A urbanização traz consigo diversos desafios, dentre eles, o manejo das águas, o qual se destaca por englobar aspectos de diversas áreas do conhecimento e demandar soluções multidisciplinares, o que nem sempre é fácil de alcançar. O presente estudo se dedicou à analise dos principais aspectos e desafios envolvidos no processo de requalificação de corpos d\'água em áreas urbanas. Discute-se a renaturalização, a revitalização e a recuperação, e suas dificuldades, como o controle efetivo das cargas poluidoras na bacia hidrográfica, o reestabelecimento das funções ecossistêmicas dos corpos d\'águas e a promoção da integração da população no processo a fim de garantir sua efetividade e durabilidade. Este estudo compreende a análise crítica das principais técnicas existentes de manejo da água no meio urbano; das metodologias de tratamento de canais atualmente empregadas; das novas técnicas de drenagem, consideradas sustentáveis; e das estruturas utilizadas para controle de cargas poluidoras. Para tanto as técnicas estudadas foram aplicadas em uma proposta de requalificação da bacia hidrográfica do córrego Jaguaré, situada na zona oeste do município de São Paulo, a fim de auxiliar estudos futuros no melhor entendimento dos processos envolvidos e na escolha da melhor técnica de manejo (renaturalização, revitalização ou recuperação) a ser empregada para distintos cenários. A bacia do córrego Jaguaré conta com uso do solo heterogêneo, possuindo desde áreas verdes bem preservadas, até remanescentes industriais e rodovias e, portanto, apresenta diversos problemas e usos conflituosos do espaço, o que garante a ela um campo fértil para estudos relativos ao manejo das águas. Para validar a proposta de requalificação foi realizada ainda uma consulta pública junto aos moradores da bacia a fim de compreender as demandas da sociedade. / Urbanization brings with it several challenges, among them water management that stands out because it involves aspects of several areas of knowledge and demands multidisciplinary solutions, which is not always easy to achieve. The present study was devoted to the analysis of the main aspects and challenges involved in the process of urban watercourses requalification. The restoration, revitalization and recovery, and their difficulties, such as the effective pollution control in the watershed, the reestablishment of the ecosystem functions of the watercourses and the population integration in order to ensure the process effectiveness and durability. This study includes the critical analysis of the main existing water management techniques, such as methodologies of channels treatment currently employed, sustainable drainage, and structures used for pollutant control. The techniques studied were applied in a proposal for the Jaguaré watershed requalification, located in the western zone of São Paulo city, in order to help future studies to better understand the processes involved. Besides that it helps to choose the best management techniques (Restoration, revitalization or recovery) to be used for different scenarios. The Jaguaré watershed has a heterogeneous land occupation, preserving green areas, residential use, industrial remnants, and highways. Therefore, it presents several problems and conflicting land uses, which ensures it is a fertile field for water management studies. In order to validate the requalification proposal, a public consultation was also held with the watershed residents, in order to understand the society\'s demands.

No processo de urbanização da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP) observa-se que a qualidade d\'água dos principais rios e córregos da cidade e seu comportamento hidrológico natural tem sido enormemente afetados trazendo impactos para a economia local e bem-estar e saúde da população. Conforme a cidade expande, os ecossistemas fluviais são transformados em parte do sistema de galerias pluviais que rapidamente afastam as águas em um esquema centralizado e hierarquizado. Ao mesmo tempo, esses sistemas de gerenciamento não contribuem para a biodiversidade nem permitem regular a qualidade d\'água, o que primitivamente se dava por intermediação de processos biológicos e físico-químicos fornecidos pelas florestas ripárias. Este estudo avalia a eficiência de modelos alternativos para a gestão das águas urbanas fundamentados no emprego de tecnologias da Infraestrutura Verde, sistemas vegetados que recuperam funções hidrológicas para o controle da contaminação e mitigação do efeito da impermeabilização, participando com essas propostas no Programa Piloto para Revitalização de Bacias Urbanas em São Paulo. Por um lado, um esquema de Drenagem Urbana Sustentável (SUDs) composto por bacias de biorretenção é projetado para o controle do escoamento na sub-bacia Água Podre, na periferia da cidade. Assim, é simulada sua eficiência para a remoção dos sedimentos iniciais acumulados nas superfícies construídas e, na sequência, o volume de armazenamento para 90% de remoção da carga de sedimento inicial. Por outro lado, um sistema de Alagado Construído de Fluxo Horizontal Sub-Superficial é proposto para a redução da concentração de matéria orgânica na vazão base do córrego. Sua eficiência é estimada utilizando o Modelo de Degradação de Primeira Ordem K-C*. Esses e outros sistemas da Infraestrutura Verde são visualizados em diversos contextos de ocupação das antigas paisagens das águas da cidade de São Paulo fortalecendo os resultados preliminarmente obtidos sobre seu desempenho benéfico para a melhoria qualitativa das águas e benefícios urbanos associados. / Urbanization in São Paulo Metropolitan Region (SPMR) causes the degradation of local waters and interferes in the natural hydrology of the place. This has a large impact in the local economy and well-being of its citizens. As the city expands, fluvial ecosystems are turned into channels and covered pipes that rapidly evacuate the rainwater. At the same time, these conventional systems have no contribution to biodiversity or water quality, which was originally regulated through biological, physical and chemical processes provided by the riparian forests. This work evaluates the efficiency of alternative water management models based on the use of Green Infrastructure typologies, vegetated systems that recover hydrological functions to control contamination and restore natural hydrology. This systems are explores within the Pilot Program for Watershed Restoration in São Paulo. On one site, a Sustainable Urban Drainage scheme (SUDs) composed by bioretention systems is proposed as a source control of runoff and its sediment removal efficiency is simulated on the Água Podre\'s sub-catchment, localized in the periphery of São Paulo. The results are obtained using the Sartor & Boyd exponential formula and the EPA-XPSWMM software for two isolated rainstorms with different precedent dry conditions, according to São Paulo rainfall-intensity patterns; then, the water quality volume is established according to 90% reduction of the initial sediment accumulated on the streets. On the other side, a Horizontal Sub-Surface Flow Constructed Wetland is proposed to reduce organic matter in-stream and its efficiency is estimated using the First-order Degradation Model K-C*. These and other Green Infrastructure solutions are visualized in different contexts of the city where original fluvial landscapes have been transformed to discuss about their performance to improve water quality and contribute to existing urban and social conditions within broader landscape projects.

abstract: The combination of rapid urban growth and climate change places stringent constraints on multisector sustainability of cities. Green infrastructure provides a great potential for mitigating anthropogenic-induced urban environmental problems; nevertheless, studies at city and regional scales are inhibited by the deficiency in modelling the complex transport coupled water and energy inside urban canopies. This dissertation is devoted to incorporating hydrological processes and urban green infrastructure into an integrated atmosphere-urban modelling system, with the goal to improve the reliability and predictability of existing numerical tools. Based on the enhanced numerical tool, the effects of urban green infrastructure on environmental sustainability of cities are examined. Findings indicate that the deployment of green roofs will cool the urban environment in daytime and warm it at night, via evapotranspiration and soil insulation. At the annual scale, green roofs are effective in decreasing building energy demands for both summer cooling and winter heating. For cities in arid and semiarid environments, an optimal trade-off between water and energy resources can be achieved via innovative design of smart urban irrigation schemes, enabled by meticulous analysis of the water-energy nexus. Using water-saving plants alleviates water shortage induced by population growth, but comes at the price of an exacerbated urban thermal environment. Realizing the potential water buffering capacity of urban green infrastructure is crucial for the long-term water sustainability and subsequently multisector sustainability of cities. Environmental performance of urban green infrastructure is determined by land-atmosphere interactions, geographic and meteorological conditions, and hence it is recommended that analysis should be conducted on a city-by-city basis before actual implementation of green infrastructure. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil and Environmental Engineering 2016

A urbanização traz consigo diversos desafios, dentre eles, o manejo das águas, o qual se destaca por englobar aspectos de diversas áreas do conhecimento e demandar soluções multidisciplinares, o que nem sempre é fácil de alcançar. O presente estudo se dedicou à analise dos principais aspectos e desafios envolvidos no processo de requalificação de corpos d\'água em áreas urbanas. Discute-se a renaturalização, a revitalização e a recuperação, e suas dificuldades, como o controle efetivo das cargas poluidoras na bacia hidrográfica, o reestabelecimento das funções ecossistêmicas dos corpos d\'águas e a promoção da integração da população no processo a fim de garantir sua efetividade e durabilidade. Este estudo compreende a análise crítica das principais técnicas existentes de manejo da água no meio urbano; das metodologias de tratamento de canais atualmente empregadas; das novas técnicas de drenagem, consideradas sustentáveis; e das estruturas utilizadas para controle de cargas poluidoras. Para tanto as técnicas estudadas foram aplicadas em uma proposta de requalificação da bacia hidrográfica do córrego Jaguaré, situada na zona oeste do município de São Paulo, a fim de auxiliar estudos futuros no melhor entendimento dos processos envolvidos e na escolha da melhor técnica de manejo (renaturalização, revitalização ou recuperação) a ser empregada para distintos cenários. A bacia do córrego Jaguaré conta com uso do solo heterogêneo, possuindo desde áreas verdes bem preservadas, até remanescentes industriais e rodovias e, portanto, apresenta diversos problemas e usos conflituosos do espaço, o que garante a ela um campo fértil para estudos relativos ao manejo das águas. Para validar a proposta de requalificação foi realizada ainda uma consulta pública junto aos moradores da bacia a fim de compreender as demandas da sociedade. / Urbanization brings with it several challenges, among them water management that stands out because it involves aspects of several areas of knowledge and demands multidisciplinary solutions, which is not always easy to achieve. The present study was devoted to the analysis of the main aspects and challenges involved in the process of urban watercourses requalification. The restoration, revitalization and recovery, and their difficulties, such as the effective pollution control in the watershed, the reestablishment of the ecosystem functions of the watercourses and the population integration in order to ensure the process effectiveness and durability. This study includes the critical analysis of the main existing water management techniques, such as methodologies of channels treatment currently employed, sustainable drainage, and structures used for pollutant control. The techniques studied were applied in a proposal for the Jaguaré watershed requalification, located in the western zone of São Paulo city, in order to help future studies to better understand the processes involved. Besides that it helps to choose the best management techniques (Restoration, revitalization or recovery) to be used for different scenarios. The Jaguaré watershed has a heterogeneous land occupation, preserving green areas, residential use, industrial remnants, and highways. Therefore, it presents several problems and conflicting land uses, which ensures it is a fertile field for water management studies. In order to validate the requalification proposal, a public consultation was also held with the watershed residents, in order to understand the society\'s demands.

Em caráter experimental, a tese examina o desempenho de sistemas de biorretenção na mitigação da poluição difusa ocasionada pelas águas de chuva. A avaliação dessa tecnologia ambiental urbana partiu da construção de um modelo de manejo dos escoamentos pluviais, utilizando uma matriz orgânica composta por vegetação, solo e agregados para retenção e tratamento inicial localizados. O protótipo, em escala 1:1, implementado na Cidade Universitária Armando Salles de Oliveira (CUASO-USP), São Paulo, SP, é composto por dois canteiros isolados entre si, que recebem as vazões através da sarjeta na via adjacente. Com preenchimentos iguais, os canteiros receberam coberturas vegetais distintas: gramado (G), com uma única espécie de gramínia, e jardim (J), com forrações, herbáceas e arbustos diversos, predominantemente nativos. O experimento foi monitorado por um ano, entre março de 2012 e março de 2013, quando foram coletados os dados referentes ao seu funcionamento e eficiência em sete eventos chuvosos paulistanos. A compilação dessas informações permitiu a análise comparativa da qualidade da água dos escoamentos antes e depois da passagem pelos canteiros. Com recursos da FUNDEP, FCTH e LabVERDE, a pesquisa interdepartamental e interdisciplinar, desenvolvida numa cooperação entre a FAU-USP e a Escola Politécnica-USP, busca oferecer respostas às hipóteses com que trabalha a Arquitetura da Paisagem ao propor soluções naturalizadas de manejo dos escoamentos pluviais em complementação às técnicas convencionais atualmente empregadas nas cidades brasileiras, tomando a cidade de São Paulo como cenário. Como efeito do processo histórico de canalização do seu patrimônio hídrico, ocupação das áreas de várzea e impermeabilização, a população paulistana e da RMSP tem sofrido com enchentes que se agravam com o crescimento urbano e com a intensificação das chuvas. As soluções imediatistas para essa situação crítica seguem a práxis das obras convencionais de engenharia, que segregam a drenagem urbana dos processos ecológicos e hidrológicos e não contribuem para melhoria da qualidade ambiental dos escoamentos antes de destiná-los aos corpos hídricos superficiais, o que agrava o quadro generalizado de poluição dos rios e córregos urbanos. Os resultados do experimento prático atestam o desempenho da biorretenção na mitigação da poluição difusa, com reduções médias das cargas poluidoras acumuladas de 89,94% para o gramado e 95,49% para o jardim, que foi comprovadamente mais eficiente. Aliados ao estudo de tipologias paisagísticas já utilizadas com sucesso em outras cidades do mundo, esses resultados poderão corroborar o processo de transição na infraestrutura de São Paulo, respaldando tecnicamente e cientificamente as soluções investigadas de manejo das águas de chuva através da biorretenção no tratamento dos espaços abertos e na conformação de uma Infraestrutura Verde na cidade. / This thesis experimentally assesses the performance of bioretention systems in mitigating nonpoint-source pollution caused by runoff. A 1:1 scale experiment of a stormwater management facility was built in USP Campus based in São Paulo, SP. This prototype has been evaluated for one year, since March 2012, over its technical efficiency to improve water quality by analyzing runoff samples collected in its inlet and outlet. Combining landscape architecture and hydraulic engineering knowledge, this experiment consists of two independent vegetated plots connected to the gutter through a concrete channel, which drives the runoff into the facility from the avenue next to it. Each plot has its own spillway, where samples were collected for laboratory analysis under 22 water quality parameters and thus compared to gutter runoff. Regarding construction techniques, it was decided to apply simplified solutions without unnecessary expenses, but that ensured feasibility, solidity and isolation to the plots from the ground on all faces. As for filling the model, it was chosen to use the same material for both facilities, laid out from bottom to surface: 60cm of broken rocks, 15cm of gravel, coconut geotextile fabric, 5cm of coarse sand and, finally, 45 to 75cm of planting substrate with side slopes and covered with mulch. Regarding vegetation cover, two sets of plants have been used in the bioretention cells as a research strategy to compare the efficiency among different models in stormwater management, considering other issues in addition to improving the environmental quality of water, such as maintenance, adaptation and development of species and visual interest. Thus, the experiment plots were filled with the same substrate but with different vegetable toppings, according to the following configuration: mixed garden (M) - ground covers with predominance of native shrubs and herbaceous vegetation, and lawn (L) - covered only with emerald grass carpet (Zoysia japonica), which has been extensively used for lawns all over the country. This experimental model has provided scientific answers that attest the effectiveness of techniques using vegetated surfaces to retain and treat stormwater. Its results have attested the performance of bioretention for diffuse pollution mitigation, with average reductions of accumulated pollutant loads of 89.94% in the lawn (L) and 95.49% in the mixed garden (M), which wasproven to be more efficient. This research developed by USP Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism in partnership with Polythecnic School, does not aim to threat conventional methods of urban drainage in local cities, but to join them in the efforts of reaching solutions and technical knowledge that are suitable for urban ecosystems and harmless to environment and landscape.

Este trabalho trata dos projetos da cidade de Maringá, de seus espaços abertos e das condições para torná-la uma cidade ambientalmente sustentável. Para tanto, apresenta uma breve evolução do pensamento ecológico; trata de conceitos como sustentabilidade e paisagens sustentáveis e suas relações com a forma da cidade. Apresenta abordagens atuais de planejamento da paisagem e enfatiza o papel dos espaços abertos na conformação da cidade. Ressalta a importância desses espaços na proteção dos ecossistemas e na relação do homem com a natureza dentro das cidades. Analisaram-se no estudo a construção da paisagem do Norte do Paraná e a rede de cidades projetada pela companhia colonizadora, os elementos que subsidiaram os projetos das cidades e, mais especificamente, da cidade de Maringá, cujo projeto original teve influência direta das idéias de cidade-jardim. À luz do aparato legislativo vigente, foram avaliados a forma e os processos de construção da paisagem urbana de Maringá e os principais aspectos dos espaços abertos existentes. Sob o enfoque da ecologia da paisagem, foram estabelecidas as condições necessárias para que este sistema se torne uma estrutura ecológica capaz de abrigar os serviços ambientais que sustentariam a cidade. Por fim, são apresentados um plano de estrutura ecológica e diretrizes de projeto para a qualificação da cidade e sua adequação aos pressupostos levantados por esta tese. / This thesis deals about the urban planning and design of Maringá, its open spaces and the needed conditions to turn it into an environmental sustainable city. Thus, it provides a succinct historical account of the ecological thinking, relating concepts such as sustainability and sustainable landscapes, and their interaction with the urban form. It also presents some new approaches to landscape planning and emphasizes the open spaces role in the urban form, in ecosystems protection, and in the relationship between men and nature in the cities. It analyzes the construction of the Northern Paraná State landscape and its originally planned cluster of cities, as well as the basic elements that helped to define each new urban form, especially Maringá, whose urban design was directly influenced by garden-city ideas. In addition to that, the urban form, the landscape construction process as well as the characteristics of Maringá´s open spaces are evaluated considering environmental legislation. Using the principles of landscape ecology, the conditions that this system should present to become a green infrastructure, in order to support the ecological services, are shown. Finally, a plan and spatial strategies to design ecologically sustainable landscapes are proposed to enhance the citys quality and apply the principles presented in this thesis.

Este trabalho desenvolve uma proposta de desenho da Infraestrutra Verde da bacia do córrego Judas / Maria Joaquina - São Paulo, SP - como forma de promover aumento da cobertura arbórea, das áreas verdes públicas e promover a conexão entre as áreas que prestam serviços ecossistêmicos. Para alcançar este objetivo, foi realizado um estudo da Floresta Urbana da bacia, o principal componente da Infraestrutura Verde. Este procurou analisar dois aspectos da floresta: a sua cobertura, distribuição e relação com o entorno nos diferentes setores da bacia; a arborização em vias públicas e sua relação com o espaço e funções do sistema viário. A análise da cobertura arbórea da bacia com o uso de imagem de satélite mostrou que esta é hoje de 28,6 %, um valor alto se comparado a outras áreas estudadas. Entretanto, esta cobertura é desigual em relação aos seis setores amostrados. O mesmo ocorre com os elementos construídos e espaços livres de construção. Este fato aponta para a necessidade de políticas diferenciadas de gestão da Floresta Urbana em cada setor. As vias públicas são elementos chaves para o desenvolvimento da cobertura arbórea. A análise da espacialização desta cobertura em vias públicas mostrou que ela se encontra aquém do possível e do desejável em termos de quantidade e qualidade. A largura insuficiente de calçada, o planejamento inadequado em relação à posição dos equipamentos e outras interferências físicas não só restringem o acesso de pedestres, como impedem o plantio de árvores em muitos locais. Um novo desenho da via, com uso da pista de rolamento compartilhada para o plantio de árvores e trânsito de pedestres, a realocação de equipamentos e outras interferências, podem resultar em ganho da cobertura arbórea, com melhoria da acessibilidade. O trabalho desenvolve e propõe um plano de Infraestrutura Verde que incorpora as diretrizes e propostas de manejo apresentadas nos estudos da floresta urbana e as do sistema viário, e desenvolve uma rede de espaços multifuncionais composta por áreas verdes, corredores e estruturas destinadas à drenagem sustentável. Ele organiza as várias escalas de análise e intervenção na paisagem em torno de um desenho geral, que por sua vez se relaciona com o restante da matriz urbana. / This dissertation develops a design proposal of the Green Infrastructure of the São Judas / Maria Joaquina\'s stream watershed, as a way to promote the increase of the tree cover, and of the public green spaces as well as the connectivity between areas that provide ecosystem services. A study of the Urban Forest - the main component of the Green Infrastructure at the watershed - has been conducted to achieve this goal. Two aspects of the forest have been analyzed: 1) the coverage, distribution and relation with its surroundings in the different sectors of the watershed; 2) street trees and their relation with space and functions of the road system. The analysis that has been made of the watersheds\' tree coverage, using a satellite image, shows that it attained 28,6%, which is a high value compared to the analysis of other areas. However, this coverage is different to the six sampled areas. The same happens to the built elements and open space construction, which points out the need for differentiated policies of the Urban Forest management in each sector. Public roads are critical elements to the development of the tree cover. In terms of quantity and quality the tree cover on public roads fells far short. Many places have narrow sidewalks, inadequate planning of equipment, that do not only restrict the pedestrians\' accessibility but also prevents the planting of trees. A new design of the right-of-way that includes shared roadways for planting and pedestrian traffic, as well as the relocation of elements and interferences, could improve accessibility and tree cover. In this dissertation we propose and put forth a Green Infrastructure plan which utilizes the guidelines and management proposals presented in the analysis of the urban forest and the road system and develops a network of multifunctional spaces that include green areas, corridors and structures for sustainable drainage. It organizes the various scales of analysis and actions upon the landscape around a general design which, in turn, is related to the rest of the urban matrix.

Mänskligheten står inför en framtid med klimatförändringar och utmaningar i form av återkommande värmeböljor, ökad nederbörd, urbanisering samt minskad biologisk mångfald. Det blir allt mer attraktivt att bosätta sig i städer och i kombination med befolkningsökningen sker det en snabb global urbanisering. Detta leder till hög exploateringshastighet i våra städer då andelen hårdgjorda ytor ökar och andelen gröna ytor minskar. Vid byggandet av fastigheter tillkommer en stor mängd outnyttjade ytor, ofta i form av mörka tak. Dessa är inte bara outnyttjade ytor på dyr tomtmark utan skapar ytterligare problem kopplade till urbanisering i form av bland annat minskat albedo. Närhet till grönska gör att människor mår både fysiskt och psykiskt bättre vilket avspeglar sig i en högre betalningsvilja för bostäder i närhet till grönska. Privatpersoner samt fastighetsägare vill gärna profilera sig som hållbara då hållbarhet på senare tid kommit att bli en identitetsskapande “statusmarkör”. Hållbara bostäder kan därmed vara en säljande faktor. Grönska på taken är i sig inget nytt påfund men har senaste åren fått en renässans i Sverige då det visat sig kunna ge fördelar såsom tillgång till grönska för de boende, dagvattenhantering, minskad värmeöeffekt och bättre luftkvalitet. Syftet med studien har varit att undersöka hur ett av Europas mest omfattande stadsutvecklingsprojekt, Norra Djurgårdsstaden i Stockholm, arbetar med hållbar urban utveckling genom gröna tak. De gröna taken kan generera en mängd ekonomiska, ekologiska och sociala fördelar i städer. I studien används urban hållbarhetsteori samt ett egenkonstruerat analysramverk baserat på avsnittet tidigare forskning och teori. Genom en kvalitativ innehållsanalys samt semistrukturerade intervjuer har det framkommit i denna studie att den sociala dimensionen av hållbar stadsutveckling utifrån gröna tak i Norra Djurgårdsstaden överskuggas av de två andra aspekterna; ekonomiskt och ekologiskt. Detta trots att hållbarhetsarbetet med Norra Djurgårdsstaden tagit med alla tre aspekter inom hållbar utveckling; ekonomiskt, ekologiskt och socialt i beaktande när det kommer till planering av stadsdelen. / Humanity is today facing a future with climate change and challenges in the form of periodic heatwaves, increased rainfall and reduced biodiversity. The urbanization processes are driven by expanded population growth and it’s becoming more attractive to live in the cities. This causes the dimension of hard surfaces to increase and consequently the proportion of green spaces sinks. In the construction of housing, a large amount of unused space is added in form of dark areas on roofs. These are not only unused areas on expensive land but create additional problems linked to urbanization in the form of decreased albedo. Furthermore, citizens' willingness to pay has been shown to rise with closeness to green surfaces which can provide recreational and health benefits. Private individuals and property owners would like to profile themselves as sustainable, as the term “sustainability” recently has become an identity-created “status marker”. Sustainable housing can therefore also be a selling factor. Green roofs are not a new invention but have had a renaissance over the years as it has proven to provide the availability to green surfaces for the citizens, stormwater management, heat island effect, and provide healthier air quality. The aim of the study was to examine how the district Norra Djurgårdsstaden in Stockholm, Sweden works with sustainable urban development through green roofs. In this study we have used urban sustainability theory as the green roofs can generate a wealth of economic, ecological and social benefits in urban areas. We have also used our own constructed analysis framework based on previous research and urban sustainability theory. By doing a qualitative content analysis, as well as semi-structured interviews, it has appeared that the social dimension of urban sustainable development in Norra Djurgårdsstaden is overshadowed by the two other aspects; the economic and the ecological. Although the sustainability work in Norra Djurgårdsstaden has taken all three aspects; economic, ecological and social into account when it comes to planning of the district, the social aspect is often neglected.

The rural landscape surrounding the bigger cities are becoming increasingly fragmented due to pressures from urbanization and higher demands on conflicting usages of available buildable land. This has resulted in the natural and cultural landscapes in peri-urban areas being threatened. One usage of this land by equine sport is expanding where the horses need access to land and nature. A great majority of the horses in Sweden are kept in peri-urban areas, but horse keeping is also a factor that increases the risk for land use conflicts. The aim of this study is to better understand the role of horse keeping in the peri-urban landscape, by investigating these activities through the lens of ecosystem services. This study looked into the challenges and potential of horse keeping in physical planning, and how it is currently included by the local government of Österåker municipality in Stockholm county. This was achieved as a qualitative case study, consisting of interviews with local horse keepers, a web based survey for municipal residents and an analysis of available local government planning policies, reports and strategic documents. Horse keeping was found to be primarily associated with cultural ecosystem services, by its contribution to the equine sport sector and the preservation of the rural cultural and natural landscape with high recreational values. By preserving farmland and grazing pastures for horses, horse keeping can also be linked to supporting, regulating and provisioning ecosystem services. In addition, horse keeping in peri-urban areas was found to end in the periphery of the local physical planning. However, there is a need to integrate a long-term strategy and holistic perspective to achieve the full potential of the horse keeping, considering the contribution to the ecosystem services. There is a need for a more creative planning if horses should reach the potential as a resource and a planning tool for a sustainable development in the dynamic peri-urban landscape.

abstract: The world has been continuously urbanized and is currently accommodating more than half of the human population. Despite that cities cover only less than 3% of the Earth’s land surface area, they emerged as hotspots of anthropogenic activities. The drastic land use changes, complex three-dimensional urban terrain, and anthropogenic heat emissions alter the transport of mass, heat, and momentum, especially within the urban canopy layer. As a result, cities are confronting numerous environmental challenges such as exacerbated heat stress, frequent air pollution episodes, degraded water quality, increased energy consumption and water use, etc. Green infrastructure, in particular, the use of trees, has been proved as an effective means to improve urban environmental quality in existing research. However, quantitative evaluations of the efficacy of urban trees in regulating air quality and thermal environment are impeded by the limited temporal and spatial scales in field measurements and the deficiency in numerical models. This dissertation aims to advance the simulation of realistic functions of urban trees in both microscale and mesoscale numerical models, and to systematically evaluate the cooling capacity of urban trees under thermal extremes. A coupled large-eddy simulation–Lagrangian stochastic modeling framework is developed for the complex urban environment and is used to evaluate the impact of urban trees on traffic-emitted pollutants. Results show that the model is robust for capturing the dispersion of urban air pollutants and how strategically implemented urban trees can reduce vehicle-emitted pollution. To evaluate the impact of urban trees on the thermal environment, the radiative shading effect of trees are incorporated into the integrated Weather Research and Forecasting model. The mesoscale model is used to simulate shade trees over the contiguous United States, suggesting how the efficacy of urban trees depends on geographical and climatic conditions. The cooling capacity of urban trees and its response to thermal extremes are then quantified for major metropolitans in the United States based on remotely sensed data. It is found the nonlinear temperature dependence of the cooling capacity remarkably resembles the thermodynamic liquid-water–vapor equilibrium. The findings in this dissertation are informative to evaluating and implementing urban trees, and green infrastructure in large, as an important urban planning strategy to cope with emergent global environmental changes. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering 2019