The world is urbanizing at an unprecedented rate, and cities are dominantly and increasingly becoming hubs for agglomerations of human population and economic activities, as well as major sources of environmental problems. Accordingly, humanity′s pursuit of global sustainability is becoming increasingly reliant on urban sustainability. Unfortunately, the traditional approaches of urbanization and urban stormwater management are inappropriate from the sustainability standpoint. By removing vegetation and topsoil and creating impervious structures, urbanization destroys natural biodiversity and hydrological processes. As a result, urban societies are disconnected from nature and deprived of ecosystem services including flood control, fresh air, clean water, and natural beauty. Due to disrupted hydrology, an urban landscape transforms most rainwater into stormwater runoff which is conveyed off the site through a system of curb-gutter-pipe, called gray infrastructure. While gray infrastructure efficiently mitigates the problem of flash floods in urban areas, it results in multiple other adverse environmental consequences such as loss of freshwater from urban landscapes, transfer of pollutants to receiving waters, and an increased potential of downstream flooding. Green infrastructure (GI) is regarded as a sound alternative that manages stormwater by revitalizing the natural processes of soil, water, and vegetation, and restoring ecosystem structures and functions. Thus, the approach re–establishes the lost socio–ecological connectivity and regenerates ecosystem services. However, despite being inevitably important for urban sustainability, and despite being the object of unrelenting expert advocacy for more than two decades, the approach is yet to become a mainstream practice. To widely implement GI, cities need to address two critical challenges. First, urban stormwater managers and decision makers should be ensured that the approach can adequately and reliably manage stormwater. In the time when flooding problems are rising due to climate change, this concern has become more prominent. Second, if there exist any other barriers, they should be replaced with strategies that help expedite the use of GI. This multidisciplinary research dealt with these two challenges. The study consisted of two major parts. In the first part, a computer model was developed for a combined sewer system of St. Louis, a city in the US state of Missouri, using U.S. EPA SWMM. Simulations for historical (1971-2000) and future (2041-2070) 50-yr 3-hr rainfall scenarios were then run on the model with and without GI. The simulation results showed a significant impact of increased precipitation on the system, which was considerably reduced after adding select GI measures to the modeled system. The following 4 types of GI were used: bio–retention cell, permeable pavement, green roof, and rain barrel. In the second part, a survey of relevant policies and governance mechanisms of eleven U.S. cities was conducted to identify potential barriers to GI and determine strategies to address them. The study also included the assessment of relevant city, state, and federal policies and governance structures. A total of 29 barriers were identified, which were grouped into 5 categories. Most of the identified barriers stem from cognitive barriers and socio–institutional arrangements. A total of 33 policies, also grouped into 5 groups, were determined to address the barriers. The investigation on governance revealed that current governance is highly technocratic and centralized, and hence has less opportunity for public involvement. Therefore, it is inherently inappropriate for GI, which requires extensive public involvement. This dissertation proposes a two–tier governance model suitable for implementing GI.

Submitted by Fernanda Moço Foloni (fe_foloni@hotmail.com) on 2018-07-16T15:05:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Rios sobre o Asfalto.pdf: 18461763 bytes, checksum: aaf7bcfa8ca11490b0d98aa58e4972bc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Marlene Zaniboni null (zaniboni@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-07-16T16:42:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 foloni_fm_me_bauru.pdf: 18461763 bytes, checksum: aaf7bcfa8ca11490b0d98aa58e4972bc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-16T16:42:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 foloni_fm_me_bauru.pdf: 18461763 bytes, checksum: aaf7bcfa8ca11490b0d98aa58e4972bc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / As transformações urbanas ocorridas ao longo do século XX tiveram um papel fundamental na configuração atual das cidades, sendo também a causa de algumas adversidades no ambiente urbano. Seguindo os rastros deixados pelos rios urbanos no curso da história, entendemos a importância do estudo e incorporação da paisagem nos projetos de infraestrutura urbana. Esta pesquisa busca entender uma das principais dificuldades encontradas em muitas cidades brasileiras: as enchentes. Através de consultas bibliográficas, foi possível encontrar na conceituação de paisagem, uma base teórica para analisar a relação dos rios com a cidade de Bauru/SP, a partir das cinco portas da paisagem de Jean-Marc Besse. Cada porta possibilita uma abordagem diferenciada da paisagem urbana, que serão usadas como ferramentas metodológicas para percepção da interação entre o objeto de estudo – o Córrego das Flores – e a paisagem de Bauru. Ainda com o auxílio de bibliografias, apoiadas por documentos, fotos e reportagens obtidas em arquivos municipais, foi analisado o desenvolvimento e expansão da cidade para explicar o contexto no qual o objeto – e o lugar onde se insere – foi transformado, bem como a identidade da população para com o córrego e a nova Avenida Nações Unidas, durante as obras no século XX e nos dias atuais, nos quais convivem com enchentes e alagamentos frequentes. Apresentando medidas sustentáveis para a mitigação das enchentes, o questionário aplicado com os moradores de Bauru e as entrevistas com especialistas em drenagem, engenharia e arquitetura, reafirmam a importância de restabelecer a ligação entre homem e natureza no meio urbano, revitalizando os espaços livres e naturais remanescentes, e agindo como conexão entre moradores e governantes para alcançar tanto uma qualidade de vida melhor quanto uma paisagem equilibrada. / The urban transformations that happened during the 20th century had a fundamental role on the current configuration of cities, being also the cause of some adversities in the urban environment. Following the trails left by urban rivers in the course of history, we understand the importance of the study and incorporation of the landscape in the urban infrastructure projects. This research seeks to understand one of the main difficulties found in many Brazilian cities: the floods. Throughout bibliographic queries, it was possible to find in the conception of landscape, a theoretical basis to analyze the relation of rivers with the city of Bauru/SP, through the five landscape doors of Jean-Marc Besse. Each door allows the study of a particularity of the urban landscape, which will be used as methodological tools for the perception of the interaction between the object of study – o Córrego das Flores – and Bauru’s landscape. Allied with the contribution of bibliography, supported by documents, photos and reports obtained from municipal archives, it was analyzed the development and expansion of the city to explain the context in which the object – and the place its place – was transformed, as the identity of the population with the stream and the new Avenida Nações Unidas, during the constructions on the XX Century and in the current days, in which coexist with frequent floods and overflows. Presenting sustainable measures for floods mitigation, the questionnaire applied with Bauru’s inhabitants and the interviews with specialists in draining, engineering and architecture, reinforce the importance of reestablishing the connection between human and nature on the urban environment, revitalizing the remaining free and natural spaces, and acting as a connection between inhabitants and leaders, to reach both a better quality of life and a more balanced landscape. / CAPES: 1708730

Submitted by Marcela Pádua Silva (marcelapaduas@hotmail.com) on 2018-04-25T17:47:40Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação de mestrado_Marcela Pádua Silva_UNESP_Repositório.pdf: 13412752 bytes, checksum: aee4115dd6a534fd9be005e039b894b2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Marlene Zaniboni null (zaniboni@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-04-25T19:41:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_mp_me_bauru.pdf: 13412752 bytes, checksum: aee4115dd6a534fd9be005e039b894b2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-25T19:41:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_mp_me_bauru.pdf: 13412752 bytes, checksum: aee4115dd6a534fd9be005e039b894b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-03-05 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O planejamento da infraestrutura verde urbana tem se tornado cada vez mais essencial para combater os efeitos adversos da urbanização, contribuir para a saúde física e mental dos seus habitantes e favorecer uma melhor qualidade vida urbana. Faz parte dessa infraestrutura a arborização de ruas e avenidas, conhecida como arborização viária, que em geral é feita sem planejamento e, por isso, gera os mais diversos conflitos com outros importantes sistemas urbanos. Um dos problemas recorrentes é a falta de normas que garantam à diversidade arbórea, o sombreamento adequado, a manutenção e incentivo a flora e fauna locais. Nesse contexto, essa pesquisa visa contribuir com a proposição de um método de avaliação da qualidade da arborização viária, a partir de parâmetros espaciais e ambientais. Esse método é validado em um estudo de caso em um bairro de Bauru, cidade do centro oeste paulista. Os resultados indicam que a área analisada possui uma arborização viária parcialmente adequada, cujos principais problemas são: a composição de espécies, que possui uma variedade bem menor que a recomendada, o que facilita na propagação de pragas e doenças; a altura média da primeira bifurcação abaixo da recomendada pelas normas de acessibilidade, o que é causa da grande porcentagem de árvores de pequeno porte; e a média para a área livre de pavimentação, que apresentou também bem abaixo do encontrado na literatura, o que prejudica o desenvolvimento do indivíduo arbóreo. O método proposto é efetivo na identificação de problemas e pode auxiliar na caracterização da área e na tomada de decisões para planejamentos futuros. / Urban green infrastructure planning has become increasingly essential in order to combat the adverse effects of urbanization, contribute to the physical and mental health of its inhabitants and favor a better quality urban life. The urban infrastructure has as its part the afforestation of streets and avenues, known as road forestation, which is usually done without planning and, therefore, generates the most diverse conflicts with other important urban systems. One of the recurring problems is a lack of standards to ensure tree diversity, adequate shading, maintenance and encouragement of local flora and fauna. In this context, this research aims to contribute to the proposition of a method to evaluate the quality of road arborization, based on spatial and environmental parameters. This method is validated in a case study in a neighborhood of Bauru, in the midwest of state of São Paulo. The results indicate that the area under study has a partially adequate afforestation. Three main problems have been identified for an area: a species composition, which has a much smaller variety than a recommendation, which facilitates the spread of pests and diseases; the average height of the first bifurcation was below that recommended by the standards of accessibility, which is the cause of the large percentage of small trees; and the average for the paving free area was also well below in the literature, which impairs the development of the arboreal individual. The method was effective in the identification of problems, which may help in characterizing the area and making decisions for future planning.

O presente trabalho propõe uma nova estratégia de planejamento da paisagem urbana para aquisição de novas áreas verdes, através da recuperação e restauração de áreas degradadas (locais vazios, abandonados e subutilizados). A urgência de intervenção e revitalização destas áreas tem sido foco de preocupação nos grandes centros urbanos, tanto em países desenvolvidos, como nos emergentes, uma vez que são espaços disfuncionais no tecido urbano. O estado de abandono e desinteresse leva a depreciação do entorno e facilita o uso à criminalidade e atividades ilícitas. A transformação das áreas degradadas em espaços vegetados visa transformar o problema em oportunidade, partindo do princípio de que as áreas verdes devam cumprir funções infraestruturais, ou seja, ser componente de uma paisagem de alta performance, contribuindo para a criação ou ampliação da infraestrutura verde urbana. O estudo de caso para aplicação desta nova estratégia foi parte da cidade de São Bernardo do Campo, na região metropolitana de São Paulo, Brasil, cujas diminutas áreas verdes urbanas acessíveis à comunidade são cada vez mais escassas, ao mesmo tempo em que há diversas áreas vazias e abandonadas, muitas em processo de regeneração natural, que são alvos do mercado imobiliário para residências, serviços e comércio. A partir desta temática, uma série de questões foi lançada: Quais áreas degradadas têm potencial para serem convertidas em áreas verdes? Quais são os critérios para avaliação deste potencial? Qual é o caráter vocacional destas futuras áreas verdes: ambiental ou social? Essas perguntas nortearam o desenvolvimento da pesquisa em busca de uma metodologia de planejamento paisagístico para aquisição de novas áreas verdes aplicada na cidade de São Bernardo do Campo. Assim, foi desenvolvida uma ferramenta de avaliação, que se utilizou de um sistema de informação geográfico, e está pautada nos princípios de infraestrutura verde, de forma a responder às questões ecológicas, de drenagem das águas, de mobilidade, e as questões sociais de atendimento à comunidade local. Os resultados mostraram que 40% das áreas amostrais avaliadas apresentaram potencial alto de conversão em áreas verdes, outros 40%, potencial médio e 20% restante, potencial baixo, apontando um cenário favorável para a maioria das áreas degradadas. Quanto ao seu uso vocacional, 50% apresentam potencial de uso predominantemente social, 20% ambiental e 30% social e ambiental. A classificação por vocação de uso das áreas verdes (social ou ambiental) é um dado importante, uma vez que aponta áreas com potencial inferior e que não devem ser descartadas, pois tem um valor social importante. Os resultados têm por finalidade auxiliar nas tomadas de decisão preliminar do planejamento urbano ambiental, oferecendo subsídios aos profissionais da área na proposição criteriosa de novas áreas verdes urbanas. / This research proposes an urban landscape planning strategy for the acquisition of new green areas, through the reclamation of vacant, derelict and underused lands. Authorities in large urban centers, both in developed and emerging countries, have been concerned in these sites, once they are dysfunctional areas in the urban fabric. The carelessness and indifference has led to depreciation of the surrounding and facilitates the increase of crime. Greening derelict, vacant and underused lands can transform a problem into an opportunity, assuming that green spaces must fulfill infrastructural functions, as part of a landscape of high performance, seeking the creation or expansion of an urban green infrastructure. The case study to apply this strategic planning approach was Sao Bernardo do Campo city, in Sao Paulo Metropolitan area, Brazil, whose the tiny accessible green areas to the community are increasingly scarce, while there are many vacant, derelict and underused lands, under natural regeneration process, that are acquired for real estate market instead of creation of new greenspaces. From this point view, a series of questions were made: Which vacant, derelict and underused lands have the potential to be reclaimed into green areas? What are the criteria to evaluate this potential? Which the main role and potential use of the green area: social or environmental use? These questions guided the research in the development of a landscape planning methodology to acquire new green areas in São Bernardo do Campo. An assessment tool, using GIS and based on green infrastructure concept was developed, so that derelict and vacant lands could meet ecological, stormwater management, mobility and social issues. The results showed that 40% of the sample sites presented high potential to reclaim into green areas, 40%, medium potential and 20%, have low potential, revealing a favorable scenario for most vacant and derelict lands. Regarding the role and use of the green area, 50% have a predominantly social potential use, 20% environmental potential use, and 30% presents both potentials. This classification (social and/or environmental) is an important point, since it identifies those areas that, despite have lower potential, should not be discarded because it has an important social value. The results should assist a preliminary environmental and urban planning decision making, offering support to professionals to insightful creation of new urban green areas.

Urban populations worldwide are expanding rapidly and consequently a large number of people are becoming exposed to hazards inherent in cites. Phenomena such as the urban heat island can exacerbate the effects of heatwaves, and land surface sealing can lead to flash flooding. Cities are also the sites of enhanced air and water pollution from non-point sources such as concentrated motor vehicle use. Climate change predictions for the UK include increased winter precipitation and an increase in frequency of summer heatwaves. This will put further pressure on urban residents and infrastructure. Roof greening can be used within climate change adaptation schemes because green roofs have a range of environmental benefits which can help urban infrastructure become more sustainable. This thesis empirically quantifies several of these benefits, and the processes influencing them, by monitoring real green roofs in Manchester. A number of novel discoveries were made. Green roofs act as passive filters of airborne particulate matter. 0.21 tonnes of PM10 (2.3% of the inputs) could be removed from Manchester city centre in a maximum extensive green roof scenario. Species and site differences in particle capture were exhibited and related to morphology and proximity to sources respectively. An intensive green roof was able to lower the monthly median overlying air temperature at 300 mm by up to 1.06 oC. A combination of drought and mismanagement caused damage to the vegetation on one of the green roofs, with a subsequent reduction in the cooling effect. Daytime air temperatures were higher than over an adjacent bare roof for a larger proportion of the day than over the undamaged roof, and lower cooling was observed at night. A site-specific methodology was devised to monitor the rainwater runoff from an intensive green roof and an adjacent bare roof. Average runoff retention of 65.7% was observed on the green roof, compared to 33.6% on the bare roof. Season and rainfall amount had significant impacts on retention, however, many other explanatory variables such as Antecedent Dry Weather Period (ADWP) and peak rainfall intensity had no demonstrable, significant impact. Intensive roof construction on 10% of the rooftops in Manchester city centre would increase annual rainfall retention by 2.3%. The runoff was characterised with regards to heavy metals and nutrients. Nutrient levels were found to be not a significant problem for water quality, however, Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) values for protection of freshwater were exceeded for concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn. High metal concentrations within the sediments may be acting as sources of pollution, particularly in the case of Pb. The age of the green roof means that past atmospheric deposition of Pb could be contributing to the runoff quality. The multi-benefit aspect of green roofs is discussed in the light of the results of this thesis and recommendations made for policy makers and the green roof construction industry.

The purpose of this document is to develop a concept for action plans within the framework of SALUTE4CE project, specifically, for urban pilot project areas where urban environmental acupuncture is being applied and their respective Functional Urban Areas (FUAs). The action plan concept incorporates the methodology for selecting urban environmental acupuncture (UEA) sites and this includes the typology and selection of interventions created within the SALUTE4CE project. The transnational action plan concept is comprised of three main sections: general considerations, creating local action plans and plan implementation.

As the planet rapidly urbanizes and demand for locally-produced ecosystem services grows, the effective management of urban green infrastructure is increasingly important. A number of digital tools have recently been developed and released that share information and incite citizen participation in the governance, management and planning of urban green infrastructure. In this paper, I analyse six different e-tools within the context of New York City with a focus on the types of knowledge they share and the forms of participation they incite in relation to urban green infrastructure. I explore how e-tool knowledge exchange and participation relate to civic stewardship of urban green spaces, as stewards play a significant role in the local production of urban ecosystem services. The findings indicate that most e-tools are designed to share a large amount of data describing social-ecological systems. In many cases, the tool developers hope that through gaining knowledge about the system, users will develop an ethical consideration for the environmental resource and even take action as environmental stewards. Additionally, while many of the e-tools present complex, exploratory digital learning environments, many also combine virtual experiences with in-person trainings, workshops and coaching. These hybrid approaches harness the power of digital platforms to organize diverse social networks and share large amounts of data while employing more traditional on-the-ground organizing techniques and offer a way forward in an age of increasing dominance of digital data. Further research on these types of hybrid digital approaches is warranted. Future research on e-tool usership and connections to stewardship outcomes could enrich the understanding of how e-tools operate as well as their social-ecological potential and impact.

No description available.

Changing climates, human population growth, and aging infrastructure threaten the availability and quality of one of life's most vital resources, water. Hydrological ecosystem services are goods and benefits derived from freshwater that include flood damage mitigation, water for agricultural and commercial use, swimmable and navigable waters, and healthy aquatic habitats. Using computer algorithms inspired by biological and ecological processes known as evolutionary algorithms and on-site stormwater management practices such structural best management practices (BMPs) and green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), this research aims to maximize hydrological ecosystem services at the watershed-scale in both agricultural and urban environments by integrating these algorithms with the watershed model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and the hydraulic model Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). This dissertation first develops an information theoretic approach to global sensitivity analysis for distributed models, demonstrated using SWAT, and later uses the sensitive model parameters in a multi-objective automatic calibration scheme using multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO). Multiple alternative watershed-scale BMP designs (parallel terraces, detention/infiltration ponds, field borders, and grade stabilization structures) that help minimize peak runoff and annual sediment yield were simultaneously identified using SWAT coupled with the species conserving genetic algorithm (SCGA). Finally, using recently developed economic estimates called triple bottom line (TBL) accounting, watershed-scale GSI designs are identified that reduce combined sewer overflow volumes in an urban setting while maximizing the net benefit across social, economic, and environmental categories. Overall, this dissertation research provides useful and relevant computer-based tools for water resources planners and managers interested in maximizing hydrological ecosystem services benefits.

Bioretention basins are a stormwater control method implemented in urban areas to curtail runoff and pollution; however, recent studies show inconsistent nitrate (NO3-) removal, and in many cases average nitrate concentrations in basin outflow are higher than inflow. Microbial denitrification to promote nitrate removal can be enhanced by using underdrains in basin design that provide anoxic conditions. This study examines the impact of basin design and storm characteristics (precipitation intensity and antecedent dry period length) on microbial denitrification efficacy. Three basins in the Philadelphia area were selected for storm sampling: a large (~0.6 ha) wet basin without internal water storage, a small (~0.02 ha) basin without internal water storage, and a medium-sized (~0.1 ha) basin with internal water storage and a raised underdrain. In addition, three laboratory bioretention columns with underdrain configurations at the bottom, middle, and top of an internal water storage zone were sampled under steady-state and transient flow conditions. Samples collected as time series and grab samples during storm events were analyzed for nitrate concentrations and nitrate isotopes. Because microbes preferentially consume lighter nitrate isotopes (14N and 16O), stable isotope analysis offers an indication of denitrification. Stormwater outlet nitrate concentrations were lower than the inlet in the large suburban basin, similar to the inlet in the small suburban basin, and higher than the inlet in the urban basin. Differences in storm intensity and dry periods did not appear to increase or decrease nitrate concentrations in any basin, suggesting that basin design is a more dominant factor. The values of δ15N and δ18O in basin samples showed stormwater mixing without denitrification in all three basins. Only in the basin with water internal storage were periods of denitrification in samples observed, based on heavier δ15N and δ18O ratios. In laboratory studies, a lower underdrain configuration is preferred to promote denitrification based on heavier isotopic ratios and enrichment calculations. Bioretention columns had the largest enrichment factors (up to -5.3‰ ɛ 15N and -5.0‰ ɛ 18O) during steady-state flow. Lower enrichment factors associated with the low-intensity storm (-2.6‰ ɛ 15N and -1.3‰ ɛ 18O) show that transient flow disrupted denitrification rates. Field enrichment factors were greater than those in the columns (up to -11.9‰ ɛ 15N and -7.4‰ ɛ 18O). Even though nitrate decreased consistently over three storms, isotopic ratios did not exhibit these denitrification trends until at least eight hours after the onset of the storm events. Therefore, decreases in nitrate concentration alone are an unreliable assessment of denitrification efficacy. This study suggests that isotope analysis should be considered to better understand the conditions that promote denitrification. / Geology