Between vision and action: the predicted effects of co-designed green infrastructure solutions on environmental burdens

Abstract

Green Infrastructure (GI) is gaining wide recognition in cooperative research projects seeking to find solutions for climate adaptation in urbanized areas. However, the potential effects of co-produced GI plans and the underlying preparation process are rarely evaluated. To bridge this gap, the aim of this article is to examine what works in addressing environmental burdens in the urban neighborhood of Dortmund Marten, Germany. As part of a larger transdisciplinary process, selective GI measures were delineated in the case study area through a cooperative workshop between scientists and urban planners. Workshop ideas were incorporated into a mitigative scenario considering a hot summer day to quantify the effects of the derived GI measures on thermal comfort and particulate matter dispersion (PM10 and PM2.5). To evaluate the experiences of the science-practice collaboration, the viewpoints of researchers and urban planners on learning effects, knowledge integration, and GI planning were summarized and compared via an online survey. The results indicate that the proposed GI measures could reduce physiological equivalent temperature (PET) by 25 °C. At the same time, additional roadside trees could increase PM10 concentrations by up to 36 µg/m3 due to wind blocking effects. Reflections on the science-practice workshop show that learning effects were higher for the participating researchers than for planning practitioners, while the integration of individual expertise during the workshop was more difficult for academics. These findings point to the importance of continuous reflections on individual understandings in cooperating stakeholder groups and the value of the evaluation of outcomes in transdisciplinary GI planning.

A Systematic Assessment for the Co-Design of Green Infrastructure Prototypes - A Case Study in Urban Costa Rica

“…However, time constraints and agenda limitations on interacting with municipal representatives, as well as the lack of modes and spaces for coming together with residents, limited the social impact of the project. Because of the temporary condition of TdR projects, the risk exists of losing the momentum and curiosity of stakeholders by the end of the project [47]. This situation was experienced in our project, isolating the researchers during the construction of the prototype.…”

“…In our case, the foundations of a researchdriven output-oriented experience resulted in a strong but subjective sense of ownership for the prototype as a priority to fulfill the research goal. Moreover, the desire to avoid a political instrumentalization of the project by local political actors [47], [49] and the bureaucratic means to guarantee authorization for the project led to trade-offs with decision makers in order to establish consensual views. Politicians, for instance, seemed motivated to participate when tangible results were produced in the short term and matched their agendas.…”

A Systematic Assessment for the Co-Design of Green Infrastructure Prototypes - A Case Study in Urban Costa Rica

“…However, time constraints and agenda limitations to interact with municipal representatives, as well as the lack of modes and spaces for coming together with residents limited the social impact of the project. Because of the temporary condition of TdR projects, a risk of losing momentum and curiosity of stakeholders by the end of the project exists [47]. This situation was experienced in our project, leading to an isolated position of the researchers during the construction of the prototype.…”

“…In our case, the foundations of a researchdriven output-oriented experience resulted in a strong but subjective sense of ownership for the prototype as a priority to fulfill the research goal. Moreover, the cautiousness to avoid a political instrumentalization of the project by local political agendas [47], [49] and the bureaucracy to guarantee authorization for the project led to trade-offs with decisionmakers to establish consensual views. Politicians, for instance, seemed motivated to participate when tangible results were produced in the short term and matched their agendas.…”

Ecological adaptations among spruce species along an environmental gradient in urban areas

“…[13][14][15]. The negative impact of pollution is enhanced by adverse natural and climatic conditions, which in the steppe zone are exacerbated due to climate change, which causes global warming [17,18]. It is difficult for introduced conifers to adapt to the urbotechnogenic environment of a large industrial steppe city.…”