemaking for Green Urban Regeneration

This book investigates the dynamics and the role of green urban regeneration using nature-based solutions (NBS) in contributing to the cultural aspects of public spaces. In the first part of the book, insights on analytical methods, planning strategies and shared governance examples are given, as well as, an assessment tool, namely public space index (PSI), is given for successfully measuring sociability impact while using a placemaking approach to green urban regeneration processes. In the second part, the case study (Rose Kennedy Greenway of Boston, MA, USA) has been extensively researched during many years of observations and analysis which gives a realistic taste of the implementation of the proposed PSI. The book’s last part reflects on PSI to measure its adaptability and replicability in other contexts, whereas NBS are playing a major role in physical and spatial green urban regeneration in current cities contexts’

Synthesis and Spectral Analysis of Mn (II), Cu (II) ,Ni (II) and Cd (II) Complexes with Mixed Ligands containing 1,10-phenanthroline and Schiff base derived of 4-aminoantipyrine

The complexes of Schiff base of 4-aminoantipyrine and 1,10-phenanthroline with metal ions Mn (II), Cu (II), Ni (II) and Cd (II) were prepared in ethanolic solution, these complexes were characterized by Infrared , electronic spectra, molar conductance, Atomic Absorption ,microanalysis elemental and magnetic moment measurements. From these studies the tetrahedral geometry structure for the prepared complexes were suggested.The prepared ligand of 4-aminoantipyrine was characterized by using Gc-mass spectrometer

Integrated Collaborative Governance Approaches towards Urban Transformation: Experiences from the CLEVER Cities Project

Within the framework of CLEVER Cities Horizon 2020, London, Milan, and Hamburg are putting in place nine Urban Living Labs in order to implement Nature-based Solutions that address urban challenges in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods. In this article, the means by which co-creation processes and pathways may lead to innovation in governance structures are considered. Through a comparative case study analysis, this research aims to identify integrated, collaborative governance frameworks that are complex and adaptive, as well as reflect the actual changes in governance in cities. Herein, ULLs are intended not just as a vehicle for place-based urban regeneration but also as a starting point for collaborative governance. In this article, it is considered how co-creation pathways may lead to innovation in current local governance structures and achieve transformational change. This paper analyzes the collaborative governance dynamic models at three points in time in the three cities. It is also considered how co-creation pathways may lead to innovation in current local governance structures and achieve transformational change

Augmented Nature-Based Solutions: A Possible Taxonomy of Technologies “in” and “for” Urban Greening Strategies

The conceptualization and application of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the practice of planning and projects on urban and architectural scales have reached a level of maturity in the last 10 years, thanks to a strong push from European policies and funding for European projects and evidence from scientific literature. However, a systemic insight into the role of technology in supporting the spread of NBS has not yet been developed. The role of technology is understood here as fundamental to the very core concept of NBS, i.e., engineering solutions that integrate technological aspects to effectively increase nature’s potential. The authors,therefore, propose an investigation into the various opportunities offered by technology integrated “into ” greenery and used “ for” promoting greenery, based on the experience of two European Horizon 2020 projects, CLEVER Cities and VARCITIES, and from theapplication cases presented during the dedicated track at the SSPCR 2022 conference

Urban Design and the Role of Placemaking in Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions. Learning From the Biblioteca Degli Alberi Case Study in Milan

Nature-based solutions' (NBS) relevance for tackling environmental challenges has been on the frontiers of urban regeneration mechanisms since the beginning of the 2010s. There is an increasing interest in applying NBS in urban planning and design to build support and engagement for sustainable urban development. However, NBS's operational use as deliberate design interventions is not widely reflected in the scientific discourse, more evidence is needed on how functional and viable aspects of urban nature can be conceptualized in urban design. This calls to explore the ways urban design can advance their understanding as part of place-specific, designed urban spaces. Through an ex-post analysis, the authors examined the design and implementation process of an exemplary NBS project, the Biblioteca degli Alberi park in Milan, part of one of the largest, recent urban regeneration projects in Europe. In a synthetic analysis, design drivers, enablers, and deficiencies are discussed, which affect the park's performance both from human-centered and nature-based perspectives. The park's case demonstrates design actions and considerations affecting all stages of the life-cycle of an NBS, from the creative design phase to the development, use, and management phases, and how urban design can create conditions for amplifying the multifunctional potential of urban ecosystems. The results highlight the importance of integrating an urban ecology perspective in the entirety of the design process when implementing NBS, consequently for a successful re-scoping of urban design and planning practices to infuse human-centeredness with “nature-basedness.

Greening Cities Shaping Cities: Pinpointing Nature-Based Solutions in Cities between Shared Governance and Citizen Participation

The topic of pinpointing Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in the urban context has been cultivating interests lately from different scholars, urban planning practitioners and policymakers. This Special Issue originates from the Greening Cities Shaping Cities Symposium held at the Politecnico di Milano (12–13 October 2020), aiming at bridging the gap between the science and practice of implementing NBS in the built environment, as well as highlighting the importance of citizen participation in shared governance and policy making. The Special Issue was also made open to other contributions from outside the symposium in order to allow for contributions from a major scientific and practical audience wherever possible. Indeed, we have gathered contributions from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal, Denmark, France, Bulgaria, Sweden, Hungary, Spain, the UAE, the UK, and the USA

Estimation of validity Tigris River Water for Swimming in Baghdad City

This study was conducted during 2012 utilizing selected four swim areas on the Tigris river in Baghdad city. Twenty water samples from four swim areas during swim season were collected for quality analyses using chemical, physical and bacterial parameters. The result revealed that  the temperature, pH and means dissolved solid in the Tigris river water in all swim areas were within limit recommended by environmental protection Agency standards. While mean of the total dissolved solid, turbidity, chlorophyll and blue green algae were ranged from 0.69-0.89 g/l, 10.15-1248 NTU, 1.85-222.82 µg/l and 338-7999 cells/ml respectively. The total viable counts (TVCs) of bacteria were ranged from 128 to 10000 cells/ml. The total Coliforms (TCs) and fecal Coliforms (FCs) were ranged  from 300-1600ml and126-1600 /100ml respectively. During the study 77 isolates of enteric bacteria were isolated and identified. Escherichia coli isolated from all water samples (20 isolates) which it represents 100%, Enterobacter  spp. were 70%, Klebsiella spp. were 60%, Protus mirabilis were 65%, Protus vulgaris were 15%, Vibrio spp. were 30%, Morganella morgani were 10%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 5%, Salmonella Sp. was 5% and Staphylococcus spp. were 25%. Key word: Tigris river, swimming, bacteria

The effect of microfinance on income inequality: Perspective of developing countries

Aim/purpose – Studying the impact of microfinance on income inequality from a macro- -economic perspective. Design/methodology/approach – Cross-sectional regression analysis is used to measure the effect of microfinance on the Gini index in a sample of 30 developing countries from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. A set of control variables are added to the model including: inflation, educational attainment, democracy, population growth, percentage of arable land to strengthen the model’s reliability. Findings – Results indicate that neither a positive nor a negative impact of microfinance on Gini index could be significantly proved for the sample countries. Research implications/limitations – Due to lack of data availability, research is con-ducted on a small sample of 30 countries. Therefore, to obtain more generalisable results, it is recommended for future research to use a larger sample. Originality/value/contribution – Microfinance is becoming a focal issue in alleviating poverty and inequality, and this paper’s main contribution is that it explores this matter from a macro-economic perspective by looking at the holistic impact of microcredit on a sample of developing countries. Hence, the paper provides further investigation and suggestions for a better implementation of microfinance policies