Urban green spaces (UGS) can produce health-improving (salutogenic) and equigenic effects that narrow the health gap between disadvantaged and affluent neighbourhoods. Yet, the magnitude of such effects relies on the quality of a UGS. Various studies have found UGS quality to be worse in low-income neighbourhoods. Thus, the equigenic potential is often negated. This thesis examines if these findings can be replicated within the city of Stockholm. For this, two quality domains were identified. (1) The accessibility to a UGS determines the exposure to health benefits, as barriers to entry afford usage only to some individuals. (2) The salutogenic potentiality, determined by various qualities, influences the UGS’s ability to produce health-improving effects. For the assessment of these domains, the UGS Quality Audit Tool (UQAT) was developed, which uses GIS analysis and in-situ audits to assess 64 indicators. The UQAT produces an accessibility score, salutogenic potentiality score, total score, and individual inclusivity scores. In this thesis, the tool was used in a comparative case study of twelve UGS in six Stockholm neighbourhoods. The UGS were sorted into three groups depending on their neighbourhood’s socioeconomic status (SES) and health resilience. The aim was to determine whether the quality of the UGS differed significantly between groups. The results replicate findings from other countries, showing a significantly lower salutogenic potentiality for the UGS in low-SES neighbourhoods. Similarly, UGS gender-inclusivity scores were also significantly lower in low-SES neighbourhoods. While similar tendencies were identified concerning salutogenic potentiality and health resilience, these findings were not conclusive. Lastly, no significant relations to neighbourhood health or SES were found for accessibility or the other inclusivity categories. The findings suggest that investments into the quality of UGS in low-SES neighbourhoods are needed to create a more equitable and inclusive Stockholm.

In vielen Städten erfordern fortschreitende Urbanisierung und Klimaerwärmung ein besseres Verständnis des urbanen Wasserkreislaufes zur Entwicklung nachhaltiger Wassernutzungskonzepte. Jedoch erschwert die Komplexität urbaner Wasserflüsse die Nutzung hydrologischer Tracer. In dieser Arbeit werden stabile Isotope des Wassers, hydrochemische und -klimatische Daten genutzt, um die Wasserverteilung und -speicherung in Berlin in den Trockenjahren 2018–2020 zu untersuchen. Auf kleinräumiger Skala wurden Unterschiede bei Evapotranspiration, unterirdischen Fließwegen und Wasserspeicherung unter urbanen Grasflächen, Sträuchern und Bäumen deutlich. Im peri-urbanen Fluss Erpe erschwerte die geringe Variabilität von Abfluss- und Isotopendynamiken die Bestimmung von Verweilzeiten und Mischprozessen. Während warmer, trockener Sommer führte ein hoher Klarwasseranteil zu einer Verschlechterung der Wasserqualität. Auf der stadtweiten Skala wurde der Einfluss von Grundwasser, Niederschlag und Abwasser auf verschiedene Flüsse untersucht. Große Variabilität der Isotopendynamiken wurde in Einzugsgebieten mit Flächenversiegelung und Regenwassereinleitung beobachtet. Die Anreicherung schwerer Isotope in Spree und Havel im Sommer und Herbst verdeutlichte den Einfluss von großskaligen Klimadynamiken und Verdunstung im stromaufwärts gelegenen Einzugsgebiet. Ein nachhaltiges Management urbaner Grünflächen sowie die Speicherung von Regenwasser können dazu beitragen, den Einfluss von Klimaänderungen auf Berlins Wasserressourcen auf lokaler Ebene abzumindern. Jedoch werden großskalige Nutzungskonzepte in den Einzugsgebieten der Spree und Havel benötigt, um Wasserverluste zu minimieren und Abflussraten aufrecht zu erhalten. Weiterführende isotopenbasierte Studien haben großes Potential, das Verständnis von Wasseralter, Abflussentstehung, Verdunstung und langfristigen Dürrefolgen, sowie der Übertragbarkeit der Erkenntnisse auf andere Metropolenregionen, weiter zu verbessern. / In urban areas, progressing urbanisation and climate warming call for a comprehensive understanding of urban water cycling to establish sustainable water management strategies. However, the complexity of urban water fluxes complicates the application of hydrological tracers. This thesis used stable isotopes of water, combined with hydrochemical and climatic data, to characterise water partitioning and storage in Berlin, Germany, during the exceptionally warm and dry 2018–2020 period. At the plot-scale, differences in evapotranspiration, subsurface flow paths and storage under urban grassland, shrub and trees were evident. In the peri-urban river Erpe, low variability in discharge and isotopic dynamics limited the applicability of transit time and end member mixing approaches. During warm and dry summers, high contributions of treated wastewater effluents caused a deterioration of water quality. At the city-scale, contributions of groundwater, storm runoff and effluents to different local streams were studied. Isotope dynamics were most variable in catchments with high levels of imperviousness and connectivity to storm drains. In the Spree and Havel rivers, the isotopic enrichment in summer and autumn reflected the impact of large-scale climate dynamics and evaporative losses in the upstream catchment. To mitigate climate change impacts on Berlin’s water resources in the future, the sustainable management of urban green spaces and better capturing of urban rainfall may limit water consumption at the local scale. However, maintaining discharge in the Spree and Havel rivers during warm and dry periods will require catchment-scale management practices that limit water consumption and losses in upstream areas. Future isotope-based research in urban areas has great potential to improve the understanding of urban water ages, source contributions to urban streamflow, evaporation and long-term drought recovery, as well as upscaling the results to other metropolitan areas.

Background: Urban green spaces (UGS) have been shown to benefit both social cohesion and health outcomes. A new framework by Jennings and Bamkole (2019) suggests that social cohesion might act as a social determinant of health mediating the health benefits provided by UGS. Aim: To investigate associations between UGS, social cohesion, and self-rated health (SRH) in Swedish adults. Methods: A cross-sectional survey for adults living in Västerås (n=106) was conducted. Questions about UGS covered type, visit frequency, proximity, time spent, and UGS quality. Social cohesion was measured using a 13-item scale developed by de Vries et al. (2013). SRH was assessed with one Likert-scale item. Results: A t-test showed that forests were associated with higher social cohesion (M=46.44, SD=8.25) compared to parks (M=42.34, SD=6.56; p=.006), while logistic regressions revealed higher social cohesion was associated with better SRH when adjusted for age (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.03 - 1.18, p = .008). No relationships between UGS and SRH were identified, and social cohesion did not affect that relationship further. Discussion: The small sample size, convenience sampling, and limited assessment of possible confounders have to be considered. Conclusion: The results from this study partially support Jennings and Bamkole’s (2019) framework, indicating its merits and confirming the need to investigate social cohesion as a central factor in the relationship between UGS and health outcomes further.

No description available.

In this thesis I have analyzed how the phenomenon level of contrast, a consequence of the relation between level of light and distribution of light, works within urban green areas. For this particular site, the too high level of contrast is a result of the high level of light distributed 1) in the direction of oncoming pedestrians and 2) in a single zone of light and 3) on a too condensed surface area and 4) in a space with multiple vertical elements (in a dark space with low reflectance values). Being in the only lighted area surrounded by trees (vertical elements absorbing or reflecting light), with eyes adapted to its level of light, consequently, makes it impossible to see beyond the path. This since our eyes always adapt to the brightest spot in our field of view, which in all directions is a spot very close to the user. And since adapting to the emitted and reflected light our eyes cannot also adapt to the darkness beyond this enclosed space. Another perspective on this, also related to the very basics of our vision has to do with the task oriented lighting solutions. We humans have two different types of vision - central and peripheral. The central vision is approximately 2% of our field of view, it is the small spot where our gaze focus, the rest is peripheral vision. The strange thing is that modern urban lighting design have focused almost solely on task lighting and the central vision, and left the peripheral vision literally disorientated. Because, in order for the peripheral vision to help us navigate and collect spatial information, it needs variable lightning with multiple zones of light, creating differences in shade, revealing form and depth. The main contribution of this thesis, beyond defining knowledge regarding how light acts in these specific situations, is the development of a lighting design method specifically for urban green areas from a practice based design perspective (see figure 16). And that I have started the work of creating practical knowledge and answers to the question: How can the method be used in practice?

3 ABSTRACT Title of project: Visitors of the Nature Park Ladronka and their interest in movement activities Aim of project: The goal of this Thesis is a socio-demographic analysis of the visitors of the Nature Park Ladronka and their motives for movement activities in this location in different season. Methods of project: All necessary data were collected by means of interviews directly in the Park Ladronka during this three weeks 25. - 31. 10. 2011 from 10:00-17:30, 23. - 29. 5. 2011 from 10:00-20:00 and 8. - 14. 8. 2011 from 10:00-20:00. The results were statistically processed using relative and absolute frequency. Results: The total number of respondents is 1,425. They are mostly - 32 % of visitors aged 20-29 - interested in the on-line skating track. The most common means of transport was for 40% of the visitors their car. The preferred sport for men (47 %) is running 42 % and gym 27 %, and for women (53 %) in-line skating 79 %. 14,5 % of visitors aged 20-29 are from housing estate. The park is visited mostly by students 32 % and people working on their computers 24 %. Key words: Natural fitness gym - sport for everyone - health grounds - outdoor activities - fitness trail - urban green - socio- demographic analysis

永續發展的概念現今已被運用於都市，其中，都市綠地在環境、生態、景觀、社會各層面之機能皆可提升都市永續性，在快速的都市化下，都市內綠地減少，土地利用變遷帶來之環境衝擊影響已自個體單元累積到全球。然而，過去研究中未有關注在綠地的變化趨勢與其他土地利用間的互動關係，以及在不同區域下的變化差異。因此，本研究採用GIS和景觀指數看在1995年至2006年間台北都會區綠地變遷趨勢，並分區探討土地利用間的互動關係，最後藉由二元羅吉斯迴歸分析綠地變化可能原因。 研究結果顯示，在1995年至2006年間，台北都會區整體發展是建地增加，林地也呈上升趨勢，而草地是土地利用轉移下被犧牲掉最多的土地，綠地轉移成其他土地利用情形以都會邊緣地區最嚴重。不同綠地型態在1995年至2006年間的變遷仍有差異，林地在整個台北都會區屬於景觀中的基質，主導性未受動搖，僅在都會中心減少並受破壞；而農地面積略微下降，呈破碎化發展，尤其以都會中心外圍區農地被破壞情形最明顯；草地面積亦下降，破碎化情形較農地更嚴重，在都會郊區、次中心之草地被破壞嚴重，草地各方面機能降低。透過二元羅吉斯迴歸分析發現自然環境、社會經濟與計畫環境皆影響台北都會區的綠地變遷。根據研究結果，建議未來政府於都市計畫上應將綠地空間納入考量，對於不同綠地型態應有不同管制措施，考量各區域綠地型態之差異性，以及自然環境、社會經濟和計畫環境對於綠地變遷的影響，以促進都市朝向永續發展。 / The concept of sustainable development has been applied in cities. Urban green space plays an important role in enhancing the sustainability of the city in regards to the environment, ecology, landscape and society aspects. Under rapid urbanization, green space has greatly declined in cities. Environmental impact resulting from land use change has grown from local to global proportions. However, researches did not pay attention to interactions between green spaces and other land-use change trends or different types of change in different areas. This research used GIS and landscape metrics to investigate the green space change trend and interactions among different land use types in the Taipei metropolitan area from 1995 to 2006. Furthermore, this research analyzed possible reasons that may have caused green space change through logistic regression. The results showed that, from 1995 to 2006, the built up area and the forest increased in Taipei Metropolitan Area; however, the grass decreased because of land use change. Urban fringe was the place that green space changed to other land-use most. There were differences of land use change for different types of green space. Forest was the matrix in the landscape of Taipei metropolitan area. It still kept the predominant role, only decreased and was destroyed in the center of metropolitan area. Farmland slightly decreased and became fragmented, especially in the periphery of the urban center. Grassland area decreased and became fragmented much more than farmland. In suburb and sub-center, grassland was destroyed seriously and became less functional. Through binary logistic regression, the study found that natural environment, socio-economic and government planning do have influence on green space changes in the Taipei metropolitan area. According to the result of the study, the recommendation was that government should take green space into consideration when doing urban planning. For different types of green space and different areas, the government needs to have different measures and needs to consider the impact factors of green space change in order to accelerate sustainable development in cities.

No description available.

Le défi de ce travail réside dans l’application conjointe de deux approches d’évaluation de la double-valeur des espaces végétalisés urbains (EVU) en s’inscrivant dans une dimension dualiste «éco-anthropocentrique». Cette posture a permis d’appréhender le fonctionnement de ces espaces et d’en quantifier les services et des services écosystémiques rendus à la société humaine. Ces deux approches se sont basées sur une démarche ascendante fondée sur la caractérisation de deux types de végétation : les pelouses et les arbres urbains. Le manque de connaissance sur le fonctionnement des pelouses urbaines a imposé la mise en place d’un protocole de suivi permettant d’établir un état des lieux initial sur les communautés prairiales qui s’y installent et sur leur dynamique. Bien qu’il n’ait révélé qu’une partie du fonctionnement de la flore prairiale, le protocole de suivi a eu le mérite d’en déterminer sa composition et sa structuration en précisant l’impact de plusieurs facteurs environnementaux et anthropiques. Quant à la végétation arborée, elle a été étudiée en quantifiant les services et des services écosystémiques en appliquant le modèle i-Tree Eco. Fondé sur des indicateurs biophysiques le modèle a fourni des informations sur le taux de stockage et de séquestration du carbone, le taux d’élimination des polluants atmosphériques et le taux d’émissions biogéniques par les arbres urbains. Bien que le recours au modèle soit empreint d’incertitude, il a permis de démontrer le rôle des arbres dans l’amélioration de la qualité de l’air. Mais, pour parvenir à rendre efficacement ce service, la plantation et la gestion des arbres peuvent être intégrées dans une réflexion de planification plus globale. L’objectif opérationnel d’une telle thèse ne se conçoit que par l’apport de connaissances concrètes à disposition des acteurs de terrain. Nous avons donc tenté de fournir quelques indications à ce propos, alliant ainsi recherche et dissémination des connaissances acquises. / This research work provides two assessment tools based on both ecocentric and anthropogenic approaches. We argued that these approaches are complementary and they lead not only to understand ecological functions of urban green spaces but also to quantify ecosystem services provided to society. Based on bottom up approach, two urban habitats were assessed : lawns and urban forest. Due to the lack of knowledge about ecological functions of urban lawns, it was required to implement a monitoring protocol that helps to provide a baseline and measure the changes of flora composition and structure across urban green spaces. Although monitoring protocol had some limitations, it intended to highlight the response of lawn flora to environmental patterns and to particular human activities such as management techniques and trampling. Urban forest was assessed by quantifying it structure and some ecosystem services and desservices using i-Tree model Eco. Based on biophysical indicators, the model quantify the total carbon stored and the annually carbon sequestered, the annually amount of pollution removal, and the annually amount of biogenic emissions by trees. Although some uncertainty remains about the application of this model, it was shown that urban trees improve local air quality. However, to alleviate air pollution within urban area, planting and managing trees should be associated with an integrative planning strategy that takes into account other factors. Our study also incorporates operational items, so we have tried to provide some guidance to planners and green spaces managers with reference to our assessment results.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:31:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3041.pdf: 1763061 bytes, checksum: 4532c93bba50df0ccfddcb6084945bc3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-06 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Since 1970´s, in Brazil, a series of educational proposals have incorporated activities related to environmental issues among then outdoor activities in natural spaces. However, we consider that most of those activities don´t take full advantage of its educational potential, both in order to explore all the contributions that the ecology field can offer, or to work with social mobilization and the formation of values. Moreover, it is relevant to identify how primary school teachers deal with three spheres of the educational practice (knowledge, ethical and aesthetics values, and participation) that we consider inseparable in an effective environmental education work. To investigate if the units of the São Carlos Ecological Pole (Pólo Ecológico de São Carlos) are educating spaces that contribute to the understanding of the complexity of environmental issues, and stimulate a sense of belonging and social responsibility, we interviewed primary school teachers who had accompanied visits to these places, people who are involved or have been involved with environmental education (EE) in these spaces, and followed guided tours in all units of the Ecological Pole. To present the results, we chose to discuss them in two stages: Moment I: analysis of all collected material trying to define what each unit of the Ecological Pole can offer, based on 21 listed parameters that are consistent with a critical perspective of EE and Moment II: an analysis of teachers´ interviews aiming to relate the different trends in environmental education conception and educational perspective. Regarding the Moment I, we have identified that the activities of EE in the Pole units can address issues that contemplate the three dimensions of educational practice. This brings up the idea that the issues involve more than one subject, which is consistent with our view that it is up to the EE to unveil the complexity of environmental issues. When we look at each site independent of each other, we realize that many parameters are not dealt with, but when considering the sum of these parameters, we observe that all are identified. This shows the importance of an EE that is permanent and continuous inter and transdisciplinary, requiring partnerships between multiple instances to be viable. The connectivity between the Pole units in a coordinated action would increase each unit´s actions. Therefore, we reinforce the idea that the integration of these units would yield a more thorough EE work. There are certain parameters that are still not addressed frequently. Thus, we envisage a permanent and articulated EE so that other issues, on occasions other than during these visits, can be discussed and reflected upon. For the Moment II analisys, we considered three perspectives of educational trends and three EE conceptual tendencies. We noticed the coexistence of several trends in the same speech, which indicates that the school is reflective and reflects the transition of paradigms through which society in general is going through, and hence the knowledge production in the EE field. From this evidence, we believe that the institutionalization of EE among different groups and social sectors can make the challenge of greening a less arduous task for the school. We identified that the EE actions, both at school and in field activities, do not incorporate all the points that deserve to be addressed in regard to the complexity of environmental issues. The results of this research show how an cross, permanent and continuous EE is a decisive factor for the realization of its principles and objectives. / No Brasil, a partir década de 1970, uma série de propostas educativas tem incorporado atividades relacionadas com a temática ambiental - dentre elas as atividades ao ar livre em áreas verdes. No entanto, consideramos que a maioria das atividades nessas áreas não aproveitam todo o potencial educativo, tanto no sentido de explorar toda a contribuição que a ecologia pode oferecer, como de trabalhar a formação de valores e a mobilização social. Além disso, é relevante identificar como educadores(as) do ensino básico lidam com três esferas da prática educativa (conhecimentos, valores éticos e estéticos e participação) que consideramos indissociáveis em um trabalho efetivo de educação ambiental. Com o intuito de investigar se as unidades do Pólo Ecológico de São Carlos são espaços educadores que contribuem para a compreensão da complexidade da questão ambiental, e que estimulam o sentido de pertencimento e de responsabilidade social, entrevistamos professoras do ensino fundamental que haviam acompanhado visitas a esses locais, pessoas que estão envolvidas ou já estiveram envolvidas com atividades de educação ambiental (EA) nesses espaços, e acompanhamos visitas guiadas em todas as unidades do Pólo Ecológico. Para apresentação dos resultados, optamos por discuti-los em dois momentos: Momento I: análise de todo material, procurando definir o que cada unidade do Pólo Ecológico pode oferecer segundo 21 parâmetros elencados, que estão de acordo com uma perspectiva crítica de EA e Momento II: análise das entrevistas das professoras, objetivando relacionar as diferentes tendências da concepção de educação ambiental e perspectiva pedagógica. Em relação ao Momento I, identificamos que as atividades de EA nas unidades do Pólo podem abordar assuntos que perpassem pelas três dimensões da prática educativa. Isso traz a idéia de que os assuntos envolvem mais de uma questão, o que condiz com a nossa perspectiva de que cabe à EA desvelar a complexidade da questão ambiental. Quando olhamos para cada local independente do outro, percebemos que muitos parâmetros não são trabalhados, mas ao analisar a somatória desses parâmetros, observamos que todos são identificados. Isso mostra a importância de uma EA permanente e contínua, inter e transdisciplinar, que exige parcerias entre várias instâncias para ser viabilizada. A conectividade entre as unidades do Pólo em uma ação coordenada potencializaria a ação de cada uma. Por isso, reforçamos a idéia de que a integração dessas unidades constituiria um trabalho mais completo de EA. Existem certos parâmetros que ainda assim não são abordados com frequência. Desse modo, vislumbramos uma EA permanente e articulada para que outras questões, em outras oportunidades que não sejam durante essas visitas, tenham espaço para serem discutidas e refletidas. Para a análise do Momento II, consideramos três tendências de perspectivas pedagógicas e três tendências de concepção de EA. Percebemos a coexistência de várias tendências no mesmo discurso o que nos indica que a escola é reflexo e reflete a transição de paradigmas pela qual passa a sociedade e, consequentemente, a produção de conhecimento no campo de EA. A partir dessa constatação, nossa aposta é de que a institucionalização da EA entre diferentes públicos e setores sociais pode tornar o desafio da ambientalização uma tarefa menos árdua para a escola. Identificamos que as ações de EA, tanto na escola como nas atividades de campo, não incorporam todos os pontos que merecem ser abordados para contemplar a complexidade da questão ambiental. Os resultados dessa investigação mostram o quanto uma EA transversal, permanente e contínua é fator decisivo para a efetivação dos seus princípios e objetivos.