Foreword
As recent research shows, urban planners are cautious about green infrastructure, although they generally understand their strengths. However, green infrastructure can be implemented relatively simply through existing planning processes
Green infrastructure is an independent, strategically networked environmental feature designed for environmental, social and economic benefits. Examples include permeable surfaces, green walls, green roofs and street trees.
The benefits of green infrastructure include reducing urban heating, reducing building energy demand and improving stormwater management. There may be disadvantages, but these shortcomings can usually be mitigated by good design. Problems include maintenance costs, roots, fire disasters and power line disturbances.
Urban planners are increasingly required to develop and implement urban greening strategies. Then how green infrastructure delivery fits into the planning capabilities and scope.
Complete the planning process
Planning systems play a key role in shaping the form and function of cities. A standardized planning process is used globally. These include planning, development management, urban design and advance planning consulting. Our team’s research shows that green infrastructure can be provided relatively easily using existing planning processes. It does not require major changes to established practices.
Planning is the most basic of all these processes. The plan can provide a strategic framework for green infrastructure. These provide an overall vision for green infrastructure delivery and allow for phased implementation over a set timeframe. A key question is: Should green infrastructure priorities be in a general urban development plan or in a separate customized plan? The opinions vary, but we see the advantages of creating a customized green infrastructure plan.
We believe that a dedicated plan can make green infrastructure a separate priority, unlike the “business as usual” issue – it may be overlooked. Overall green infrastructure goals can be established in a dedicated program. These can then be clearly linked to development and design standards compiled in a broader urban development plan. The expertise required to create substantive and deliverable green infrastructure priorities may exceed the planner’s capabilities. Engaging other professional stakeholders can increase the likelihood of successful planning. Our research considers engineers, transportation consultants, architects and emergency services personnel to be valuable collaborators.
The design of materials, building and space design standards is another important planning process. Green infrastructure delivery is improved when the planning system creates supporting design standards and embeds them into the plan. Development management and urban design processes can then guide the delivery of green infrastructure in new and rebuilt. Advance planning consultations can also play a role. It can be used at an early stage to determine the technical and cost issues that a green infrastructure can bring to development. Pre-planning consulting can take green infrastructure construction as a necessary development standard from the outset and provide associated costs. Changes in design standards may encounter resistance from owners and developers. To solve this problem, the planning department can demonstrate the many benefits of green infrastructure. This can help build support for technology and further increase its acceptability and universality.
The plan is meeting the challenge
Evidence is increasing for the planning process to promote green infrastructure. For example, the City of Toronto, Canada, mandated green roofs in 2009. Green roof coverage requirements increase as the building’s floor space increases and can only be reduced through economic penalties and licenses from the chief planner.
A best practice example of a planned green infrastructure can be seen in the Bo01 development project in Malmö, Sweden. Here, development plans, design standards, stakeholder consultation and pre-planning advice ensure that green infrastructure is at the heart of all development.
The lessons learned from the other two development projects – EVA Lanxmeer and Delft Zuidoost in the Netherlands – formed the method used in Bo01.
Many other cities are leveraging existing planning processes to provide green infrastructure. These include Rotterdam, Stuttgart and Faenza.
Since 2015, all local planning departments in England have needed to provide sustainable urban drainage systems in the development of ten or more homes. These technologies, including porous surfaces and collection basins, are designed to manage the excess rain that falls. The use of a planning process to provide a green infrastructure nationwide is novel, albeit not without controversy.
In Australia, water-sensitive urban design has become a normal part of planning practice – often using green infrastructure elements such as depressions and edge gardens.
change mindset
Existing planning processes are common throughout the world and can provide green infrastructure relatively easily.
Here are some examples of successful demonstrations. Due to the similar composition and function of the planning system, many initiatives, ideas and practices can be transferred internationally.
So why don’t we generally see more green infrastructure? Part of the reason is that planners are cautious about the destruction of new technologies and embedded practices. With this in mind, the biggest challenge facing planners may be psychological rather than professional?
case study: germany
In Germany, efforts have been successfully rooted in the political strategy document for urban natural issues – the National Biodiversity Strategy. Since 2007, the vision, goals and measures of the urban landscape have been formulated. The German Federal Natural Environment Agency-Nature Conservation Campaign 2020, which aims at the environment, nature conservation, construction and nuclear safety (BMUB), has made the “green urban experience” one of the top ten priorities of nature conservation operations. Finally, the federal initiative “Green in the City – A Livable Future” also highlights the importance of biodiversity and the multifaceted services of urban ecosystems for sustainable urban development. In 2015, the Green Paper “Green in the City” was proposed by BMUB. In 2017, a well-equipped white paper will follow.
The activities of the Federal Nature Conservation Agency include a wide range of research, implementation and communication projects. One of the important topics is the assessment of urban development in the inner city. European intensive cities under the traditional model of high land use use other open spaces for biodiversity. On the one hand, high population density means low per capita land area – much lower than people living in suburban or rural areas; on the other hand, high-density population and infrastructure bring biodiversity and urban residents. pressure. Therefore, a balance between urban green areas and built-up areas is necessary. This can be achieved by implementing what we call the “double inner city development” concept. It preserves and enhances the quantity, quality and availability of green and open spaces on the basis of existing high-density built-up areas and enhances other green space infrastructure such as street trees, green walls and green roofs. This strategy reduces land occupation and protects the open landscape outside the settlement. At the same time it increases the quantity, quality and accessibility of the green spaces within the city.
implication for green infrastructure
In short, in the context of addressing current challenges such as climate change and demographic change, cities naturally provide important ecosystem services and play a key role. Well-structured cities provide habitat for many animal and plant species. The existence of green space is a decisive factor in the quality of urban life. For many people, urban green space is the only way to reach out to nature and biodiversity.
The concept of green infrastructure can help us improve our understanding of urban nature and integrate the environment into urban development. For the application of green infrastructure, a new approach to nature conservation and urban development cooperation is necessary. This includes all levels from country to country.
Https://theconversation.com/heres-how-green-infrastructure-can-easily-be-adde