Planning Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Flood Reduction and Thermal Comfort Enhancement

Abstract

As a consequence of climate change and urbanization, many cities will have to deal with more flooding and extreme heat stress. This paper presents a framework to maximize the effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for flood risk reduction and thermal comfort enhancement. The framework involves an assessment of hazards with the use of models and field measurements. It also detects suitable implementation sites for NBS and quantifies their effectiveness for thermal comfort enhancement and flood risk reduction. The framework was applied in a densely urbanized study area, for which different small-scale urban NBS and their potential locations for implementation were assessed. The overall results show that the most effective performance in terms of flood mitigation and thermal comfort enhancement is likely achieved by applying a range of different measures at different locations. Therefore, the work presented here shows the potential of the framework to achieve an effective combination of measures and their locations, which was demonstrated on the case of the Sukhumvit area in Bangkok (Thailand). This can be particularly suitable for assessing and planning flood mitigation measures in combination with heat stress reduction.

Nature-based solutions for hydro-meteorological risk reduction: a state-of-the-art review of the research area

“…Another approach is to consider both primary benefits and key cobenefits. For instance, Majidi et al (2019) developed a framework to select NBSs to reduce flood risk and enhance human thermal comfort (reducing heat stress). Many authors suggest restricting the choice of appropriate NBSs based on common site constraints such as land use, soil type, groundwater depth, catchment characteristics, political and financial regulations, amenities, environmental requirements, and space available (Eaton, 2018;Joyce et al, 2017;Nordman et al, 2018;Oraei Zare et al, 2012).…”

“…The environmental benefits of NBS measures can have various positive impacts. Some of the most important are the ability to enhance environmental and ecosystem services by connecting habitat and biodiversity (Hoang et al, 2018;Reguero et al, 2018;Thorslund et al, 2017), increasing carbon consequences, reducing air and noise pollution (Donnell et al, 2018), and improving urban heat island effect mitigation (Majidi et al, 2019;Raymond et al, 2017). Zhang and Chui (2019) reviewed the hydrological and bio-ecological benefits of NBSs across spatial scales and suggested that there should be more research at the catchment scale to consider the full benefits of NBSs.…”

Blue–Green Infrastructure for Flood and Water Quality Management in Southeast Asia: Evidence and Knowledge Gaps

“…Only a few studies in our review considered co-benefits despite their importance in integrated urban water management. Majidi et al (2019) assessed the effectiveness of various nature-based solutions based on a range of criteria covering both hydrologic and urban cooling services. Meerow (2019) examined synergistic 'hotspots' that maximise co-benefits in Manila and found that the stormwater management service correlated positively with three other services: reducing social vulnerability, reducing the urban heat island effect and improving air quality.…”

Planning and governing nature-based solutions in river landscapes: Concepts, cases, and insights

“…While scientific debate about the exact definition and conceptualization of NBS continues (e.g., Eggermont et al 2015 ; Albert et al 2017 ; IUCN 2020 ), important advances have already been made and lessons learned of how NBS can be successfully planned and implemented (Short et al 2018 ; Frantzeskaki 2019 ). In the context of river landscape development, recent research on NBS has addressed a wide range of challenges, including, for example, approaches to stormwater management (e.g., Pelorosso et al 2018 ; Kopp et al 2019 ; Simperler et al 2020 ), flood risk management (Majidi et al 2019 ; Pagano et al 2019 ; Singh et al 2020 ), and climate change mitigation and adaptation (e.g., Chausson et al 2020 ; Wamsler et al 2020 ). First special issues on NBS are also beginning to emerge, with early examples focusing on NBS for creating resourceful circular cities (Langergraber and Atanasova 2020 ), on NBS in cities in relation to justice and equity considerations (Sekulova et al 2021 ) and on NBS for hydro-meteorological risk reduction (Lupp and Zingraff-Hamed 2021 ).…”