An evaluation tool for sustainable design of green spaces the URBIO Index

An evaluation tool for sustainable design of green spaces the URBIO Index Norbert Müller University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, Department Landscape Management and Restoration Ecology, President URBIO Presentation 8 October 2014, Seoul Metro City Hall

Content 1 The urban challenge 2 What is sustainable green space design? 3 Green space evaluation systems 4 Objectives of the URBIO Index 5 Structure of the URBIO Index 6 Evaluation sequence 7 Methods 8 Test bedding the URBIO Index in Best Practise green spaces in Germany 9 Outlook 10 Further Reading and Sources 2

1 The urban challenge By 2050 about 6.3 billion people will inhabit the world s cities. The largest and fastest period of urban expansion in all of human history. Urban growth will have further significant impacts on climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem services that society relies on. 3

1 The challenges Urban of Challenge urbanization are profound, but so too are the opportunities. 4

1 The urban challenge Well-designed cities can sustainably accommodate large numbers of people in a relatively small amount of space, offering improved quality of life and allowing for greater resource efficiency and the preservation of larger intact natural areas. Ban Ki-moon Secretary-General, United Nations 7

1 The urban challenge Sustainable urban design including planning and management of urban biodiversity is one of the main challenges for the future of global biodiversity. Today, horticulture and green space design are considered as a global main driver of biological invasions and under this aspects are one of the contributors to the ecological footprint of urban ecosystems (Reichard & White 2001, Dehnen-Schmutz & al. 2007). While for sustainability of buildings several assessment systems are existing e. g. LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design in USA (USGBC 2012) and Sustainable Building in Germany (DGNB) they are still missing for the design of green spaces. Dehnen-Schmutz & al. 2007 The horticulture trade and ornamental plant invasions in Britain. Conservation Biology 21 Reichard S, & White P, 2001 Horticulture as a pathway of invasive plant introductions in the United States. Bioscience 51 USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) (2011): What LEED is. URL: http://www.usgbc.org/ Zugriff am 13.3.2013 8

Ref.: http://www.toposmagazine.com/projects last access 2014-09-26 9

10

1 The urban challenge Despite being a current issue, sustainability of green space design is only marginally addressed in scientific and technical literature. Similar instruments to those used in architecture are in their initial stages only. Literature research in scientific and technical journals from 2007 to 2012 - Garten & Landschaft - Landscape & Urban Planning - Stadt & Grün Papers have been searched for keywords comprising indicators of sustainability (see URBIO index) Ref: Müller, N. 2013: Sustainable Green Spaces Master Student Project 2012/2013 FHE 11

2 What is sustainable green space design? Sustainability in green space design means consideration of all aspects of sustainability by the design, construction and management of green spaces 12

3 Green space evaluation systems First instruments for benchmarking the sustainability of green spaces have been developed since 1996 in Great Britain called the "Green Flag Award". www.greenflagaward.org.uk Since 2005 SITES the "Sustainable Sites Initiative" has been developed in the USA. www.sustainablesites.org/certified-sites Both evaluation tools are focusing on a certification and are complex, expensive and do not consider all aspects of sustainability equally. Since 2008 at the URBIO headquarters (University of Applied Sciences Erfurt) we developed an evaluation tool to measure the sustainability of green spaces the URBIO Index (Müller & al. 2013). Recently, a German research project on the evaluation of the outdoor facilities of the properties of the German Federal Government was concluded (Richter & al 2011). Müller, N., Elsner, K. & Wittmann, A. (2014) Der URBIO Index - ein Bewertungssystem zur Nachhaltigkeit von Grünflächen. - In: Feit, U. & Korn, H. (Hrsg.) Treffpunkt biologische Vielfalt XIII. BfN Skripten 370: 181-190 Richter, E., Loidl-Reisch, C., Brix, K., Zelt J. & A. Zimmermann 2011: Leitfaden Nachhaltiges Bauen - Außenanlagen 123 p. 13

4 Objectives of the URBIO Index Aims of the URBIO index - Assist landscape architects, urban designers and local authorities in benchmarking their design efforts in the urban context - Help evaluate progress in reducing the rate of biodiversity loss in urban ecosystems - Help evaluate progress of climate change mitigation and adaptation - Help support local economic cycles Requirements of the Index: - Easy to apply - Scientifically credible - Objective and fair - Deliver data to compare different green spaces Index consists of: - 25 indicators in 6 groups Planning & Design Materials Amenity Value Biodiversity Climate/Water/Soil Management 14

5 Structure of the URBIO Index 1. Four indicators for planning and design Sustainability Aim 1 Quality of planning and design User satisfaction 2 Sustainability as planning target Sustainable open space quality 3 Citizen s participation User acceptance & satisfaction 4 Comparison to previous land use Habitat improvement 15

4 Comparison to previous land use Habitat improvement 16

5 Structure of the URBIO Index 2. Five indicators for Materials Sustainability Aim 5 Autochthonous trees & shrubs Support biodiversity 6 Autochthonous herbs & grasses Support biodiversity 7 Selection of materials Care for Resources 8 Use of certified timber Support sustainable forestry 9 Recyclability of used materials Care for Resources Ref.: http://www.nolte-umwelt.de/images/nolte_fsc.jpg last access 2014-09-16 17

6 Autochthonous herbs & grasses Support biodiversity 18

9 Recyclability of used materials Care for Resources 19

5 Structure of the URBIO Index 3. Four indicators for Amenity Values Sustainability Aim 10 Barrier-free (for handicapped) User comfort 11 Accessibility for the public Save energy 12 Diverse usage possibilities User comfort 13 User-friendliness User comfort 20

13 User-friendliness User comfort 21

5 Structure of the URBIO Index 4. Four indicators for biodiversity Sustainability Aim 14 Diversity of habitats Support biodiversity 15 Presence of key species Support biodiversity 16 Habitat connectivity Support biodiversity 17 Space for succession Support biodiversity 22

14 Diversity of habitats Support biodiversity 23

5 Structure of the URBIO Index 5. Four indicators for Climate/Water/Soil Sustainability Aim 18 Climate Climate change mitigation/adaptation 19 Groundwater Ground water protection 20 Percentage sealed surfaces Soil conservation 21 Soil conservation measures Soil conservation (during the work stage) 24

20 Percentage sealed surfaces Soil conservation 25

5 Structure of the URBIO Index 6. Four indicators management Sustainability Aim 22 Site-specific plant use Minimize maintenance 23 Use of rainwater Sustainable use of water 24 Illumination Energy efficiency and light pollution 25 Maintenance concept Sustainable management 26

22 Site-specific plant use Minimize maintenance 27

25 Maintenance concept Sustainable management 28

6 Evaluation sequence 1. Inspection and analysis of the green space 2. Documentation with photos 3. Consultation of planners, owners and users 4. Inspection of design documents 5. Evaluation of the green space using the 25 indicators 29

7 Methods 1. Example of evaluation system and allocation of credit points Used materials Indicator Nr. 5 : Autochthonous trees and shrubs Indicator Sustainability Aim Survey Method Source 5 Autochthonous trees & shrubs Support Biodiversity Research the Percentage of used native plants Technical specification 30

7 Methods 1. Example of evaluation system and allocation of credit points Used materials 5 Autochthonous trees and shrubs Percentage of used native plants >100% >75% >50% >25% < 5% 4 3 2 1 0 Credit Points 2. Depiction of the summed up analysis in a diagram Management Planning & Design 20,0 15,0 10,0 Materials 5,0 0,0 Climate/Water/ Soil Amenity Value Biodiversity 31

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Test bedding the URBIO Index in some best practise example green spaces in Germany: 1. Park of the Federal Environmental Agency, Dessau 2. North Station Park, Berlin 3. Landscape Education Park of the University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt 4 3 1 2 4. Park of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn 5. Park of the Bavarian Environmental Agency, Augsburg 5 32

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Park of the Federal Environmental Agency, Dessau - Area: 0,02 km² - Type: public green space - Year of completion: 2005 - Planner: St raum a., landscape architects Berlin Ref.: https://www.google.de/maps/place/umweltbundesamt last access 2014-09-16 33

34

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Park of the Federal Environmental Agency, Dessau - Design philosophy: including industrial history in sustainable park design - Special features: The office building is a best practice example for sustainable buildings in Germany High user friendliness (reference: questionnaire survey of the employees) Evaluation: Points total: 70 of 100 Management Climate/Water/ Soil Planning & Design 20,0 15,0 10,0 5,0 0,0 Materials Amenity Value Biodiversity 35

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index North Station Park, Berlin - Area: 0,05 km² - Type: public park - Year of completion: 2010 - Planner: Fugmann Janotta landscape architects, Berlin German Landscape Architecture Award for sustainable Design 36

37

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index North Station Park, Berlin Evaluation: Points total: 83 of 100 - Design philosophy: develop a sustainable urban park in the centre of Berlin - Special features: Demonstrating history (Berlin Wall) and urban nature (urban wastelands around the former borderline) Management Climate/Water/ Soil Planning & Design 20,0 15,0 10,0 5,0 0,0 Materials Amenity Value Biodiversity 38

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Landscape Education Park of the University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt - Area: 0,04 km² - Type: semi-public park - Year of completion: 2007 - Planners: plandrei landscape architects, and professors of the Faculty Landscape Architecture, Erfurt 39

40

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Landscape Education Park of the University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt - Design philosophy: demonstrate how sustainable design can be aesthetically pleasing - Special features: Large newly created species rich meadows and dry grasslands with autochthonous seed material Evaluation: Points total: 86 of 100 Management Climate/Water/ Soil Planning & Design 20,0 15,0 10,0 5,0 0,0 Materials Amenity Value Biodiversity 41

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Park of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn Area: 0,02 km² - Type: semi-public park - Year of completion: 2007 - Planner: Office of construction and real estate management NRW, Bock landscape architect, Duisburg Ref.: https://www.google.de/maps last access 2014-09-16 42

43

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Park of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn Evaluation: Points total: 91 of 100 - Design philosophy: including sustainability in park design and materials 15,0 - Special features: Management 10,0 Low costs and maintenance Demonstrating urban nature 5,0 0,0 Climate/Water/ Soil Planning & Design 20,0 Materials Amenity Value Biodiversity 44

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Park of the Bavarian Environmental Agency, Augsburg - Area: 0,06 km² - Type: semi-public park - Year of completion: 1999 - Planner: Valentien + alentien, landscape architects and urban planners, Weßling 45

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Park of the Bavarian Environmental Agency, Augsburg 46

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Park of the Bavarian Environmental Agency, Augsburg Evaluation: Points total: 96 of 100 - Design philosophy: demonstrate the diversity of regional endangered habitats - Special features: Large newly created semi-dry grasslands with autochthonous plant material from a near by nature reserve. Today numerous Red Data plant and animal species. Consequent use of recycling material from the former land use (military airport) Low maintenance costs Management Climate/Water/ Soil Planning & Design 20,0 15,0 10,0 5,0 0,0 Biodiversity Materials Amenity Value 47

48

8 Test bedding the URBIO Index Position Green Space 1 Park of the Bavarian Environmental Agency, Augsburg Credit points 96 20,0 10,0 0,0 2 Park of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Bonn 91 20,0 10,0 0,0 3 Landscape Education Park of the University of Applied Sciences, Erfurt 86 20,0 10,0 0,0 4 North Station Park, Berlin 83 20,0 10,0 0,0 5 Park of the Federal Environmental Agency, Dessau 70 20,0 10,0 0,0

50

9 Outlook Since July 2012 test bedding the URBIO index in Japan (consulting agencies and PhD at Kyoto University) Since May 2014 developing a certification system for the sustainability of green spaces (German Landscape Architects) Next Steps: Developing a handbook for landscape architects for the sustainable design of green spaces Test bedding the URBIO Index in other countries 51

10 Further Reading

10 Sources Dehnen-Schmutz & al. 2007 The horticulture trade and ornamental plant invasions in Britain. Conservation Biology 21 Reichard S, & White P, 2001 Horticulture as a pathway of invasive plant introductions in the United States. Bioscience 51 USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) (2011): What LEED is. URL: http://www.usgbc.org/ Zugriff am 13.3.2013 Müller, N. 2013: Sustainable Green Spaces Master Student Project 2012/2013 University of Applied Sciences Erfurt http://www.fh-erfurt.de/lgf/en/la Müller, N., Elsner, K. & Wittmann, A. (2014) The URBIO Index an evaluation system for the sustainability of green spaces (in German). - In: Feit, U. & Korn, H. (Eds.) Treffpunkt biologische Vielfalt XIII. BfN Skripten 370: 181-190 Richter, E., Loidl-Reisch, C., Brix, K., Kirstein, R., Zelt J. & A. Zimmermann 2012: Sustainable designed green spaces on federal public estates (in German) 68 p. 53

10 Sources 54

Thank you for inviting me and for your attention! 55