Search

Urban green spaces (UGS) significantly influence the distribution of surface heat and play a crucial role in regulating surface temperature. However, the quantitative relationship between UGS and surface temperature remains unclear, necessitating further research. This study aims to predict surface temperature based on green space information from GaoFen-2 satellite data. To achieve this, GaoFen-2 data were utilized to obtain spatial distribution and vegetation growth status in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Three machine learning models such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and Gradient Boosting Regression Tree (GBRT) were constructed to predict surface temperature. Results indicated that UGS information extracted from GaoFen-2 data using the U-Net semantic segmentation model successfully predicted surface temperature. Among the three machine learning models, GBRT exhibited the highest predictive accuracy with an R adj 2 of 0.81, RMSE of 0.44, and RPD of 2.29, followed by RF (R adj 2 of 0.80, RMSE of 0.45, and RPD of 2.22), and SVM (R adj 2 of 0.79, RMSE of 0.47, and RPD of 2.15), In addition, a variable importance assessment reduced the original 44 variables to 28, maintaining predictive accuracy with the GBRT model achieving an R adj 2 of 0.81, RMSE of 0.43, and RPD of 2.3. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of using vegetation information derived from GaoFen-2 to predict surface temperature. This approach provides valuable recommendations for the layout of UGS in urban areas and serves as a comprehensive reference for urban planning and real estate development. [Display omitted] • Using a semantic segmentation model on GF-2 data has yielded excellent results in extracting green space information. • Three machine learning models indicate that urban green space information can predict surface temperature quite effectively. • Streamlining green space feature information still ensures the accuracy of temperature predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microclimate (e.g., temperature and humidity) in urban green space (UGS) patches changes nonlinearly from the edge to the interior, displaying a microclimatic edge effect (MEE). Reducing the MEE width is an effective and practical strategy for UGS planning and management to enhance climatic benefits (e.g., cooling). However, cost-effective approaches are not available to quantify the MEE width, let alone explore its driving factors. This study proposes a novel and cost-effective method to quantify the MEE width, based on the relationship between climatic variables (e.g., temperature and humidity) and the percentage of remaining UGS after successive edge removals. The method was tested in the subtropical city of Changsha, China, considering air temperature (AT) and humidity. Its effectiveness was also tested using widely available land surface temperature (LST) datasets while considering different spatial resolutions of the UGS map (i.e., 1–10 m) and different analytical units (i.e., 1 km2 grid and township census tract). Finally, the generalizability of this method was validated with data on six other representative Chinese cities. The results show that: (1) The estimated MEE widths for temperature and humidity in Changsha are about 8 m and 6 m, respectively. (2) The approach obtains consistent MEE widths irrespective of temperature types and analytical units. (3) A high spatial resolution UGS map (i.e., 1 m) is recommended for higher accuracy. (4) This approach effectively identifies MEE width in six other representative Chinese cities (Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenyang, Wuhan, Xi'an), demonstrating its generalizability. This novel approach provides an easy and fast method to identify the MEE width at the landscape scale, which can help (1) better understand the relationship between UGS fragmentation and the urban microclimate, and (2) better plan and manage UGS to improve the urban microclimate. • The microclimatic edge effect (MEE) width of urban green spaces is quantified. • A novel and cost-effective approach is proposed. • This approach works well for temperature and humidity. • This approach has high generalizability and can be applied to other cities • High spatial resolution of urban green space map is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the relationships between attributes of a green space visit (green space type, duration, activities, company) and 1) health-related benefits (including mental restoration, aesthetic appreciation), and 2) visitor demographics and health status. Exploratory analyses of our online survey show that the type of green space chosen has little relevance for benefits but that what it is used for does. Passive uses of urban green spaces are common across population groups and related to a diversity of benefits. Results showing that longer visits bring more benefits and occur more frequently within populations with higher education and income contentment point to inequities regarding the accessibility of health-related benefits. Lastly, we observe limited nature connectedness amongst respondents, which adds an important consideration to future survey approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces are crucial for improving the quality of life of city residents because they provide numerous health advantages and foster overall wellness. However, previous research has concentrated only on individual goals and overlooked the inherent contradictions that arise when many objectives are considered. This study devised a transdisciplinary framework to link the optimization of plant community characteristics with multiple objectives. In Beijing, we selected 22 urban green spaces and utilized the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm III (NSGA-III) to create a Pareto-optimal model. This model allowed us to reveal the relationships and limitations between plant community characterization factors and three objectives: temperature comfort, landscape aesthetics, and construction costs. Consequently, 91 Pareto-optimal solutions were obtained. The results indicate that a tradeoff exists between the three goals of temperature comfort, landscape aesthetics, and building costs, and this tradeoff is influenced by the interplay between the objectives and plant community characterization factors. We condensed four methodologies for building plant communities, each with distinct objective orientations, while also considering the preferences of decision-makers. The results of this study offer a novel perspective for conducting research in multi-objective scenarios to promote environmental sustainability. [Display omitted] • We revealed the relationships between plant community characteristics and multiple objectives. • We proposed a multi-objective optimization framework for plant community characteristics. • Optimal solutions are obtained based on EWM-TOPSIS and VCWM-TOPSIS methods. • We proposed recommendations for plant community design and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation and climate change have increased the need for equitable access and visibility of urban green and blue spaces (GBS), to promote the sustainability and resilience of cities and to improve the well-being of their inhabitants. In this paper, we test an implementation of the newly proposed guideline to achieve equitable greening, the 3–30–300 rule, in three European cities: Paris Region (France), Aarhus Municipality (Denmark), and Grad Velika Gorica (Croatia). In this analysis, every residential building should have at least three viewable trees, 30 % neighbourhood GBS cover, and a GBS of at least 1 hectare within 300 m. Our results show that none of the cities currently meet any of these three components, and the three cities differed in which rules were most closely met. In our implementation, substantial changes were needed in all cities to meet the guidelines: 12.6 % of Paris, 10 % of Aarhus, and 18.4 % of Velika Gorica's urban footprint were converted to grass or tree cover, with implications for >100,000 buildings and >900,000 inhabitants. Our study discusses how existing conditions in each city impacted the viability of meeting the rule and proposes key considerations for future implementations of such guidelines, drawing on examples of innovative GBS already implemented globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term population loss and economic downturns have led to shrinking cities generally lacking social vitality and losing public spaces, such as green spaces. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of green spaces for the social capital and health of residents, but the impacts of green space usage on health inequalities in the context of urban shrinkage have not been fully explored. In addition, residents who live in shrinking cities in northeastern China are more likely to suffer health problems due to their location in a severely cold region. Therefore, we selected 17 urban green spaces in Hegang, a typical shrinking city, as the research objects. We collected a total of 544 valid questionnaires through random distribution. These data were used to evaluate four green space usage characteristics of residents comprising transportation costs, usage frequency, usage duration, and participation in activities, as well as two social capital dimensions that are directly related to health comprising social networks and reciprocity and trust. We conducted correlation analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, and analysis of covariance to explore the impacts of green space usage on two categories of social capital for residents with different attributes and the consequences of health inequalities. The results showed that: (1) women, middle-aged and elderly people, and the low- and middle-income classes were less able to access social capital through the usage of green spaces; (2) the frequency of green space usage and intensity of participation in social activities were key dimensions that affected inequality; and (3) the usage of green spaces reinforced inequalities in the level of reciprocity and trust among residents. Based on our findings, we recommend that local governments in shrinking cities pay more attention to green spaces and squares in inner city areas to improve the accessibility and usability of these open spaces. Governments should focus on regenerating green spaces located near older neighborhoods to increase opportunities for residents to make new social connections and reduce inequalities in public services and health, especially for improving the social well-being of older populations with a lower socioeconomic status. • Green space usage may exacerbate health inequalities among residents. • Women, middle-aged and elderly people, and the low- and middle-income classes were less likely to access social capital. • The usage frequency and intensity of social activities were key dimensions that contributed to health inequalities. • It is necessary to increase the attractiveness to different groups of people and the likelihood of social interaction. • Local governments should focus on regenerating green spaces around disadvantaged communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the evaluation criteria for the soundscape of urban green spaces is essential for the purposes of designing and planning. Nevertheless, studies that focus on the significance of soundscape diversity in such evaluations have been very limited. Furthermore, the relationship between soundscape diversity and the indicators used to evaluate soundscape in urban green spaces remains unclear. The present study investigates the relationship by conducting a soundscape survey across 30 green spaces to derive four soundscape diversity indices: the soundscape diversity index (SDI), soundscape richness index (SRI), soundscape dominance index (SDO), and soundscape evenness index (SEI). The findings indicate that soundscape diversity significantly influence sound preference, perceived affective quality, and the overall soundscape assessment, especially in traffic-noise-dominated and natural-sounds-dominated green spaces. Additionally, sound preference and perceived affective quality were found to act as intermediary factors between soundscape diversity and the overall soundscape assessment. The mediating effect was responsible for 23.7%, 24.5%, and 84.3% of the total effect in three types of green space, respectively. Therefore, the ideal soundscape diversity in urban green spaces depends on their specific type, rather than a simple "more is better" or "less is better" approach. Correspondingly, the use of soundscape diversity as a novel evaluation indicator can be employed for the assessment and design of soundscape in urban green spaces in future studies. • SD significantly influence PRE, PAQ, and OSA. • PRE and PAQ are intermediaries through which SD influences OSA. • Soundscape diversity can be used to adjust soundscape evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGSs) serve as preferred venues for residents' outdoor physical activities (PAs). However, limited research explores the supply and demand match of physical activity services. This study aims to introduce a novel multi-dimensional framework to map the supply and demand of PA services in UGSs. This framework involves evaluating UGS supply from capacity, quality, and accessibility dimensions, mapping the demand for PA services from visiting frequency and duration based on massive trajectories, and then assessing supply-demand matches of PA services by spatial clustering analysis. The findings revealed distinct spatial imbalances in the supply and demand of PA services in the case of Chongqing, as indicated by 45.34% of surveyed blocks with mismatches. PA services exhibited spatial heterogeneity, with undersupply in the urban center and oversupply in the suburbs. The demand for jogging and walking peaked highest in certain periods, such as morning and evening peaks, intensifying the undersupply issue. This study provides insights for exploring the PA services of UGSs and offers valuable implications for UGS planning and management. • Assessing the supply and demand mismatches of physical activity services. • We assessed the supply from capacity, quality, and accessibility dimensions. • We assessed the demand for PAs using massive trajectory data. • There is an under-supply in the center and an over-supply in the suburbs. • Demand for physical activities had significant temporal variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGS) are vital in modern cities, offering extensive health, social, and environmental benefits. However, traditional research methods primarily focus on UGS distribution and aggregation through 2D mapping, often neglecting the quality and vitality of urban natural environments. This limited approach hampers our full understanding of the complex issues and opportunities surrounding UGS. This study proposes a novel concept of Implied Urban Nature Vitality (IUNV) and evaluation framework that offers a comprehensive lens to understand better and evaluate the manifold human-urban-nature interactions in modern cityscapes. Based on our IUNV framework, an interdisciplinary investigation is conducted to show the distribution and population-level perceived IUNV in San Francisco by leveraging a triad of data sources: census, street-built environment, and social media data. Utilizing census data, we analyze socio-economic influences on UGS distribution and IUNV, including factors such as education, age demographics, income, and ethnicity. Street view imagery (SVI), analyzed with advanced image recognition algorithms, serves as a proxy for visual and physical aspects of IUNV, highlighting features like trees, sky, buildings, and roads. This analysis paints a granular picture of UGS's spatial distribution and physical attributes, facilitating an objective measure of IUNV. Subsequently, we analyze Flickr photos related to urban natural areas, examining their distribution and identifying thematic clusters that illuminate various aspects of UGS vitality. Lastly, we combine computer vision and manual review to define 12 IUNV themes from architecture and nature, eco-friendly gatherings, to cultural performance, exploring the relationship between the vitality clusters and the independent variables. The main findings are: (1) Macro-level factors (e.g., accessibility level, land use mix level, road density, population density, etc.) are the dominant variables influencing IUNV.; (2) Street view factors play key roles in IUNV. Through this holistic IUNV analysis, the study shed light on the complexities of urban green space planning and management, informing future urban development strategies towards greater vitality and, by extension, environmental and social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allometric equations are essential for quantifying carbon storage in trees; however, owing to the high species diversity in urban green spaces, the development of allometric equations for all urban tree species is not feasible. In this study, we estimated the aboveground volume of urban trees and determined the fitness of several allometric equations. We compared the equations for different taxonomic levels, i.e., division, family, and species. A field survey was conducted across three types of urban green spaces (street trees, parks, and residential gardens) in three cities (Seoul, Goyang, and Wonju) in South Korea. We estimated the aboveground volumes of 1080 trees from their diameter measurements using a laser dendrometer, carried out at successive points from the ground to the top of the trees. Various tree size metrics, such as the diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and/or crown diameter, were applied as independent variable(s) in the equations. For gymnosperm trees, the allometric equations for higher taxonomic levels (RMSE: 0.011 m3) yielded goodness-of-fits similar to those at the species level (RMSE: 0.009 m3). For angiosperm trees, the family-level allometric equations satisfactorily covered the inter-species heterogeneity of tree shape, whereas the division-level allometric equations did not. The scaling exponent coefficients of allometric equations for each family (b = 1.65−2.69) linearly increased with an increasing mean height-to-DBH ratio. Although the allometric equations based on crown diameter were more unstable than those based on the DBH, integrating the height variable into the equations could ensure the feasibility of the allometric equations based on crown diameter. Our study facilitates the development of nationally specific emission factors for settlement areas and suggests the applicability of generalized or crown-based allometric equations for urban trees. [Display omitted] • Allometric equations (AEs) estimated aboveground volume for urban trees. • Family-level AEs using diameter were satisfactorily accurate for estimating aboveground volume. • The scaling exponents of AEs were dependent on trees' height:diameter ratios. • AEs' performances based on crown diameter can improve using heights. • A case study successfully demonstrated the applicability of the volumetric approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial effects of urban parks and forests on the well-being of city dwellers have gained widespread recognition. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) robots have been employed in urban parks for various purposes, such as 24-hour patrol, COVID-19 physical distancing, and assisting visitors. While these robots offer significant benefits, visitors may harbor a negative perception towards autonomous robots, which could potentially undermine the recreational experiences in urban parks and forests. To test such impacts of AI robots, this study examines public perceptions of AI robots in urban parks. An extensive dataset of 36,520 comments from YouTube videos showcasing these robots was collected and analyzed using sentiment analysis, binomial logistic regressions, and topic modeling. The findings revealed that negative comments were widespread, encompassing their fear of AI robots controlling and harming people. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a human-centered approach in the design and implementation of AI robots in urban parks. • This study analyzes public perceptions of AI robots applied in urban parks. • YouTube comments on AI robots were examined as big data. • Negative comments were prevalent and diverse, including public fear. • Human-centered design should be integrated into AI robots applied in urban parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space (UGS) is an important factor in sustainable urban development. However, cities often experience unequal access to UGSs during the process of development, due to factors such as shrinkage and spreading. Many cities worldwide are facing urban shrinkage, which may lead to the deterioration of urban spatial environments and aggravation of inequities. In addition, due to urban land and financial constraints, it is not possible to maintain UGS equity by simply increasing the number of UGSs. Therefore, it is necessary to explore what defines a reasonable UGS structure from an equity perspective to support sustainable urban development. In this study, the UGS equity index of Yokosuka City was measured using the Gini coefficient. Morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) was used to understand the morphological structure of UGSs in different regions and to transform them into potential structural classes. Finally, a UGS equity prediction model was constructed by ridge regression to provide a UGS morphological structure that is conducive to equitable UGS development. The main results indicate that 1) UGS inequity exists in Yokosuka; 2) no relationship was found between population decline and UGS inequity in Yokosuka; 3) UGS distribution is more equitable in towns with higher land values and population aging; 4) Islet, edge, loop, and branch components play an important role in the equitable development of UGS, and their corresponding potential UGS morphology is fragmentation, complexity, internal connectivity, and partial connectivity, respectively. This study further improves the analytical framework for describing the morphological structure of UGSs based on MSPA from a morphological perspective and provides a spatial morphological strategy to support the equitable development of UGSs. • Urban green space was described by morphological spatial pattern analysis. • Islets represented equity-promoting fragmented green space. • Edges increased green space complexity, promoting equitable access. • Green space connectors represented more equitable shared corridors. • UGS distribution is more equitable in towns with higher land values and aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling by plant evapotranspiration (ET) is a prominent ecosystem service provided by urban green spaces (UGSs). UGSs counteract the warming of cities during heat waves. This study presents a GIS model to quantitatively assess the cooling intensity (CI) of UGS units (biotope types) during heat waves at the landscape scale. We conceptualize the CI as a physical index based on the ET of UGSs. Cooling intensities are calculated using the ambient temperature, biotope types, soil characteristics, and initial soil water conditions at the beginning of a heat wave as inputs. We calibrated and validated the model against the surface temperature in the city of Bochum, Germany, based on the thermal band of an orthorectified and calibrated atmospheric-, temperature- and emissivity-corrected mosaic from an airborne hyperspectral scanner. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient of the calibrated model is 0.75. The initial soil water content in the urban area affected the modeled CI by up to 2.6 K, and under the same transpiration rate, whether the initial ambient air temperature was 27 or 37 °C had effects of up to 2 K on the CI. The CI increased by up to 1 K with area size up to 2.5 ha. The purpose of the model was to evaluate and compare the CI of current and planned spatial patterns of land units to mitigate urban heat islands. The similar range of the goodness-of-fit criteria of the uncalibrated model compared to the calibrated model indicated the robustness and transferability of the model. • A model with sensitivity to soil water storage at the beginning of a heat wave is presented. • Making use of the FAO reference on grass evapotranspiration (ETo) enables widespread use of this model. • Even small areas cool during heat waves as long as transpiration occurs. • The cooling intensity increases with UGS area, up to an area of 5 ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGSs) are known to promote psychological restoration. However, most traditional studies measure this effect statically using preset assumptions or scenarios, and tend to neglect factors' varied effect under different conditions. In this study, we investigated the dynamicity of UGS-related factors on human sentiment under different UGS sizes and seasons by analysing social media reviews using machine learning. To this end, first, self-reported online reviews of UGSs in Nanjing City were collected. Next, machine learning-based text mining and natural language processing were performed to extract the latent topics and sentiment level of each review document, respectively. A logistic regression model series was established to analyse the influential valence of the review topics on the sentiment of the reviews. The results revealed that people's sentiments and corresponding predictor performances are more sensitive to variations in UGS sizes compared with the seasons. Within UGSs, natural and activity features play more important roles in promoting positive sentiments compared with cultural and facility features. Moreover, larger UGSs include more tools that promote positive sentiments, and waterside activities and daily exercise promote positive sentiments throughout the year. Compared with previous studies, this study adopted a dynamic perspective to examine the influence of UGSs on people's sentiment and provides a new approach in environmental psychoanalysis by integrating different ML-based techniques. Our findings are expected to aid in future decision-making during UGS planning and design in Nanjing and similar cities worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neighborhood greenness is of growing importance to understand the quality of urban life, including outcomes tied to health and well-being. However, all greenness may not lead to the same outcomes in racially and ethnically segregated cities. There are many factors associated with the influence of greenness, including perceptions of the physical and social environments. By using multilevel logistic regression analysis, this study investigated differences in psychological well-being associated with neighborhood greenness, park use frequency, and perceived neighborhood physical and social settings in Chicago, IL. We used individual-level health data of 4517 Chicago respondents in 77 neighborhoods, which were aggregated into three distinct regions of the city and drawn from the 2020 Healthy Chicago Survey (HCS); neighborhood greenness was measured using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Results suggest that: (1) greenness was significantly associated with psychological well-being in Chicago's North region but not in the other regions; (2) more frequent park use was associated with psychological well-being in the North region but not in the other regions; (3) neighborhood safety was the strongest predictor of psychological well-being in all three regions of Chicago. This study offers theoretical and practical insights on the need for comprehensive assessment that can help disentangle and differentiate the levels of care and maintenance in urban green spaces. By coupling NDVI with geographic differences, researchers can better capture the complex interplay between different aspects of greenness and urban residents' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lingering question in the research on urban green space (UGS) availability in the Global South is which walking distance threshold should be used due to the absence of consensus on that in the literature and planning guidelines. This paper answers that question by developing an analytical framework for identifying UGS deserts – areas without adequate UGS availability level – considering various walking distance thresholds. We first demonstrate how geographic distributions of UGS deserts can change depending on different walking distance thresholds (e.g., 100, 300, 500 m) of choice. Unreliable and inaccurate detection of UGS deserts can hinder evidence-based land use planning for promoting healthy cities and result in erroneous social equity evaluation. To overcome this limitation, we introduce and examine robust UGS oases and deserts: geographic areas with and without the per capita green space (PCG) level recommended by a local government regardless of different walking distance thresholds used, respectively. With the identified robust UGS deserts and oases, we perform a social equity analysis to investigate inequality and whether there are systematic disadvantages for socioeconomically vulnerable populations to access UGS in Dhaka, a rapidly developing capital city in Bangladesh. The robust UGS deserts approach enables more reliable and informed decision-making to enhance UGS availability and its social equity, thereby facilitating an optimal development of urban policy for healthy cities. More practically, our robust UGS deserts method can be an effective alternative to detect UGS deserts when guidelines for walking distance thresholds are missing which is often the case in low- and middle-income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces can promote physical activity, well-being, and public health, but disparities in the distribution of such spaces predominantly benefit affluent communities. Therefore, green justice issues have become a focus of academic research. In this paper, we develop a new model, the comprehensive floating catchment area (CFCA), to measure the accessibility of urban green space. The CFCA models urban green space attractiveness as a function of park size and of street green views from residential zones to parks. Three transportation modes (walking, biking, and driving a car) are compared. We take the central urban area of Beijing as the research area and measure green justice across different economic residential zones using the ordinary least squares model. The results suggest that the spatial disparities of urban green space are significant when only polygon urban green spaces are considered, regardless of the transportation mode. However, green injustice is mitigated when we consider both urban green spaces and street greening. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first attempt to study green justice by taking a street green view, and the results of this study can provide guidance on urban green space development for government leaders and researchers in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Types of greenery can have different associations with weight status. • Higher levels of tree cover across tested thresholds were consistently protective. • Greenery effects were greater in larger buffers. Obesity is a major international health concern. Neighborhood greenery has been identified as a critical factor for promoting health in urban areas, due in part to its apparent role in facilitating healthy weight by promoting physical activity. However, studies have used diverse greenery measures and spatial analysis units to ascertain this relationship. This study examined associations between street greenery and weight status at the residential address level across 500–2000 m buffers in two climatically distinct communities, Phoenix, AZ, and Portland, OR. Greenery was measured using one-meter landcover data. Street greenery measures were designed to quantify the pedestrian environment along a gradient of suitability for promoting physical exercise. Weight status was defined by body mass index (BMI) calculated from weight and height information on driver's license records. BMI values were dichotomized at 25 into overweight or obese vs. neither. Approximately 500,000 BMI values in Phoenix and 225,000 in Portland were modelled by community using logistic regression. Street tree cover was consistently protective for healthy weight status across all buffer sizes after adjusting for potential confounders. Herbaceous street cover showed protective associations in Phoenix but harmful associations in Portland. Every 10% increase in street tree cover within 2000 m was associated with 18% lower odds of being overweight or obese (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.81 – 0.84 in Phoenix; 0.82, 95% CI: 0.81 – 0.83 in Portland). When compared to residents with less than 10% street tree cover within 2000 m, those with greater than 10% tree cover had at least 13% (AOR for Portland: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81 – 0.92) lower odds of being overweight or obese. Findings support the importance of urban street trees in very different climates for facilitating healthy weight status. They can inform greenery management to prioritize vegetation type and allocation decisions in limited urban spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A survey of 287 Los Angeles park users examined place attachment and other factors. • Place attachment was associated with frequency of use and mode of travel, though not as expected. • Higher attachment correlated with willingness to participate in stewardship activities. • Renters and lower-income visitors expressed lower levels of place attachment. • Findings have implications for park management and future research into park equity and access. Urban parks are a vital resource. They provide a wealth of benefits that support the health and well-being of the people who use them and the ecosystems in which they reside. In densely populated cities, parks are often the only nearby natural resource for local residents to engage with and learn about the environment. Place attachment—individuals' psychological and emotional connection to their local parks and natural areas—has been shown to be a precursor to engaging in volunteer stewardship activities. Yet the place attachment research to date has largely focused on non-urban recreation settings, such as national parks, leaving a large gap in understanding place attachment in urban settings and on smaller scales. This paper describes the results of a study conducted in the Baldwin Hills Parklands, a multi-use park system located in densely populated Los Angeles, CA, USA. A survey of 287 visitors revealed high levels of place attachment across the Parklands, and frequency of use was positively associated with level of place attachment. Among the highest rated sentiments were feelings of safety and peacefulness. Unexpectedly, drivers expressed greater attachment than those arriving on foot or other means of transportation. Visitors with higher place attachment were also more likely to be willing to participate in volunteer stewardship. Renters and lower-middle income visitors expressed lower levels of place attachment than homeowners and upper income visitors, while Latinx visitors had higher place attachment than non-Latinx visitors. The paper discusses the findings and their implications for management and future research on place attachment in urban parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Approach of characterizing the thermal environment effect. • Spatiotemporally varying analyzing on time series data. • Evaluation on the cooling effect of different UGS (Urban Green Space) types. • Scientific and rational UGS planning are urgently needed for estuarine watershed. Taking the main city of Fuzhou as the study area, the relationship between the spatiotemporal evolution of urban green space (UGS) and the urban thermal environment from 1993 to 2013 was investigated using a set of remote sensing images. The evolution of UGS is obvious in the study area, where UGS loss (42.83 km2) > UGS extension (4.99 km2) > UGS exchange (2.61 km2). UGS loss affects forest/grass > water > wetland. Furthermore, the area defined as high temperature zones increased by 23.11 km2 in 2013, twice as much as that in 1993. However, the influence of UGS on the urban thermal environment differs by type and evolution: water has the greatest cooling effect, followed by wetland and forest/grass, and UGS loss (8.67 ℃) > UGS exchange (4.00 ℃) > UGS extension (2.90 ℃) > UGS unchanged (2.45 ℃). Finally, the vegetation and cooling index classified the mechanism of temperature response induced by different types of UGS evolution. The evolution of UGS loss usually simulated the movement of the corresponding pixel from the low land surface temperature and high vegetation coverage to the opposite situation. Regression analyses demonstrated that the effect of elevated land surface temperature generated from the reduction of water and forest/grass reached 0.81 ℃ and 0.72 ℃, respectively, in 20 years, indicating that the loss of a significant amount of UGS during urbanization was the primary influence on the urban thermal environment. This study may provide more useful information for researchers and decision-makers engaged in urban planning, urban regeneration, and sustainable land development, especially focusing on the issues of climate adaption and the urban heat island (UHI) effect mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Digital tools are increasingly used in UGI governance. • Citizens can contribute to informed planning online 'anywhere, anytime'. • Opportunities exist for strengthened links between citizens and UGI (Place). Digital communication tools for information sharing are being increasingly used in governance, including green space governance and natural resource management and planning. Citizens' resources in the form of knowledge, skills, as well as their collaboration with authorities have been identified in the governance literature as crucial elements in sustainable development. Technical advancement in internet communication technology (ICT) presents novel opportunities for engaging and leveraging civic knowledge and skills into different levels of governance. These options are still largely unexplored in governance research on urban green infrastructure (UGI). In this paper, we analyse three different digital tools (e-tools) from the perspective of a Scandinavian planning context. We explore how e-tools can support UGI governance and the perceived barriers. The e-tools explored are three digital platforms with a focus on public participation related to UGI. The three e-tools are map-based, i.e., users share information on digital maps: so-called Volunteered Geographic Information. Here, we call them place-based e-tools. We explore and analyse their adoption into UGI governance, the institutional contexts that affect them and also discuss potential of e-tools in place-based governance. Our findings indicate that the analysed tools all facilitate UGI governance in terms of engaging citizens in use, management, and planning of UGI. However, there are challenges to be aware of, such as the digital divide and the importance of clear participatory frameworks. We conclude that place-based e-tools have potential for UGI governance and that there is potential to strengthen links to 'place', while continuously testing and challenging new opportunities as technology rapidly develops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Social was the most perceived while culture and rich in species the least. • Preferences are positively related to highly perceived sensory dimensions. • Type of green space strongly affects perceptions of the eight sensory dimensions. • Certain socioeconomic variables affect perceptions of the eight sensory dimensions. • Use variables have influence on perceptions of the eight sensory dimensions. Several evidence from the Nordic countries suggest that the eight perceived sensory dimensions , which are serene , nature , rich in species , space , prospect , refuge , social and culture , can be used as a reliable tool for urban green space assessment and planning, but whether or not this is the case for China is unknown. Using an onsite questionnaire distributed to green space users in Hefei, China, this study is the first to examine the representations of the eight sensory dimensions as perceived by Chinese people in different types of green space, and to identify the relationship between the eight sensory dimensions and preference, including the factors that most influenced their perceptions. The results showed that: (1) Social was common, while culture and rich in species the least common—which was not in line with the previous European studies; (2) The popularity of green space type was positively related to the number of highly perceived sensory dimensions ; (3) Type of green space was a key determinant of perceptions of the eight sensory dimensions , and certain socioeconomic and green space use variables also had a great impact on people's perceptions. The results grant potential to the method in assessment and planning of urban green space in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developers are interested in the fact that people are keen on living close to urban green spaces – and especially that they are willing to pay for it. This study aims to investigate to what extent developers capitalise on green space proximity, and to what extent they use green space proximity as a selling point in their marketing communications. We investigate developers' activities around 107 public parks and green squares in Lodz, Poland, between 2011 and 2021. We focus specifically on how many new residential buildings were built within a 500-metre buffer around the parks, divided into an inner buffer (within 100 m) and an outer buffer (within 100–500 m). (Despite being farther, the outer buffer is still considered to be near the park.) Our results show that most new residential developments occurred around large and very large parks, parks characterised by the highest multifunctionality, and – most importantly – parks otherwise known to serve as amenities (positively influencing real estate prices). The most attractive parks tend to attract the most developments. Furthermore, the larger the park, the smaller the share of standard new developments. Additionally, we found that luxury developments were more likely to be advertised as benefiting from green space proximity, even if they were not located within the inner (100 m) buffer. We discuss these results in the context of external benefits reaped by developers as well as various cases of abuse or greenwashing claims in marketing new residential developments. We indicate how developers who build up informal green spaces (most new developments were sited on land that was previously not built up) reap external benefits provided by publicly maintained green spaces, and how this fits into the neoliberal urban green growth machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street greenery is an essential component in assessing the ecological quality of urban areas. Panoramic images of streets provide a more comprehensive representation of the streetscape, enabling researchers to explore the diverse composition of street greenery and its correlation with the physical and mental health of urban residents. In this study, we propose a method based on semantic segmentation of panoramic street images to evaluate the structure of urban street greenery and calculate the proportion of its different broad structural categories of plants. To accomplish this, we constructed a new street view dataset called Street Greening Space Structure Dataset (S-G-S-S), which is specifically designed for street greening structure evaluation. Using the DeepLabV3 + neural network model, we trained the system for semantic segmentation of panoramic streetscape images to improve the accuracy of Panorama View Green View index (PVGVI) while accurately identifying the street greenery structure. To verify the accuracy and stability of the method, we conducted an empirical study in the Livingston area of western New York City, USA, using multiple neural network models and comparing the results. The findings indicate that the proposed method can better visualize the greening structure at the urban street level, offering a valuable tool for urban planners and policymakers to assess the ecological quality of urban areas. • Creating a dataset S-G-S-S fills the gap in deep learning semantic segmentation datasets in the field of urban street greening. • Further identify and classify different broad structural categories of plant. • Our method can purposefully increase the proportion of a particular plant to improve the green structure. • To provide a research basis for future investigations into the effects of street greening structures on the surrounding ecological environment. • Solving the shortcomings of traditional urban greening assessment limited by the scope of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoting Urban Green Space (UGS) is one of the major requests of green cities for urban planners and local officials, and it is linked to myriad environmental and social benefits. However, scant literature has positioned the UGS into the background of fast regionalisation to unravel their relationships and mechanisms. This study delves into the impact and mechanisms of regional cooperation upon the provision of UGS in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), a dynamic city-region in southern China. Through social network analysis, panel data analysis, documentary review (analysis), and in-depth interviews, this study found that overall, regional cooperation has positive impacts on UGS provision in the GBA in the spheres of economic, social, institutional, and environmental affairs. We argued that economic cooperation encroaches on UGS by fostering infrastructure and economic zones; it also upgrades the industrial sectors and intensifies land use to positively affect UGS provision. Social cooperation reinforces population influx yet fosters social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles, and green economics to support the delivery of UGS policies. Environmental cooperation among local officials facilitates the implementation of urban greening projects, and institutional cooperation is conducive to urban governance in spatial greening planning. For the local government, the focal point for pursuing the green city vision is collaborative actions across the economic, social, environmental, and institutional spheres. • Economic cooperation promotes urban green space growth within economic zones. • Social cooperation strengthens social cohesion and promotes sustainable lifestyles. • Environmental cooperation facilitates experience exchange on urban green space. • Institutional cooperation ensures effective operation of spatial greening planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new spatial model to quantify and map health-related impacts of urban green space (UGS), with the aim to address major shortcomings of existing models and to meet the needs of urban spatial planners for quantitative, spatially-explicit assessment of both the health benefits and burdens of UGS. This GIS-based model uses publicly available high-resolution geospatial data to estimate street-level values of five major determinants of urban health that are significantly influenced by urban spatial design (including UGS): unattractive views, heat stress, air pollution, perceived unsafety and tick-bite risk. We also describe a potential major application of the model for urban spatial planners, a so-called hotspot analysis for a set of five urban design-related health problems, which can assist in setting spatial priorities in urban greening strategies as well as in designing effective greenspace interventions. Hotspots are areas within a city where urban design-related health problems are the largest. An analysis for Maastricht (The Netherlands) showed that in hotspots UGS was mostly a net burden, but also that redesign of UGS could make its role more beneficial for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space is important for alleviating high temperatures, pollution, and flooding in cities. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that urban green space is important for the mental and physical health of humans residing in cities and that urban green space may harbor unique biodiversity. Understanding the extent and drivers of urban green space is thus important. While urban green space has been mapped and studied at local to national scales, the global patterns and drivers of urban green space remain unknown, potentially hampering effective planning and allocation of resources toward reaching sustainable development goals. Here, we quantified the effect of environmental and socio-economic drivers (temperature, precipitation, human development, and population density) on urban green space globally by focusing on national capital cities. We used satellite imagery to map urban green space using two measures: the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and the fractional cover of "green" land cover classes. NDVI is useful as it includes all vegetated surfaces, also small ones like gardens. However, land cover classes allow the exclusion of certain classes such as sports fields or cropland. We used boosted regression trees to show that climatic variables accounted for 75 % of the relative influence in urban green space, with a positive effect of precipitation and a negative effect of temperature. Importantly, socioeconomic variables accounted for 25 % of the influence on global urban green space, with a positive effect of human development index (HDI) and a negative effect of population density. HDI in relation to urban green space has not previously been tested globally, and our study shows that significantly affects urban greenspace. The results demonstrate that cities where development status is low and population densities are high, typically in the Global South, have less urban green space than the climate would predict. The results therefore suggest that human wellbeing does not only benefit directly from increasing human development and decreasing population densities in urban areas, but that these effects may be compounded by also improving nature's contribution to people. • Global North cities are greener than global South cities. • Anthropogenic variables influence urban green space, but less than climate. • Less densely populated and more developed cities are greener. • Green space based on NDVI had better model fit than land cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space (UGS) indices are increasingly used and are mentioned by many authors. However, while indices relating to the amount of green space are widespread, other important information about UGSs (including proximity) is somehow disregarded. This is noticeable in the Iberian Peninsula, for which studies relating to proximity of public parks and gardens (PG) are not easily found. The aim of this study is to quantify proximity as a percentage of the mobility network served (MNS%) and to use MNS% as a comparison index for five cities located in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. The MNS% index allows an easier comparison between case studies and an assessment of the current situation in cities. It is important to encourage policymakers to use proximity indexes. The results present the PG size categories that provide a proximity service in the five studied cities: Braga, Braganza, Lugo, Pontevedra and Viana do Castelo. The MNS% values found were low in all the cities (all lower than 50%). In addition, large areas were found with no UGS proximity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accompanied by long-term urbanization, the Chinese production of urban green space (UGS) is gradually transforming into a land operation strategy for local governments to maximize land lease revenue. This paper presents empirical research on different types of investment, urban space, and gross domestic product (GDP) with a simultaneous equations model (SEM) of econometrics to test the capital circulation and accumulation of UGS production in China. The regression results strongly support our hypothesis that UGS production contributes to GDP growth and that there is an economic feedback loop between them. One billion RMB of the government’s fixed-asset investments produces 0.899 km 2 UGS in the long term, and this UGS yields 1.749 billion RMB tertiary industry GDP in return. Thus, the total return rate in the representative economic chain of “fixed-asset investment-UGS-tertiary industry GDP” is greater than 174.9%. However, this percentage also reveals the weakness of providing rewards in maximizing land lease relative to urban industrial, traffic and residential spaces. We also estimate the lagged correlation coefficient with a rational distributed lag model, showing that the production of UGS has a longer-term and more profitable influence on tertiary industry GDP than on secondary industry GDP. The long-run effect of investment on UGS lasts for approximately five years in producing secondary industry GDP and more than ten years in producing tertiary industry GDP. A continuous increase in fixed-asset investments in UGS would achieve a balanced return rate (100%) and start to produce profits after the 4th year, according to the economic chain of ΔFAI-ΔUGS-ΔTGDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban heat island (UHI) often cause negative impact and has been linked to heart stroke rate, morality, human comfort, energy consumption and air pollution. Fortunately, urban green spaces have been considered as an effective element to mitigate UHI through their cooling effect. However, further empirical research is necessary in order to efficiently guide the design and planning of urban green space. We observed the impacts of urban park's tree, grass and waterbody on microclimate inside the Olympic park of Beijing during summer days. The results indicated that, on average, the park was 0.48–1.12 °C cooler during the day, as well as increased air humidity 2.39–3.74% and reduced human comfort index 1.02–2.43 to generate more comfortable thermal environment. Urban park's cluster trees with short ground vegetation generated higher cooling effect than single trees, grass and waterbodies; proper irrigation regime enhanced the cooling effect of grasses, even the irrigated grass have similar cooling effect with small waterbody on sunny, windless summer days. Therefore, we advise to increase undergrowth coverage and grass irrigation management in order to take advantage of cooling effect of urban parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the influence of different urban green spaces on outdoor thermal comfort, researchers have focused on developing a thermal comfort range and estimating neutral and preferred temperatures through questionnaire surveys and microclimatic measurements. The simultaneity of investigation among different sites is often neglected, which decreases the accuracy and reliability of the outcomes. To fill this gap and to better address the local variation of outdoor thermal comfort in different urban green spaces, both surveys and measurements were performed simultaneously at three sites, “central grassland,” “pond-side garden” and “grove” in a subtropical urban local area in warm and cool periods. Remarkable differences in microclimatic conditions, thermal sensations, thermal comfort, and both neutral temperatures and preferred temperatures were observed among the three sites and in the two periods. Preferred temperatures were lower than neutral temperatures among different sites in each period or both periods combined, indicating the instinctive preference of people from relatively hot regions for a cooler thermal state. The grove yielded the best cooling capability but was perceived as the hottest and most uncomfortable site in the warm period. The central grassland with the highest air temperature, conversely, was perceived as the most comfortable site. The subjective perceptions were also reflected by lower neutral and preferred temperatures in the grove than those in the central grassland in the warm period. In particular, for preferred temperatures, up to 8.8 °C operative temperature (T op ) and 4.3 °C physiological equivalent temperature (PET) differences between these two sites were observed. Hence, a high density of trees does not necessarily result in better outdoor thermal comfort. Future urban planning and management, therefore, should emphasize the types and structures of different urban green spaces. To further comprehensively explore the roles of different urban green spaces in outdoor thermal comfort, high synchronicity among sites during investigation is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective urban planning, and urban green space management in particular, require proper data on urban green spaces. The potential of urban green spaces to provide benefits to urban inhabitants (ecosystem services) depends on whether they are managed as a comprehensive system of urban green infrastructure, or as isolated islands falling under the responsibility of different stakeholders. Meanwhile, different urban green space datasets are based on different definitions, data sources, sampling techniques, time periods and scales, which poses important challenges to urban green infrastructure planning, management and research. Using the case study of Lodz, the third largest city in Poland, and an additional analysis of 17 other Polish cities, we compare data from five publicly available sources: 1) public statistics, 2) the national land surveying agency, 3) satellite imagery (Landsat data), 4) the Urban Atlas, 5) the Open Street Map. The results reveal large differences in the total amount of urban green spaces in the cities as depicted in different datasets. In Lodz, the narrowly interpreted public statistics data, which are aspatial, suggest that green spaces account for only 12.8% of city area, while the most comprehensive dataset from the national land surveying agency reveals the figure of 61.2%. The former dataset, which excludes many types of green spaces (such as arable land, private and informal green spaces), is still the most commonly used. The analysis of the 17 other cities confirms the same pattern. This results in broader institutional failures related to urban green infrastructure planning, management, and research, including a lack of awareness of green space quality (e.g. connectivity) and benefits (ecosystem services), and the related political disregard for urban green spaces. Our comparison suggests that a better understanding of green space data sources is necessary in urban planning, and especially when planning urban green infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive evidence exists on the benefits provided by urban green space (UGS) but evidence is lacking about whether and how socio-economic benefits accrue to all residents or disproportionally depending on their socio-economic status or residential location. We model joint effects of socio-economic and locational attributes on attitudes and use of UGS in Brussels (BE). The analysis is based on a survey conducted along an urban–suburban continuum with respondents sampled across non-park public space. Patterns of use are depicted by the frequency and the distance travelled to the most used UGS. Attitudes are analyzed along three dimensions: willingness to (i) pay for UGS, (ii) trade off housing for green space and (iii) substitute private for public green. Our results stress the importance of separating effects of attitudes from socio-economic and locational effects to quantify UGS use, and suggest endogenous effects of green space with residential sorting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space is an important resource to effectively improve the urban environment and human health. A growing body of evidence highlights their positive impact on physical, mental and social health. Less focus has been paid to the social health benefits of urban green space. Designing urban green space to improve the social health of various groups has become a crucial problem, given the lack of uniformity in defining and measuring social health, as well as the varying social health needs of different individuals. This review aims to explore the relationship between urban green space and social health of individuals, which is defined as how one gets along with other people, how other people react to him/her, and how one reacts with the social institutions and societal mores. According to the PRISMA extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, 60 articles published between 1998 and 2022 met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The results demonstrated that different types of urban green space significantly influenced the social health of individuals. The dimensions of social health of individuals based on urban green space could be divided into four groups: social contacts, social relations, social support and social connections, which were mainly affected by the physical characteristics, perceptions, and usages of urban green space to varying degrees. Socio-demographic characteristics could moderate the strength and orientation of the relationship between urban green space and social health of individuals. As the first scoping review to analyze the relationship between urban green space and individual social health, this study not only provides evidence for the social health benefits of urban green space, but also offers information and tools for future research and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With accelerating urbanization, insect pollinators in urban ecosystems face challenges such as reduced pollen sources, habitat fragmentation, and damage to the nesting environment. Urban green spaces (UGS) are essential for the stability of pollinator communities. However, little is known about the relationship between vertical layer heterogeneity and horizontal layer complexity of vegetation structure in UGS and pollinator communities. The present study aimed to assess how vegetation structure and environmental characteristics shape the insect pollinator community in UGS. To this end, this study was conducted with seven typical vegetation types which were selected according to the biotope mapping classification system (BMCS) in the ring parks around Hefei City, in Anhui province, China. A total of 11,401 pollinators belonging to 6 orders and 34 families were identified during the eight-month survey. Among the seven habitats under the BMCS, mainly successional short-cut shrub and partly open green space, trees two- or multi-layered broad-leaved mixed forest and partly closed green space, and mainly successional tall grass and partly open green space were identified as high-quality insect pollinator habitats. According to the results of the generalized linear regression, the explanatory power of the four best-fitting generalised linear models is relatively high (over 77%). In four optimal models, the effect of vegetation structure on pollinator community was greater than that of environmental characteristics. The redundancy discriminant analysis showed that the flowering abundance of nectar plants, herb richness, and shrub coverage rate were the three most important factors influencing insect pollinator communities, with a cumulative explanatory power of up to 78.8%. Pollinator abundance was positively influenced by spontaneous herbs and low-intensity management. However, high-intensity management, low diversity of plants, low nectar plant richness, ignoring seasonal nectar plant configuration, and dense tree distribution could limit pollinator reproduction and population growth. These results reflect the status of insect pollinator community in UGS in Hefei city and present a possible direction for improving urban green habitats and plant configurations. • Vegetation structure and environmental factors affecting insect pollinators in urban green spaces were explored. • We assessed which vegetation types are more attractive to pollinators. • Nectar plants were the most important factor affecting pollinator diversity. • Urban green space may become a "transfer station" and "shelter" for pollinators. • Pollinator abundance was effectively improved by spontaneous herbs and low-intensity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green spaces (UGS) provide important contributions to people. Yet, UGS planning requires better understanding of by whom and where such contributions are being valued or missed. Based on a mixed-methods online survey and choice experiment with residents of Wellington in Aotearoa New Zealand, we analyse how much and why residents value UGS and their benefits when deciding where to live and how socio-economic and spatial factors might impact nature orientation and opportunity for satisfactory local UGS. We find that local UGS are an important residential choice criteria for the majority of respondents, especially in the context of Wellington's intensification plans. However, we show that socio-economic and spatial factors significantly impact whether someone values and is satisfied with UGS in proximity to their place of residence. Our findings call for careful scoping of a city's population and spatial structure when planning for equitable UGS provision. More holistic approaches to green space planning are needed to address contextualities and the complex interdependencies between nature orientation and opportunity and to plan for green space distributions that provide opportunities now and help shaping nature orientation for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the long-term management or ‘place-keeping’ of urban green space by citizens and highlights enabling and constraining factors that play a crucial role in this continuity. While authorities have historically been in charge of managing public green spaces, there is an increased involvement of citizens in green space management. It is therefore relevant to study how citizens can contribute towards place-keeping and realize a continuity in managing and conserving the qualities of urban green spaces. We contribute to these debates by looking at three European cases characterized by long-term involvement of citizens in place-keeping. We conducted document analysis and interviewing of key informants to study green space management over time. Our analysis highlights what factors have contributed towards the continuity of this management, but also shows challenges and difficulties which citizens have experienced. Based on our fieldwork, we identify three factors of particular relevance for the continuity of place-keeping involving citizens. We found that long-term continuity is supported by a degree of formalization : established rules and procedures within groups provide stability to citizens. We also highlight the importance of adaptive capacity : citizens need to be able to adapt to contextual changes in order to cope with external political, socio-economic and cultural developments over time. The supporting role of authorities was also key in legitimizing and supporting place-keeping by citizens. Authorities can support place-keeping by citizens by providing security via stable policies, formally protecting the involved spaces, allowing long-term management contracts and contributing resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban greening has rapidly emerged as a key urban climate change adaptation strategy. Urban greening is thought to confer manifold socio-ecological benefits upon residents in towns and cities. Yet proponents of urban greening have seldom considered how people’s support for greening policies may be shaped by weather and climate. This paper reports the results of exploratory research examining public expectations of adverse weather changes and people’s attitudes toward the functional benefits of urban trees and green space. Results of a questionnaire survey of 800 residents of Hong Kong indicate a positive relationship. Respondents tended to rate functional benefits as more important if they anticipated adverse weather changes in the near future, namely, rising temperatures, more tropical cyclones and prolonged rain. This subjective weather effect is more salient when these weather changes are perceived as a threat to one’s daily life. We found urban greenery is assigned a higher value by individuals concerned about exposure and vulnerability to climatic stressors. Affinity for greening appears to be related to how weather and climatic variability is perceived. This observation is informed by a broader geographic perspective, which construes weather and climate as part of the spatial environment in which urban nature is apprehended and comprehended. An explanation for our findings is that increasingly volatile weather can potentially reshape urban residents’ interactions with nature, based on perceived relief and/or protection from climate-related threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing media (substrate) is a fundamental part of a green roof, providing water, nutrients and support to plants. However, little research has reviewed how it affects plant performances in different climatic regions. This study aims to analyse published research on green roof growing medium across world’s climate zones. Findings are structured according to Köppen–Geiger climate classification, aiming to investigate the prevalence of research conducted in different climate zones. Results from full-scale studies and laboratory or greenhouse experiments were reviewed. The later were included as they provide systematic knowledge on the effect of individual factors on system performances although cannot provide climate specific information. Studies discussed effects of major substrate components and depths on plant survival and establishment using standard test procedures. Results showed that most research in the subject were in temperate (group C climate classification), continental (group D) and dry climates (group B), respectively. Considerable number of investigations was conducted in controlled laboratory or greenhouse environments. Based on the results, future green roof research and guidelines should consider climate specifications of the region in designing growing medium, depths and attribute of green roof substrates in order to ensure enhanced plant performance. Especially, for more fragile but less investigated dry climate, considerations should be made to tackle heat fluctuations and drought stress by enhancing water holding capacity and thermal isolation of the substrate. To move forward, sustainable building solutions as a part of future urban forms, climate-adaptive green roof systems should be included into future research, practice and guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Dalian City as the study area, the spatial distribution of urban green space and land surface temperature (LST), as well as their evolution in 1999, 2007 and 2013, were obtained through remote sensing (RS) interpretation and inversion. Landsat ETM and SPOT data were used for this purpose. By combining the temperature and vegetation index models (TVX), the effects of urban green space reduction on the thermal environment during city development were evaluated. The results show the following. (1) During 1999–2013, 88.1 km 2 of urban green space was converted to other land uses, accounting for a 29.4% reduction in urban green space in the study area. (2) During the study period, the LST in this area increased by +8.455 K. The evolution of the regional thermal landscape can be characterized by increases in the LST, greater complexity of the thermal landscape structure, increase and aggregation of high-temperature areas, and reduction and fragmentation of low-temperature areas. (3) During the process of urbanization, urban green space with low land-surface temperature was converted to other land use types with high land-surface temperature. When development occurred at the price of urban green space, negative effects on the regional thermal environment were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green infrastructure provides a number of cultural ecosystem services that are greatly appreciated by the public. In order to benefit from these services, actual contact with the respective ecosystem is often required. Furthermore, the type of services offered depend on the physical characteristics of the ecosystem. We conducted a review of publications dealing with demand or social factors such as user needs, preferences and values as well as spatially explicit supply or physical factors such as amount of green space, (bio)diversity, recreational infrastructure, etc. and linking demand and supply factors together. The aim was to provide an overview of this highly interdisciplinary research, to describe how these linkages are being made and to identify which factors significantly influence dependent variables such as levels of use, activities or health and well-being benefits. Commonly used methods were the combination of questionnaires with either on-site visual recording of elements or GIS data. Links between social and physical data were usually established either by using statistical tools or by overlaying different thematic maps. Compared to the large number of variables assessed in most studies, the significant effects in the end were relatively few, not consistent across the studies and largely dependent on the context they were seen in. Studies focused on aesthetic and recreational services, while spiritual, educational and inspirational services were not considered when creating links to spatially explicit ecological structures. We conclude that an improvement and harmonization of methodologies, cross-country studies and an expansion of this line of research to a wider range of services and more user groups could help clarify relationships and thereby increase applicability for urban management and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an integral part of the urban environment, urban green space (UGS) is of great significance in maintaining urban ecosystem balance and biodiversity. Spatial accessibility is an important indicator of UGS distribution and can be calculated by the two-step floating catchment area method (2SFCA). However, problems exist in previous studies using 2SFCA: (1) the dynamics in population distributions are ignored when measuring UGS demand; and (2) travel costs are calculated for only a single mode of transportation. To address these problems, this study proposes a dynamic two-step floating catchment area method (D2SFCA) based on the Baidu heatmap and direction application programming interface and compares it with the traditional 2SFCA to investigate the characteristics of and differences in UGS accessibility in the first-ring built-up area of Shenyang, China. The results show the following: (1) the dynamic population distribution data calculated by the heatmap yielded the highest population density raster (581.0–1342.0 p/hm2) in areas with dense road networks and the lowest population density raster (2.0–91.0 p/hm2) in areas with railways and rivers, thereby more accurately reflecting reality and better quantifying the UGS demand than the static population distribution data; (2) the D2SFCA and 2SFCA findings had a slightly different distribution, and the D2SFCA assessment results more accurately reflected actual patterns, especially when the road data were inaccurate. In summary, the D2SFCA is more suitable for assessing accessibility and can identify specific areas that lack UGS. This study provides a scientific basis and methodological support for improving the services level and equity of UGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban green space is widely acknowledged to promote public health through multiple pathways. However, there is limited understanding of how the spatial patterns of green space might play different roles in such a process. This study examined potential pathways through which spatial patterns of green space improved people's life satisfaction (LS) by reducing air pollution. A partial least squares structural equation model was adopted to explore these pathways in sampled urban areas (township) of China (n = 60). Green space spatial patterns were measured using landscape metrics of size, aggregation, fragmentation, and diversity. The results did not show that green space spatial pattern promoted LS by reducing air pollution. However, green space size and fragmentation were negatively associated with air pollution (mainly PM 2.5, PM 10, and NO 2). The pattern of highly densely distributed small green spaces was related to higher LS, as was high diversity of green space type. Simply adopting a fragmented green space pattern to reduce air pollution might be simultaneously associated with reduced LS. This alerts decision-makers and planners to the potential "double-edged sword" effect of optimizing green space structures to improve air quality, which may not yield strongly favorable results due to the impacts that hinder LS. • Green space structures cannot promote life satisfaction (LS) by reducing air pollution. • Green space size and fragmentation are negatively related to air pollution. • More fragmented green space distribution is associated with lower LS. • Higher diversity of green space is related to higher LS. • Fragmentation of green space affects LS more than diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban greenery has various beneficial effects, such as engendering peace of mind. The green view index (GVI) effectively measures the amount of greenery people can perceive and is a suitable indicator of urban greening. To date, the most common way to measure the GVI has been to photograph the street environment from eye level and use image-editing software to calculate the area occupied by vegetation. However, conventional methods are time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the calculation results may vary among individuals. In recent years, the use of Google Street View (GSV) photos and calculation of the GVI using automatic image segmentation have rapidly developed. In this study, we demonstrate the advantages of GSV and image segmentation over conventional methods, verify their accuracy, and identify the shortcomings of modern methods. We calculated the GVI in the central part of Sapporo, Japan, using the automatic image segmentation AI "DeepLab" and compared the results with those measured by Photoshop. At the exact GSV locations, we also acquired photos and again calculated the GVI using AI, subsequently comparing the results with those obtained on-site manually. Although the correlations were high, automatic image segmentation tended not to identify lawns and flowers planted in the ground as vegetation. It was impossible to determine the year when the GSV photos were taken. In addition, the distance to greenery was biased, depending on the position on the street. These points should be considered when using these modern methods. • Green view index (GVI) via Google Street View correlated with via site photographs. • Automatic GVI by AI correlated with a manual approach using imaging software. • Semantic segmentation AI reduces the effort to calculate GVI. • GVI may enhance urban green space planning and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social processes that took place in the past left a mark not only on cultural heritage but also on ecosystems and biodiversity, which is now depicted in the concept of biocultural diversity. The related “biocultural value” represents yet another dimension of the value of urban green spaces which we attempt to integrate into monetary valuation with the use of hedonic pricing. We compare the impacts of different green spaces on property prices in Łódź, Poland, differentiating green spaces based on their biocultural value. Furthermore, we use quantile regression and analyze the heterogeneity of estimates according to the price of the apartment. Our study indicates that while there is a general desire to live close to the green space, biocultural value does not translate into any positive impact on property prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern cities use straightened and concrete watercourses with simple greening for riparian zones, which has been criticised for insensitivity to natural system integrity and cultural identity. This increases the challenge to urban ecologists, landscape designers and managers to conceive innovative and effective design solutions that do not jeopardise hydraulic efficiency yet are culturally acceptable to local communities. This paper introduces the field of local ecological knowledge (LEK) as rich sources of inspiration and design solutions to meet this challenge. LEK refers to knowledge and practices of various local cultures about the relationship of living beings (including humans) with their environments. Wepropose a pragmatic framework that integrates LEK with modern landscape design. It includes steps: (1) investigate existing practices, skills andmeasures relating to LEK; (2) explore how and whereLEKcan inspire or integrate withdesign. Here we propose three aspects for integration in accordance with the nature of landscaping process: overall structure, component and maintenance.(3)evaluate and test the integration in terms of its acceptability by local communities. Taking the riparian revegetation project of Hanfeng Lake Urban Wetland Park (Chongqing Municipality) as an example, we illustrate the utility of this framework. 11 local common practices relating to LEK were identified. According to thethree aspects for integration, alternative design solutions were offered. The survey showed that LEK based designwas more highly valued than other conventional ways in terms of useracceptance. We conclude that LEK provides actionable ecologically sound and culturally desirablesolutions for urbanlandscape. We also recognise that LEK evolveswith changing environments and new harmonious and dynamic human-nature relationships arecontinually re-forming. The process of acquisition and application of LEK could encourage multidisciplinary and synthetic approaches to urban ecosystems. Such adaptability and interdisciplinary engagementare crucial totoday’schanging and complexurban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining adequate sample size (ASS) and minimum plot size (MPS) are two fundamental issues in urban vegetation investigations. To estimate the ASS and MPS of urban plants, we introduced sampling completeness to the MPS calculation based on 54 samples in the urban area of Chongqing, China. Then, we examined the performance of the species-area curve method and CV Jack1 (coefficient of variation (CV) for the first-order jackknife estimator (Jack1)) curve extrapolation method. We also tested the effectiveness and error distribution of extrapolating the ASS from CV Jack1 curves using 180 samples from the urban area of Chongqing, China, and 222 samples from the urban area of Xiamen, China. The results of the urban plant analyses showed that (1) the constructed species-area accumulation curves fit a logistic function (R 2 > 0.990); (2) the MPS increased with sampling completeness, whereas unrecorded species exhibited the opposite trend; (3) the CV Jack1 curves fit the allometric1 function (R 2 > 0.960) but might fail to reach a CV value of 0.05 for the calculation of ASS if the sample size was too small; and (4) the relative error values were below 5% when the error curves of extrapolation (by CV Jack1 curve) approached a horizontal asymptote. The species-area accumulation curve with sampling completeness and the CV Jack1 curve extrapolation method were promising approaches for determining the MPS and ASS of urban plants. The results and methods in this study provide a reference for determining the appropriate plot size and sample size for urban plant species richness investigations. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drivers of patterns in plant diversity remain poorly understood in tropical cities. Therefore, we investigated diversity within the tropical city of Sanya in Hainan Province of southern China by sampling one to three plots within 154 urban functional units (UFUs) based on six primary and 18 secondary UFUs. To measure diversity, we determined the number of vascular plants (species richness; SR) within each functional unit based on vegetation plots. We computed Faith's phylogenetic diversity (PD Faith) using a large megatree of plant life. To assess the potential drivers of SR and PD Faith, we performed multiple regressions using socioeconomic, biophysical, and vegetation management variables. The results showed significant differences in SR and PD Faith among the six primary UFUs. PD Faith of cultivated species was significantly higher than PD Faith of spontaneous species in all UFUs except in the wasteland area. Management measures were better predictors of SR and PD Faith than socioeconomic variables. The best predictor of SR and PD Faith of spontaneous species was the management of the urban green space. Our results provide clear guidelines for improved management strategies in Sanya, especially by showing how spontaneous and/or cultivated plant diversity can be encouraged depending on environmental, ecological, and cultural needs. Our work also adds to the presently scarce literature on drivers of urban plant diversity in tropical cities worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smellscape, as the sense of smell cross space, has a huge impact on human behavior, attitudes and health. However, so far it has rarely been addressed and measured in both landscape practice and theories. The present case study refined the quantitative smellwalk method to examine the spatial and temporal features of urban park smellscape. The effects of landscape patterns on smellscape were further unraveled combining with remote sensing techniques and field surveys. The results indicated that: (i) human activities and nature odors dominated the urban park odor environments, (ii) the temporal variation of the urban park smellscape was mainly driven by human activities, (iii) the different site types of urban park exerted a significant impact on the composition of the smellscape, and (iv) the landscape pattern characteristics of forest, shrubs, grass, water, buildings and roads had significant effects on different types of odors. This study poses a first systematic exploration of various odors in urban green environments and offers novel insights into the design of smellscape via unveiling spatial-temporal odor distribution patterns. • Explored a wide array of smells in urban parks and proposed a classification scheme of smells. • Unveiled the spatial and temporal patterns of smellscape in an urban park in Guangzhou city, China. • Investigated the effects of the landscape spatial pattern on smellscape, providing novel insights into the planning and management of urban greening. • Refined the smellwalk method to measure and investigate smellscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human preferences for the species in urban greening have greatly facilitated the spread of non-native species, resulting in the homogenization of urban plant communities across spatial scales. We selected 11 major cities along the Yangtze River in China and examined the species composition in their urban plant communities. We found that China’s urban plant communities are becoming homogenized, as urban communities of different cities are highly similar to each other despite the geographical separation. Meanwhile, these artificial communities we investigated have diverged greatly from the natural communities at both the city and the geographic scale. We recorded a total of 91 woody species that have been used in urban greening in all 11 cities. Of those species, 27% were cultivars and introduced species, and 25% were being used outside of their native distribution ranges in China. This may be explained by the market and urban planners who tend to favor greening plants that are highly profitable and have aesthetic ornamental traits, rather than spending time introducing and acclimatizing the native species in each city. Given the current trend of homogenization, measures that recognize the importance of native species should be emphasized with comprehensive urban planning strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]