This book explores the multifaceted relationship between urban environments, anthropic activities, and ecosystem functioning, emphasizing the complexity of contemporary cities. It begins by analyzing the rapid pace of urbanization and its negative impacts on ecosystems, stressing the urgency of sustainable development strategies. The text examines the role of cities in driving climate change, advocating for integrated adaptation and mitigation approaches. In addition, biodiversity loss is ...

This book introduces a groundbreaking approach to urban design, addressing site-specific challenges arising from the impacts of climate change. It provides an overview of the most relevant climate change impacts and related adaptation strategies, aligning with sustainable development goals. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are some of the most significant adaptation strategies, yet the book addresses the lack of quantitative approaches for their design. A design approach and related methodolog...

This Open Access volume aims to methodologically improve our understanding of biodiversity by linking disciplines that incorporate remote sensing, and uniting data and perspectives in the fields of biology, landscape ecology, and geography. The book provides a framework for how biodiversity can be detected and evaluated—focusing particularly on plants—using proximal and remotely sensed hyperspectral data and other tools such as LiDAR. The volume, whose chapters bring together a large cross...

This book provides a compendium of material properties, demonstrates several successful examples of bio-based materials’ application in building facades, and offers ideas for new designs and novel solutions. It features a state-of-the-art review, addresses the latest trends in material selection, assembling systems, and innovative functions of facades in detail. Selected case studies on buildings from diverse locations are subsequently presented to demonstrate the successful implementation...

This open access book includes detail on various structures, buildings, and building materials from different structural and sustainability perspectives. It describes how the building industry is vital for the achievement of the sustainable development goals, namely, economic growth, social progress, and the effective protection of the environment. The aim of this collection is to foster the design and construction of sustainable structures and buildings to reduce the environmental load, c...

Geotechnical Biology is a comprehensive guide to the fascinating world of soil-species interactions. This book explores the complex relationships between soil properties, plant roots, and microorganisms, providing a deep understanding of the mechanisms that govern the behavior of soil and its inhabitants. Through detailed explanations and illustrative examples, Geotechnical Biology provides readers with a clear understanding of the role that geotechnical and biological factors play in soil...

This open access book offers a cross-sectoral reference for both managers and scientists interested in climate-smart forestry, focusing on mountain regions. It provides a comprehensive analysis on forest issues, facilitating the implementation of climate objectives. This book includes structured summaries of each chapter.Funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme, CLIMO has brought together scientists and experts in continental and regional focus assessments through a cross-sectoral...

This open access book provides the latest fundamental and practical advances in reducing the built environment’s carbon footprint based on a collection of papers presented at the 1st International Conference on Net-Zero Built Environment: Innovations in Materials, Structures, and Management Practices, held June 19-21, 2024, in Oslo, Norway.The volume presents research investigations and case studies spanning five interrelated domains:New materials and material prepara...

Understanding Urban Metabolism addresses the gap between the bio-physical sciences and urban planning and illustrates the advantages of accounting for urban metabolism issues in urban design decisions. Urban metabolism considers a city as a system, and distinguishes between energy and material flows as its components. Based on research from the BRIDGE project, this book deals with how the urban surface exchanges and transforms energy, water, carbon and pollutants in cities. This b...

Nature Based Strategies for Urban and Building Sustainability reviews the current state-of-the-art on the topic. In the introduction, the editors review the fundamental concepts of nature elements in the built environment, along with the strategies that are necessary for their inclusion in buildings and cities. Part One describes strategies for the urban environment, discussing urban ecosystems and ecosystem services, while Part Two covers strategies and technologies, including vertical gr...

Biomimicry for Materials, Design and Habitats: Innovations and Applications and is a survey of the recent work of recognized experts in a variety of fields who employ biomimicry and related paradigms to solve key problems of interest within design, science, technology, and society. Topics covered include innovations from biomimicry in materials, product design, architecture, and biological sciences. The book is a useful resource for educators, designers, researchers, engineers, and materia...

This book discusses urban microclimate and heat-related risks in urban areas, brought on by the combination of global climate change effects and local modification of climate determined by extensive urbanization such as the ‘Urban heat island’ phenomenon. This matter is relevant to almost all urbanized areas in the world, where the increase of urban population and air temperature is expected to endanger both the overall health of the population and the energy supply for the functioning of ...