Green Infrastructures: Theoretical Aspects, Experimental Tests and Numerical Analyses

Dear Colleagues,

Given growing environmental problems such as global warming, deforestation, and waste generation, applying the concept of sustainability to the construction sector is of paramount importance. Moreover, with the remarkable growth of cities and the increase in built-up areas, mitigating the urban heat island effect has become one of the most crucial challenges in social and environmental sustainability, with significant impacts on public health. All active and passive technologies must be used to design energy-efficient buildings and minimize their energy consumption. All of this implies a transition towards new approaches and technical solutions, but also to reliable sustainability indicators to properly identify the most effective interventions. Zero-impact or at least low-impact technical solutions are imperative.

In the general field of technology, green infrastructure could play a significant role and act a protagonist to achieve several of the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. The adoption of green infrastructure can help to improve not only building energy use but also stormwater management and mitigate the urban heat island, with cascading benefits and improvements in secondary and related sectors. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to green roofs, green walls, parking gardens, rain gardens, pocket parks, parkways, and greenways, something that is mainly due to the wide range of benefits that they can provide. Green infrastructure offers a solid pathway and can contribute to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

In the grand scheme of things, researchers are fundamental because they participate in innovative processes and are responsible for disseminating results that could have a direct effect on society, policy decisions, and urban and rural management planning.

In this Special Issue, we invite contributions investigating green infrastructure under plural aspects and approaches to provide a sustainable solution in urban and rural contexts, supporting the transition to sustainable development models from the environmental, economic, and social points of views. Although green infrastructure is already relatively well consolidated in climate adaptation strategies, further contributions dedicated to the link between green infrastructure and integrated landscape planning, long-term investments, urban and rural planning, and sustainability as part of the decision-making process are strongly recommended. Moreover, experimental tests, frameworks, monitoring evidence, and examples of good green infrastructure design for climate change adaptation and mitigation will be taken in consideration, as will numerical analyses and work on the development and application of green infrastructures, as the focus is not only on environmental impact quantification.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Marco Bovo
Dr. Enrica Santolini
Guest Editors

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• green infrastructure
• green roof
• green wall
• sustainability
• resilient infrastructure
• heat island mitigation
• environmental adaptation
• air pollution
• CFD
• LCA