The relationship between urban morphology and landscape ecology to set up a more permeable urban matrix and promote biodiversity in the cities

• Grant number: 15/21754-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): November 27, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning
• Acordo de Cooperação: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Demóstenes Ferreira da Silva Filho
• Grantee: Patricia Mara Sanches
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/21099-6 - The relationship between urban morphology and landscape ecology to set up a more permeable urban matrix and promote biodiversity in the cities, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

In the last decades, the discussion about compact cities as a paradigm to achieve urban sustainability has grown substantially. However, a considerable amount of research has shown a negative relationship between urban density and tree cover or available green spaces, which causes the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the cities. Thus, facing the challenge to conciliate the increase of housing density and the stock of green spaces is essential. The aim of this research is to investigate how the urban design can enhance tree canopy cover, the permeability and the connectivity of green spaces, through the evaluation of vegetation and biodiversity in different urban fabrics with higher densities. The different patterns land cover and design result in several urban typologies that define the size and the shape of green spaces, as well as the impact on the ecosystem service provision and urban biodiversity. We will evaluate several urban landscape unities (ULU) characterized by design typologies, the proportion of green space and built cover and density rates in São Paulo and Federal District urban área (Brazil), Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Berlin (Germany). The evaluation will be carried out based on quantitative criteria related to urban morphology and the size, shape and distribution of green spaces will be measured by landscape ecology metrics in Fragstats®. The results will contribute to help the development of urban public policies and urban legislation to build new urban areas, through the recommendation of high-performance urban design guidelines in terms of green spaces quality and urban compactness. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SANCHES, Patricia Mara. Compact green cities: reconciling urban density and vegetation through urban design. 2020. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.