Search Results (490)

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) involving tree-based interventions deliver multiple community benefits, yet evidence linking these benefits to underlying socio-ecological vulnerabilities remains limited. This study synthesised metadata from 131 European treescape NBS case studies spanning eight biogeographical regions using reverse-logic, thematic qualitative analysis. Case studies were identified via adapted PRISMA guidelines from open-access repositories, with community benefit themes categorised and mapped spatially across bioregions. The analysis revealed eleven principal community benefit categories and distinct region-specific patterns: Mediterranean interventions primarily mitigated extreme heat and drought vulnerabilities, whilst Alpine projects addressed slope stability and hazard reduction. The Continental and Atlantic regions emphasised social cohesion, recreational access, and the preservation of cultural heritage. The reverse-logic methodology successfully identified underlying socio-ecological vulnerabilities through systematic analysis of observed benefit profiles across diverse European contexts. This approach provides evidence-based guidance for designing location-sensitive treescape NBS that advance environmental research and public health objectives. The findings establish a methodological foundation for future assessments of NBS effectiveness and for refining location-specific treescape interventions that address community vulnerabilities and enhance adaptive capacity. Full article

As urban areas expand, the sustainable management of municipal water becomes a critical challenge, especially in arid and semi-arid regions facing severe water scarcity. Accurate assessment of urban plant water requirements (PWR) is essential for developing sustainable landscape architecture and resilient green infrastructure. In this study, a new quantitative equation (PWR_q) was developed as a regional proof of concept to adjust reference evapotranspiration estimates for hyper-arid conditions. A Tree Morphology Coefficient (K_tm) is introduced to combine canopy features (form, height) and leaf traits (size, density) with an updated drought-resistance coefficient (K_dr). Field measurements of 277 mature trees, representing 27 native and introduced species in Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, were analyzed. The framework explicitly includes an empirical multiplier to account for extreme urban heat island (UHI) effects and aerodynamic canopy scaling. Instead of direct empirical validation, the PWR_q model was benchmarked against established reference indices: Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) and Simplified Landscape Irrigation Demand Estimation (SLIDE), showing strong alignment with established categorical indices and structural traits. The results confirm that the morphology-based method effectively makes previously subjective classifications objective. Notably, the quantitative assessment found that the dominant introduced species require about 3.5 times more water than native species. As a proof of concept, future research should empirically validate these findings against direct physical measurements, such as sap flow sensors or lysimeters. The proposed framework presents a practical, objective decision-support tool for municipal policymakers and landscape architects to optimize species selection, implement nature-based solutions (NBS), and achieve long-term sustainability in urban greening. Full article

Federated learning is a distributed machine learning paradigm that enables multiple devices to collaboratively train a shared model while keeping their raw data localized. Federated learning has become an attractive solution for intrusion detection in Internet of Things (IoT)-based wireless sensor networks because it enables collaborative model training without transferring raw traffic data. However, real deployments rarely satisfy the common assumption that client data are independent and identically distributed (IID). In practical wireless sensor networks, data heterogeneity naturally arises from spatial variation, uneven attack exposure, traffic imbalance, and differences in sensing conditions, which can substantially affect detection reliability and deployment feasibility. This study presents an application-oriented evaluation of federated intrusion detection under controlled non-IID conditions using three representative datasets: WSN-DS, CIC-IDS-2017, and UNSW-NB15. An LSTM-based intrusion detection model is trained in a federated setting and assessed using three aggregation strategies, namely, FedAvg, FedProx, and SCAFFOLD, under label skew, quantity skew, and feature skew scenarios. The results show that standard FedAvg degrades markedly as heterogeneity increases, with accuracy reductions of up to 23.4 percentage points and substantially higher communication cost under extreme non-IID settings. In contrast, FedProx and SCAFFOLD improve convergence stability and reduce the impact of client drift, with SCAFFOLD showing the strongest overall robustness and up to 45% lower communication cost than FedAvg due to faster convergence. These results demonstrate that non-IID awareness is essential for building deployable privacy-preserving intrusion detection systems for resource-constrained IoT environments. The study provides practical guidance for selecting federated aggregation strategies in wireless sensor network security applications where robustness, bandwidth efficiency, and real-world data heterogeneity must be jointly considered. Full article

Cities are artificial ecosystems that suffer most from environmental issues and climate change. Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects represent an increasing challenge, especially for compact Mediterranean cities characterized by high population density and extensive impervious surfaces. This study assessed localized microclimatic conditions within the small Maltese coastal town of Isla through a 15-day summer field monitoring campaign. Air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed were measured across urban locations characterized by different levels of vegetation coverage and thermal vulnerability. The analysis combined descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U testing, and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models. In addition, site-specific Nature-based Solutions (NbS) scenarios were proposed as context-sensitive strategies to support urban heat mitigation and climate resilience. The results highlighted distinct microclimatic responses between the sites investigated. In particular, the MLR analysis suggested that non-vegetated areas were more sensitive to short-term atmospheric variability associated with wind speed and relative humidity fluctuations. These findings suggest that urban vegetation may contribute not only to localized cooling, but also to increased microclimatic stability within compact Mediterranean urban environments. Full article

Nature-based solutions (NBS) are increasingly promoted in environmental management to address water, climate, biodiversity, and pollution challenges while delivering social and economic co-benefits. Yet decision-makers still face uncertainty about what works where, for whom, and how reliably over time. This narrative review synthesizes cross-cutting, peer-reviewed evidence on three decision-critical domains: NBS effectiveness for key environmental management objectives; co-benefits, trade-offs, and equity (including distributional risks across groups and places); and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). This review is not a systematic review, not a semi-systematic review with a fixed, protocol-driven study inventory, and not a meta-analysis; “comprehensiveness” refers to breadth of themes and management objectives addressed, not to exhaustive capture of all published sources. A distinguishing contribution is an intervention–pathway–endpoint typology oriented to measurement and M&E: it links broad NBS categories to dominant biophysical mechanisms and to concrete indicator families. Unlike criteria-first verification frameworks, this typology is organized around measurement logic (what to monitor, and how endpoints chain from processes to management decisions). It complements criteria- and process-oriented NbS quality frameworks (e.g., the IUCN Global Standard’s criteria and indicators for verification, design, and scaling) by foregrounding an explicit indicator logic chain for appraisal, monitoring, and cross-project comparability. The review assesses effectiveness for water quality, flood and flow regulation, heat mitigation, biodiversity, and carbon/climate mitigation; consolidates social, economic, and ecological co-benefits; reviews recurring M&E weaknesses; proposes a pragmatic minimum indicator set and feasible evaluation designs; and outlines an implementation-oriented NBS environmental management cycle. The aim is to strengthen transparent, climate-aware, evidence-based, and equity-aware environmental management. Full article

This work examines the contribution of additive manufacturing as an enabling technology in the design and development of smart and sustainable construction systems, with particular emphasis on nature-based solutions. While the existing literature has devoted considerable attention to the material properties of additive manufacturing, much less emphasis has been placed on its role in design processes, prototyping, and decision-making in construction and urban systems. To address this gap, this study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the intersection between smart city frameworks and 3D printing technologies, utilizing a dataset of 103 peer-reviewed publications retrieved from the Scopus database. Using keyword co-occurrence analysis and network mapping through VOSviewer, this study identifies dominant thematic structures, core research hubs, and evolving trends within the field. Complementing this bibliometric analysis with qualitative synthesis, it also reveals a significant convergence of digital design, smart cities, and sustainability strategies. This work further highlights the contribution of additive manufacturing to design processes through rapid prototyping, customization, and the exploration of design alternatives. Rather than framing additive manufacturing as a replacement for conventional design practices, this study positions it as a complementary design capability that can enhance the design process, while also acknowledging important challenges related to scaling, regulation, and integration into construction workflows. This review concludes by outlining future research directions for strengthening the design-oriented integration of additive manufacturing within smart construction systems. Full article

Urban areas in Mediterranean climates are increasingly affected by extreme heat, exacerbated by the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and the lack of climate-responsive public spaces. This study addresses the need for integrated methodologies combining empirical monitoring and simulation tools to support regenerative urban design. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) in improving microclimatic conditions and outdoor thermal comfort during summer heatwave periods in a vulnerable urban area in Seville (Spain). A mixed-method approach combining microclimatic monitoring and ENVI-met simulations in situ was applied. A field campaign conducted in summer 2023 was used to characterize baseline conditions and calibrate the model, which simulated both current and proposed scenarios incorporating vegetation, shading systems, permeable materials, and water features. Results from the Seville case study show significant improvements, with air temperature reductions of up to 1.6 °C (daytime) and 1.9 °C (nighttime), surface temperature decreases of up to 11 °C, and thermal comfort improvements reaching 8 °C in UTCI. Beyond environmental benefits, the intervention promotes socially regenerative public space by enhancing usability, inclusivity, and comfort. Limitations include the use of a single representative summer day and inherent simplifications of the ENVI-met model. These findings demonstrate the potential of integrated NBS strategies to mitigate urban heat and support climate-adaptive and socially responsive urban design. Full article

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are widely considered cost-effective approaches for improving mental health in sustainable cities. However, how different ecological settings influence restorative outcomes is still not fully clear. This study examines whether mental recovery during forest-based meditation can be predicted from environmental conditions and physiological responses in real-world settings. Twenty-four healthy adults were assigned to one of three forest environments and completed three repeated meditation sessions within the same condition, yielding 72 observations. Environmental indicators (temperature, humidity, $\mathrm{P}{\mathrm{M}}_{2.5}$, $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{O}}_2$, illuminance, wind speed, and noise) and heart rate variability (HRV) metrics were recorded. A predictive modeling framework was applied to capture nonlinear interactions between ecological exposure and physiological responses. Subject-level separation was strictly enforced to prevent data leakage. The results indicate that restorative outcomes can be reliably estimated from ecological and physiological signals under the observed conditions. Environmental variables exhibited stronger predictive contributions than baseline physiological indicators. These findings suggest that restorative outcomes are structured by ecological context. Given the limited sample size ($N$ = 24), the proposed framework should be interpreted as a proof-of-concept model rather than a fully generalizable solution. Repeated subject-level random splits yielded consistent predictive performance across data partitions, indicating the robustness of the model. Full article

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are sustainable tools to mitigate the impacts of climate change and urbanization. Thus, we present a specific research activity of the “Tech4You” Project, whose main objective is to contribute to the widespread implementation of NbS. In this regard, a specific area of the Cerisano urban catchment was selected for the implementation of a rain garden. A preliminary design and a predictive model were developed to assess its hydrological performance. The findings are promising and show how this green infrastructure can positively contribute to urban stormwater management. Full article

The integration of remote sensors with nature-based solutions (NBS) offers new opportunities for suitable hydrological monitoring and risk reduction. This study implements 2D-1D numerical modelling tools to guide the allocation of both sensors and NBS interventions. Using the Cerisano catchment as a case study, the software IBER-SWMM (3.3.1–5.2 respectively) was employed to reproduce rainfall-runoff under different scenarios. Outputs were analysed to identify hydrologically sensitive zones where sensor deployment and NBS implementation would maximise monitoring efficiency and mitigation benefits. Results demonstrate how modelling supports effective decisions that are often limited by budget and site-specific constraints. Full article

Effective water management is a core function of nature-based solutions (NBSs), enabling them to deliver vital ecosystem services and enhance urban resilience. This study examines the hydrological performance of a specific NBS, the Blue-Green Roof (BGR). In contrast to conventional green roofs, the BGR incorporates a subsurface storage layer that retains infiltrated rainfall, thereby sustaining vegetation, boosting evapotranspiration and cooling, and reducing the burden on urban drainage systems. The research evaluates the BGR’s hydrological dynamics over the long term, drawing on data collected between May 2021 and May 2025 at a pilot site in Central Italy. Full article

Green building façades are increasingly recognized as a key strategy for decarbonizing the built environment, addressing climate change, urbanization, and the urban heat island effect. This paper investigates two main façade approaches: nature-based solutions (NBS), such as green façades and living walls, and Building-Integrated Solar Energy Systems (BI-SES), including photovoltaic, solar thermal, and hybrid BIPV/T systems. The building envelope is framed as an active interface for both energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy generation. Through a structured state-of-the-art review, the study compares these systems in terms of energy performance, environmental benefits, costs, maintenance, lifecycle implications, and adaptability across climatic contexts. Results show that NBS provide consistent benefits in thermal regulation and cooling-load reduction, while solar façades are strongly influenced by orientation, geometry, and urban shading. To complement the qualitative analysis, a preliminary energy–environmental assessment is conducted for three façade configurations (conventional wall, green façade, and combined green–PV façade) across three Italian climates (Milan, Rome, and Palermo). Results indicate that vegetation reduces heat losses and CO₂ emissions, with further improvements in integrated systems. Overall, NBS and solar façades emerge as complementary strategies whose integration can enhance building performance and support the transition towards net-zero carbon environments. Full article

Urban railway corridors—including abandoned, redesigned, and in-use lines—can support biodiversity and ecological connectivity in fragmented cities, yet their ecological dynamics and roles in Nature-based Solutions (NbS) remain poorly understood. Addressing this requires a context-sensitive approach that differentiates corridor types and compares their ecological functions. This study compares vegetation dynamics along railway corridors in two cities with contrasting socio-ecological contexts—Perth (Western Australia) and Beijing (China)—using a typology-based comparative approach. The results show that: (1) vegetation dynamics differ fundamentally between the two cities, with Perth characterized by vertically structured vegetation dominated by native tree layers and non-native disturbance-tolerant annual groundcover, while Beijing supports more continuous vegetation with widespread natural regeneration of native species; and (2) these differences correspond to distinct suggested NbS strategies. For Perth, NbS should combine phenology-aware management (wet versus dry seasons) with disturbance-based zoning and staged native planting strategies. In contrast, Beijing corridors are characterized by more uniform disturbance patterns but differentiated corridor typologies, indicating NbS structured around corridor-type management with a stronger emphasis on the support of native groundcover establishment and allowing for self-sustaining regeneration. These findings highlight how different contexts shape vegetation dynamics and provide comparative ecological insights for developing context-specific NbS for urban railway corridors. Full article

This paper explores the behavioural change process initiated within the Gdańsk Coastal City Living Lab (CCLL)—a site-based effort, initiated under the H2020 SCORE project and significantly deepened through the Horizon Europe PRO-CLIMATE project—through the lens of transforming human–nature relationships for sustainable urban biodiversity conservation. While SCORE established the technical baseline for Nature-based Solutions (NbSs), PRO-CLIMATE provides the critical behavioural framework to ensure these solutions are socially adopted and sustained. Located in a flood-prone coastal city, the Gdańsk CCLL addresses the critical need for nature-based solutions (NbSs) in minimizing the negative impacts of climate change, particularly pluvial flooding. At the heart of this initiative is a participatory change process facilitated by local Change Agents in collaboration with key stakeholders across water management, local government, academia, and civil society. Drawing on interdisciplinary insights from social science, the paper uses the Nature Futures Framework to analyse how conservation actions are influenced by the relational, intrinsic, and instrumental values that stakeholders and residents attach to nature. The paper situates these values in the Gdańsk context and examines how they shape motivations and willingness to engage in urban NbS, such as green roofs, retention parks, and rainwater gardens. The study presents qualitative findings from stakeholder engagement workshops, Change Agents’ reflections, and support mechanisms from behavioural change experts. It evaluates how behavioural change was facilitated through shared vision building, feedback loops, and trust-based relationships, and how barriers were negotiated. A key contribution of the paper is the exploration of how bottom-up and top-down processes intersect in urban adaptation strategies and how behavioural change frameworks can be designed to institutionalise sustainable human–nature interactions in urban governance. The Gdańsk case offers transferable insights for other cities facing climate vulnerabilities while striving to embed biodiversity conservation into everyday practice. Full article

Nature-based solutions (NbSs) are increasingly recognized as sustainable and cost-effective strategies for mitigating drought impacts. However, robust quantitative evidence on the effectiveness of NbSs for drought mitigation, especially under future climate change scenarios, remains limited. In particular, the extent to which grazing management can reduce agricultural and hydrological droughts over long time horizons is still poorly understood. This study examines the long-term effectiveness of grazing management as a NbS for mitigating drought under historical and future climate conditions in the Ganale Dawa River Basin, Ethiopia. We combined remote sensing, machine learning, and climate projections to simulate soil moisture and runoff using a long short-term memory (LSTM) model. Protected areas were used as proxies for light grazing, while adjacent non-protected areas represented heavy grazing. Agricultural and hydrological droughts were quantified using the standardized soil moisture index (SSMI) and standardized runoff index (SRI), respectively. The results show that light grazing consistently reduced drought severity compared to heavy grazing across all periods. Agricultural drought severity was reduced by up to ~15% under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5, while hydrological drought severity showed substantially larger reductions, exceeding ~40% in mid- and late-future periods. Differences between grazing regimes widened under stronger climate forcing, indicating that grazing management benefits become more pronounced under future climate stress. These findings demonstrate that grazing management is an effective NbS for enhancing long-term drought resilience. Scaling up sustainable grazing practices could, therefore, serve as a practical climate adaptation strategy for drought-prone basins in Ethiopia and similar regions. Full article