The synergistic interplay of artificial intelligence and digital twin in environmentally planning sustainable smart cities: A comprehensive systematic review.

The dynamic landscape of sustainable smart cities is witnessing a significant transformation due to the integration of emerging computational technologies and innovative models. These advancements are reshaping data-driven planning strategies, practices, and approaches, thereby facilitating the achievement of environmental sustainability goals. This transformative wave signals a fundamental shift - marked by the synergistic operation of artificial intelligence (AI), artificial intelligence of things (AIoT), and urban digital twin (UDT) technologies. While previous research has largely explored urban AI, urban AIoT, and UDT in isolation, a significant knowledge gap exists regarding their synergistic interplay, collaborative integration, and collective impact on data-driven environmental planning in the dynamic context of sustainable smart cities. To address this gap, this study conducts a comprehensive systematic review to uncover the intricate interactions among these interconnected technologies, models, and domains while elucidating the nuanced dynamics and untapped synergies in the complex ecosystem of sustainable smart cities. Central to this study are four guiding research questions: 1. What theoretical and practical foundations underpin the convergence of AI, AIoT, UDT, data-driven planning, and environmental sustainability in sustainable smart cities, and how can these components be synthesized into a novel comprehensive framework? 2. How does integrating AI and AIoT reshape the landscape of data-driven planning to improve the environmental performance of sustainable smart cities? 3. How can AI and AIoT augment the capabilities of UDT to enhance data-driven environmental planning processes in sustainable smart cities? 4. What challenges and barriers arise in integrating and implementing AI, AIoT, and UDT in data-driven environmental urban planning, and what strategies can be devised to surmount or mitigate them? Methodologically, this study involves a rigorous analysis and synthesis of studies published between January 2019 and December 2023, comprising an extensive body of literature totaling 185 studies. The findings of this study surpass mere interdisciplinary theoretical enrichment, offering valuable insights into the transformative potential of integrating AI, AIoT, and UDT technologies to advance sustainable urban development practices. By enhancing data-driven environmental planning processes, these integrated technologies and models offer innovative solutions to address complex environmental challenges. However, this endeavor is fraught with formidable challenges and complexities that require careful navigation and mitigation to achieve desired outcomes. This study serves as a comprehensive reference guide, spurring groundbreaking research endeavors, stimulating practical implementations, informing strategic initiatives, and shaping policy formulations in sustainable urban development. These insights have profound implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, providing a roadmap for fostering resiliently designed, technologically advanced, and environmentally conscious urban environments.

The Source-to-Sea Landscape: A hybrid integrative territory management approach.

Whether fresh or salty, water is a unique resource, a continuum interlinked by the hydrological cycle. It forms a complex system connected to the landscape. When the landscape is altered, water flows and their benefits are impacted. Degraded land compromises water resources. The governance and management of landscape and water resources are handled in a fragmented manner and in separate contexts. The Source-to-Sea approach offers an integrative vision based on systems thinking that focuses its concerns on the interaction among parts, flows, and processes. It proposes a framework for the governance and management of freshwater and marine water but does not bring the landscape into the context of the approach. This research used an analytical-deductive method to explore the interactions and connections between the Source-to-sea approach, landscape concepts and approaches, and the guidelines of the European Landscape Convention. The main objective was to identify and assess the feasibility of integrating these elements. The integration resulted in a governance and management approach termed the S2S Landscape approach. It is grounded in systems thinking, practical learning, active participation, and adaptive governance and management, providing an integrated vision between landscape and water. The approach includes four essential steps (Comprehension, Involvement, Planning, and Execution and Monitoring) that address the complex connections that freshwater and marine water maintain in the landscape, considering physical, biological, socio-environmental, and economic aspects across all segments, from the land to the open sea. This S2S Landscape approach may be the path to address the challenges of governance and sustainable management of resources in an interconnected and constantly changing world.

Re-examining Geospatial Online Participatory Tools for Environmental Planning.

Geospatial online participatory tools, or geo-OPTs, are increasingly used worldwide for engaging the public in planning. Yet, despite growth in the adoption and use of geo-OPTs, and the growing scholarship to accompany it, our understanding of their ability to support public participation in environmental planning is still underdeveloped. In this paper, we investigate the application of a geo-OPT by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), a leading water management agency in the United States, in three contextually and geographically diverse cases. Through a combination of document analysis, interviews, and participant observation, we examine the processes and dynamics associated with the development and use of the geo-OPT Crowdsource Reporter. Our findings highlight the importance of managing geo-OPTs not in isolation or as a panacea but rather as part of a broader planning process that recognizes the complexity and significance of communication in geo-OPT processes. Although it may be tempting and seemingly simple to create and launch these online tools, our research reveals how a lack of intention early on may lead to underuse or misapplication of the tool. More significantly, real damage can be done, like increased public frustration and alienation, resulting in breakdown in communications or even worsening public relations for federal agencies.

Sustainable planning: the case study of the Strait of Messina ports.

The energy and environmental policy carried out by the Port System Authority of the Strait (AdSP), in charge of the management of the ports spread along the Strait of Messina, is reported. The Environmental and Energy Planning Document of Port Systems (DEASP, the Italian acronym) is the document explaining the AdSP sustainable strategy to reduce GHG emissions. It defines specific measures, in order to improve energy efficiency in buildings and infrastructures, promote the use of renewable energy in the port area, and confer environmental benefits for the citizens of neighboring territories and port users. The main actions developed are as follows: photovoltaic solar plants and tidal energy systems, electrification of the docks to allow the shore supply of ships, and the construction of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) storage plant to replace more polluting marine fuels, together with awareness campaigns on "green" issues, involving the 3 million users of these ports. Starting from the socio-economic and environmental analysis of the territorial context managed by AdSP, the DEASP analyses all the activities carried out inside port areas and reports the energy consumptions of the concessionaries, in the way to calculate the carbon footprint and develop an environmental sustainable strategy to reduce pollutant emissions. The interventions foreseen are assessed through the cost-benefit analysis and allow reducing the GHG emissions in 2030 up to 46%.

Environmental Planning and Non-Communicable Diseases: A Systematic Review on the Role of the Metabolomic Profile.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the major cause of death worldwide and have economic, psychological, and social impacts. Air pollution is the second, contributing to NCDs-related deaths. Metabolomics are a useful diagnostic and prognostic tool for NCDs, as they allow the identification of biomarkers linked to emerging pathologic processes. The aim of the present study was to review the scientific literature on the application of metabolomics profiling in NCDs and to discuss environmental planning actions to assist healthcare systems and public managers based on early metabolic diagnosis. The search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases with the following MeSH terms: "metabolomics" AND "noncommunicable diseases" AND "air pollution". Twenty-nine studies were eligible. Eleven involved NCDs prevention, eight addressed diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, systemic arterial hypertension, or metabolic syndrome. Six studies focused on obesity, two evaluated nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, two studied cancer, and none addressed chronic respiratory diseases. The studies provided insights into the biological pathways associated with NCDs. Understanding the cost of delivering care where there will be a critical increase in NCDs prevalence is crucial to achieving universal health coverage and improving population health by allocating environmental planning and treatment resources.

"Recupere a Lagoa": análise barthesiana de imagens pós-desastre na Lagoa da Conceição/SC / "Recover Lagoa": barthesian analysis of postdisaster images in Lagoa da Conceição/SC / "Recuperar Lagoa": análisis barthesiano de imágenes pos-desastre en Lagoa da Conceição/SC

INTRODUÇÃO: No dia 25 de janeiro de 2021 ocorreu o rompimento de uma das barragens da Companhia Catarinense de Águas e Saneamento (CASAN) para depositar esgoto tratado, atingindo 50 famílias de Florianópolis/SC. OBJETIVO: Esse artigo visa interpretar imagens capturadas por atingidos pelo desastre ambiental da Lagoa da Conceição/SC. CAMPO: a pesquisa se sucedeu na localidade afetada - Rua Servidão Manoel Luiz Duarte, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. MÉTODO: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa do tipo pesquisa-ação a partir de um corte transversal. Utilizou-se a técnica fotografando ambientes, em sequência, a análise semiótica de imagens desenvolvida por Barthes e a Teoria das Representações Sociais (TRS) para auxiliar na interpretação dos dados. RESULTADOS: Os signos apresentados nas imagens capturadas foram: 1) punhos erguidos fechados um símbolo comumente utilizado em campanhas na busca por direitos igualitários e resistência; 2) mensagens enfáticas utilizando termos como "réu", "culpa" e "crime", referindo-se a CASAN; 3) símbolos e personalidades políticas como forma de pressionar autoridades competentes e agilizar o processo de retorno às suas vidas. Entende-se que mesmo passado um ano do desastre, as pessoas atingidas ainda lutam e discutem com a CASAN em busca do ressarcimento integral e justo dos seus direitos. CONCLUSÃO: A comunidade ainda está se recuperando do desastre, passando por uma reconfiguração. Porém, diante dessa tragédia, a comunidade enquanto grupo se fortaleceu em decorrência dos movimentos sociais realizados pelo bem comum dos afetados. Portanto, em meio ao caos, formaram uma rede de apoio com um objetivo: recuperar (parte) do que lhes foi tirado.

INTRODUCTION: On January 25, 2021, one of the dams belonging to the Companhia Catarinense de Águas e Saneamento (CASAN) to deposit treated sewage broke, affecting 50 families in Florianópolis/SC. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to interpret images captured by people affected by the environmental disaster at Lagoa da Conceição/SC. FIELD: The research took place in the affected location - Rua Servidão Manoel Luiz Duarte, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. METHOD: This is a qualitative action-research study based on a cross-section. The technique of photographing environments was used, in sequence, the semiotic analysis of images developed by Barthes and the Theory of Social Representations (TRS) to assist in the interpretation of the data. RESULTS: The signs shown in the captured images were: 1) closed raised fists, a symbol commonly used in campaigns seeking equal rights and resistance; 2) emphatic messages using terms such as "defendant", "fault" and "crime", referring to CASAN; 3) political symbols and personalities as a way of putting pressure on competent authorities and speeding up the process of returning to their lives. It is understood that even one year after the disaster, the people affected are still fighting and discussing with CASAN in search of full and fair compensation for their rights. CONCLUSION: The community is still recovering from the disaster, undergoing a reconfiguration. However, in the face of this tragedy, the community as a group was strengthened as a result of social movements carried out for the common good of those affected. Therefore, in the midst of chaos, they formed a support network with one goal: to recover (part of) what was taken from them.

INTRODUCCIÓN: El 25 de enero de 2021, una de las represas de la Companhia Catarinense de Águas e Saneamento (CASAN) para depositar aguas residuales tratadas se rompió, afectando a 50 familias en Florianópolis/SC. OBJETIVO: Este artículo tiene como objetivo interpretar imágenes captadas por personas afectadas por el desastre ambiental en la Lagoa da Conceição/SC. CAMPO: la investigación se realizó en el local afectado - Rua Servidão Manoel Luiz Duarte, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina. MÉTODO: Se trata de un estudio cualitativo de investigación-acción basado en un corte transversal. Se utilizó la técnica de fotografiar ambientes, en secuencia, el análisis semiótico de imágenes desarrollado por Barthes y la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales (TRS) para auxiliar en la interpretación de los datos. RESULTADOS: Los signos mostrados en las imágenes capturadas fueron: 1) puños cerrados en alto, símbolo comúnmente utilizado en campañas de igualdad de derechos y resistencia; 2) mensajes enfáticos utilizando términos como "acusado", "culpa" y "delito", refiriéndose a CASAN; 3) símbolos y personalidades políticas como una forma de presionar a las autoridades competentes y acelerar el proceso de retorno a sus vidas. Se entiende que aún después de un año del desastre, las personas afectadas siguen luchando y discutiendo con CASAN en busca de una compensación plena y justa por sus derechos. CONCLUSIÓN: La comunidad aún se está recuperando del desastre, pasando por una reconfiguración. Sin embargo, ante esta tragedia, la comunidad como grupo se fortaleció como resultado de los movimientos sociales realizados por el bien común de los afectados. Por eso, en medio del caos, formaron una red de apoyo con un objetivo: recuperar (parte de) lo que les fue arrebatado.

Foresight science in conservation: Tools, barriers, and mainstreaming opportunities.

Foresight science is a systematic approach to generate future predictions for planning and management by drawing upon analytical and predictive tools to understand the past and present, while providing insights about the future. To illustrate the application of foresight science in conservation, we present three case studies: identification of emerging risks to conservation, conservation of at-risk species, and aid in the development of management strategies for multiple stressors. We highlight barriers to mainstreaming foresight science in conservation including knowledge accessibility/organization, communication across diverse stakeholders/decision makers, and organizational capacity. Finally, we investigate opportunities for mainstreaming foresight science including continued advocacy to showcase its application, incorporating emerging technologies (i.e., artificial intelligence) to increase capacity/decrease costs, and increasing education/training in foresight science via specialized courses and curricula for trainees and practicing professionals. We argue that failure to mainstream foresight science will hinder the ability to achieve future conservation objectives in the Anthropocene.

Tackling communication and analytical problems in environmental planning: Expert assessment of key definitions and their relationships.

Inadequate definition of key terms and their relationships generates significant communication and analytical problems in environmental planning. In this work, we evaluate an ontological framework for environmental planning designed to combat these problems. After outlining the framework and issues addressed, we describe its evaluation by a group of experts representing a range of expertise and institutions. Experts rated their level of agreement with 12 propositions concerning the definitions and models underpinning the framework. These propositions, in turn, were used to assess three assumptions regarding the expected effectiveness of the framework and its contribution to addressing the abovementioned planning problems. In addition to point-based best estimates of their agreement with propositions, expert ratings were also captured on a continuous interval-valued scale. The use of intervals addresses the challenge of measuring and modelling uncertainty associated with complex assessments such as those provided by experts. Combined with written anonymous expert comments, these data provide multiple perspectives on the level of support for the approach. We conclude that the framework can complement existing planning approaches and strengthen key definitions and related models, thus helping avoid communication and analytical problems in environmental planning. Finally, experts highlighted areas that require further development, and we provide recommendations for improving the framework.

Mapping the functional connectivity of ecosystem services supply across a regional landscape.

Sustainably managing multifunctional landscapes for production of multiple ecosystem services (ES) requires thorough understanding of the interactions between ES and the ecological processes that drive them. We build upon landscape connectivity theory to present a spatial approach for assessing functional connections between multiple ES at the landscape scale, and take a closer look at the concept of ES interactions by explicitly representing the mechanisms behind the relationships between ES. We demonstrate application of the approach using existing ES supply mapping data for plant agriculture, waterflow regulation, and landscape aesthetics and map the functional connectivity between them. We find that, when weights of all linkages were amalgamated, areas of high-value connectivity are revealed that are not present on any individual ES supply area or pairwise link maps, which suggests that the spatial focus of planning for optimal service provisioning may shift when functional relationships between several ES are considered. From water flow supply areas, our modeling maps several functional connections that operate over both short and long distances, which highlights the importance of managing ES flows both locally and across jurisdictions. We also found that different land use and land cover types than those associated with ES supply areas may be serving as critical corridors connecting interdependent ES. By providing spatial information on ES connectivity, our approach enables local and regional environmental planning and management to take full consideration of the complex, multi-scale interactions between ecological processes, land use and land cover, and ecosystem service supply on a landscape.

Putting interactions on the map.

A method called functional connectivity mapping helps model some of the complex interactions between multiple ecosystem services.

Quantifying spatial non-stationarity in the relationship between landscape structure and the provision of ecosystem services: An example in the New Zealand hill country.

Knowing how landscape structure affects the provision of ecosystem services (ES) is an important first step toward better landscape planning. Because landscape structure is often heterogenous across space, modelling the relationship between landscape structure and the provision of ES must account for spatial non-stationarity. This paper examines the relationship between landscape structure and the provision of ES using a hill country and steep-land case farm in New Zealand. Indicators derived from land cover and topographical data such as Largest Patch Index (LPI), Contrast Class Edge (CCE), Edge Density (ED), and Terrain slope (SLOPE) were used to examine the landscape's structure and pattern. Measures of pasture productivity, soil erosion control, and water supply were derived with InVEST tools and spatial analysis in a GIS. Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) was used to evaluate the relationship between indicators of landscape structure and the provisioning of ES. Other regression models, including Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), were carried out to evaluate the performance of MGWR. Results showed that landscape patterns significantly affect the supply of all mapped ES, and this varies across the landscape, dependent on the pattern of topographical features and land cover pattern and structure. MWGR outperformed other OLS and GWR in terms of explanatory power of the ES determinants and had a better ability to deal with the presence of spatial autocorrelation. Spatially and quantitatively detailed variations of the relationship between landscape structure and the provision of ES provide a scientific basis to inform the design of sustainable multifunctional landscapes. Information derived from this analysis can be used for spatial planning of farmed landscapes to promote multiple ES which meet multiple sustainable development objectives.

Adaptation and transformation planning for resilient social-ecological system in coastal wetland using spatial-temporal simulation.

Coastal wetlands comprise unique ecological systems such as tidal flats and wetlands coexisting with marine and terrestrial ecosystems. The Songdo wetlands in South Korea are adjacent to the Yellow Sea, and were once composed mainly of tidal flats, but as urbanization progressed, their social-ecological system changed. The social system created by land reclamation and development reduced the migratory bird population and the tidal flat area, damaging the ecological system. This study suggests adaptation and transformation plans by analyzing land use change and fragmentation of the Songdo wetlands using spatial-temporal simulation. System dynamics and GIS were used in the process of analyzing land use change through spatial-temporal simulation, and FRAGSTATS was used in the analysis of wetland fragmentation. Scenario 1 (current state maintenance) presents adaptation plans to increase the connectivity of wetland patches, since fragmentation has not progressed to the extent of wetland system collapse. In Scenario 2 (development acceleration), since the wetland system causes serious fragmentation in terms of area and shape, we propose transformation plans such as disaster response to the collapse of the ecological system and qualitative improvement of wildlife habitat. In Scenario 3 (wetland restoration), proposes transformation plans from the network and modularization perspective in response to quantitative restoration and morphological fragmentation of wetlands. The adaptation and transformation plans presented in this study can provide prediction results suitable for various contingencies such as the current state, acceleration of development, and wetlands restoration. This study is also meaningful in that it proposes plans from the perspective of resilience by predicting the change of the Songdo area, which is scheduled to be developed by 2030.

Planning nature-based solutions: Principles, steps, and insights.

Nature-based solutions (NBS) find increasing attention as actions to address societal challenges through harnessing ecological processes, yet knowledge gaps exist regarding approaches to landscape planning with NBS. This paper aims to provide suggestions of how planning NBS can be conceptualized and applied in practice. We develop a framework for planning NBS by merging insights from literature and a case study in the Lahn river landscape, Germany. Our framework relates to three key criteria that define NBS, and consists of six steps of planning: Co-define setting, Understand challenges, Create visions and scenarios, Assess potential impacts, Develop solution strategies, and Realize and monitor. Its implementation is guided by five principles, namely Place-specificity, Evidence base, Integration, Equity, and Transdisciplinarity. Drawing on the empirical insights from the case study, we suggest suitable methods and a checklist of supportive procedures for applying the framework in practice. Taken together, our framework can facilitate planning NBS and provides further steps towards mainstreaming.

The Construction and Validation of a Sustainable Tourism Development Evaluation Model.

As climate change, food crises, sustainable development, and ecological conservation gain traction, the revival of traditional fishing villages has become an important governmental policy for Taiwan. To reduce cognitive bias, the choice experiment method was applied to construct an attribute function in fishing village tourism coupled with virtual reality headsets. Conditional logit and random parameter logit models were employed to estimate tourism utility functions. Moreover, a latent class model was employed to determine whether hetxerogeneous preferences regarding fishing village travel existed. The sampling sites were distributed across the Dongshi area. In total, 612 tourists and 170 local residents were interviewed. After incomplete questionnaires were removed, 816 valid questionnaires remained, representing 95.83% of the total questionnaires. Older residents and residents with shorter histories of education were inclined to increase land development and utilization by reducing natural landscapes; tourists preferred preserving landscapes and preventing land development. Residents with more education believed that local landscape imagery was essential. Tourists who were more educated, with high incomes, and those who were older believed that a selling platform incorporating local industries and products within the villages would be attractive for other tourists.

The Analysis of Green Areas' Accessibility in Comparison with Statistical Data in Poland.

The study discusses the problem of public green areas' accessibility for the residents of large cities in Poland. The purpose of the research is to assess the possibility of applying the British Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard (ANGSt) method in determining the amount of natural green space available to residents in Polish conditions including, in particular, the assessment of accessibility using data collected by the Central Statistical Office and the verification of results based on detailed research. The identification of green areas for 18 voivodeship cities in Poland was prepared using the GIS programme, taking into account public green space, provided for general access and free of change. The verification of the ANGSt method consisted of mapping spatial barriers extending the route of access either on foot or by roads as well as closed private areas. The conducted research revealed that, after taking into account the access routes to selected areas, the distance to public green areas increased, on average, from 50 m in the smallest cities (Gorzów Wielkopolski and Olsztyn) to as much as 450 m in Warszawa. A detailed analysis showed that the discussed accessibility was reduced, on average, by almost 10% for the residents of the analysed cities. It was also found that the introduced barriers did not affect the accessibility of more distant, larger green space areas.

Preserving air pollution forest archives accessible through dendrochemistry.

Plants are continuously exposed to human air pollution, absorbing pollutants in their tissues. Trees can store pollutants in wood, in the annual growth rings, retaining traces of pollutants in the environment. Information on past pollution events are archived by trees, which dendrochemistry, a dendrochronological science combined with chemistry, is able to access. Many authors have suggested that trees could complement the conventional environmental monitoring: a forest archive of pollution events. However, the implications of trees occurrence in polluted areas on planning and management have not yet been discussed. In this article, we investigate whether forest archives exist and whether they should be integrated into the network of existing monitoring stations. We use a case study, the Veneto region of Italy, one of the most polluted areas in Europe, to examine the occurrence of trees around 28 industrial plants retrieved from a European pollution register. We propose planning actions to develop the latent potential of these forest archives for environmental monitoring, which society may benefit. We follow three steps: (a) assessing the cover and composition of tree canopies around the industrial plants, (b) inventorying the existing artificial air monitoring stations in order to discover whether pollutants around the industrial plants are already monitored, (c) assessing land use patterns in order to identify which are the receptors of air pollution and enhance the forest archive in the future. These spatial analyses are conducted in a 1-km radius buffer with the industrial plant as the centre. Results show that forest archives are available, with cover and composition suitable for dendrochemistry studies. Artificial monitoring stations are too far from industrial plants or have been installed recently, unable to provide historical data. Trees are an alternative source of pollution data. Receptors of air pollution include a diversity of urban, rural and agricultural lands, where forest archives can be managed and conserved through a variety of actions. Environmental protection agencies should value these trees, preserving them and accessing the records held in this forest archive. Similar inventories must be promoted in other industrialised regions of the world even at larger scales. Studies like this one should also be incorporated into landscape or urban planning processes.

Land-use changes in the periurban interface: Hydrologic consequences on a flatland-watershed scale.

The aim of this work was to analyze the hydrologic effects on surface runoff and infiltration of changes in land use and land coverage. The periurban-flatland watershed of El Pescado Creek (Argentina) was the study site investigated. We used Geographic-Information-System techniques together with the curve-number method (CN) to estimate the surface runoff in five land-use scenarios having increasing levels of anthropic impact (years 1986, 1996, 2006, 2016, and 2026) considering two rainfalls and the antecedent-runoff conditions (ARC) defined by that methodology. We identified three hydrologic-soil Groups (B, C, and D) and five land uses (grassland, forest, urbanization, greenhouses, and poultry farms). Land use and land coverage change process increased CN values, and consequently the estimated surface runoff, especially in the upper watershed. Changes towards impervious (687 ha with greenhouses and poultry farms) or semi-impervious land coverage (800 ha with urbanizations) affected infiltration. The most contrasting results were related to the ARC I, II, and III weighted-average infiltration of the watershed that diminished from above 93.0%, down to 88.5% and finally to 50.4%, respectively (calculated with data from the 55.8-mm rainfall), and from 86.6%, to 58.3%, and to finally 28.8% (calculated with data from the 117.8 mm rainfall). Simulating a near-future land-use scenario (year 2026) enabled us to estimate the watershed pattern by adding new area containing semi-impervious and impervious land coverage. The estimated weighted-average infiltrations (ARC II) were 81.3% and 54.9%, for the above 55.8-mm and 117.8-mm rainfalls, respectively. Changes concerning infiltration might be disturbing the natural recharging process of aquifers, carrying out modifications in the hydrodynamics of the watershed, and also affecting water supply for human activities in the territory.

An evaluation of environmental plans quality: Addressing the rational and communicative perspectives.

Environmental action plans are important instruments intended to provide sustainable solutions for the most pressing environmental issues. As they should be updated regularly, efforts to evaluate their quality are essential for enabling incremental improvements in upcoming versions. The aim of our study was to systematically evaluate the quality of Romania's Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAPs) by following a theoretical framework that includes principles from both rational and communicative approaches to assessing plan quality. We selected 32 LEAPs and applied an evaluation protocol that enabled a comprehensive assessment of the plans. Our results showed an overall moderate quality of the LEAPs. Although most plans identify many environmental problems in need of solutions, in reality additional urgent environmental problems often exist. Furthermore, LEAPs perform only moderately in identifying tools for implementation provisions and ensuring the participation of the public in the planning process, and they are even weaker in establishing goals and achieving coordination across different governmental levels. Overall the assessment reveals that plans are rarely able to craft an appealing policy message. Our findings could be used as guidance for LEAP coordinating agencies to improve the plans in the upcoming updating processes, as they identify plan weaknesses and suggest ways to achieve high quality environmental plans. Furthermore, our novel plan assessment method based on rational comprehensive and communicative approaches to plan quality evaluation can be adapted easily to other studies.

Environmental function zoning for spatially differentiated environmental policies in China.

Different regions in China face greatly dissimilar ecological and environmental problems due to large variations in natural conditions and socioeconomic development levels. Such spatial variability calls for regionalized environmental management and protection policies. Environmental function zoning is an effective tool for the design and implementation of differentiated environmental policies. To contain the ecological degradation in different regions of China, we first created a comprehensive environmental function evaluation index system that included 25 socioeconomic and environmental indicators for the three key elements of natural ecological security protection, healthy human living environment maintenance, and regional environment carrying capacity. To clarify the division of Chinese environmental function zoning in the new period, we use GIS and remote sensing technology. We generated 1-km resolution grid data for the 25 indicators and implemented this index system to evaluate the environmental function of the 2414 counties in China. Differentiated environmental management objectives and strategies were designed and implemented for different zones to avoid the phenomenon of one size fits all. This work lays a scientific foundation and provides a quantitative tool for the design and implementation of differentiated management. By considering not only the natural system but also the social and economic systems and their interactions, this evaluation of environmental function provides a more comprehensive view and thus offers new insights on balancing environmental protection and socioeconomic development.