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Biotope Area Factor: An Ecological Urban Index to Geovisualize Soil Sealing in Padua, Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Francesca Peroni

    (Department of Historical and Geographic Sciences and the Ancient World—DiSSGeA, University of Padova, 35141 Padova, Italy)

  • Guglielmo Pristeri

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Daniele Codato

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Salvatore Eugenio Pappalardo

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Massimo De Marchi

    (Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

Over the last few years, soil sealing has been recognized as one of the major threats in terms of soil degradation and loss of ecosystem services. Although many efforts have been promoted to increase the awareness of safeguarding soil for stakeholders, its value as a non-renewable resource as well as soil-related services in urban ecosystems is not implemented enough in urban planning and policies. Due to the spatially explicit component and the geographical scale of soil sealing, mapping and quantifying the number of sealed surfaces is crucial. The aim of this paper was to estimate and geovisualize the soil sealed in the city of Padua (Italy) at a very detailed scale, testing the use of the Biotope Area Factor (BAF) index. Moreover, the paper aimed to simulate an alternative mitigation scenario in a specific study area of the city. Spatial analysis was performed testing the BAF index in a Geographic Information Sistem (GIS) environment and using aerial ortho-photos at very high resolution. The results show different values of the BAF index for all four neighborhoods from 0.35 to 0.69. In the mitigation scenario, the value of the BAF index was improved using a measure of green roofs. In conclusion, the paper provides an insightful case study for enriching the debate about soil sealing and gives scientific support for sustainable urban planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesca Peroni & Guglielmo Pristeri & Daniele Codato & Salvatore Eugenio Pappalardo & Massimo De Marchi, 2019. "Biotope Area Factor: An Ecological Urban Index to Geovisualize Soil Sealing in Padua, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2019:i:1:p:150-:d:301279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kamila Pawłowska & Bartosz Jawecki, 2021. "The Determination of Priority Areas for the Construction of Green Roofs with Use of the Urban Area Valorisation Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-24, November.
    2. Zongyao Sha & Dai Qiu & Husheng Fang & Yichun Xie & Jiangguang Tu & Xicheng Tan & Xiaolei Li & Jiangping Chen, 2022. "Assessing the Potential of Vegetation Carbon Uptake from Optimal Land Management in the Greater Guangzhou Area," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Anna Codemo & Angelica Pianegonda & Marco Ciolli & Sara Favargiotti & Rossano Albatici, 2022. "Mapping Pervious Surfaces and Canopy Cover Using High-Resolution Airborne Imagery and Digital Elevation Models to Support Urban Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, May.

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