Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based Applications
More communities around the world are recognizing the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) and are planting millions of trees to improve air quality and overall well-being in cities. However, there is a need for accurate tools that can measure and value these benefits whilst also informing the comm...
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doaj-cee6d883930e469294e3d5d81e1f11482021-08-26T13:58:32ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2021-07-011078878810.3390/land10080788Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based ApplicationsAlessio Russo0Wing Tung Chan1Giuseppe T. Cirella2School of Arts, Francis Close Hall Campus, University of Gloucestershire, Swindon Road, Cheltenham GL50 4AZ, UKSchool of Arts, Francis Close Hall Campus, University of Gloucestershire, Swindon Road, Cheltenham GL50 4AZ, UKFaculty of Economics, University of Gdansk, 81-824 Sopot, PolandMore communities around the world are recognizing the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) and are planting millions of trees to improve air quality and overall well-being in cities. However, there is a need for accurate tools that can measure and value these benefits whilst also informing the community and city managers. In recent years, several online tools have been developed to assess ecosystem services. However, the reliability of such tools depends on the incorporation of local or regional data and site-specific inputs. In this communication, we have reviewed two of the freely available tools (i.e., i-Tree Canopy and the United Kingdom Office for National Statistics) using Bristol City Centre as an example. We have also discussed strengths and weaknesses for their use and, as tree planting strategy tools, explored further developments of such tools in a European context. Results show that both tools can easily calculate ecosystem services such as air pollutant removal and monetary values and at the same time be used to support GI strategies in compact cities. These tools, however, can only be partially utilized for tree planting design as they do not consider soil and root space, nor do they include drawing and painting futures. Our evaluation also highlights major gaps in the current tools, suggesting areas where more research is needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/8/788urban ecosystem servicesurban tree plantingi-Tree CanopyOffice for National Statisticshealth damage costsUnited Kingdom |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Alessio Russo Wing Tung Chan Giuseppe T. Cirella |
spellingShingle |
Alessio Russo Wing Tung Chan Giuseppe T. Cirella Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based Applications Land urban ecosystem services urban tree planting i-Tree Canopy Office for National Statistics health damage costs United Kingdom |
author_facet |
Alessio Russo Wing Tung Chan Giuseppe T. Cirella |
author_sort |
Alessio Russo |
title |
Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based Applications |
title_short |
Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based Applications |
title_full |
Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based Applications |
title_fullStr |
Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based Applications |
title_full_unstemmed |
Estimating Air Pollution Removal and Monetary Value for Urban Green Infrastructure Strategies Using Web-Based Applications |
title_sort |
estimating air pollution removal and monetary value for urban green infrastructure strategies using web-based applications |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Land |
issn |
2073-445X |
publishDate |
2021-07-01 |
description |
More communities around the world are recognizing the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) and are planting millions of trees to improve air quality and overall well-being in cities. However, there is a need for accurate tools that can measure and value these benefits whilst also informing the community and city managers. In recent years, several online tools have been developed to assess ecosystem services. However, the reliability of such tools depends on the incorporation of local or regional data and site-specific inputs. In this communication, we have reviewed two of the freely available tools (i.e., i-Tree Canopy and the United Kingdom Office for National Statistics) using Bristol City Centre as an example. We have also discussed strengths and weaknesses for their use and, as tree planting strategy tools, explored further developments of such tools in a European context. Results show that both tools can easily calculate ecosystem services such as air pollutant removal and monetary values and at the same time be used to support GI strategies in compact cities. These tools, however, can only be partially utilized for tree planting design as they do not consider soil and root space, nor do they include drawing and painting futures. Our evaluation also highlights major gaps in the current tools, suggesting areas where more research is needed. |
topic |
urban ecosystem services urban tree planting i-Tree Canopy Office for National Statistics health damage costs United Kingdom |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/10/8/788 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT alessiorusso estimatingairpollutionremovalandmonetaryvalueforurbangreeninfrastructurestrategiesusingwebbasedapplications AT wingtungchan estimatingairpollutionremovalandmonetaryvalueforurbangreeninfrastructurestrategiesusingwebbasedapplications AT giuseppetcirella estimatingairpollutionremovalandmonetaryvalueforurbangreeninfrastructurestrategiesusingwebbasedapplications |
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