The effect of urban density, green spaces and mobility patterns in cities’ environmental quality: An empirical study of the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki
It has been proved that urban development patterns affect in various ways cities’ environmental quality. To this purpose, one of the factors that have been examined is the role of urban green spaces, in balancing the effects of human activities in dense urban landscapes. One of the major ex...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Institute of Architecture, Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Spatium |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-569X/2015/1450-569X1533008V.pdf |
| Summary: | It has been proved that urban development patterns affect in various ways
cities’ environmental quality. To this purpose, one of the factors that have
been examined is the role of urban green spaces, in balancing the effects of
human activities in dense urban landscapes. One of the major external costs
of dense urban environment is smog and greenhouse gas emissions that are
heavily related to existing mobility patterns. High levels of concentration
of such emissions along with high urban density are considered to be the main
reason for cities’ environmental degradation. In this context this paper
presents the results of a study investigating how urban green spaces can
improve air quality, in major transportation axis within the city of
Thessaloniki. In order to do so, urban density along the axis, green space
per capita, green space spatial distribution, mobility patterns and transport
emissions volumes are being considered. Comparison of these indices among the
transportation axis under study indicates that there is a positive relation
between building density, urban density and volume of emissions observed,
while a dispersed rather than a concentrated pattern of green spaces could
better help improve cities’ environmental quality. |
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| ISSN: | 1450-569X 2217-8066 |