In recent years, an array of political, environmental, and health activists have brought to light the previously overlooked structural inequalities that plague many urban cities and their underserved populations. With a growing population and an increased dichotomy between social classes in the United States, urbanization may be inevitable. However, how urban planners and public agencies choose to build and design these areas is malleable. Provision of safe and equitable living conditions by these individuals is an obligation of utmost importance, and as such, this thesis aims to both provide insight as to how the built environment, development patterns, and land use play a significant role in in morbidity and mortality in urban communities across the nation and world, as well as assist in bridging the divide between disciplines of urban health and urban planning as we look towards creating healthier, greener, more equitable cities. The built environment and health can and should be discussed in the same breath during urban planning and development, and thus, the preservation, presence, and development of urban green space should be prioritized during processes of urbanization, with active engagement and empowerment from the communities in which we seek to build. The existing inverse association between increased urbanization and community health necessitates an induction of change and a call for action from urban planners, city and state officials, health scientists, environmental conservationists, and communities as a whole. / Urban Bioethics

Frågan kring hållbar dagvattenhantering har fått allt större uppmärksamhet i och med de pågående klimatförändringarna. Genom att implementera dagvattenlösningar i urbana miljöer som efterliknar naturens kretslopp kan kraftiga regn fördröjas vilket avlastar ledningsnätet. Detta främjar en hållbar stadsutveckling, som idag har blivit ett allt större krav. Studiens syfte avser att lyfta kunskapsläget kring användandet av växtbäddar avsedda för dagvattenhantering i det nordiska klimatet. Detta genom att undersöka vilka faktorer som bör beaktas vid utformning av växtbäddar för att de ska fungera optimalt, samt maximera livslängden med hänsyn till ett kallt klimat. Undersökningen tar även reda på vilka åtgärder som krävs för att underhålla en sådan anläggning samt vilka kostnader detta medför. Studiens frågeställningar besvaras genom intervjuer som riktades till beställare och projektörer av växtbäddar. Detta för att skapa en uppfattning kring hur utformningen sker samt vilka underhållsinsatser som vidtas. En enkätundersökning genomfördes som var riktad till kommuner för att undersöka hur väl de upplever att arbetet med växtbäddar fungerar inom deras organisation. Studien utfördes genom att först genomföra en litteraturstudie som lade grunden till rapportens teori, för att sedan kunna utforma intervju och enkätfrågor. För att skapa en uppfattning kring kostnaderna utfördes en dokumentinsamling från kommuner för att klargöra kostnadernas storlek. Studiens resultat påvisar att växtbäddar har bra förutsättningar i det nordiska klimatet samt att det anses finnas en god kunskapsnivå kring hur anläggningarna ska utformas och skötas. Detta gäller både projektörer och beställare av anläggningarna. De fel som uppstår i anläggningsskedet tycks främst grunda sig i den stora variationen av material som växtbäddarnas uppbyggnad består av. Därtill att entreprenören saknar kunskap i hur anläggningen senare ska fungera, då denna typ av anläggning skiljer sig från hur konventionella dagvattenanläggningar anläggs. I utformnings och driftskedet är utmaningarna kopplade till faktorer som ansvarsfördelning då det är ett flertal inblandade aktörer i både projekterings och driftskedet. Den faktor som främst styr kostnaden är kopplad till de material som används i uppbyggnaden av växtbädden. / The issue of sustainable stormwater management has received increasing attention with the ongoing climate change. By implementing stormwater solutions in urban environments that mimic nature heavy rainfall can be delayed, which relieves the conventional stormwater pipeline network. This promotes sustainable urban development, which today has become an increasing requirement. The purpose of the study is to raise the state of knowledge about the use of bioretention system intended for stormwater management in the Nordic climate. This is done by examining which factors should be taken into account when designing bioretention system in order to function optimally and maximize the lifespan with regard to a cold climate. The study also finds out what measures are required to maintain such a facility and what costs this entails. The study's questions are answered through interviews aimed at clients and designers of bioretention systems. The purpose is to create an understanding of how the design takes place and what maintenance efforts are taken. A survey was conducted which was aimed at municipalities to investigate how well they feel that the work with bioretention system works within their organization. The study was carried out by first conducting a literature study that laid the foundation for the report's theory, in order to then be able to design interview and survey questions. To create an understanding of the costs, a document collection from municipalities was carried out to clarify the size of the costs. The results of the study show that bioretention systems can sustain in the Nordic climate and that it is considered that there is a good level of knowledge about how the facilities should be designed and maintained. This applies to both designers and clients of the facilities. The errors that occur during the construction phase seem to be mainly based on the large variety of materials that make up the bioretention systems. In addition, the contractor lacks knowledge of how the facility will later function, as this type of facility differs from how conventional stormwater facilities are constructed. In the design and operational phase, the challenges are linked to factors such as the division of responsibilities as there are a number of actors involved in both the design and operational phases. The factor that primarily controls the cost is linked to the materials used in the construction. / <p>Examensarbetet är utfört vid Institutionen för teknik och naturvetenskap (ITN) vid Tekniska fakulteten, Linköpings universitet</p>

The research explores multiple facets of a green infrastructure planning framework for climate change adaptation in urban regions. The research is organized in three distinct, but related parts. The first develops an adaptation implementation model based on triggering conditions rather than time. The approach responds to policy makers' reluctance to engage in adaptation planning due to uncertain future conditions. The model is based on planning and adaptation literature and applied to two case studies. Uncertainty during implementation may be reduced by incremental and flexible policy implementation, disbursing investments as needs arise, monitoring conditions, and organizing adaptation measures along no-regrets to transformational measures. The second part develops the green infrastructure transect as an organizational framework for mainstreaming adaptation planning policies. The framework integrates multi-scalar and context aspects of green infrastructure for vertical and horizontal integration of policy. The framework integrates literature from urban and landscape planning and tested on Boston. Prioritization of adaptation measures depends on location. Results suggest that green infrastructure adaptation policies should respond to configuration of zones. Cross jurisdiction coordination at regional and parcel scales supports mainstreaming. A secondary conclusion suggests that green infrastructure is space intensive and becomes the basis of the empirical study in part three. A spatial assessment method is introduced to formulate opportunities for green infrastructure network implementation within land-uses and across an urban-rural gradient. Spatial data in GIS for Boston is utilized to develop a percent pervious metric allowing the characterization of the study area into six zones of varying perviousness. Opportunities across land uses were assessed then maximum space opportunities were defined based on conservation, intensification, transformation and expansion. The opportunities for transformation of impervious surfaces to vegetal surfaces are highest in the urban center and its surrounding. Intensification of vegetation on pervious surfaces along all land uses is high across the gradient. Conservation of existing forested land is significant for future climate proofing. The concluding section argues for a green infrastructure planning framework for adaptation based on integration into existing infrastructural bodies, regional vision, incremental implementation, ecosystem benefits accounting, and conditions based planning rather than time based.

No description available.

Detta examensarbete i samhällsbyggnadsteknik undersöker och jämför planeringsprocesser vid markanvisning, för att utforska hur kommuner arbetar vid utvecklingen av hållbara stadsdelar. Vidare syftar arbetat till att undersöka hur grönstruktur främjar en hållbar stadsutveckling vid exploatering av kommunal ägd mark. Studien utforskar även arbetet med grönytefaktorn som planeringsverktyg för att uppnå grönare städer. Studien är av fallstudiedesign där fallet är Malmö stad och två utvalda hållbara stadsdelar utgör två analysenheter. Stadsdelarna är Norra Sorgenfri och Sege park i Malmö stad. En litteraturgenomgång har genomförts för att få en större inblick i det aktuella forskningsområdet. Därefter har en fallstudie av Malmö stad och de två fallstudieenheterna utförts. Innehållsanalys har använts som metod för att granska och analysera planer och dokument som rör planeringen av hållbara stadsdelar i Malmö stad. Studiens resultat visar på att en strategisk planering och en bra samverkan av stadens alla planer och dokument underlättar i planeringsprocessen likväl som en tyngdvikt vid dialogform, både vad gäller dialog över olika kommunala enheter, olika aktörer inom samhällsbyggnad samt medborgardialog och byggherredialog. Det framgår även att planera för grönstruktur kan vara utmanande, framför allt i den täta staden, där grönytefaktorn är ett effektivt planeringsverktyg. / This study is a bachelor thesis in construction and urban planning that investigate and compares planning processes in land allocation to explore how municipalities working with development of sustainable urban planning. Furthermore, this study aims to investigate how green infrastructures supports sustainable urban development when explode land owned by municipality. The study also explores the use of the green area index tool as a planning tool to achieve greener sustainable cities. The study is a case study design, the case is the city of Malmö and two case study units consisting of the Norra Sorgenfri and Sege Park districts. To gain a greater insight into the current research area the rapport begins with a literature study. The rapport continues with the case study of Malmö city and the two case study units. A content analysis has been used as a method to review and analyze plans and documents relating to the sustainable urban planning in the city of Malmö. The study's results show that strategic planning and a good collaboration of all the city's plans and documents smooth the planning process as well as the impact of dialogue. Both in terms of dialogue across different municipal units, people working in the field of sustainable urban development as well as citizen dialogue and developer dialogue. It also appears that planning for green infrastructure can be challenging. Especially in dense cities, where the green area index tool can be an effective planning tool.

Swedish municipalities increasingly prioritize blue-green infrastructure in response to the changing climate and precipitation. This study focuses on Norrköping, Huddinge, Nyköping, and Kalmar and how urban planning develops strategies for implementing blue-green infrastructure. Through document content analysis, the municipalities recognize the importance of blue-green infrastructure for stormwater management. However, challenges with implementation remain. Clashes with higher legal and economic interests impede progress. There are issues with responsibility allocation and operation. Most of the challenges can be ascribed to the absence of a comprehensive framework for sustainable stormwater management. Each municipality has developed unique practices to handle this, which have emerged through the interviews. The strategies break down to collaborative models involving multiple stakeholders. These findings advocate for a holistic approach suggest potential for a unified framework, and a path forward in sustainable urban planning.

Urbanisering och förtätning i stadsmiljön medför miljörelaterade utmaningar som väntas förvärras av klimatförändringar. Urban grön infrastruktur är metoder för att hantera dessa utmaningar, men det implementeras inte i den utsträckning som krävs. Undersökningens syfte var att genom en fallstudie i en nyutvecklad stadsdel i Ronneby kommun där grön infrastruktur implementerats, bidra med kunskap om de mekanismer som är viktiga för implementeringen av grön infrastruktur, samt hur förutsättningarna för dessa kan främjas. Vi applicerade transition management med syfte att förstå dessa mekanismer i ett bredare perspektiv, samt green inside activism för att förklara agensen bakom implementeringen. Genom en kombination av kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med tjänstepersoner och privata aktörer involverade i stadsdelsprojektet och en analys av offentliga dokument kom vi fram till att sex mekanismer är av vikt för implementeringen; ett långsiktigt tänkande; ett fokus på flexibilitet; ett gränsöverskridande samarbete; att skapa utrymme för praktisk tillämpning; involvering av allmänheten; samt ett fokus på multifunktionalitet. För att främja förutsättningarna för dessa mekanismer att ta plats visar resultatet att det är av vikt att mobilisera kring en brett förankrad gemensam ambition. Vidare betonar vi betydelsen av miljöengagerade tjänstepersoner för att uppnå en sådan bred förankring, men också att yttre faktorer kan ha betydelse för processen. / Urbanization, densification, and climate change cause multiple challenges to the urban environment. To address these challenges, green infrastructure are recognized measures, however not implemented to the extent required. The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge of the mechanisms important for the implementation of green infrastructure and how these mechanisms can be promoted. Therefore, we conducted a case study of a newly developed urban area in Ronneby, Sweden, where green infrastructure has been implemented. We applied transition management with the aim of understanding these mechanisms in a broader perspective, as well as green inside activism to add an element of agency for the implementation process. We combined qualitative semi structured interviews with public officials and private actors involved, as well as a content analysis of official documents related to the development of the investigated area. We found that six mechanisms are important for the implementation; long term thinking; a focus on flexibility; interdisciplinary collaboration; creating space for practical application; public involvement; and a focus on multifunctionality. To promote these mechanisms, the results show an importance in the mobilization of a widely shared ambition. Further, in order to achieve such a broad ambition, we emphasize that public officials with an environmental engagement can play an important role, however, external factors may also impact the process.

Most cities are dominated by asphalt and concrete, which blocks the natural movement of rain water. Wetlands, riparian buffers, and roadsides are being lost or degraded in urban areas due to human development. Cities can be designed to benefit humans and nature by using techniques from green infrastructure and restoration ecology to improve urban sustainability. Parking lot M on McMaster University's west campus, constructed in 1968 on a former floodplain, directs the highly saline parking lot runoff into the adjacent Ancaster Creek. Natural groundwater sources along the surrounding hillslopes are directed into pipes under the parking lot and into the creek. A one-hectare riparian buffer restoration at lot M was used to assess the viability of depaving asphalt and establishing native plants through a vegetation study. Total native plant biomass was found to be similar to non-native plant biomass and was affected by road-salt salinity from the parking lot. Species richness per quadrat was higher for non-native plants, and greater for both non-native and native plants where less salt was present. Key hydrological fluxes were examined at the parking lot that could contribute to a proposed 0.6 hectare constructed wetland on the parking lot, known as “McMarsh.” Potential wetland water storage is in surplus year round, with an average storage of 265 mm/month. Successful restorations require maintenance following the establishment of native species. Management and maintenance of the restoration can help decrease non-native species. Engaging with the community through outreach and education on restoration projects is important for a successful restoration and increasing urban sustainability in cities. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Most cities are dominated by asphalt and concrete, which blocks the natural movement of rain water. Wetlands, riparian buffers, and roadsides are being lost or degraded in urban areas due to human development. Cities can be designed to benefit humans and nature by using techniques from green infrastructure and restoration ecology to improve urban sustainability. Parking lot M on McMaster University's west campus, constructed in 1968 on a former floodplain, directs the highly saline parking lot runoff into the adjacent Ancaster Creek. Natural groundwater sources along the surrounding hillslopes are directed into pipes under the parking lot and into the creek. A one-hectare riparian buffer restoration at lot M was used to assess the viability of depaving asphalt and establishing native plants through a vegetation study. Total native plant biomass was found to be similar to non-native plant biomass and was affected by road-salt salinity from the parking lot. Species richness per quadrat was higher for non-native plants, and greater for both non-native and native plants where less salt was present. Key hydrological fluxes were examined at the parking lot that could contribute to a proposed 0.6 hectare constructed wetland on the parking lot, known as “McMarsh.” Potential wetland water storage is in surplus year round, with an average storage of 265 mm/month. Successful restorations require maintenance following the establishment of native species. Management and maintenance of the restoration can help decrease non-native species. Engaging with the community through outreach and education on restoration projects is important for a successful restoration and increasing urban sustainability in cities.

With over 16,500 documented vacant commercial and residential units, roughly 20 miles of abandoned rail lines, a historic loss of approximately 330,000 residents, millions of gallons of annual surface water sewage discharges, and a decade-long failed water quality consent decree - Baltimore, Maryland lies at a crux of chronic challenges plaguing America’s formerly most economically and industrially powerful cities (Open Baltimore GIS [Vacancies Shapefile], 2017; “Harbor Water Alert” Blue Water Baltimore, 2017). Impending environmental threats in the “Anthropocene” (Crutzen, 2004) and increased attention to societal injustices warrant heightened inclusivity of social and natural urban functions. Socioecological inequities are often highly conspicuous in declining post-industrial American cities such as Baltimore. Chronic social, economic, and environmental perturbations have rendered some of once critical American infrastructure outdated, underutilized, and/or abandoned. Rivers, forests, rail corridors, as well as residential and industrial building stock are in significantly less demand than when America’s industrial age shaped urban landscapes in the late nineteenth/early twentieth centuries. Compounded by insensitive traditional urban development, these phenomena jeopardize urban social and ecological function. This thesis is an examination of contemporary urban ecology concepts as a systemic approach for revitalizing socially and ecologically marginalized urban areas, with an application in West Baltimore, Maryland neighborhoods. Through an examination of socioecological dilemmas and root causes, a conceptual procedure for urban blight mitigation along the Gwynns Falls corridor is proposed. Adopting an urban green infrastructure plan offers comprehensive alternative solutions for West Baltimore’s contemporary challenges. Master plans are proposed for the Shipley Hill, Carrollton Scott, and Mill Hill neighborhoods in West Baltimore. Site scale socioecological connections are suggested for the Shipley Hill neighborhood with contextual linkages in the surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, policy considerations are explored for revitalizing Baltimore’s most vulnerable landscapes. By transforming derelict industrial infrastructure to dynamic socioecological patches and corridors, this work aims to enhance socioecological equity and connectivity. Negative aspects of Baltimore’s contemporary urban condition such as blight, high vacancy rates, ecological damage, population decline, and other symptoms of shrinking cities are deeply rooted in a complex evolution of social, environmental, and economic management. Current challenges facing Baltimore can be directly linked to a long history, specifically including industrialization and systematic segregation of neighborhoods. As the United States entered a period of stability following the industrial revolution, domestic manufacturing dwindled, causing a once strong workforce population to leave industrial mega-cities such as Baltimore. This population exodus left behind prior workforce housing and industrial infrastructure, much of which now nonessential to Baltimore’s contemporary urban functions. Housing vacancies and abandoned infrastructure are most noticeable in Baltimore’s predominately minority neighborhoods. Historically marginalized by systematic segregation tactics, “redlined” neighborhoods largely continue to lack sufficient social and economic capital for adaptation to a transformative new era in Baltimore’s history. Disparities in these minority neighborhoods have shown lasting consequences and continue to suffer from financial, social, and ecological neglect. However, progressive urban planning processes pose significant opportunity for equitable inclusion of historically marginalized urban communities through the introduction of green infrastructure. Because socioecological disparities in Baltimore are incredibly complex, an equally complex solution is necessary to adequately alleviate symptoms of declining cities. Although much research and literature has been cited in systemic solutions aiming to address the totality of these issues, practical implication of these strategies remains limited. This thesis aims to identify primary drivers of socioecological inequity as well as recommend policy and spatial solutions to alleviate symptoms of shrinking cites specific to Baltimore. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Urbanization, changing forest landowner values, and restructuring forest industry are creating challenges for the active management of small parcels of forestland. Many traditional service providers are reluctant to service small acreage parcels due to economies of scale, shrinking profit margins for unprocessed stumpage, and changing landowner expectations. They do not understand traditional forestry operations and do not know where to look for service providers. A gap in our nation's forest system has emerged. A new market opportunity exists for service providers willing to work with small-scale forest landowners. In this study, over sixty forest service providers working with small acreage or amenity oriented clients were interviewed to determine how their business is structured, how they charge for the services they provide, what reactions they get from their clients, and how successful they perceive themselves to be. Informants came from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, including forestry, logging, arboriculture, landscaping, and woodworking. In addition, about 20 public-forest professionals were interviewed to determine how they and their programs are changing in response to emerging conditions. Successful service providers generally charge by some measure of time and materials rather than by commission. They exhibit a willingness to diversify their business to offer a bundle of services, and to cooperate with professionals in related industries. Value-added processing and creative marketing assist service providers in achieving a profit from small-scale tracts with traditionally low-value products. Lessons learned from these early adopters will assist other service providers interested in working with small acreage private landowners. / Master of Science