Urban Expansion, Land Cover and Soil Ecosystem Services

Urban Expansion, Land Cover and Soil Ecosystem Services PDF Author: Ciro Gardi
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1317504712
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 302

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Book Description
More than half of the world population now lives in cities, and urban expansion continues as rural people move to cities. This results in the loss of land for other purposes, particularly soil for agriculture and drainage. This book presents a review of current knowledge of the extension and projected expansion of urban areas at a global scale. Focusing on the impact of the process of 'land take' on soil resources and the ecosystem services that they provide, it describes approaches and methodologies for detecting and measuring urban areas, based mainly on remote sensing, together with a review of models and projected data on urban expansion. The most innovative aspect includes an analysis of the drivers and especially the impacts of soil sealing and land take on ecosystem services, including agriculture and food security, biodiversity, hydrology, climate and landscape. Case studies of cities from Europe, China and Latin America are included. The aim is not only to present and analyse this important environmental challenge, but also to propose and discuss solutions for the limitation, mitigation and compensation of this process.

Urban Expansion, Land Cover and Soil Ecosystem Services

Urban Expansion, Land Cover and Soil Ecosystem Services PDF Author: Ciro Gardi
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1317504712
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 302

Get Book Here

Book Description
More than half of the world population now lives in cities, and urban expansion continues as rural people move to cities. This results in the loss of land for other purposes, particularly soil for agriculture and drainage. This book presents a review of current knowledge of the extension and projected expansion of urban areas at a global scale. Focusing on the impact of the process of 'land take' on soil resources and the ecosystem services that they provide, it describes approaches and methodologies for detecting and measuring urban areas, based mainly on remote sensing, together with a review of models and projected data on urban expansion. The most innovative aspect includes an analysis of the drivers and especially the impacts of soil sealing and land take on ecosystem services, including agriculture and food security, biodiversity, hydrology, climate and landscape. Case studies of cities from Europe, China and Latin America are included. The aim is not only to present and analyse this important environmental challenge, but also to propose and discuss solutions for the limitation, mitigation and compensation of this process.

Handbook on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Impact Assessment

Handbook on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Impact Assessment PDF Author: Davide Geneletti
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
ISBN: 1783478993
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 523

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Book Description
This Handbook presents state-of-the-art methodological guidance and discussion of international practice related to the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in impact assessment, featuring contributions from leading researchers and practitioners the world over. Its multidisciplinary approach covers contributions across five continents to broaden the scope of the field both thematically and geographically.

Designing Sustainable and Resilient Cities

Designing Sustainable and Resilient Cities PDF Author: Alessandro Melis
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000606570
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
This book explores the link between the Food-Water-Energy nexus and sustainability, and the extraordinary value that small tweaks to this nexus can achieve for more resilient cities and communities. Using data from Urban Living Labs in six participating cities (Eindhoven, Gdańsk, Miami, Southend-on-Sea, Taipei, and Uppsala) to co-define context-specific challenges, the results from each city are collated into an Integrated Decision Support System to guide and improve robust decision-making on future urban development. The book presents contributions from CRUNCH, a transdisciplinary team of scholars and practitioners whose expertise spans urban climate modelling; food, water, and energy management; the design of resilient public space; collecting better urban data; and the development of smart city technology. Whilst previous works on the Food-Water-Energy nexus have focused on large, transnational cases, this book explores local ways to use the Food-Water-Energy nexus to improve urban resilience. It suggests tangible ways in which the cities and communities around us can become both more efficient and more climate resilient through small changes to their existing infrastructure. Over half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and this is expected to increase to 68% by 2050. We urgently need to make our cities more resilient. This book provides a planning tool for decision-making and concludes with policy recommendations, making it relevant to a range of audiences including urbanists, environmentalists, architects, urban designers, and city planners, as well as students and scholars interested in alternative approaches to sustainability and resilience. Chapter 2 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

Evaluating and Conserving Green Infrastructure Across the Landscape

Evaluating and Conserving Green Infrastructure Across the Landscape PDF Author: Karen Firehock
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780989310307
Category : Land use
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description
This is the New York State edition of the GIC's guide to evaluating and conserving green infrastructure (GI) across the landscape. It provides an historical background to GI, as well as practical steps for creating GI maps and plans for a community. It discusses issues around evaluating green assets, public involvement in the mapping process, and the practical steps in bringing together GIS information into a useful format. It draws from twelve field tests GIC has conducted over the past six years in a diversity of ecological and political conditions, at multiple scales, and in varied development patterns – from wildlands and rural areas to suburbs, cities and towns. This guide is intended to help people make land management decisions which recognize the interdependence of healthy people, strong economies and a vibrant, intact and biologically diverse landscape. Green infrastructure consists of our environmental assets – which GIC also calls ‘natural assets’ – and they should be included in planning processes. Planning to conserve or restore green infrastructure ensures that communities can be vibrant, healthful and resilient. Having clean air and water, as well as nature-based recreation, attractive views and abundant local food, depends upon considering our environmental assets as part of everyday planning. Available from GIC at www.gicinc.org.

Rethinking Stormwater Management through Sustainable Urban Design

Rethinking Stormwater Management through Sustainable Urban Design PDF Author: Ali Cheshmehzangi
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9819749247
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description


The Sustainable Sites Handbook

The Sustainable Sites Handbook PDF Author: Meg Calkins
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470643552
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 560

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Book Description
Get the definitive resource guide for sustainable site design, construction, and management. The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) is transforming land design, development, and management practices across the United States with the first national rating system for sustainable landscapes. The Sustainable Sites Handbook features comprehensive and detailed information on principles, strategies, technologies, tools, and best practices for sustainable site design. Contributors to this book are some of the same experts that carefully shaped the SITES rating tool, ensuring thorough coverage of the broad range of topics related to sustainable site design. The Sustainable Sites Handbook offers in-depth coverage of design, construction, and management for systems of hydrology, vegetation, soils, materials, and human health and well-being. Focusing primarily on environmental site design and ecosystem services, this wide-ranging guide also covers issues of social equity, economic feasibility, and stewardship, which are crucial to the success of any sustainable site. Equally useful as a handbook for obtaining SITES credits or for the independent development of sustainable sites, The Sustainable Sites Handbook is an indispensible resource for practicing professionals in landscape architecture, landscape design, architecture, civil engineering, land planning, horticulture, ecology, environmental engineering, landscape contracting, and parks and recreation management.

The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures

The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Urban and Regional Futures PDF Author: Robert C. Brears
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030877450
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2334

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Book Description
While urban settlements are the drivers of the global economy and centres of learning, culture, and innovation and nations rely on competitive dynamic regions for their economic, social, and environmental objectives, urban centres and regions face a myriad of challenges that impact the ways in which people live and work, create wealth, and interact and connect with places. Rapid urbanisation is resulting in urban sprawl, rising emissions, urban poverty and high unemployment rates, housing affordability issues, lack of urban investment, low urban financial and governance capacities, rising inequality and urban crimes, environmental degradation, increasing vulnerability to natural disasters and so forth. At the regional level, low employment, low wage growth, scarce financial resources, climate change, waste and pollution, and rising urban peri-urban competition etc. are impacting the ability of regions to meet socio-economic development goals while protecting biodiversity. The response to these challenges has typically been the application of inadequate or piecemeal solutions, often as a result of fragmented decision-making and competing priorities, with numerous economic, environmental, and social consequences. In response, there is a growing movement towards viewing cities and regions as complex and sociotechnical in nature with people and communities interacting with one another and with objects, such as roads, buildings, transport links etc., within a range of urban and regional settings or contexts. This comprehensive MRW will provide readers with expert interdisciplinary knowledge on how urban centres and regions in locations of varying climates, lifestyles, income levels, and stages development are creating synergies and reducing trade-offs in the development of resilient, resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, liveable, socially equitable, integrated, and technology-enabled centres and regions.

Approaches to Water Sensitive Urban Design

Approaches to Water Sensitive Urban Design PDF Author: Ashok Sharma
Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
ISBN: 0128128445
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 630

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Book Description
Approaches to Water Sensitive Urban Design: Potential, Design, Ecological Health, Economics, Policies and Community Perceptions covers all aspects on the implementation of sustainable storm water systems for urban and suburban areas whether they are labeled as WSUD, Low Impact Development (LID), Green Infrastructure (GI), Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) or the Sponge City Concept. These systems and approaches are becoming an integral part of developing water sensitive cities as they are considered very capable solutions in addressing issues relating to urbanization, climate change and heat island impacts in dealing with storm water issues. The book is based on research conducted in Australia and around the world, bringing in perspectives in an ecosystems approach, a water quality approach, and a sewer based approach to stormwater, all of which are uniquely covered in this single resource. - Presents a holistic examination of the current knowledge on WSUD and storm water, including water quality, hydrology, social impacts, economic impacts, ecosystem health, and implementation guidelines - Includes additional global approaches to WSUD, including SUDS, LID, GI and the Sponge City Concept - Covers the different perspectives from Australia (ecosystem based), the USA (water quality based) and Europe (sewer based) - Addresses storm water management during the civil construction stage when much of the ecological damage can be done

Local Governance in Transition

Local Governance in Transition PDF Author: Mary Louise McAllister
Publisher: UBC Press
ISBN: 0774870346
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
The early 2020s unleashed a perfect storm on governments worldwide. Logistical challenges never before anticipated left some communities flailing while others thrived. Epidemics, natural disasters, and economic collapses inspired innovation and creativity in many resourceful civic teams. In Local Governance in Transition, Mary Louise McAllister argues that communities wanting to thrive tomorrow must reimagine local governance today. She begins with an overview of how government evolved in Canada, then examines how interdisciplinary initiatives and policies can nudge cities toward a more sustainable future. From coast to coast to coast, environmental change brings existential challenges for Canadian communities. Global awareness and collaboration are key in finding creative solutions for local governance and sustainability. Local Governance in Transition examines systems thinking, environmental studies, and the mechanics of government. Through the adoption of collaborative urban planning and policymaking, and adaptive learning systems, those working in local governance can foster healthier, more resilient communities. This text is for students, leaders, civil servants, and anyone working toward sustainable cities.

The Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan PDF Author: David Rouse
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000514234
Category : Architecture
Languages : en
Pages : 285

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Book Description
The practice of comprehensive planning is changing dramatically in the 21st century to address the pressing need for more sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities. Drawing on the latest research and best practice examples, The Comprehensive Plan: Sustainable, Resilient, and Equitable Communities for the 21st Century provides an in-depth resource for planning practitioners, elected officials, citizens, and others seeking to develop effective, impactful, comprehensive plans, grounded in authentic community engagement, as a pathway to sustainability. Based on standards developed by the American Planning Association to provide a national benchmark for sustainable comprehensive planning, this book provides detailed guidance on the substance, process, and implementation of comprehensive plans that address the critical challenges facing communities in the 21st century.