Linking hydrological and bioecological benefits of green infrastructures across spatial scales – A literature review

Zhang, Kun; Chui, Ting Fong May

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.355

Cited by 89 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 125 publications

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“…Applying water-sensitive urban design (WSUD) in Australia, researchers found that green technologies should also be regarded as an integral part of the urban form [20]. The concepts of green infrastructure (GI), low-impact development (LID), and sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) as the methods to reduce runoff and mitigate the negative effects of urbanization received lots of research attention [21,22]; since these green measures could provide hydrological and bioecological benefits on different spatial scales, there are, thus, additional challenges in the planning of these measures [23]. However, it is worth noting that the concept "urban form" involved in the abovementioned studies adopted a point of view at the micro or the medium level (i.e., related to buildings, parcels, or blocks) and there is little research that considers a city as a whole and investigates its spatial characteristics in relation to urban drainage systems [24].As cities grow larger worldwide, it could bring both the benefits and the costs associated with the scale of cities [25], which become a major concern in urban planning.…”

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Urban Forms on Separate Drainage Systems: A Virtual City Perspective

Jia

Sitzenfrei

Rauch

et al. 2019

Water

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The development of urban drainage systems is challenged by rapid urbanization; however, little attention is paid to the urban form and its effects on these systems. This study develops an integrated city-drainage model that configures typical urban forms and their associated drainage infrastructures, specifically domestic wastewater and rainwater systems, to analyze the relationship between them. Three typical types of urban forms were investigated: the square, the star, and the strip. Virtual cities were designed first, with the corresponding drainage systems generated automatically and then linked to a model herein called the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). Evaluation was based on 200 random configurations of wastewater/rainwater systems with different structures or attributes. The results show that urban forms play more important roles on three dimensions of performance, namely economic efficiency, effectiveness, and adaptability, of the rainwater systems than of the wastewater systems. Cost is positively correlated to the effectiveness of rainwater systems among the different urban forms, while adaptability is negatively correlated to the other two performance dimensions. Regardless of the form, it is difficult for a city to make its drainage systems simultaneously cost-effective, efficient, and adaptable based on the virtual cities we investigated. This study could inspire the urban planning of both built-up and to-be-built areas to become more sustainable with their drainage infrastructure by recognizing the pros and cons of different macroscale urban forms.

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confidence: 99%

Effects of Urban Forms on Separate Drainage Systems: A Virtual City Perspective

Jia

Sitzenfrei

Rauch

et al. 2019

Water

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“…However, initial approaches have been developed [177][178][179]. When evaluating the effects of constructed wetlands on biodiversity, it needs to be taken into account that they are part of a larger system of urban green infrastructure [180]. Finally, the attractiveness of applying constructed wetlands in urban areas can be increased by harvesting and re-using their plant biomass-ideally at an adjacent location.…”

Section: Opportunities To Increase Biodiversity In Constructed Wetlandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biodiversity Impact of Green Roofs and Constructed Wetlands as Progressive Eco-Technologies in Urban Areas

2019

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The total amount of sealed surfaces is increasing in many urban areas, which presents a challenge for sewerage systems and wastewater treatment plants when extreme rainfall events occur. One promising solution approach is the application of decentralized eco-technologies for water management such as green roofs and constructed wetlands, which also have the potential to improve urban biodiversity. We review the effects of these two eco-technologies on species richness, abundance and other facets of biodiversity (e.g., functional diversity). We find that while green roofs support fewer species than ground-level habitats and thus are not a substitute for the latter, the increase in green roof structural diversity supports species richness. Species abundance benefits from improved roof conditions (e.g., increased substrate depth). Few studies have investigated the functional diversity of green roofs so far, but the typical traits of green roof species have been identified. The biodiversity of animals in constructed wetlands can be improved by applying animal-aided design rather than by solely considering engineering requirements. For example, flat and barrier-free shore areas, diverse vegetation, and heterogeneous surroundings increase the attractiveness of constructed wetlands for a range of animals. We suggest that by combining and making increasing use of these two eco-technologies in urban areas, biodiversity will benefit.

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“…The benefits of amenity and ecosystem services are often more difficult to quantify because of their subjective nature, such as the enhancement of property values and the quality of services and goods. Examples of benefits offered by stormwater GI are erosion protection, climate regulation, carbon sequestration, water quality regulation and habitat protection are included in the amenity delivered by these techniques [21]. They also promote social interaction between various population groups and stimulate physical and mental well-being, both through social activities in public areas and through recreational activities in multipurpose spaces [10].…”

Section: Amenity and Ecosystem Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green Infrastructures in Stormwater Control and Treatment Strategies

Pereira

David

Galvão

2019

The 4th International Electronic Conference on Water Sciences

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Green infrastructures can provide multiple benefits and play an important role in cities' resilience to extreme stormwater events caused by climate change. Additionally, these techniques can contribute to the protection of transport infrastructures, averting major environmental and economical adversities. Stormwater can be treated through several processes, some processes being more effective than others for specific contaminants. A review of some of the most commonly used GI for stormwater management in urban environments was carried out, with emphasis on their efficiency in reducing peak flow rates, runoff volumes and the following pollutants: total suspended solids, heavy metals, total phosphorus and total nitrogen. The GI studied were green roofs, bioretention systems, filter strips, vegetated swales and trenches. In addition to the advantages in the urban water cycle, benefits of amenity and ecosystem services of these GI have also been identified. The discussion of the results and the comparative analysis of GI performance were carried out taking advantage of a table that summarizes the range of percentages of GI efficiency obtained in the various studies for the different functions.

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Linking hydrological and bioecological benefits of green infrastructures across spatial scales – A literature review

Cited by 89 publications

References 125 publications

Effects of Urban Forms on Separate Drainage Systems: A Virtual City Perspective

Effects of Urban Forms on Separate Drainage Systems: A Virtual City Perspective

Biodiversity Impact of Green Roofs and Constructed Wetlands as Progressive Eco-Technologies in Urban Areas

Green Infrastructures in Stormwater Control and Treatment Strategies

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