Course unit details:
Green Infrastructure: Performance, Evaluation and Monitoring
Unit code | GEOG64011 |
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Credit rating | 15 |
Unit level | FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Aims
This unit aims to:
• Describe the methodological approaches to evaluate and monitor the performance of green infrastructure in terms of environmental, social and economic challenge areas;
• Engage with a selection of real world examples of evidence gathering for the effectiveness of green infrastructure;
• Gain practical experience in monitoring and evaluating green infrastructure.
Syllabus
Green infrastructure (GI) can be used to tackle a range of urban challenges such as flooding, heatwaves, poor health and wellbeing, and low levels of biodiversity. Evidence for the effectiveness of GI in tackling these challenges is crucial for informing policy, planning and delivery of GI schemes. This modules takes students through the various approaches to assess the effectiveness of GI. The module will showcase techniques and methods used in a range of environmental, social and economic challenge areas. A key part of this module is local fieldwork where students will get first hand experience of monitoring and evaluation approaches. The module also incorporates two practical classes – one a laboratory-based practical exercise, and the second a computer-based workshop. This module has been designed to complement the more theoretical programme material and to provide students with skills for fieldwork and dissertation work.
Teaching and learning methods
• Lectures
• Field classes
• Lab classes
• Computer classes
• Seminars and workshops
• Group activities and exercises
• Assignment completion
Knowledge and understanding
• Develop knowledge and understanding of the application of GI to address social, economic and environmental challenges at different scales
• Develop knowledge and understanding of the methodological approaches to evaluate and monitor the performance of green infrastructure
Intellectual skills
• Integrate and synthesise evidence/information of different types and/or from different sources
• Illustrate arguments with relevant examples and case studies
Practical skills
• Use field and laboratory techniques to examine and evaluate green infrastructure
• Apply statistical techniques to interrogate data from green infrastructure interventions
Transferable skills and personal qualities
• Understand, assimilate and retrieve information from a range of sources
• Written and oral communication and presentation skills
• Produce a practice-/professional-orientated report
• Have an appreciation and awareness of the challenges and solutions to urban problems
• Prepare effectively for seminars, group work, discussions and fieldwork
Assessment methods
Assessment task | Length | Weighting within unit (if relevant) |
Presentation | 10 min | 40% |
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan | 3000 words | 60% |
Feedback methods
Written feedback via Turn-it-in, and oral feedback via one-to-one drop in sessions
Recommended reading
Aerts, R., Honnay, O., & Van Nieuwenhuyse, A. (2018). Biodiversity and human health: Mechanisms and evidence of the positive health effects of diversity in nature and green spaces. British Medical Bulletin, 127(1), 5–22.
Armson, D., Stringer, P., Ennos, A.R. (2013). The effect of street trees and amenity grass on urban surface water runoff in Manchester, UK. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 12, 282–286
Benton, J., Cotterill, S., Anderson, J., Macintyre, V., Gittins, M., Dennis, M., Lindley, S., French, D., (2021). Impact of a low-cost urban green space intervention on wellbeing behaviours in older adults: a natural experimental study. Wellbeing, Space, Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2021.100029
Bowler, D. E., Buyung-Ali, L., Knight, T. M., & Pullin, A. S. (2010). Urban greening to cool towns and cities: A systematic review of the empirical evidence. Landscape and Urban Planning, 97(3), 147–155..
Chen, D., Wang, X., Thatcher, M., Barnett, G., Kachenko, A., Prince, R. (2014). Urban vegetation for reducing heat related mortality. Environmental Pollution, 192, 275–284
Dennis, M., Cook, P., Wheater, C. P., James, P., Lindley, S., (2020). Relationships between health outcomes in older populations and urban green infrastructure size, quality and proximity. BMC Public Health. 20, 1, 626.
Ellis, J.B. (2013). Sustainable surface water management and green infrastructure in UK urban catchment planning. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 56(1), 24-41.
Gascon, M., Triguero-Mas, M., Martínez, D., Dadvand, P., Rojas-Rueda, D., Plasència, A. (2016). Residential green spaces and mortality: A systematic review. Environment International, 86, 60–67
Labib, SM., Lindley, S. & Huck, J. (2019). Spatial Dimensions of the Influence of Urban Green-Blue Spaces on Human Health: A Systematic Review. Environmental Research, 180, 22, 108869.
Lashford, C., Rubinato, M., Cai, Y., Hou, J., Jingmong, A., Coupe, S., Charlesworth, S., Tait, S. (2019) SuDS & sponge cities : a comparative analysis of the implementation of pluvial flood management in the UK and China. Sustainability, 11 (1), 213.
Niemelä, J. (2014). Ecology of urban green spaces: The way forward in answering major research questions. Landscape and Urban Planning, 125, 298–303.
Saraev, V. (2012). Economic benefits of greenspace: a critical assessment of evidence of net economic benefits. Forestry Commission Research Report. Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.
Skelhorn, C., Lindley, S., Levermore, G. (2014). The impact of vegetation types on air and surface temperatures in a temperate city: A fine scale assessment in Manchester, UK. Landscape and Urban Planning. 121, 129-140.
Speak, A.F., Rothwell, J.J., Lindley, S.J., Smith, C.L. (2013). Rainwater runoff retention on an aged intensive green roof. Science of the Total Environment, 461/462, 28-38.
Tyrväinen, L., Miettinen, A., (2000). Property prices and urban forest amenities. Journal of Environmental Economic and Management, 39 (2), 205–223.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Fieldwork | 6 |
Lectures | 14 |
Practical classes & workshops | 10 |
Independent study hours | |
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Independent study | 120 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
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James Rothwell | Unit coordinator |