Short answer

When designing for urban regeneration, actively seek opportunities to implement green infrastructure on vacant lots, considering their potential for stormwater management, ecological enhancement, and community benefit.

Field: Sustainability
Source: Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (2015)
Method: Spatial analysis and landscape modeling
Evidence: Strong effect

Strategically integrating green infrastructure into vacant urban properties can simultaneously address blight, enhance ecosystem services, and improve human well-being. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Deep Blue (University of Michigan). Using Spatial analysis and landscape modeling, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for urban regeneration, actively seek opportunities to implement green infrastructure on vacant lots, considering their potential for stormwater management, ecological enhancement, and community benefit.

Study

SustainabilityHigh ImpactStrong effect

Prioritizing Vacant Urban Lots for Green Infrastructure Yields Multifunctional Benefits

Strategically integrating green infrastructure into vacant urban properties can simultaneously address blight, enhance ecosystem services, and improve human well-being.

Deep Blue (University of Michigan) · 2015

Key Findings

01Vacant lots constitute a significant portion of the urban landscape in areas experiencing decline.
02Green infrastructure can serve as a multifunctional solution to address blight, enhance ecosystem services, and improve public health.
03Spatial modeling is an effective tool for identifying optimal sites for green infrastructure implementation.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

Conduct a spatial analysis of vacant properties in a target urban area, overlaying data on environmental needs (e.g., stormwater runoff) and community benefits to prioritize sites for green infrastructure development.

Project actions

01Clearly define the criteria for 'vacant' and 'prioritized' in your project.
02Use GIS or similar tools to visualize and analyze spatial data effectively.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can vacant urban properties be spatially analyzed and prioritized for the development of green infrastructure to achieve multifunctional benefits?

MethodSpatial analysis and landscape modeling

ProcedureDeveloped spatial models to synthesize opportunities for stormwater management and vacant lot feasibility, leading to prioritized green infrastructure strategies for a specific urban neighborhood.

ContextUrban planning and landscape design

Variables

IVCharacteristics of vacant properties (e.g., size, location, proximity to infrastructure)

DVSuitability and prioritization score for green infrastructure development

CVNeighborhood characteristics (e.g., level of vacancy, existing urban fabric)

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Integrates multiple planning and design considerations.
+Provides a replicable methodology for site prioritization.

Limitations

The availability and accuracy of spatial data can be a challenge. Local community input is crucial but may not always be readily incorporated into initial spatial models.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the spatial models depends on the quality and consistency of the input data. Validity is enhanced by the multi-criteria approach, which considers various aspects of site suitability.

Think critically

To what extent can a purely spatial analysis account for the social and cultural values of a landscape, and how might these factors influence the success of green infrastructure implementation?

Design Principles

"Transform underutilized urban spaces into multifunctional green infrastructure assets."

This approach offers a proactive design strategy for urban regeneration, transforming underutilized or derelict spaces into valuable community assets. It demonstrates how design can directly contribute to ecological resilience and social equity within urban environments.

What This Means for Your Design

Using maps and data, designers can find the best empty lots in a city to turn into green spaces that help with rain, nature, and people's health.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the strategic placement of design interventions in urban environments, particularly concerning the use of vacant land for sustainable solutions.

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Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research demonstrates a systematic approach to identifying and prioritizing vacant urban properties for green infrastructure development, highlighting the potential for such interventions to address multiple urban challenges simultaneously, including blight, stormwater management, and ecological enhancement.

Source

Deep Blue (University of Michigan)

Prioritizing Vacant Properties for Green Infrastructure: A Landscape Analysis in Spatial Planning, and Design Approach for Siting Green Infrastructure in Moderately to Highly Vacant Urban Neighborhoods

journal · 2015

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Questions About This Research

What does the research say about prioritizing vacant urban lots for green infrastructure yields multifunctional benefits?: When designing for urban regeneration, actively seek opportunities to implement green infrastructure on vacant lots, considering their potential for stormwater management, ecological enhancement, and community benefit. Evidence: Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (2015).
Why does "Prioritizing Vacant Urban Lots for Green Infrastructure Yields Multifunctional Benefits" matter for design?: This approach offers a proactive design strategy for urban regeneration, transforming underutilized or derelict spaces into valuable community assets. It demonstrates how design can directly contribute to ecological resilience and social equity within urban environments.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing for urban regeneration, actively seek opportunities to implement green infrastructure on vacant lots, considering their potential for stormwater management, ecological enhancement, and community benefit.
What were the main findings?: Vacant lots constitute a significant portion of the urban landscape in areas experiencing decline.. Green infrastructure can serve as a multifunctional solution to address blight, enhance ecosystem services, and improve public health.. Spatial modeling is an effective tool for identifying optimal sites for green infrastructure implementation.
What research method was used?: Spatial analysis and landscape modeling.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2015 journal from Deep Blue (University of Michigan).
What should I do differently in my next project?: Conduct a spatial analysis of vacant properties in a target urban area, overlaying data on environmental needs (e.g., stormwater runoff) and community benefits to prioritize sites for green infrastructure development.
What are the limitations?: The effectiveness of the approach may vary depending on the specific urban context, local regulations, and community engagement levels.