Role of outdoor trees on pedestrian wind and thermal conditions around a pre-education building for sustainable energy management

Finding sustainable energy resources is essential to face the increasing energy demand.Trees are an important part of ancient architecture but are becoming rare in urban areas.Trees can control and tune the pedestrian-level wind velocity and thermal condition.In this study,a numerical investigation is employed to assess the role of trees planted in the windward direction of the building complex on the thermal and pedestrian wind velocity conditions around/inside a pre-education building located in the center of the complex.Compared to the previous studies(which considered only outside buildings),this work considers the effects of trees on microclimate change both inside/outside buildings.Effects of different parameters including the leaf area density and number of trees,number of rows,far-field velocity magnitude,and thermal condition around the main building are assessed.The results show that the flow velocity in the spacing between the first-row buildings is reduced by 30%-40% when the one-row trees with 2 m height are planted 15 m farther than the buildings.Furthermore,two rows of trees are more effective in higher velocities and reduce the maximum velocity by about 50%.The investigation shows that trees also could reduce the temperature by about 1℃around the building.

Towards Sustainable Urban Environmental Management in Jiangyin city, East China

Dramatic economic and social changes have taken place in Jiangyin city due to rapid and uneven urbanization and industrialization. The environmental degradation has followed driven by these changes since the 1980's. With the pressures and effects of environmental deterioration, the city has implemented environmental management to hold back the trends of negative environmental changes. From the viewpoint of systems, DPSER is a good model for urban environmental changes to understand the causes, pressure, state, effect, existing responses and future action strategies. We took Jiangyin city, a developed city in South Jiangsu province, East China, as an example, and analyzed the characteristics of environmental changes and urban responses using DPSER model. Some operational strategies have been put forward to direct the city environmental management towards a sustainable road step by step.

Sustainable Water Management for Urban Agriculture, Gardens and Public Open Space Irrigation: A Case Study in Perth

Urban agriculture has been increasingly popular as a form of modern agriculture in urban settings. It includes community gardens, fruit orchards, home gardens, veggie patches, public open spaces, reserves, urban forest, and recreational landscaping. However, irrigation using urban water supply has been identified as a major constraints for the development of urban agriculture. This study presents a sustainable water management trial at Butler, a northern sub-urban development in Perth, Western Australia, for urban irrigation. The trial system consists of a number of water saving features including untreated fit-for-purpose groundwater supplied via a third pipe network, drip irrigation, local weather station, soil moisture sensors connected with a local weather station, night time irrigation, soil enhancement with conditioning and mulching, and use of native plants and vegetation. The trial outcome was compared against controlled areas in terms of irrigation efficiency and sustainable water management for urban agriculture. The study demonstrated that a fit-for-purpose irrigation along with water sensitive land management could be a sustainable alternative for urban agriculture that would achieve a significant water saving and irrigation efficiency at urban settings. However, quality of untreated groundwater can be an issue while utilizing it for irrigation, but the research has shown that it can be managed with innovative irrigation techniques. This indicates that the fit-for-purpose irrigation system with water sensitive land management practices would be highly supportive in sustainable development of urban agriculture, vegetation and recreational landscaping.

A Cradle-to-Cradle Novel Approach for Wastewater Management in Sustainable Urban Communities

Water, a valuable resource to human lives, is being abused and driven to scarcity. This scarcity is leading some countries and areas to face difficulty in accessing drinking water. As the UN recently stated “by 2050 water shortages and harder access will be reached by around 2/3rd of the world total population” [1], thus, there is a high need to treat and reuse wastewater for domestic purposes, which will lead to less reliance on fresh water as an initial water source. Greywater—defined as the water produced in domestic houses including sinks and bathroom showers, and excluding any blackwater mix which is collected from toilets—is a type of wastewater. Greywater accounts for up to 75% of the daily water produced [2] while it has fewer contaminants when compared to blackwater. This makes greywater a focal point for treatment, and reusing to conserve fresh water and approach net zero water concept. Even though the definition of greywater is the same globally, its criteria can differ from one country to another, from one building to another, or even from the same person’s usage along the day. Accordingly, several treatment methods evolved over years aiming at treating the produced greywater for reuse mainly in irrigation and toilet flushing. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate a novel net zero wastewater approach applying cradle-to-cradle concept for urban communities;while also proposing a sustainable greywater treatment technique that is environmentally friendly, cost-effective and socially acceptable.

Sino British cooperation for urban environmental enhancement and sustainable development

This paper gives an overview of the presentations and discussions at the Sino British Workshop on Urban Environmental Enhancement and Sustainable Development held in Beijing from September 9—11, 1998. It summarises the contributions from both the Chinese and British sides to the four major themes of urban sustainability: integrated environmental assessment, water pollution and management, urban transportation and its impacts on air quality, and environmental technology. It also identifies many areas of common interest for further collaboration.

Modelling of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for Urban Water Management—Investment and Outscaling Implications at Basin and Regional Levels

This manuscript is an attempt to demonstrate effectiveness of nature-based solutions (NBS) and measures to reduce risk of flooding and environmental impact in urban settings. The nature-based solutions (NBS) were assessed as scenarios from experience of urban storm drainage and sewerage systems based on practices that improve urban water management through modelling using urban stormwater management model (SWMM). The model has been applied in a typical urban environment in the second city in Botswana, the City of Francistown, which has a population of more than one hundred thousand. By considering the 2-yr and 10-year storm events in a calibrated SWMM, NBS scenarios from a mix of low impact and drainage measures were considered. The considered NBS scenarios were used to determine their effectiveness in terms of reducing and controlling peak runoff, flood volumes, infiltration and evapotranspiration in the study area, which are vital in assessing the opportunity and challenge for sustainable management of water resources and associated tradeoff of investments in the urban contexts. The study demonstrates the usefulness of implementing effective measures for achieving NBS in urban context and possibility of outscaling at basin and regional levels.

Research on Stormwater Management of Cultural Heritage Ilmpark in Weimar Germany Based on Urban Resilience

With the development of cities, problems like natural and social disasters appeared more and more frequently. For example, rapid urbanization and climate change have caused both increasing flood probability and the severity of flooding. Consequently, there is a need for all cities to develop new strategies to maintain their vitality in numerous challenges and crises. This paper in the first place reviews the concept and research fields of urban resilience;besides, according to the characteristics of the Ilmpark situated in Weimar, This paper analyzes the necessity and potential on stormwater management of this area and then it concludes the alternative strategies of improvement based on the theory of urban resilience.

Stormwater Management Practices and Green-Blue Infrastructure in Urban Areas: an Overview

Water quality,flooding risk,and water consumption in urban areas are emerging issues.Urban impervious surfaces increase stormwater runoff,affecting ecosystems and leading to hydrogeological instability and flooding risk.Sustainable urban design strategies can contribute to counteract the negative impact of anthropic activities both at city-scale and global scale.Green and Blue Infrastructure(GBI)approaches,in particular,are an alternative to stormwater traditional management.In Europe,Sustainable Drainage System implementation copes with impervious surfaces to achieve water quality,amenity,and biodiversity increase.Best Management Practices,developed mainly in the USA,focus on specific measures for sustainable stormwater treatment.Water Sensitive Urban Design,spread in Australia and England,also aims to minimise the impact of developed areas preventing flood risk,limiting water consumption and enhancing environmental quality.In the USA and Canada,Low Impact Development offers design strategies to manage runoff and deliver structural practices to mimic predevelopment processes of infiltration,filtration and detention.

A New Sustainability Controlling Approach for Urban Water Systems： Multidimensional Risk Identification and System Analysis

There are many pressures on urban water systems in today＇s highly dynamic world. These include the diverse impacts that are summarized under the term ＂Global Change＂. At the same time, high demands on water utilities to act sustainably do exist. For this purpose, the collaborative project ＂Sustainability Controlling for Urban Water Systems＂ （NaCoSi） introduces an innovative approach with which sustainability risks can be identified and controlled. The sustainability controlling is based on common process-oriented management systems. The starting point is a system of sustainability objectives, which were developed together with practice partners from the German water sector. A method for multidimensional risk identification is introduced to identify sustainability risks. Complex networks of cause-effect relationships are disaggregated into unbranched linear causal chains, which are managed as records in a risk database. The subsequent analysis of the risk database allows the examination of cross-linked risks. Severe risk factors, vulnerable processes and sustainability objectives can thereby be identified and subsequently analyzed. The sustainability controlling was successfully tested and improved by an iterative process of case studies in cooperation with practice partners. The results of the case studies demonstrate the benefit of the project＇s interdisciplinary approach and the applicability of the sustainability controlling.

Land Use/Cover and Naturalness Changes for Watershed Environmental Management(Southeastern Brazil)

Driving forces on the landscape require regional management and/or local actions, together with other external factors. To operationalize this approach, this paper carried out a comparative analysis of the naturalness dynamics of the Jacaré-Gua&#231u and Jacaré-Pepira watershed, based on land use/cover changes and a structural indicator of the landscape, over the 10-year (2004-2014), as support opportunities for improving its environmental planning and management. Land use/cover dynamics were obtained based on screen digitizing of LandSat imagery, using polygon manual digitalization. Naturalness scenarios of the watersheds, over the 10-year (2004-2014), were obtained based on Urbanity Indicator, which evaluates how much the natural landscapes are dominated by altered systems. The total area of watersheds showed a predominantly scenario, induced by anthropogenic agricultural and non-agricultural expansion areas, mainly by conversion of other land use/cover types in sugarcane cultivation. Despite the increase in natural vegetation areas, over the 10-year (2004-2014), Jacaré-Gua&#231u and Jacaré-Pepira watersheds are far from a sustainable condition. However Jacaré-Gua&#231u watershed presents a scenario of more committed naturalness due to the increase in Urbanity Index values ≥ 0.7. The historical process of land use occupation for agricultural production remains the main driving force of naturalness changes, occupying more than 70% of the total area of watersheds. These results have significant implications for fast urbanizing municipalities in providing key information about long term land use impact on the watershed structure and function, making it possible for policy makers, scientists and stakeholders to identify land uses which are hindered or enhanced under various scenarios of land use change over the time, and making it possible to explore the trade-offs between them to improve watershed management.

Fresh Water Demand Minimization in Residential Urban Buildings

In the last decades, there is a lot of discussion in many scientific fields, about the high importance of water as a basic element for the existence and the maintenance of life, aiming to the right and proper usage of water in our everyday basic water-needs due to its limited resources and the growing demand. This research deals with simple ways and technological systems applicable in urban residential buildings for the better management of domestic fresh water, as far as its maintenance and sustainability. Main aim of the survey is the effective minimization of urban daily water usage. All measurements of water quantities have estimated in the imperial gallon （1 gallon = 4.546 liter）, and in liter （1 liter = 0.2 gallon）.

城市再野化的理论基础与实践前景

【目的】随着城市化进程的推进和工业发展,人类生存环境日益恶化,人类与荒野自然的联系愈加疏远。生态环境领域的学者们认识到城市再野化的必要性,并力求在城市中重塑人类与野性自然的联系。对城市再野化基础理论的探讨能够为未来城市绿化建设和管理提供一定理论参考。【方法/过程】阐释城市再野化的背景和内涵;总结城市再野化的相关基础理论并阐明各理论之间的联系,相关基础理论包括城市生态学、再野化、基于自然的解决方案(Nature-based Solutions,NbS)和亲生命性(biophilia)、景观生态学、生物多样性、群落构建、群落演替、自我设计与人为设计、入侵生态学、景观干扰与韧性、暴露生态学、景观偏好;为了展示各理论之间的有机联系,对这些理论从城市生态系统和再野化视角进行梳理,从实践环节和城市生态系统要素方面阐释上述理论,分析归纳城市再野化的开展思路以及各个步骤所对应的理论;探讨城市再野化未来的研究和实践方向。【结果/结论】通过对城市再野化相关基础理论的梳理和分析,表明各个理论是有机联系的而非机械的组合,从而系统性地分析总结出城市再野化的理论基础,为今后城市再野化理论体系的建立提供支持,也为该领域学术研究与应用实践提供思路。

基于海绵城市理论的城市公园景观设计研究

近年来,我国城镇化建设快速发展,城市化进程不仅带来了经济繁荣,也伴随着一系列严峻的环境问题。快速城市化导致的城市水体污染、内涝、水资源短缺等城市雨水问题,对居民日常生活造成了不可忽视的影响。为了应对这些挑战,我国提出了“海绵城市”这一创新性建设理念。城市公园拥有大规模的绿地和水体,是雨水储存再利用的天然容器,也是海绵城市建设的主要载体。基于此,文章围绕海绵城市理念展开研究,以城市公园景观为研究对象,探索将海绵城市理论融入城市公园景观设计的策略和方法,以期为后续海绵城市和公园景观的建设提供参考。

“安全—发展”同构视角下的城市系统韧性评价——以东部沿海地区省会城市为例

在现代化高速发展的时代,不确定性风险已成为城市系统运行中面临的常态。基于“安全—发展”同构视角,构建城市系统韧性框架与评价指标体系,运用熵权—灰色关联法对我国东部沿海地区省会城市的系统韧性水平进行综合测算,并根据演变趋势及特征进行评价。研究表明,我国东部沿海地区大部分省会城市的系统韧性水平在研究期内呈波动上升态势,各城市的子系统韧性水平分异明显,其中基础设施韧性和社会韧性是城市系统韧性水平差异的主导因素,当年实际使用外资、排水管道密度、专利授权数和交通货运总量是影响东部沿海地区省会城市系统韧性的主要指标。

Research and Practice of Meta-synthesis Management for the Government-led Urban Complex Construction Project

This paper researches the overall construction target of government-led urban complex construction projects based on the perspective of sustainable urban development. In order to achieve benefit maximization, the meta-synthesis management for the government-led urban complex construction project is studied. In order to combine theory and practice, several typical government-led urban complex construction project cases, such as Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center and Guangzhou International Financial City etc. are examined. These examples point to the feasibility of government-led meta-synthesis management and demonstrate the benefits that can be achieved through this model.

双碳背景下城市转型实验室研究动态与未来展望

近年来,城市的可持续转型成为推动绿色生产和消费以及构建新社会—技术系统的关键议题。城市转型实验室在此背景下崭露头角,成为促进生产和生活方式绿色化、实现城市低碳转型的重要平台,以及作为可持续城市发展中的治理方式。文章运用CiteSpace软件,分析Web of Science核心合集中相关文献,揭示城市转型实验室研究动态,探讨当前研究的理论和实证问题,以及双碳背景下中国城市转型实验室的研究方向。研究结果表明:(1)城市转型实验室源于转型管理理论,为技术创新提供了跨学科、灵活、综合的平台。(2)城市转型实验室具备利基、多阶段和共同演化3个视角。(3)国内仍缺少对城市转型实验室的研究,存在研究视角与国内现实不相符等问题。文章认为城市转型实验室研究涵盖跨领域、侧重技术发展的社会参与性与管理可控性,在如何推动城市转型的实践上有极大应用价值。文章明确了城市转型实验室未来三大研究方向:结合中国特征,探索社会—技术作用机制;补充理论框架,进行多学科视角融合;立足新技术特征与政策试点,将城市转型实验室纳入区域和城市发展政策中。

Review on the Impact of Climate Change on Great Lakes Region’s Agriculture and Water Resources

This study investigates the multifaceted impacts of climate change on the Midwest region of the United States, particularly the rising temperatures and precipitation brought about by hot weather activities and technological advances since the 19th century. From 1900 to 2010, temperatures in the Midwest rose by an average of 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which would also lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Precipitation is also expected to increase due to increased storm activity and changes in regional weather patterns. This paper explores the impact of these changes on urban and agricultural areas. In urban areas such as the city of Chicago, runoff from the increasing impervious surface areas poses challenges to the drainage system, and agriculture areas are challenged by soil erosion, nutrient loss, and fewer planting days due to excessive rainfall. Sustainable solutions such as no-till agriculture and the creation of grassland zones are discussed. Using historical data, recent climate studies and projections, the paper Outlines ways to enhance the Midwest’s ecology and resilience to climate change.

城乡供水一体化项目的可持续建设与管理创新

随着社会经济的快速发展和生态环境保护意识的增强,城乡供水一体化项目在保障水资源合理利用和提高供水服务质量方面发挥着越来越重要的作用。本文以济宁市D项目工程为例,探讨了城乡供水一体化项目的可持续建设与管理创新,旨在为类似项目的实施提供参考和借鉴。

统筹发展与安全以高水平安全保障城镇燃气企业高质量发展

文章全面探讨了城镇燃气企业如何通过综合策略确保运营安全并实现高质量发展。通过分析国内外成功案例,强调了安全管理在促进企业可持续发展中的核心作用,并提出具体的政策建议和管理指导,以帮助企业提升安全标准,采用新技术,加强员工培训,并培养安全文化。文章还展望了未来研究方向,包括深入探讨新技术对安全管理的影响,发展适应性安全策略,以及跨行业的学习与应用,目的是确保城镇燃气行业在安全和创新方面能够持续进步。

Driving factors of urban land growth in Guangzhou and its implications for sustainable development

Since 2000, China’s urban land has expanded at a dramatic speed because of the country’s rapid urbanization. The country has been experiencing unbalanced development between rural and urban areas, causing serious challenges such as agricultural security and land resources waste. Effectively evaluating the driving factors of urban land growth is essential for improving efficient land use management and sustainable urban development. This study established a principal component regression model based on eight indicators to identify their influences on urban land growth in Guangzhou. The results provided a grouping analysis of the driving factors, and found that economic growth, urban population, and transportation development are the driving forces of urban land growth of Guangzhou, while the tertiary industry has an opposite effect. The findings led to further suggestions and recommendations for urban sustainable development. Hence, local governments should design relevant policies for achieving the rational development of urban land use and strategic planning on urban sustainable development.