Search Results (198)

Extreme climatic conditions cause a decrease in ecosystem services, the disruption of the ecological balance, and damage to human populations, especially in areas with socially vulnerable groups. Nature-based solutions applying blue-green infrastructure (BGI) against these negative impacts of climate change have an important role in planning sustainable cities. This study aims to identify priority areas and develop scenarios and strategies for spatial planning to understand the tradeoffs in approaches and to maximize the benefits of ecosystem services provided by BGI in cities with arid and semi-arid climates, using Phoenix, Arizona, a swiftly urbanizing city in the Sonoran Desert, as the study area. Using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making techniques and the Green Infrastructure Spatial Planning model integrated with the city’s existing water structures, this study is conducted at the US census scale. The hotspots for BGI are mapped from the combined GIS-based multi-criteria evaluation and expert stakeholder-driven weighting. In the hotspots where priority areas for BGI in Phoenix are identified, the city center area with a high density of impervious surfaces is identified as the highest priority area. It is revealed that social vulnerability and environmental risks (flooding, heat) have a positive correlation in Phoenix, and stormwater management and the urban heat island are the criteria that should be considered first in BGI planning. Full article

Stormwater management ponds (SWMPs) are an important tool for sustainable urban stormwater management, controlling the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff in cities. Beyond their engineering purpose, SWMPs may hold ecological value that is often overlooked. This is especially the case for the array of geochemical, physical, and biological processes (i.e., ecosystem functions) in SWMPs. Here, we performed a scoping review of ecosystem function in SWMPs to summarize current knowledge and identify research needs. We searched peer-reviewed papers using the Web of Science database. Papers that did not report specifically on SWMPs, did not discuss ecosystem function, or were solely based on ecotoxicological tests were excluded from further assessment. For the remaining papers, information on year of publication, scope, and key findings was extracted. We found that a total of 55 papers on ecosystem function in SWMPs have been published since 1996. Our review identified important areas for advancing knowledge about nutrient dynamics, contaminants processing, sedimentation, temperature, habitat provisioning, and biodiversity in SWMPs. Overall, we identified a need to further understand how factors related to pond design and landscape and management practices influence ecosystem function. There is also a need to understand the effect of climate change on ecosystem function and to examine the interactions between ecosystem function and humans. Such information will not only provide opportunities for researchers to better understand ecological value, but also facilitate more effective sustainable management of SWMPs. Full article

Green roofs (GRs) have been widely adopted as an effective Green Infrastructure (GI) practice in cities worldwide, offering ecosystem services such as stormwater management and reduction of the urban heat island effect. However, their widespread implementation is still limited by a lack of local research and uncertain research findings. As a result, the potential benefits of GRs often cannot justify their high investment costs. Previous studies have sought to enhance the effectiveness of GRs by evaluating new GR systems, such as integrating GRs with green walls, blue roofs, photovoltaic (PV) panels, radiant cooling systems, as well as the use of innovative materials in GR substrates. Biochar, a carbon-rich substrate additive, has been recently investigated. The addition of biochar improves water/nutrient retention of GRs, thereby increasing substrate fertility and promoting plant performance. Although studies have examined the effects of biochar on GR plant growth, long-term observational studies focusing on the impacts of various biochar-related parameters remain necessary. Therefore, this research aims to assess the performance of GR plants with different biochar parameters, namely, amendment rates, application methods, and particle sizes. A one-year-long observational data of plant height, coverage area, and dry weight from six GR test beds was collected and analyzed. Results demonstrate the positive impacts of biochar on plant growth in different biochar-GR setups and types of plant species (wallaby grass, common everlasting, and billy buttons). The GR with medium biochar particles at the amendment rate of 15% v/v had the best plant performance. This contributes to increasing the feasibility of GRs by maximizing GR benefits to buildings where they are installed while reducing GR costs of irrigation and maintenance. The conclusions were further supported by observed data indicating reduced substrate temperature, which in turn reduces building energy consumption. Since vegetation is crucial in determining the effectiveness of a GR system, this study will offer valuable insights to GR designers and urban planners for developing optimal biochar-amended GR systems. Such systems provide numerous benefits over traditional GRs, including enhanced plant growth, reduced building energy costs, a shorter payback period, and reduced structural requirements. Full article

The Arctic Zone of Russia (AZR), due to its significant potential, for the implementation of which infrastructure projects and strategic plans are envisaged, is of great importance for the country. Particular attention is paid to the transport and related infrastructure development. The implementation of such projects requires the creation and implementation of modern integrated solutions based on new technical and technological solutions. The development of new territories is accompanied by problems such as urbanization and the disruption of ecosystems, which will have a particularly negative impact on the Arctic zone. The situation is complicated by the fact that the work must be carried out in difficult conditions, which are associated with a large number of risks, including environmental ones. Currently, many types of businesses are characterized by a transition to the implementation of the concepts of green and blue economy, as well as ESG principles when building strategic development plans that include risk reduction. Achieving this goal is possible through an environmental risk management system. To create a suchlike system, it is necessary to identify the most significant risk characteristics of each type of activity, taking into account their negative impact on the environment, after which it will be possible to plan measures to either prevent risks or minimize their consequences. Taking into account the above, we plan to develop the concept of an environmental risk management system (ERMS) as part of the region’s development strategy implementation. To reach this purpose, identifying the main groups of environmental risks depending on the danger source based on the scientific article review results, systematizing concepts aimed at improving the environmental situation under different types of anthropogenic impacts on the environment, developing an algorithm for implementing an environmental risk management system depending on the risk type, and proposing a concept for building an environmental risk management system are needed. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that the main directions of negative anthropogenic impact on the environment are systematized, and possible ways to reduce environmental risks are outlined. The practical significance of the work lies in the fact that when implementing such a system, it will be possible to manage not only risks of a certain category, but also monitor the situation as a whole, identifying the consequences for related areas. Full article

Ecological design is crucial in shaping contemporary, resilient, and livable cities. The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Refinery, a prominent landmark in the Mid-Atlantic, serves as an exemplary case study for understanding advanced metropolitan processes and integrating trans-scalar, transdisciplinary, and nature-based solutions (NBS) practices into urban contexts. This article explores the challenges of transforming obsolete industrial areas, including the refinery’s decommissioning process, its port, and industrial heritage value, and their relationship with the sea, into vibrant urban cores. It examines innovative strategies for land use, decontamination, and urban resilience, which are vital for fostering adaptability and recovery from natural and anthropogenic disasters. By emphasizing the refinery’s connection to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and its metropolitan area, as well as its coastal interface, this study proposes a comprehensive methodology to assess the territorial impacts of urban processes and guide project decisions toward enhancing the quality of life for the region’s residents. Full article

Green spaces and blue spaces in cities provide a wealth of benefits to the urban social–ecological system. Unfortunately, urban development fragments natural habitats, reducing connectivity and biodiversity. Urban green–blue infrastructure (UGI) networks can mitigate these effects by providing ecological corridors that enhance habitat connectivity. This study examined UGI connectivity for two indicator species in a rapidly developing city in the southern United States. We mapped and analyzed UGI at a high resolution (0.6 m) across the entire city, with a focus on semi-natural areas in private land and residential neighborhoods. Integrating graph theory and a gravity model, we assessed structural UGI networks and ranked them based on their ability to support functional connectivity. Most of the potential habitat corridors we mapped in this project traversed private lands, including 58% of the priority habitat for the Golden-cheeked Warbler and 69% of the priority habitat for the Rio Grande Wild Turkey. Riparian zones and other areas with dense tree cover were critical linkages in these habitat corridors. Our findings illustrate the important role that private semi-natural areas play in UGI, habitat connectivity, and essential ecosystem services. Full article

Global environmental and health issues such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the weaknesses of current urban systems, including the poor availability and accessibility of green and public spaces in cities. Nature-based Solutions are configured as promising solutions to increase the resilience and health of the built environment by addressing climate and pandemic issues, promoting the psycho-physical well-being of users and proposing solutions for the protection of the environment and ecosystems. Following a systematic review of the scientific literature using the PRISMA methodology, this study aims to provide a taxonomic framework for Nature-based Solutions for the built environment that is applicable to the urban and building scales, highlighting key benefits in addressing pandemic and climate challenges and achieving urban resilience. This framework proposes a holistic and multifunctional approach that will prove to be a useful tool for researchers and policy makers to incorporate greening strategies into urban regeneration and redevelopment processes. The application of Nature-based Solutions still seems to be limited. It is therefore necessary to raise awareness of this issue among citizens and policy makers and to promote close co-operation between the different actors in territorial decision-making processes. Full article

The management of post-mining reservoirs as part of urban blue infrastructure is linked to the implementation of pro-environmental policies at different levels (from local–municipal to European). Local communities, as beneficiaries of measures taken by city authorities, recognise the need for active participation in decision-making processes. They engage in making decisions on blue spaces in urban areas. These include public and natural watercourses and their surroundings, but also water-filled basins of various origins, including post-mining pits. This paper strives to answer how local communities are involved in activities for developing and managing post-mine areas filled with water within city limits. The methods used (including field observation, spatial analyses, and desk research) allowed us to classify post-mining pits according to their functions and the degree of social participation in their development process. The analysed post-mining pits were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of pit reservoirs transformed with the participation of local inhabitants into recreational grounds. The second comprised reservoirs transformed under local zoning plans (with residents consulted) expected to ultimately prop up the city’s green infrastructure. In turn, the third group consists of quasi-natural reservoirs deemed natural enclaves by city residents. The environmental analysis showed that pits were naturalised. One of them was subject to legal protection on account of biodiversity. Post-mine areas in Bydgoszcz play an important environmental role, and some are integral recreational sites, e.g., the Balaton reservoir. They materially affect the inhabitants’ daily contact with nature, which improves life quality. Full article

In the past, mill races were part of the urban structure of many towns in Slovakia. As regulated and artificially created waterways, they served to drive mills, rollers, or hammers. With the use of new sources of energy, they lost their functions, and most of them were dried, filled, or buried underground. In our research, we examine the former mill race corridor in Podolínec (Prešov region, Slovakia) and its potential to contribute to urban regeneration strategies. The research steps included the following, namely 1. Identification of the route of the mill race corridor according to historical sources, 2. survey of its current state and its spatial preservation in the urban structure, 3. evaluation of the possibilities of its new uses, which could increase the quality and attractiveness of urban public spaces. The research results show that the fragments of the corridor of the extinct mill race are still identifiable in the urban fabric, and in the cadaster, they are in public ownership and suitable for new uses. The fragments of the corridor of the extinct mill race in Podolínec represent a potential for strengthening the blue and green infrastructure, pedestrian and cycling greenways, and a potential for the presentation of cultural heritage values, which could contribute to the improvement of the qualities of the urban environment. Full article

The expansion of urban centers and peri-urban zones significantly impacts both the natural world and human well-being, leading to issues such as increased air pollution, the formation of urban heat islands, and challenges in water management. The concept of multifunctional greening serves as a cornerstone, emphasizing the interconnectedness of ecological, social, and health-related factors. This study aimed to identify potential locations for three specific types of blue-green infrastructure (BGI): bioswales, infiltration trenches, and green bus stops. Leveraging geospatial datasets, Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, and remote sensing methodologies, this study conducted a comprehensive analysis and modeling of spatial information. Initial cartographic representations were developed to identify specific locations within Olsztyn, a city in Poland, deemed appropriate for the implementation of the designated blue-green infrastructure (BGI) components. Following this, these models were combined with two additional models created by the researchers: a surface urban heat island (SUHI) model and a demographic model that outlined the age structure of the city’s population. This synergistic approach resulted in the development of a detailed map, which identified potential locations for the implementation of blue-green infrastructure. This was achieved by utilizing vector data acquired with a precision of 1 m. The high level of detail on the map allows for an extremely accurate representation of geographical features and infrastructure layouts, which are essential for precise planning and implementation. This infrastructure is identified as a key strategy for strengthening ecosystem resilience, improving urban livability, and promoting public health and well-being. Full article

Esophageal carcinoma is the sixth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide. A precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is Barrett’s Esophagus (BE). Early-stage diagnosis and treatment of esophageal neoplasia (Barrett’s with high-grade dysplasia/intramucosal cancer) increase the five-year survival rate from 10% to 98%. BE is a global challenge; however, current endoscopes for early BE detection are costly and require extensive infrastructure for patient examination and sedation. We describe the design and evaluation of the first prototype of ScanCap, a high-resolution optical endoscopy system with a reusable, low-cost tethered capsule, designed to provide high-definition, blue-green illumination imaging for the early detection of BE in unsedated patients. The tethered capsule (12.8 mm diameter, 35.5 mm length) contains a color camera and rotating mirror and is designed to be swallowed; images are collected as the capsule is retracted manually via the tether. The tether provides electrical power and illumination at wavelengths of 415 nm and 565 nm and transmits data from the camera to a tablet. The ScanCap prototype capsule was used to image the oral mucosa in normal volunteers and ex vivo esophageal resections; images were compared to those obtained using an Olympus CV-180 endoscope. Images of superficial capillaries in intact oral mucosa were clearly visible in ScanCap images. Diagnostically relevant features of BE, including irregular Z-lines, distorted mucosa, and dilated vasculature, were clearly visible in ScanCap images of ex vivo esophageal specimens. Full article

River corridors, recognized as “blue–green infrastructure,” have become a crucial support system for urban sustainability in contemporary urbanized societies. Understanding the factors influencing the recreational experience along urban river corridors is paramount for enhancing visitors’ health and well-being. This study focuses on the Hutuo River Corridor in Shijiazhuang, China, collecting 3006 valid reviews from Dianping, a prominent review platform. We developed a text-based thematic model and conducted content analysis using this dataset. The main social (visiting time, duration of stay, motivation, safety, and visitors’ types and activities) and physical (natural elements, artificial facilities, maintenance and management, accessibility, distance, models of transportation, weather, and seasons) factors associated with recreational experiences were identified. We assessed visitor perceptions of urban river corridors and elucidated facilitators or barriers through textual content analysis in reviews. The results indicate the feasibility of employing social media data to study visitors’ recreational experiences along urban river corridors. This comprehensive exploration from a qualitative ecological perspective contributes valuable insights for urban planning and management. Moreover, the findings hold significant implications for understanding the usage patterns of river corridors in China and potentially in other countries. Full article

Many cities are increasingly adopting blue-green infrastructure (BGI) to bolster their resilience against environmental challenges. Beyond its well-acknowledged environmental benefits, the role of BGI in enhancing social resilience is becoming an equally important area of focus. However, the integration of BGI in fostering social resilience presents complexities, stemming from the evolving and occasionally ambiguous definition of social resilience. Considering the broad application of BGI across various disciplines makes the evaluation of social resilience within a BGI framework complex. Consequently, a structured approach to develop a clear framework tailored to understanding and measuring social resilience in a BGI setting is needed. This study consolidates various existing frameworks of social resilience, especially utilizing the detailed 5S framework proposed by Saja et al. It integrates findings from an extensive review of literature on social resilience to develop a novel conceptual framework—the BGI Social Resilience Framework. This new framework specifically aims to capture the distinct social aspects and advantages associated with BGI. The BGI Social Resilience Framework is organized into a three-tier model, focusing on four critical aspects of social resilience—social values, social capital, social structure, and social equity—and explores how these aspects are interconnected. Characteristics and indicators are customized to accommodate the context of BGI in a way that integrates the physical and human dimensions within a comprehensive approach to measurement that uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Specifically, this research formulates a theoretical framework for BGI with the aim of investigating BGI strategies and viewpoints that bolster social resilience. The BGI Social Resilience Framework takes into account the varied demographics and the physical characteristics of urban areas to explore ways to create BGI spaces that are more inclusive and that contribute to the enhancement of social resilience. Full article

Remote sensing datasets usually have a wide range of spatial and spectral resolutions. They provide unique advantages in surveillance systems, and many government organizations use remote sensing multispectral imagery to monitor security-critical infrastructures or targets. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced rapidly in recent years and has been widely applied to remote image analysis, achieving state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance. However, AI models are vulnerable and can be easily deceived or poisoned. A malicious user may poison an AI model by creating a stealthy backdoor. A backdoored AI model performs well on clean data but behaves abnormally when a planted trigger appears in the data. Backdoor attacks have been extensively studied in machine learning-based computer vision applications with natural images. However, much less research has been conducted on remote sensing imagery, which typically consists of many more bands in addition to the red, green, and blue bands found in natural images. In this paper, we first extensively studied a popular backdoor attack, BadNets, applied to a remote sensing dataset, where the trigger was planted in all of the bands in the data. Our results showed that SOTA defense mechanisms, including Neural Cleanse, TABOR, Activation Clustering, Fine-Pruning, GangSweep, Strip, DeepInspect, and Pixel Backdoor, had difficulties detecting and mitigating the backdoor attack. We then proposed an explainable AI-guided backdoor attack specifically for remote sensing imagery by placing triggers in the image sub-bands. Our proposed attack model even poses stronger challenges to these SOTA defense mechanisms, and no method was able to defend it. These results send an alarming message about the catastrophic effects the backdoor attacks may have on satellite imagery. Full article

The urban green public spaces “UGSs” provide a place for everyday contact with nature to humans. Green and blue infrastructure is important for urban heat mitigation. This study focuses on the relationship between satisfaction with the place of living and quality of life indexes, accessibility, and the quality of public green spaces in one of the suburbs of Gdańsk in Poland. Even though there are award-winning public parks and a large-scale Tri-city Landscape Park, the individual indexes measuring the satisfaction of local inhabitants with accessibility to public parks and their quality were well beyond the average in Gdańsk. The research question was to explain such low satisfaction with green public parks and spaces in Gdańsk-Osowa. The results of the evaluation of available “UGSs” against the universal standard for health-promoting urban places confirmed their recreational value but also demonstrated limited spatial and physical accessibility and possible overcrowding. Thus, the possibilities for everyday contact with nature for numerous inhabitants are limited and that condition may influence the life quality indexes. The results suggest that increasing urban density and the further development of residential neighborhoods requires careful planning of new public parks in consideration of proximity to public open green spaces. The accessibility of public parks within walking distance is crucial when planning new developments. Full article