Another question was asked about the actual sustainability assessment of NBS.
In other words, NBS are nowadays often sought because they are capable of
improving a certain element of an urban system, improve its performances with
respect to a specific aspect (e.g. green facades to improve the thermal comfort in
buildings and reduce heating and cooling loads) or supposedly increase people
well-being. But is the lifecycle sustainability of NBS systematically assessed? Are
we ready to provide holistic assessments of NBS, or are we rather running the risk
of swooping on NBS without evaluating any possible side effect? The answer to
this question can be found in the consistent application of holistic (lifecycle based)
assessment of NBS, as proposed in Nature4Cities.
References
1. Vanlande R, Nicolle C, Cruz C, IFC and building lifecycle management, Automation in
Construction, Vol. 18, 2008, pp. 70–8.
2. Schlueter A, Thesseling F, Building information model based energy/exergy performance
assessment in early design stages. Automation in Construction, Vol. 18, 2009, pp. 153–63.
3. Jrade A, Jalaei F, Integrating building information modelling with sustainability to design
building projects at the conceptual stage, Building Simulation; Vol. 6, 2013, pp. 429–44.
4. Stoter J, Beetz J, Ledoux H, Reuvers M, Klooster R, Janssen P, et al., Implementation of a
National 3D Standard: Case of the Netherlands. In: Pouliot et al. (eds). Prog. New Trends 3D
Geoinformation Sci., Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2013, pp. 277–98.
5. van den Brink L, Stoter J, Zlatanova S, Establishing a national standard for 3D topographic
data compliant to CityGML. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Vol.
27, 2013, pp. 92–113.
6. Zlatanova S, Itard L, Kibria MS, van Dorst M. A user requirements study of digital 3D
models for urban renewal. Open House International, Vol. 35, 2010, pp. 37–46.
7. Faivre N, Fritz M, Freitas T, de Boissezon B, Vandewoestijne S. Nature-Based Solutions in
the EU: Innovating with nature to address social, economic and environmental challenges.
Environmental Research, Vol. 159, 2017, pp. 509–518.
8. European Commission, EC Towards an EU Research and Innovation policy agenda for
Nature-Based Solutions & Re-Naturing Cities, 2015.
9. Eggermont H, et al., Nature-based Solutions: New Influence for Environmental Management
and Research in Europe. GAIA—Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, Vol. 24(4),
2015, pp. 243–248.
10. Maes J, Jacobs S, Nature-Based Solutions for Europe’s Sustainable Development.
Conservation Letters, Vol. 10(1), 2017, pp. 121–124.
11.
12. Anand C K, Amor B, Recent developments, future challenges and new research directions in
LCA of buildings: A critical review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 67,
2017, pp. 408–416.
13. Zabalza Bribián I, Capilla A V, Aranda Usón A, Life cycle assessment of building materials:
Comparative analysis of energy and environmental impacts and evaluation of the
eco-efficiency improvement potential, Building and Environment, Vol. 46, 2011,
pp. 1133–1140.
14. Eleftheriadis S, Mumovic D, Greening P, Life cycle energy efficiency in building structures:
A review of current developments and future outlooks based on BIM capabilities, Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 67, 2017, pp. 811–825.
266
A. Marvuglia et al.
In other words, NBS are nowadays often sought because they are capable of
improving a certain element of an urban system, improve its performances with
respect to a specific aspect (e.g. green facades to improve the thermal comfort in
buildings and reduce heating and cooling loads) or supposedly increase people
well-being. But is the lifecycle sustainability of NBS systematically assessed? Are
we ready to provide holistic assessments of NBS, or are we rather running the risk
of swooping on NBS without evaluating any possible side effect? The answer to
this question can be found in the consistent application of holistic (lifecycle based)
assessment of NBS, as proposed in Nature4Cities.
References
1. Vanlande R, Nicolle C, Cruz C, IFC and building lifecycle management, Automation in
Construction, Vol. 18, 2008, pp. 70–8.
2. Schlueter A, Thesseling F, Building information model based energy/exergy performance
assessment in early design stages. Automation in Construction, Vol. 18, 2009, pp. 153–63.
3. Jrade A, Jalaei F, Integrating building information modelling with sustainability to design
building projects at the conceptual stage, Building Simulation; Vol. 6, 2013, pp. 429–44.
4. Stoter J, Beetz J, Ledoux H, Reuvers M, Klooster R, Janssen P, et al., Implementation of a
National 3D Standard: Case of the Netherlands. In: Pouliot et al. (eds). Prog. New Trends 3D
Geoinformation Sci., Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 2013, pp. 277–98.
5. van den Brink L, Stoter J, Zlatanova S, Establishing a national standard for 3D topographic
data compliant to CityGML. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, Vol.
27, 2013, pp. 92–113.
6. Zlatanova S, Itard L, Kibria MS, van Dorst M. A user requirements study of digital 3D
models for urban renewal. Open House International, Vol. 35, 2010, pp. 37–46.
7. Faivre N, Fritz M, Freitas T, de Boissezon B, Vandewoestijne S. Nature-Based Solutions in
the EU: Innovating with nature to address social, economic and environmental challenges.
Environmental Research, Vol. 159, 2017, pp. 509–518.
8. European Commission, EC Towards an EU Research and Innovation policy agenda for
Nature-Based Solutions & Re-Naturing Cities, 2015.
9. Eggermont H, et al., Nature-based Solutions: New Influence for Environmental Management
and Research in Europe. GAIA—Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society, Vol. 24(4),
2015, pp. 243–248.
10. Maes J, Jacobs S, Nature-Based Solutions for Europe’s Sustainable Development.
Conservation Letters, Vol. 10(1), 2017, pp. 121–124.
11.
12. Anand C K, Amor B, Recent developments, future challenges and new research directions in
LCA of buildings: A critical review, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 67,
2017, pp. 408–416.
13. Zabalza Bribián I, Capilla A V, Aranda Usón A, Life cycle assessment of building materials:
Comparative analysis of energy and environmental impacts and evaluation of the
eco-efficiency improvement potential, Building and Environment, Vol. 46, 2011,
pp. 1133–1140.
14. Eleftheriadis S, Mumovic D, Greening P, Life cycle energy efficiency in building structures:
A review of current developments and future outlooks based on BIM capabilities, Renewable
and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 67, 2017, pp. 811–825.
266
A. Marvuglia et al.