Healthy and Sustainable Living Environments: Green and Blue Spaces

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closed (30 December 2023)

Manuscript submission deadline

closed (1 March 2024)

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

A number of cities are becoming increasingly congested and polluted worldwide. Urban densification often leads to the removal or degradation of existing green and blue space in ways that are difficult to reverse. The growing understanding of the importance of healthy and sustainable living environments, and in particular of green and blue spaces, for human well-being has prompted numerous studies providing evidence on the links with a wide range of environmental, social, and health benefits. Before green–blue space can be fully integrated into the policy on urban planning and urban design, land management, and health promotion policies, the existing research questions and limitations should be addressed. We invite authors to contribute original research articles and review articles focused on a broad overview of the new methods and techniques to characterize the exposure of green and blue spaces, multiple benefits of green and blue spaces on people’s physical health and social well-beings, the roles of blue–green infrastructure in sustainable urban development, and the innovative conservation, planning, design and management strategies to optimizing the certain well-beings of green and blue spaces, covering the topic from a multidisciplinary field. To draw inspiration from a wide variety of disciplines, this Topic broadly defines green and blue spaces and well-being. Green spaces cover forests, parks, natural reserves, grasses, gardens, street greenery, etc. Blue spaces cover rivers, lakes, reservoirs, the sea, etc. Human well-being includes a healthier lifestyle (e.g., enhanced physical activity), better physical and mental health, reduced stress, more social interaction, etc.

This collection includes but is not limited to the following topics:

• New methods or data to monitor green and blue spaces;
• Role of RS and GIS in assessment of green and blue spaces;
• Equity in green and blue spaces’ proximity, quantity, and quality;
• Ecosystem service value of green and blue spaces;
• Cooling effects of green and blue spaces;
• Human behaviors associated with green and blue spaces;
• Health effects of green and blue spaces;
• Sustainable urban planning and urban design;
• Land policy on green and blue spaces.

We would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Xin (Summer) Xu for her great support in sharing the beautiful image that serves as the Topic's Graphic Abstract.

Dr. Kejia Hu
Dr. Jiayu Wu
Dr. Jinglu Song
Dr. Yimeng Song
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Environments environments	3.5	5.7	2014	25.7 Days	CHF 1800
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ijerph	-	7.3	2004	24.3 Days	CHF 2500
Land land	3.2	4.9	2012	17.8 Days	CHF 2600
Remote Sensing remotesensing	4.2	8.3	2009	24.7 Days	CHF 2700
Buildings buildings	3.1	3.4	2011	17.2 Days	CHF 2600

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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All Environments IJERPH Land Remote Sensing Buildings

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20 pages, 3930 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Urban Physical Environments Promoting Active Leisure Travel: An Empirical Study Using Crowdsourced GPS Tracks and Geographic Big Data from Multiple Sources

by Yunwen Chen, Binhui Wang, Jing Huang, Hei Gao and Xianfan Shu

Land 2024, 13(5), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050589 - 28 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1069

Abstract

Specific environmental characteristics can encourage active leisure travel and increase physical activity. However, existing environment-travel studies tend to ignore the differences in environmental characteristics associated with route choice and travel distance, of which the latter could be more important for health benefits, since [...] Read more.

Specific environmental characteristics can encourage active leisure travel and increase physical activity. However, existing environment-travel studies tend to ignore the differences in environmental characteristics associated with route choice and travel distance, of which the latter could be more important for health benefits, since longer trips are associated with increased exercise. Additionally, the most recent studies focus on leisure walking and leisure cycling, and activities such as hiking, climbing, and running are examined less frequently. This study, therefore, compares the similarities and differences of the environmental factors associated with route selection and travel distance through non-parametric tests and Cox proportional hazard models. The results show that two intersecting sets of environmental elements relate to both the route chosen and the distance traveled. Land use diversity and varied topography are appealing for both leisure trips and trip length. In addition, the differences in environmental characteristics among specific leisure travels may be attributed to variations in physical activity requirements, preferences for landscape viewing, and/or sensitivity to crowding. Therefore, conclusions drawn without considering the different types of leisure travel could be skewed. Whether particular surroundings may effectively increase physical activity remains uncertain. A more holistic perspective could be beneficial when studying the connection between the environment, active travel, and health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Healthy and Sustainable Living Environments: Green and Blue Spaces)

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20 pages, 4989 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of the Blue-Green Space Publicness Pattern in Changsha, China

by Chen Zhang, Nan Zhang, Peijuan Zhu, Shuqian Qin and Yong Zhang

Land 2024, 13(4), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040403 - 22 Mar 2024

Viewed by 963

Abstract

Urban blue-green space (UBGS), where public life occurs, is vital for social interaction, social cohesion, public spirit cultivation, and community formation. UBGS publicness reflects whether it supports and facilitates community formation. From the perspective of the man–land relationship, UBGS with high publicness should [...] Read more.

Urban blue-green space (UBGS), where public life occurs, is vital for social interaction, social cohesion, public spirit cultivation, and community formation. UBGS publicness reflects whether it supports and facilitates community formation. From the perspective of the man–land relationship, UBGS with high publicness should have three significant characteristics: accessibility of elements, functional selectivity, and structural connectivity and shareability. This study took Changsha as the case study and evaluated its UBGS publicness in 2012, 2016, and 2020. We analyzed the evolution of the UBGS publicness pattern, and the results indicated the following: (1) The elements accessibility indicator showed a decreasing trend year by year and maintained the pattern of low in the city center and high in the suburban area; (2) the functional diversity indicator changed from a monocentric polarized spatial pattern to a polycentric and balanced spatial pattern; (3) the structural connectivity indicator generally improved and showed the core-edge pattern; and (4) the comprehensive indicator showed that the pattern developed from the core edge to the core edge as the primary focus with fan-shaped expansion supplemented. Based on this, combined with Changsha’s urban development history, environmental, policy, economic, and social factors supported, led, promoted, and guided the formation and evolution of the UBGS publicness pattern. This study improved the theoretical foundation of UBGS publicness, provided ideas and methods for the UBGS publicness evaluation on the urban scale, and may provide a reference for the construction of livable and sustainable cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Healthy and Sustainable Living Environments: Green and Blue Spaces)

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16 pages, 4959 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Differences in Jogging Support across Various Land Use Types in Urban Built-Up Areas Using User-Recommended Routes

by Li Tan, Jiayi Jiang, Meng Guo and Yujia Zhong

Buildings 2024, 14(3), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030851 - 21 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 826

Abstract

Land use types other than specialized athletic fields provide a variety of jogging environments, addressing the shortage of urban fitness facilities and promoting urban health as well as sustainability. Currently, there is limited research comparing the differences in jogging support among various land [...] Read more.

Land use types other than specialized athletic fields provide a variety of jogging environments, addressing the shortage of urban fitness facilities and promoting urban health as well as sustainability. Currently, there is limited research comparing the differences in jogging support among various land use types, which can assist decision-makers in setting priorities and targeted strategies for urban renewal, especially in urban built-up areas with limited land resources. Initially, spatial information, statistical data, and recommendation reason text were extracted from recommended routes in mobile fitness apps and categorized into six land use types. Subsequently, spatial potential was measured through descriptive statistics, buffer area analysis, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and line density analysis. Environmental preferences were gauged by text analysis using jieba word segmentation and grouped word frequency calculation. Finally, the measurement results of different land uses were compared, including scale differences, spatial differentiation, environmental perception, and environmental elements. The research found that streets, residential areas, campuses, parks, and greenways possess significant potential to support jogging, particularly streets. These types of land use exhibit varying spatial potentials and attractions in environmental preferences. Targeted recommendations have been proposed to support the renewal of urban built-up areas and research in related fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Healthy and Sustainable Living Environments: Green and Blue Spaces)

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32 pages, 2087 KiB  

Open AccessSystematic Review

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Green Infrastructure: A Systematic Exploration of Definitions and Their Origins

by Tolulope Adesoji and Annie Pearce

Environments 2024, 11(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11010008 - 2 Jan 2024

Viewed by 3262

Abstract

Green Infrastructure (GI) is rooted in ecology and cuts across multiple disciplines, including landscape architecture, environmental sciences, planning, policy, and engineering. Likewise, the definition of this concept also cuts across disciplines, which creates ambiguity around what GI is and what makes up GI [...] Read more.

Green Infrastructure (GI) is rooted in ecology and cuts across multiple disciplines, including landscape architecture, environmental sciences, planning, policy, and engineering. Likewise, the definition of this concept also cuts across disciplines, which creates ambiguity around what GI is and what makes up GI in practice—for example, mistaking bioswales for regular tree planters or green space within communities in which they are installed. We undertook a systematic literature review of 38 peer-reviewed articles for this study using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method to identify and synthesize the different disciplinary definitions of GI in the literature. This study also presents the types of GI systems mentioned in the peer-reviewed articles while identifying other benefits apart from the primary benefit of GI installation, which is stormwater management. The analysis revealed three clusters of GI definitions: (I) Interconnected natural areas and other open spaces, (II) Strategically planned natural and semi-natural areas, and (III) Decentralized systems and techniques. However, we got rid of the third cluster during the analysis because GI is known to be a decentralized system, and the definition region could not be tracked. These clusters represent a spectrum, one of which employs the structure of natural systems already in place to support human goals (bio-inclusivity). The other includes living systems as components within engineered solutions to achieve objectives (bio-integration). This review points to the need for an encompassing definition that cuts across disciplines with a consensus on the adoption and concise categorization of GI types and the multiple benefits they provide to humans and ecosystems. A consensus definition helps clear misconceptions and improve the understanding of GI, potentially improving receptivity towards these solutions within communities from a community member perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Healthy and Sustainable Living Environments: Green and Blue Spaces)

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21 pages, 10778 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Role of “Nostalgia” in Environmental Restorative Effects from the Perspective of Healthy Aging: Taking Changchun Parks as an Example

by Tianjiao Yan, Hong Leng and Qing Yuan

Land 2023, 12(9), 1817; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091817 - 21 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1958

Abstract

Aging and elderly health issues have always been the focus of attention, both within and outside the industry. With the introduction of the national “14th Five-Year Plan” for healthy aging, it is urgent to address how to implement this plan. Among them, the [...] Read more.

Aging and elderly health issues have always been the focus of attention, both within and outside the industry. With the introduction of the national “14th Five-Year Plan” for healthy aging, it is urgent to address how to implement this plan. Among them, the restorative environment is an important part of implementing healthy aging. For older adults, “nostalgia” is a common emotional experience, and “nostalgia therapy” is also commonly used for mental health recovery, which has important significance for healthy aging. However, although existing research on “nostalgia” has already involved local attachment and the environment, there are few studies that use space as a carrier in the context of environmental restorative effects. Therefore, from the perspective of healthy aging, combined with structural equation modeling, this study took four parks in Changchun City as examples to explore the role of “nostalgia” in the restorative effect of the park environment. It found that, firstly, both the “nostalgia inclination” influenced by individual conditions and the “landscape perception” influenced by landscape quality had a positive impact on the “nostalgia affection”; secondly, nostalgia affection and place attachment were important mediating factors for environmental restorative effects, and the pathways of “landscape perception → nostalgic affection → environmental restorative effects”, “landscape perception → place attachment → environmental restorative effects”, and “landscape perception → nostalgic affection → place attachment → environmental restorative effects” all existed. Based on the above path exploration, corresponding spatial optimization ideas for effectively improving the health level of older adults have been provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Healthy and Sustainable Living Environments: Green and Blue Spaces)

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26 pages, 15803 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

Research on Social Service Effectiveness Evaluation for Urban Blue Spaces—A Case Study of the Huangpu River Core Section in Shanghai

by Jishu Huang and Yun Wang

Land 2023, 12(7), 1424; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071424 - 16 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1909

Abstract

Urban blue spaces (UBSs) hold significant value in terms of public health, tourism economy, and residents’ well-being. The Huangpu River in Shanghai, renowned as a global urban blue space, currently faces challenges such as unequal service capacity across sections and varying levels of [...] Read more.

Urban blue spaces (UBSs) hold significant value in terms of public health, tourism economy, and residents’ well-being. The Huangpu River in Shanghai, renowned as a global urban blue space, currently faces challenges such as unequal service capacity across sections and varying levels of spatial vitality. This study incorporates the concept of “service effectiveness” into public space evaluation. Drawing inspiration from the 4E (economics, efficiency, equity, and effectiveness) principles of effectiveness evaluation, a social service effectiveness evaluation system is constructed to measure service efficiency and effect. Through the literature research, 6 primary indicators and 12 secondary indicators are set to investigate the utilization rate and realization effect of the UBS. The evaluation system utilizes field surveys, text analysis, and remote-sensing techniques to collect relevant data. Through standardized calculations, different aspects of the indicators are integrated into a single evaluation criterion. The “overall effectiveness index” and the “efficiency–effect balance index” is introduced to quantitatively analyze the overall effectiveness characteristics, including spatial characteristics and time-varying characteristics, as well as efficiency–effect balance and imbalances. The evaluation located three low-effectiveness sections and three imbalanced sections at the north and south ends of the core section of the Huangpu River. The influence factors of effectiveness are analyzed through correlation test and literature studies, mainly including the urban hinterland, service facilities, environmental quality, and management publicity factors. This study aims to provide research ideas and methods for waterfront area planning and city-refined management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Healthy and Sustainable Living Environments: Green and Blue Spaces)

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27 pages, 4716 KiB  

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Type and Abundance of Urban Blue Space on House Prices: A Case Study of Eight Megacities in China

by Chucai Peng, Yang Xiang, Luxia Chen, Yangyang Zhang and Zhixiang Zhou

Land 2023, 12(4), 865; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040865 - 11 Apr 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1621

Abstract

Urban blue spaces (UBS) have been shown to provide a multitude of cultural ecosystem services to urban residents, while also having a considerable impact on the surrounding community’s house prices. However, the impact of different types of UBS and the effect of their [...] Read more.

Urban blue spaces (UBS) have been shown to provide a multitude of cultural ecosystem services to urban residents, while also having a considerable impact on the surrounding community’s house prices. However, the impact of different types of UBS and the effect of their abundance on house prices have been largely understudied. This study aims to address this gap by examining the impact of different types of UBS on house prices using eight megacities in China as a case study. Spatial hedonic price models are developed to assess the impact of different types of UBS on house prices, and differences in their impact across cities are identified. Variance partitioning analysis is also used to decompose the relative contributions of UBS variables and explore the relationship between UBS-attributable premiums and the abundance of UBS. The results indicate that lakes and the main river have a significant positive impact on house prices in most cities, while the impact of small rivers on house prices varies across cities. The influence of UBS variables differs significantly across cities, but these differences are not solely driven by the abundance of UBS. This study provides valuable information for UBS planning and management and contributes to the equitable distribution of urban public services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Healthy and Sustainable Living Environments: Green and Blue Spaces)

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