Green infrastructures and nature-based solutions

A.A. 2023/2024
15
Crediti massimi
152
Ore totali
SSD
AGR/03 AGR/08 AGR/10 BIO/03
Lingua
Inglese
Obiettivi formativi
The course aims to introduce the field of green
infrastructures, green space planning and design for the development of sustainable rural areas and cities. The aims of this course are to:
- introduce the concept and principles of green infrastructures and
nature-based solutions;
- introduce green infrastructures and nature-based solutions in
landscape planning as a mechanism for addressing biodiversity, climate change, health, ecosystem services, water management and wider urban greening issues;
- develop methodological and technical skills in green infrastructures
and nature-based solutions planning;
- understand the major regulation and provisioning ecosystem services
provided by urban vegetation, and methods for their quantification;
- understand the consequences that the selection of species has on the
delivery of ecosystem services;
- develop problem solving, presentation and group working skills useful
to face, in multidisciplinary teams, the problems related to green infrastructures and nature-based solutions planning and design.
A key component to this module is a fieldwork where students will have the opportunity to visit and assess existing green infrastructures, including streams and channels, and to apply proposed methodologies, procedures and techniques in a recovery planning and design case study.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
At the end of the course
students will have an in-depth understanding of the planning mechanisms that govern the development of green infrastructures.
Knowledge and understanding. The students should be able to:
- present and discuss the values, benefits and functions of different
types of green infrastructures;
- explain the process of green infrastructures planning,
Applying knowledge and understanding.
- apply methodologies, procedures and techniques for green
infrastructures and nature-based solutions assessment, planning and design,
- use GIS and CAD technologies to produce map, plan and drawing,
- recognize widely used species at urban sites,
- estimate the delivery of ecosystem services by individual trees,
- apply Landscape Ecology principles to spatial analysis and landscape
design,
- make the correct choice of plant species for nature-based solutions
and green infrastructures.
Corso singolo

Questo insegnamento può essere seguito come corso singolo.

Programma e organizzazione didattica

Edizione unica

Responsabile
Periodo
Secondo semestre

Prerequisiti
Basic use of GIS and CAD software
Basic notions of physics and plant physiology
Fundamentals of hydrology and fluid mechanics
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
The course is structured in a laboratory to plan a green infrastructures network (1) and to design a green infrastructure (2) and to evaluate ecosystem services it offers (3).
The case study changes every year. Students, working in groups of 3/4 people, must prepare a technical report and analysis, plan and project maps.
Attendance at classes is strongly recommended, especially for practical exercises, field surveys, and the review of practical work
Non-attending students will carry out the practical work individually. For these students the study area will be chosen in agreement with the teachers so that it is easily accessible for the student and known, at least in general terms, by the teacher.
To take the final exam, the students must deliver all the materials in pdf format 3 days before the exam and bring the printed papers to the exam, present them and answer the questions to them relative.
The final grade will be composed as follows: 50% of the documents produced, 25% of the presentation of the documents, 25% of the answers to the questions.
The evaluation is given to the group, acceptance is individual with the possibility of refusing the grade and completing / improving the work according to the indications of the teachers.
Green infrastructures planning and design
Programma
- the concept and principles of green infrastructures and nature-based solutions (1 CFU)
- principles of landscape planning: methods and instruments (0,5 CFU)
- assessment of territorial resources to create a green infrastructures network: ecological network, greenways, blueways, natural areas and corridors (0,5 CFU)
- assessment of users' needs (0,5 CFU)
- nature-based solutions for landscape and green infrastructures design (0,5 CFU)
-technical elements of green infrastructures design (1CFU)
Metodi didattici
Activities include:
- theoretical lessons
- seminars
- surveys in the study area
- technical visits of existing green infrastructures
- revision of the maps produced
Materiale di riferimento
The teaching material is available on the course website: (ariel.ctu.unimi.it - Green infrastructures and nature-based solutions):
- slides used during the lessons
- pdf files
- cartographic maps and cards for the survey
Benedict M.A., McMahon E.T., Green Infrastructures. Linking Landscapes and Communities. Island Press, 2006
Sinnett D., Smith N., Burgess S., Handbook on Green Infrastructure: Planning, Design and Implementation. Edward Elgar Pub, 2015
Dover J.w., Green Infrastructure: Incorporating Plants and Enhancing Biodiversity in Buildings and Urban Environments. Taylor & Francis Ltd, 2015
The material is the same for students who attend the classes and for students not attending.
Stream restoration
Programma
- Introduction to Stream Restoration 0,1 CFU
- Fundamentals of fluvial processes 0,5 CFU
- Hydraulics of natural and restored watercourses 0,75 CFU
- Role of vegetation in channel hydraulics and bank stability 0,75 CFU
- Principles of stream restoration design 0,75 CFU
- Streambank stabilisation design 0,75 CFU
- Stream Restoration structures O,4 CFU
Metodi didattici
Activities include:
- lectures
- exercises
- analyses of seminal papers in the field of stream restoration
- seminars
- surveys in the study area
- technical visits
Materiale di riferimento
FISRWG (10/1998). Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices. By the Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG)(15 Federal agencies of the US gov't). GPO Item No. 0120-A; SuDocs No. A 57.6/2:EN3/PT.653. ISBN-0-934213-59-3 (https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=34826).
Doll B., Grabow G., Hall K., Halley J., Harman W., Jennings G., Wise D. - A natural channel design handbook, NC State University (https://semspub.epa.gov/work/01/554360.pdf)
Scientific Journal papers provided during the course
Applied botany and woody species in landscape design
Programma
For applied botany:
Basics of Geobotany, Landscape Ecology and Ecosystem Services, for landscape interpretation and study (1,5 CFU)
Criteria for selecting plant species for NBS and green-blue infrastructure (0,5 CFU)
Examples and discussion of NBS and green-blue infrastructure projects, with a focus on plant species (1 CFU)
For woody species:
Theoretical lectures:
Systematics and ecological characteristics of widely used tree species for landscaping and urban greening (0,5 CFU)
Methods and tools for measuring and calculating ecosystems services provided by vegetation: CO2 assimilation and storage (1 CFU)
Air quality amelioration and cooling (0,4 CFU)
Commercial tools for ES measurement (0,1 CFU)
Field work:
tree inventory and calculation of CO2 storage (0,25 CFU)
measurement of canopy and photosynthetic attributes and calculation of CO2 assimilation and cooling (0,5 CFU)
measurement of PM deposition (0,25 CFU)
Metodi didattici
- theoretical lectures
- surveys in the study area
- technical visits
- revision of the work produced
- field work for the measurement of regulation ecosystem services
Materiale di riferimento
Slides used during the lectures
Some study materials provided by the professor
Selected scientific papers available on ariel website
Picard et al., 2012. Manual for building tree volume and biomass allometric equations. CIRAD and FAO.
Books: Nobel, P.S., Physicochemical and Environmental Plant Physiology, Elsevier
The material is the same for students who attend the classes and for students not attending.
Moduli o unità didattiche
Applied botany and woody species in landscape design
AGR/03 - ARBORICOLTURA GENERALE E COLTIVAZIONI ARBOREE
BIO/03 - BOTANICA AMBIENTALE E APPLICATA
Attivita' di campo: 16 ore
Esercitazioni: 16 ore
Lezioni: 40 ore

Green infrastructures planning and design
AGR/10 - COSTRUZIONI RURALI E TERRITORIO AGROFORESTALE - CFU: 4
Esercitazioni: 16 ore
Lezioni: 24 ore

Stream restoration
AGR/08 - IDRAULICA AGRARIA E SISTEMAZIONI IDRAULICO-FORESTALI - CFU: 4
Esercitazioni: 16 ore
Lezioni: 24 ore

Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Si riceve su appuntamento (inviare una richiesta attraverso la posta elettronica)
DiSAA - gruppo di Idraulica
Ricevimento:
su appuntamento
ufficio docente
Ricevimento:
Per appuntamento
Palazzina Ingegneria Agraria (edificio n. 21100)