The project foresees one work package for the management activities (WP1), one for dissemination and outreach (WP5), while the technical core of the project is developed in other three work packages (WP2, 3,4):
WP 2 – Review of existing knowledge and experience of NBS for urban issues
To build on the existing knowledge and body of research on NBS, this work package identifies and reviews the best practices on NBS for the different identified urban issues. Key aspects include costs for NBS implementation, estimation of the potential benefits, beneficiaries, and qualitative trade-offs.
Based on the review, a set of indicators will be identified to measure NBS performance by considering bio-physical and climate aspects; ecological conditions; human health and well-being; economy; social groups, and spatial relations among urban features.
WP 3 – Spatial Decision Support System design and set up
To design a multi-criteria spatial decision support system and advise on the creation of Spatial Plans of NBS, this work package selects, standardizes, and aggregates selected indicators into a synthetic index to best describe the relevant different conditions/needs (heat island, flood susceptibility, urban services spatial inequalities, quality of the urban environment, etc.) that could directly influence the urban demand for NBS.
Within the WP3, a possible set of NBS will be chosen, and single sub-modules of the SDSS will be used to model NBS scenarios under specific urban challenges in a spatially explicit way, allowing to geographically identify where the potential benefits and trade-offs of NBS can be generated and therefore how many beneficiaries will be positively affected.
In addition, a Benefit Assessment Module within a GIS inter-exchangeable interface will allow the spatial assessment of NBS considering benefits, co-benefits, and qualitative trade-offs by their deployment.
WP 4 – Application of SDSS to selected case studies
To enable systemic implementation of NBS, this work package applies the SDSS to selected case studies, to be chosen among medium-sized Italian municipalities. The result will be Spatial Plans with scenarios of NBS that match the local socio-ecological characteristics and address the relevant urban challenges.
The WP4 also identifies exemplary cost-effective NBS and the conditions under which the benefits can be maximized, thus providing protocols for the design, construction, deployment and monitoring of cost-effective and just NBS.
