Track 3.2: Natured-Based Ecological Adaptation Strategies through Blue-Green Infrastructure

Greening projects in major desert cities pose unprecedented challenges for spatial planners, designers, and implementation teams alike. Riyadh—one of the world’s fastest-growing and driest capitals—is undertaking one of the most ambitious public-realm transformations in the region: the rapid delivery of 100 new parks across the city. This session reveals the operational reality behind this effort, offering a rare insider’s look at how the Riyadh Region Municipality is reshaping the urban landscape under extreme climatic conditions. We will explore how the project navigates the logistical, environmental, and planning hurdles inherent to working in an intensely arid environment, where soaring temperatures, scarce water resources, and highly compacted soils elevate the complexity of creating resilient green spaces. The presentation highlights the innovative strategies deployed—from climate-responsive design and sustainable planting palettes to efficient irrigation solutions and adaptive construction methods—ensuring that each park not only survives but thrives over time. Beyond the technical dimension, the session underscores the role of integrated spatial planning, cross-agency coordination, and community engagement in enabling such rapid, city-wide implementation. Participants will gain practical insights into how visionary urban strategies can be translated into scalable, sustainable outcomes, offering valuable lessons for planners working in similarly challenging contexts worldwide.

Open spaces serve as a critical pathway to enhance urban climate resilience by significantly mitigating the urban heat island effect, accelerating air pollutant dispersion, reducing dust deposition, and releasing oxygen. Anchored in the theoretical framework of thermal environment regulation by open spaces, this study systematically analyzes the interactive dynamics and mechanisms between open space configurations and the urban heat island effect, and demonstrates how urban planning can leverage open spaces to modulate the urban thermal environment, thereby reducing the intensity of the urban heat island. It posits that the thermal regulation mechanisms of open spaces can be categorized into two primary categories: cooling effects and ventilation effects. Cooling effects include the mitigation of urban heat island intensity, cold air advection (spillover), and fragmentation of contiguous urban heat fields. Ventilation effects involve the generation of localized wind sources and the channeling of cool air into built environments. It further establishes an urban thermal environment regulation planning system centered on open spaces. By applying methods such as land surface temperature retrieval, GIS-based spatial clustering, WRF modeling, ventilation probability analysis, and cold air spillover analysis, it delineates three types of control zones: ecological cold source zones, urban thermal environment regulation zones, and ventilation corridor zones. Control elements and requirements are proposed to cover both regional dimensions (e.g., open space proportion, fragmentation degree, development intensity) and physical components (e.g., green spaces, waterways, plazas, street spaces). Validated through the case study of the Specialized Plan for Urban Open Spaces in Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong, China, the approach achieved spatial identification of ecological cold sources and thermal environments, delineation of control zones, and ventilation corridor planning based on the relative positioning of cold source zones and thermal environment zones. This practical application confirms the scientific rigor and feasibility of the proposed theoretical and methodological framework, offering valuable references for related planning and research in other regions.

Urban areas in China are increasingly facing compound challenges of ecological fragmentation and thermal stress, especially under the dual pressure of climate change and high-intensity urban development. Recent academic attention has shifted from rigid macro-scale ecological zoning to more elastic, functional spatial networks, yet thermal-driven adaptation of ecological security patterns remains underexplored. This study develops an integrated strategy to optimize ecological security patterns under thermal adaptation demands, using Nanjing’s central urban area as a case study. We first apply regression analysis to quantify the effects of vegetation and water elements on land surface temperature (LST) across various urban functional zones. Then, we assess the “green infiltration cost” based on the difficulty of integrating ecological elements into each land-use type. These two dimensions are combined to generate a thermal resistance surface. On this basis, we use the Linkage Mapper to identify ecological corridors and construct an optimized internal ecological security pattern. Field surveys are further conducted to diagnose critical pinch points and vulnerable zones within the pattern, informing localized and function-sensitive improvement strategies. The results highlight that a dual-anchored approach—linking ecological performance with land-use functions—can effectively mitigate localized heat stress while enhancing spatial ecological resilience. By proposing a cost-sensitive, function-integrated framework for ecological pattern optimization, this study offers a China-specific solution for building thermally adaptive urban spaces in the face of extreme climatic conditions.

a）In the pursuit of urban flood mitigation and climate adaptation, blue-green infrastructure (BGI) within urban watersheds is transitioning from a supplementary element in traditional planning to a core system capable of regulating stormwater and enhancing ecological resilience. While BGI has become an integral component of urban spatial structure, systematic investigations into its morphological characteristics remain relatively limited. b）Recent studies have begun to explore BGI morphology, revealing preliminary relationships between its composition, scale, landscape metrics, structural, configuration, and hydrological performance. However, constrained by methodological and technical limitations, existing research lacks sufficient exploration of the underlying morphological mechanisms, providing limited support for evidence-based spatial planning. Moreover, the absence of an integrated perspective has hindered the coupling of BGI morphological planning with urban flood management processes, weakening the effectiveness of existing planning frameworks in delivering measurable stormwater benefits and slowing policy advancement. This study directly addresses these gaps, aligning with the broader agenda of "Adaptation of Dynamic Cities to Extreme Climatic Conditions." c）Using the Xuanwu Lake watershed in Nanjing as a case study, this research examines the intervention pathways and hydrological benefits of BGI morphological planning. At the master planning level, threshold relationships between BGI structure, composition, scale, and both total runoff volume and peak discharge are identified. From urban design to site-level interventions, the study systematically evaluates the sensitivity of stormwater performance to spatial distribution, configuration, and Shape indices of BGI. Building on these analyses, a practical morphological planning framework is developed. To support comprehensive analysis, the study upgrades and extends existing modeling tools by integrating Grasshopper, ANUGA, and SWMM into a unified simulation platform. Through multivariate functional modeling, it elucidates the intrinsic relationships between BGI morphological attributes and hydrological response mechanisms. These findings ultimately enable the development of simplified morphological simulation tools that allow planners to rapidly simulate and assess urban flood intensity under various scenarios. Ultimately, The results are expected to support the optimization of urban resilience policies and promote the scientific development of indicator systems as well as the efficient implementation of planning practices. The case study demonstrates that, relative to the current baseline, increasing the water surface ratio by 0.5% and green space ratio by 25% (including both rooftop and ground-level green spaces) yields the greatest marginal improvement in stormwater management efficiency. Further optimization of BGI network structure can enhance flood mitigation effectiveness by 30% and reduce artificial water replenishment demand for the lake by 15%. In addition, strategic adjustments to key structural parameters including equivalent greenspace density, equivalent drainage density, spatial order, mean chord length, composite aggregation index and slope can substantially reduce urban flood risks during extreme rainfall events. Overall, this study improves urban flood resilience under extreme rainfall conditions by optimizing BGI morphology, and proposes a practical morphological planning framework with important implications for planning implementation and policy development.

Given that trees are widely recognized for their ability to regulate micro-climates, urban planning increasingly emphasizes tree planting and arrangement. However, this trend often overlooks their potential adverse effects. Existing research has primarily focused on how trees influence outdoor urban micro-climates, with limited exploration of their impact within residential areas. To address this gap, our study examined the negative effects of vegetation at the neighborhood level in Nanjing, China, and established a generalized framework to analyze the relationship between tree distribution and residential ventilation, applicable to other regions. Our research used data mining and machine learning-based image recognition to extract tree-related indicators and residential indicators. We then clustered indicators to create representative models with standardized residential and tree archetypes. We applied Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations to assess the impact of trees on ventilation within these models, with results spatially extrapolated across Nanjing. Using Random Forest regression, we quantified the relationship between tree indicators and ventilation efficiency, identifying optimal spatial configurations for trees and buildings. Our findings revealed that improper tree placement significantly impedes residential ventilation, increasing energy consumption and undermining sustainability. Contrary to conventional recommendations that prioritize tree benefits, our study demonstrated substantial negative ventilation effects at the neighborhood level. We further identify critical thresholds for tree indicators (e.g.,height, distance from buildings, and canopy size) that planners should consider to balance ecological and built environments. This methodological framework can easily applied to other regions and challenges policymakers to reevaluate urban vegetation strategies. In the early stages of low-carbon, green urban design, nature-based solutions must be carefully optimized—tree distribution and planting strategies should be systematically refined to mitigate unintended consequences while enhancing livability.

Most recently, Saudi Arabia announced the Green Saudi and Middle East Initiatives, which aim to plant 50 billion trees to revive the Islamic Green Renaissance and achieve the national and international sustainability vision of 2030. However, with the ongoing rapid and unbalanced urban growth, spatial, social, and ecological challenges are threatening the resilience of urban landscapes. This paper discusses the substantial and procedural green infrastructure (GI) in the arid areas within the context of ancient Islamic Garden values. Hence, this study aims to investigate the potential and barriers to implementing GI in arid urban cities, with a specific focus on the Dammam Metropolitan Area (DMA), to answer the research’s overarching question: To what extent can DMA integrate GI into the current and future urban landscape development? And precisely how this integration might solve urban resiliency and cope with climate change to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Saudi Vision 2030. The research employs a case study methodological approach, divided into two phases. First, collects secondary data on arid green infrastructure typologies from the MENA region, GCC countries, and Saudi Green Initiatives. Second, primary data comprises document analysis and semi-structured interviews with participants from three stakeholders within the Dammam Metropolitan Area (Sharqiyah Development Authority, Eastern Province Municipality, and Saudi Oil Company), supplemented by academics and practitioners in the landscape architecture and urban planning professions. The study concluded that GI initiatives in DMA are facing less integration and alignment among ministries and stakeholders, as well as limited nurseries and a shortage of professional manpower. Consequently, this disintegration leads to fragmented urban landscapes and lower liveability. This paper, therefore, recommends an integrated planning framework (IPF) to overcome these GI barriers through five steps: define, review, identify, design, and monitor GI initiatives at the early planning development scheme. Furthermore, the GIIPF addresses the importance of engaging High-Qualified Professionals (HQP), stakeholders, and Project Outcomes Evaluation (POE) to assess the potential and barriers that may guide GI delivery in DMA and arid regions. This integrated planning framework will contribute to the knowledge of substantive and procedural green infrastructure in the arid areas, overcoming misconceptions about aridity and its potential to enhance the ecosystem and quality of life.

Global warming and rapid urbanization are increasing high-temperature heatwaves, significantly impacting the travel frequency and destination choices of urban residents. Blue-green spaces, recognized for their cooling effects, have become crucial destinations for seeking thermal comfort. Existing research primarily focuses on the physical cooling mechanisms of blue-green spaces or static assessments of high-temperature vulnerability. However, a critical gap remains: understanding how the cooling effect influences user behavior dynamically during periods of normal weather and extreme heat. The dynamic link between the thermal environment and public behavior requires further demonstration. This study innovatively correlates extremely high-temperature events with the dynamic response of residents' recreational behavior. Moving beyond static spatial attribute analysis, we selected Beijing as a case study, focusing on mid-July to mid-August 2023 (encompassing significant heatwave events). We compared travel activity patterns under normal conditions (e.g., average daily temperature < 32°C) with those during heatwaves (e.g., maximum daily temperature ≥35°C for ≥3 days). We integrated mobile signaling data, POI distribution, and social media check-in heat data. Using GIS spatial analysis, we characterized the spatiotemporal dynamics of residents' recreational behavior in blue-green spaces with different cooling effects. Using the XGBoost-SHAP model, we study how cooling blue-green spaces' environmental features affect residents' recreational behavior. Key findings are:（1）During periods of high temperatures and heat waves, residents' recreational behavior shows noticeable differences. Some blue-green spaces maintain or increase visitor density, while others experience sudden declines. Blue-green spaces with high cooling efficiency typically correspond to higher recreational activity intensity. （2）The variation in cooling effects within blue-green spaces influences the levels of recreational activities. This differential behavioral response is closely tied to the physical environment and landscape pattern, including: spatial openness (ventilation), underlying surface type, service facility layout, vegetation configuration (shading effect), and spatial attributes (indoor/outdoor). This study reveals the key factors affecting the recreational behavior of blue-green spaces with different cooling effects under extreme heat. It provides a crucial theoretical foundation for developing management strategies to maintain the attractiveness and usage intensity of blue-green spaces during heatwaves. The findings also offer valuable insights for enhancing blue-green space thermal resilience, improving urban climate change adaptation capabilities, and building climate-adaptive resilient cities.

With the rapid urbanization process , the natural ecological environment has also undergone drastic changes . The resulting urban landscape changes have a profound impact on biodiversity , and even pose a threat to the rare and exotic species of the local area . Birds are often used as indicator species for environmental changes due to their diversity , widespread distribution , and sensitivty to environmental changes . Therefore , exploring the relationship between birds in different seasons and urban environmental variables is crucial for the design and management of urban green spaces . However , the response of bird communities in cold regions to environmental variables is still unclear . This article takes Shenyang , a representative city in the cold northeast region of China , as the research object , and investigates the bird community along the Hun River in Shenyang during the winter and summer seasons . Landscape feature data at both landscape and habitat scales are analyzed . We screened 7environmental variables that affect the compliance with environmental changes , and then conducted correlation and redundancy analysis on bird diversity indicators and environmental variables . And based on this , suitability evaluation was conducted . And based on the suitability evaluation results , optimization strategiesareproposed from two scales : habitat layout and habitat landscape characteristics . The results indicatethat the bird species in the Hun River waterfront green space in Shenyang city exhibit diversity characteristics . The overall richness and abundance level of the community showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing , while the species diversity level showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing . The diversity of bird communities showed a distribution pattern of low in urban centers and high in suburban areas . The diversity characteristics of bird communities are significantly influenced by multi - scale landscape features . The Pearson correlation and redundancy analysis results indicate that water coverage , plant richness , structural richness , and vegetation quality have a significant impact on the diversity of six ecological bird groups ; The impact of low disturbance level , green grey spatial ratio , water scarcity , ruralization level , and vegetation openness on the diversity of three ecological bird groups is significant . The suitability level of bird habitats in the Hun River waterfront green space shows a relatively concentrated and overall fragmented characteristic . The evaluation results indicate that the habitat suitability level of arboreal songbirds is relatively high , while the habitat suitability level of wading birds is relatively low . The overall habitat suitability of the seven groups and birds shows a spatial distribution pattern of " intact aggregation at the east and west ends fragmented and scattered in the middle ", with low connectivity and poor aggregation among habitats of the same suitability level ; The distribution of the most suitable habitats for waterfowl and wading birds is the most fragmented , while climbing birds , raptors , and arboreal songbirds all have the least suitable habitats for large - scale aggregation .