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An Indicator-Based Model for Assessing Sustainability Performance of Urban Green Infrastructure

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CITIES WITHIN GARDENS: An indicator-based model for assessing sustainability performance of urban green infrastructure Parisa Pakzad A Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of philosophy Australian Graduate School of Urbanism Faculty of Built Environment The University of New South Wales September 2017 ii THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Pakzad Parisa First name: Abbreviation for degree as given in the PhD University calendar: Australian Graduate School Faculty: Built Environment School: of Urbanism Title: Cities within gardens: An indicator-based model for assessing sustainability performance of urban green infrastructure Abstract: In recent years, the planning, design and installation of “green infrastructure” at the local and city level has been identified as a best practice and nature-based solution to achieving greater urban sustainability and resilience. It is a component of the international urban movement “Smart Cities”. Green infrastructure is an integrated multi-scale network of green spaces within, beyond, and around a city. It provides many benefits - most importantly ecosystem services for human and environmental health. This study aims to develop an indicator-based model using a mixed-method approach as a means to evaluate the performance of urban green infrastructure. This model is composed of a set of sixteen key indicators within four subcategories: ecological; health and well-being; sociocultural; and economic. Each represents key interactions between human health, ecosystem services and ecosystem health. The proposed performance indicators are based on the incorporation of results in three systematic, mixed-method approaches that consist of the development of the Drivers- Pressure-State-Impact-Responses (DPSIR) model specific to this research problem. The DPSIR model is a conceptual foundation to govern the development of sustainability indicators. Semi-structured interviews are undertaken involving twenty-one selected Australian experts, and input from 373 Australian national and international stakeholders from representative fields via an online questionnaire. An assessment matrix is developed that comprises description, calculation (equation) and units for each individual indicator. This model is tested, validated and verified through a case study in Sydney, Australia. The significance of the research is that: the proposed indicator-based model provides an opportunity to understand the complex relationships of the multidimensional structure of urban green spaces; it serves as a useful insight for urban designers and decision-makers in monitoring various aspects of the urban ecosystem; and it also allows for early warnings regarding any undesirable changes in sustainability levels. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). ……………………………………… …………………………………….. ……….………………… …………………… ……………… …...…….… Signature Witness Signature Date The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: 1 ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed …………………………………………….... Date ……………………………………………........ 2 COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed …………………………………………….... Date ……………………………………………........ AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed …………………………………………….... Date ……………………………………………........ 3 ABSTRACT In recent years, the planning, design and installation of “green infrastructure” at the local and city level has been identified as a best practice and nature-based solution to achieving greater urban sustainability and resilience. It is a component of the international urban movement “Smart Cities”. Green infrastructure is an integrated multi-scale network of green spaces within, beyond, and around a city. It provides many benefits - most importantly ecosystem services for human and environmental health. This study aims to develop an indicator-based model using a mixed-method approach as a means to evaluate the performance of urban green infrastructure. This model is composed of a set of sixteen key indicators within four subcategories: ecological; health and well-being; sociocultural; and economic. Each represents key interactions between human health, ecosystem services and ecosystem health. The proposed performance indicators are based on the incorporation of results in three systematic, mixed-method approaches that consist of the development of the Drivers-Pressure-State-Impact-Responses (DPSIR) model specific to this research problem. The DPSIR model is a conceptual foundation to govern the development of sustainability indicators. Semi-structured interviews are undertaken involving twenty-one selected Australian experts, and input from 373 Australian national and international stakeholders from representative fields via an online questionnaire. An assessment matrix is developed that comprises description, calculation (equation) and units for each individual indicator. This model is tested, validated and verified through a case study in Sydney, Australia. The significance of the research is that: the proposed indicator-based model provides an opportunity to understand the complex relationships of the multidimensional structure of urban green spaces; it serves as a useful insight for urban designers and decision-makers in monitoring various aspects of the urban ecosystem; and it also allows for early warnings regarding any undesirable changes in sustainability levels. Key words: Green infrastructure performance model, indicators, assessment matrix, sustainability assessment, ecosystem services, ecosystem and human health. 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks to Dr Paul Osmond, Linda Corkery and Dr Graciela Metternicht for their exemplary supervision, who provided vital support and guidance throughout the duration of the research project. I would like to thank the contribution of the expert participants in the semi-structured interviews and online questionnaire and also the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), Low Carbon Living CRC, Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) and Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) for helping me to distribute the questionnaire through their professional networks. I would like to acknowledge the financial support of the project partners (University of New South Wales, the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRC-LCL) and Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA)), Special thanks to Professor Deo Prasad at the CRC Low Carbon Living because this research would not have been possible without his financial and intellectual support. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .....................................................................................................................
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