Planning Steps of Urban Green Infrastructure in Existing Cities

Maryam F. Abdulateef; Hoda A. S. Al-Alwan

doi:10.31648/aspal.7815

Published: 2022-12-141

Vol. 21 No. 4 (2022)

Planning Steps of Urban Green Infrastructure in Existing Cities

Maryam F. Abdulateef , Hoda A. S. Al-Alwan

Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.7815

Abstract

The negative impacts of climate change have spread widely and calls increased toward finding smarter
strategies that can support both climate change adaptation and mitigation. Urban Green Infrastructure
(UGI) is considered a certain type of such strategies. The literature review indicates a lack of knowledge
regarding the planning steps of UGI in existing cities. In addition, the comparison between the
studies that tackle the subject point out that there are differences between the definition and sequence
of these steps. The current research aims to find out the optimal planning steps of UGI and the most
acceptable sequence of the planning process for climate change smart adaptation in existing cities.
By using the methodology of “learning by doing”, the research seeks to conclude these steps from the
world’s real practices. A cross-case analysis was conducted between four main practices to define the
relationship between their planning steps and determine their similarities and differences. The crossanalysis
revealed that the practices almost followed similar processes but with different definitions
and sequences of planning steps. Based on the intersections between practices and by following the
planning logic, the optimal definition and sequence of UGI planning were extracted and outlined
in “seven planning steps”. These steps include: providing the precise identification of the impact,
identifying the higher-risk neighborhoods, collecting data about the existing conditions, protecting
and enhancing existing green and blue elements, adding new UGI assets, drawing the results, and
finally calculating the UGI effectiveness. This set of steps can guide the whole process of UGI planning
and ensure the maximum benefits of employing it in existing cities to achieve the climate change
smart adaptation.

Keywords:

Climate change, green infrastructure, Smart planning, adaptation, mitigation, Existing cities

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Abdulateef, M. F., & Al-Alwan, H. A. S. (2022). Planning Steps of Urban Green Infrastructure in Existing Cities. Acta Scientiarum Polonorum Administratio Locorum, 21(4), 465–478. https://doi.org/10.31648/aspal.7815

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

Abdulateef, M.F., & Al-Alwan, H.A. (2022). The effectiveness of urban green infrastructure in reducing surface urban heat island – Baghdad city as a case study. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 13, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2021.06.012.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Ahern, J. (2007). Green infrastructure for cities: The spatial dimension. In V. Novotny, & P. Brown, Cities of the Future: Towards Integrated Sustainable Water and Landscape Management (pp. 267–283). London: IWA Publishing.
Google Scholar

Australian Bureau of Meteorology. (2020). Climate statistics for Australian locations: Monthly climate statistics: Period 1981–2010. Retrieved from Australian Government: Bureau of Meteorology: http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=086071&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1981-2010&tablesizebutt=normal.
Google Scholar

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2011). Census QuickStats: Greater Melbourne. Retrieved from Australian Bureau of Statistics: http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/2gmel.
Google Scholar

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2016). Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved from Australian Bureau of Statistics: https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/2901.0.
Google Scholar

Bosomworth, K., Trundle, A., & McEvoy, D. (2013). Responding to the Urban Heat Island: A Policy and Institutional Analysis. Victorian Centre for Climate Change Adaptation.
Google Scholar

Cambridge Dictionary. (2020). Retrieved from Step: www.cambridgedictionary.com.
Google Scholar

City of Tucson. (2011). Know Your City: Tucson Fast Facts. City of Tucson Website. Retrieved from https://www.tucsonaz.gov/.
Google Scholar

City of Tucson and Pima county. (2015). Low Impact Development and Green Infrastructure Manual. City of Tucson.
Google Scholar

CLC. (2017). Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Water Program: Water as an environmental assets. Singapore: Center for Liveable Cities.
Google Scholar

CLIMATE-DATA.ORG. (2020). TUCSON CLIMATE. Retrieved from CLIMATE-DATA.ORG: https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-ofamerica/arizona/tucson-1467/.
Google Scholar

Copeland, C. (2014). Green Infrastructure and Issues in Managing Urban Stormwater. Congressional Research Services.
Google Scholar

Davoudi, S. (2009). Framing the Role of Spatial Planning in Climate Change. Global Urban Research Unit.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Demuzere, M., Orru, K., Heidrich, O., Olazabal, E., Bhave, A., Mittal, N., … Faehnle, M. (2014). Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change: Multi-Functional and Multi-scale Assessment of Green Urban Infrastructure. Journal of Environmental Management, 146, 107–115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.07.025.
Crossref
Google Scholar

ENVI-MET. (2022, July 25). Retrieved from ENVI-MET FEILDS OF ACTIONS: https://www.envi-met.com/fields-of-action/
Google Scholar

Firehock, K. (2013). Evaluating And Conserving: Green Infrastructure – Across The Landscape: A Practitioner’s Guide. The Green Infrastructure Center Inc.
Google Scholar

Focht, M.A. (2013). GREEN CITY, CLEAN WATERS, Green Infrastructure – The Philadelphia Story. Philadelphia: American Society of landscape architects.
Google Scholar

Grădinaru, S.R., & Hersperger, A.M. (2018). Green infrastructure in strategic spatial plans: Evidence from European. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. doi:DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2018.04.018.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Hansen, R., Rolf , W., Pauleit, S., Born, D., Bartz , R., Kowarik, I., . . . Schroder , A. (2017a). Urban Green Infrastructure: A foundation of attractive and sustainable cities. Konstantinstr: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN).
Google Scholar

Hansen, R., Rall, E.L., Rolf, W., & Pauleit, S. (2017b). Urban Green Infrastructure Planning: A Guide for Practitioners. GREEN SURGE. Retrieved from: http://greensurge.eu/working-packages/wp5/.
Google Scholar

Hunt, A., & Watkiss, P. (2011). Climate change impacts and adaptation in cities: a review of the literature. Climatic Change, 104(1), 13–49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-010-9975-6.
Crossref
Google Scholar

IPCC. (2021). Climate Change 2021 – The Physical Science Basis – Summary for Policymakers. IPCC.
Google Scholar

Janetos, T. (2007). Reporting and comments. Ann Arbor, Michigan: presentation at Coping With Climate Change, National Summit.
Google Scholar

Lennon, M., & Scott, M. (2014). Delivering Ecosystems Services via Spatial Planning: Reviewing The Possibilities and Implications Of a Green Infrastructure. Town Planning and Architecture, 85(5), 565–587. https://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2014.35.
Crossref
Google Scholar

LI. (2013). Green Infrastructure: An integrated approach to land use. London: Landscape Institute.
Google Scholar

Liao, K.-H. (2019). The socio-ecological practice of building blue-green infrastructure in highdensity cities: what does the ABC Waters Program in Singapore tell us? Socio-Ecological Practice Research, 1, 67–81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42532-019-00009-3.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Lim, H., & Lu, X. (2016). Sustainable urban stormwater management in the tropics: an evaluation of Singapore’s ABC Waters Program. Journal of Hydrology, 538, 842–862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.04.063.
Crossref
Google Scholar

Melbourne. (2020). Melbourne Weather & Climate. Retrieved from Melbourne, Australia: http://www.melbourneaustralia.org/climate-weather.
Google Scholar

Mell, I.C. (2010). Green infrastructure: Concepts, Perceptions and Its Use in Spatial Planning. Newcastle: School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University.
Google Scholar

Meteorological Service Singapore. (2021, February 28). Climate of Singapore. Retrieved from Meteorological Service Singapore: http://www.weather.gov.sg/climate-climate-of-singapore.
Google Scholar

Norton, B., Bosomworth, K., Coutts, A., Williams, N., Livesley, S., Trundle, A., . . . McEvoy, D. (2014). Planning for A Cooler Future: Green Infrastructure to Reduce Urban Heat. Melbourne, Australia: VCCCAR Publication.
Google Scholar

Ogata, I. (2014). UHI Mitigation: The Tucson Story. Office of Integrated Planning, City of Tucson.
Google Scholar

PUB. (2013). Managing Urban Runoff – Drainage Handbook 1st Edition. Singapore: PUB: Public Utilities Board.
Google Scholar

PUB. (2018). Active, beautiful, clean waters design guidelines. Singapore: 4th edn.PUB.
Google Scholar

PWD. (2011). Green City Clean Waters, Amended. Philadelphia: PWD Philadelphia Water Department.
Google Scholar

PWD. (2016). Green City, Clean Waters: Evaluation and Adaptation Plan. Philadelphia: PWD; Philadelphia Water Deparment.
Google Scholar

PWD. (2018). Green Stormwater Infrastructure Planning and Design Manual, Version 2.0. Philadelphia: PWD: Philadelphia Water Department. RayMan. (2022, July 25). Retrieved from Input windows for buildings and trees: https://www.urbanclimate.net/rayman/.
Google Scholar

Ruskule, N., Veidemane, K., & Prižavoite, D. (2018). Methodology for Regional and Local Landscape and Green Infrastructure Planning in Lowland Areas. Baltic Environmental Forum-Latvia.
Google Scholar

Salata, K., & Yiannakou, A. (2016). Green Infrastructure and Climate Change Adaptation. TeMA, Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, 7–24. https://doi.org/10.6092/1970-9870/3723.
Google Scholar

Samora-Arvela, A., Ferrao, J., Ferreira, J., Panagopoulos, T., & Vaz, E. (2017). Green Infrastructure, Climate Change and Spatial planning: Learning Lessons across Borders. Journal of Spatial and Organizational Dynamics, 3, 176-188. https://www.jsod-cieo.net/journal-tsw/index.php/jtsw/index.
Google Scholar

Sen, T.N. (2014). Singapore’s Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters Programme. Singapore: PUB: Public Utilities Board.
Google Scholar

Tapper, A., & Tapper, N. (1996). The Weather and Climate of Australia and New Zealand 1st Edition. Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press.
Google Scholar

U.S. Census Bureau. (2016). 2016 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. Retrieved from American Fact Finder: census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/technical-documentation/table-and-geographychanges/2016/1-year.html.
Google Scholar

UKGBC. (2020). Practical how-to guide: Developing and implementing a green infrastructure strategy. UKGBC.
Google Scholar

UN. (2016). The World’s Cities in 2016 – Data Booklet. New York, NY, USA: ST/ESA/SER.A/392; Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division.
Google Scholar

UNFCCC. (2019). Climate Action and Support Trends, Based on National Reports Submitted to The UNFCCC Secretariat. Bonn, Germany: https://unfccc.int.
Google Scholar

United States Census Bureau. (2018, May 25). 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files. Retrieved from United States Census Bureau: www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_42.txt.
Google Scholar

USNAS. (2014). Climate Change Evidence & Causes. An overview from the Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved from: https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/climatechange-evidence-causes/.
Google Scholar

Weatherbase. (2020). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved from Weatherbase: http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=80427&cityname=Philadelphia%2C+Pennsylvania%2C+United+States+of+America&units=.
Google Scholar

WMG. (2015). Green Infrastructure for Southwestern Neighborhoods. Tucson, Arizona: Watershed Management Group.
Google Scholar

WMG. (2017). Green Infrastructure for Desert Communities. Tucson, Arizona: Watershed Management Group.
Google Scholar

Maryam F. Abdulateef

m.abdulatif1204@coeng.uobaghdad.edu.iq

Affiliation:

Al Farabi University College, Baghdad Iraq

Hoda A. S. Al-Alwan

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9062-9640

Affiliation:

University of Baghdad Iraq

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Faculty member of Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad since 1989. Graduated from University of Baghdad, Architectural Engineering Dept. in 1983. Obtained MSc degree in Architecture in 1989, and PhD in Architectural Psychophysics in 2002 from University of Baghdad. Member of Scientific Committee and Postgraduate Committee of Architectural Department since 2006. Consultant in the Iraqi Engineers Union since 2008. Supervised MSc and PhD theses in the field of Architecture and Environment, and participated in the membership of examining committees of postgraduate studies. Has 42 publications in international and local Architectural journals. Currently working on researches in the field of Environmental Psychology.