Alessio RussoUniversity of Gloucestershire · Architecture, Construction and Environment (ACE)
Alessio Russo
PhD
Academic Course Leader in MA Landscape Architecture
About
63
Publications
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1,051
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Introduction
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Sustainable design;
Urban ecosystem services and disservices;
Outdoor thermal comfort and mitigation of the urban heat island effect;
Conservation and restoration of historic gardens;
Biophilic urbanism and green infrastructure;
Urban agriculture.
Additional affiliations
October 2018 - January 2019
April 2016 - February 2018
Position
- Head of Laboratory of Urban and Landscape Design
Description
- Head of Laboratory of Urban and Landscape Design
September 2014 - November 2014
Publications
Publications (63)
The Special Issue seeks to integrate research, techniques, and tools that combine assessments on both ecosystem services and the impact of investments on ecosystems according to Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) criteria.
The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Multiple aspects of the environmental-economic...
Urban ecosystems are under pressure as a result of rapid urbanization. When compared to more profitable residential, commercial, and industrial land uses, such ecosystems are rarely economically competitive. The research shows that the multifaceted wellbeing that people gain from nature has decreased as a result of the changing human–nature relatio...
Brownfield regeneration using a rewilding approach could provide an opportunity to create new green spaces in our cities. However, studies on public perceptions of rewilding projects are limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to better understand the public’s perspective of brownfield regeneration and the perceived advantages that these regen...
Willemijn Wilms Floet URBAN OASES Dutch Hofjes as Hidden Architectural Gems. nai010 publishers, 2021. ISBN 978-94-6208-660-9. € 39.95, paperback (Also available in Dutch and as e-book in English and Dutch). pp. 208, with illustrations (220 full color).
Several studies have indicated that children who grow up in green environments enjoy beneficial impacts on their development. However, to date, very little attention has been paid to the types and characteristics of dedicated public open green space for children. In addition, studies on biophilic design that could help landscape architects to desig...
Gardens are places where science and art combine to create environments that often offer restorative and therapeutic experience to those who encounter them. During the Covid-19 pandemic, in the UK and elsewhere there has been a surge of interest in gardening. Public appreciation of gardens and other green spaces has grown and inequality of access t...
This paper aimed to investigate the driving factors for the creation of urban wetlands and their functions and uses. A mixed methods approach was used, comprising an online survey for the general public and structured interviews with four urban wetland 'experts'. Quantitative data was obtained from the survey, and cross tabulation was used to analy...
The dynamic and heterogeneity of the urban heat island (UHI) is the result of the interactions between biotic, physical, social, and built components. Urban ecology as a transdisciplinary science can provide a context to understand the complex social-biophysical issues such as the thermal environment in cities. This study aimed at developing a theo...
Green spaces unquestionably improve both physical and mental health, but there is little information on how they affect quality of life. This study investigates whether the public perception of how local green spaces and their impact on quality of life have altered as a result of restrictions imposed by the U.K.'s SARS-CoV-2 pandemic containment st...
Persian gardens have been an essential component of Iranian urban and architectural history for almost 2500 years. Persian gardens continued to provide provisioning services (i.e. food production) until the twentieth century when their status and role switched from productive to ornamental gardens. In this study, we conducted interviews and field s...
In recent years, the pressing environmental, social, and economic problems affecting cities have resulted in the integration of the disciplines of landscape architecture and urban forestry via a transdisciplinary approach to urban planning and design. Now, new urban forestry approaches and concepts have emerged for more sustainable city planning. T...
Economic, social and environmental sustainability are becoming more important in urban and territorial development policies in Europe and internationally. Recently, the United States and Europe have put forth the green deals proposing programmatic provisions for achieving territorial sustainability through the redevelopment of brownfield land into...
Despite the evidence on the cooling effects of urban green spaces (UGS), little is known about how they function
as an interconnected network of cold green patches or a green heat sink (GHS) within an urban landscape. This
study aimed to analyze the general spatial pattern and connectivity of GHSs using the pertinent indices and
Circuitcape tool in...
Regional parks are large areas of land preserved on account of the wildlife value, natural beauty, cultural and historic interest, or recreational use of the landscape. They are usually within close proximity to urban areas and can span political and administrative boundaries. This study used qualitative research methods and GIS to explore the pote...
The purpose of this research is to look at how primary schools in England have adapted their outdoor spaces in the context of COVID-19 rules and guidelines to meet the needs of students returning from school closures and national lockdown of Spring/Summer 2020, how that impacted play and learning value of their grounds, and to consider how these fi...
By 2030, we should have universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible green and public places, especially for women and children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, according to the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the increasing privatisation of land and gentrification of the urban landscape is putting a limit on the amount of...
The management of urban forests is a key element of resilience planning in cities across the globe. Urban forests provide ecosystem services as well as other nature based solutions to 4.2 billion people living in cities. However, to continue to do so effectively, urban forests need to be able to thrive in an increasingly changing climate. Trees in...
Human settlements are comprehensive, i.e., shaped by human ecology and the relationship between humans as a social being and biological organisms and their interaction with their environments. This chapter explores urban morphology and landscape ecology as a pretext to a wider examination of the vast scholarship of why humans settle where they sett...
Historic gardens have the ability to provide several ecosystem services in cities, including provisioning services (i.e., food production). The historic gardens in Iran (known as "Persian Gar-dens") have never been considered as places that could be used for food production. As a result, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the Irani...
Globally, urbanization has strong impacts on biodiversity, ecological patterns and processes, and ecosystem services. Biodiversity loss due to the rapid expansion of cities and towns may have significant repercussions for human health. However, several studies have reported that increasing and restoring biodiversity in cities can provide several ec...
This essay considers the rural-to-urban transition and correlates it with urban energy demands. Three distinct themes are inspected and interrelated to develop awareness for an urbanizing world: internal urban design and innovation, technical transition, and geopolitical change. Data were collected on the use of energy in cities and, by extension,...
The term ecosystem services was coined to describe the societal benefit that natural ecosystems provide, as well as to raise awareness about biodiversity and ecosystem conservation [...]
More communities around the world are recognizing the benefits of green infrastructure (GI) and are planting millions of trees to improve air quality and overall well-being in cities. However, there is a need for accurate tools that can measure and value these benefits whilst also informing the community and city managers. In recent years, several...
This book is inspired by the two decades of exploratory urban research the two editors have ensued, specifically, sustainability and ecosystem services. In particular, the editors believe that ecosystem services should not be underestimated by those involved in city policy and the design and planning of urban environments. We live in an era of socie...
41599_2019_377_MOESM1_ESM.pdf
Urbanization is increasingly putting pressures on biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services. Evidence indicates that green and blue spaces can support the mental health of urban residents. Policy makers, city planners, other decision makers, healthcare professionals, and land managers now face a major challenge
to maintain and enhance natural...
Green spaces have been put forward as contributing to good mental health. In an urban context, space is a scarce resource while urbanisation and climate change are increasingly putting pressure on
existing urban green space infrastructures and increasing morbidity caused by mental health disorders. Policy makers, designers, planners and other pract...
Maintaining ecosystem services is a key adaption option towards sustainable cities and adaptive societies in securing citizens’ health and wellbeing. This research investigates the contribution of using urban green space components as the basic units in green infrastructure strategy planning for urban ecosystem conditions and services. A total of 9...
More than half of the world’s population lives in urban ecosystems [...]
Edible urban commons can aid recovery from the pandemic-induced crises, and build urban resilience to future disruptions.
Ten identified edible green infrastructure (EGI)-related urban regeneration case studies within the Campania region, Italy, are explored in relation to local community development, involvement, and education. Urban space and agriculture are promoted as sustainably planned networks for edible food components and structures. Within an urban ecosystem...
In consideration of the three pillars of sustainability, alongside the environment, social andeconomic dimensions interplay valuable insight into how society is molded and what key componentsshould be considered. In terms of social sustainability, there are processes and framework objectivesthat promote wellbeing integral to the balance of people,...
Urban sustainability depends on ecosystem services and biodiversity which directly affects quality of urban life. At present, urbanization is having a drastic effect on the way human beings interact with the world around us. Urbanized environments tend to lessen the amount of habitat and increase habitat fragmentation. This important factor stresse...
In consideration of the three pillars of sustainability, alongside the environment, social and economic dimensions interplay valuable insight into how society is molded and what key components should be considered. In terms of social sustainability, there are processes and framework objectives that promote wellbeing integral to the balance of peopl...
Climate action plans, with goals for carbon neutrality of cities, often rely on estimates of urban forest biomass and related annual carbon sequestration balanced against citywide carbon emissions. For these estimates to be successful, there is a need both for accurate quantification of urban tree populations and structure, and consideration of the...
Sustainable Interdisciplinarity focuses on human–nature relations and a multitude of contemporary overlapping research between society and the environment. A variety of disciplines have played a large part in better understanding sustainable development since its high-profile emergence approximately a quarter century ago. At present, the forefront...
Sustainable interdisciplinarity focuses on human–nature relations and a multitude of contemporary overlapping research between society and the environment. A variety of disciplines have played a large part in better understanding sustainable development since its high-profile emergence approximately a quarter century ago. At present, the forefront...
Urban and peri-urban agriculture can have negative effects (i.e., ecosystem disservices) to the city ecosystem. In the last two decades, urbanists and landscape planners have promoted urban agriculture and food systems with little attention to ecosystem disservices. At present, increased urbanisation, environmental degradation, population growth an...
The main objective of this essay is to illustrate the state-of-the-art on ‘mental health-sensitive’ open space design in the built environment. Urban Green Blue Infrastructure can contribute to urbanites’ mental health and wellbeing as well as healthy aging, while providing co-benefits balancing the negative impacts of climate change, through the p...
Various studies have been conducted on the relationship between exposure to the nature and human health and well-being. Simultaneously, the heterogeneity of objectives, theoretical frameworks, and research methods make the comparison of results and establishment of overall messages difficult. Research on the relationship between urban green and blu...
Key words: bluegreen infrastructure, rain gardens, urban stormwater runoff, water sensi ve urban design. Abstract: Several laboratory studies have shown the ability of bioreten on sys tems to remove pollutants from stormwater. However, to our knowledge, no exis ng research has addressed the use of ornamental shrubs for improving water quality in bi...
Considering ecosystem disservices (EDS) of urban forests alongside the services (ES) can lead to better-informed decisions about tree species selection and placement in cities. Finding a common assessment framework, that does not rely on a financial model, can be tricky, and many studies consider, but do not include, EDS in their tree appraisals. C...
This 2nd collection of case studies, the Compendium of Inspiring Practices: Health Edition, showcases 20 urban and territorial planning projects that positively and explicitly contribute to human health through the improvement of the built and natural environment.
The modern compact city is identified as a high-density and mixed-use pattern. Its features are believed to contribute to a form of functional urban design that supports sustainability and, restresses, the importance of ecosystem services. Urban green space (UGS) plays a vital role in the design and impact on how compact cities have developed and t...
1. Urban forest ecosystems confer multiple ecosystem services. There is therefore a need to quantify ecological characteristics in terms of community structure and composition so that benefits can be better understood in ecosystem service models. Efficient sampling and monitoring methods are crucial in this process. 2 Full tree inventories are scar...
Trees play an important role for the improvement of environmental quality in urban areas. The improvement of
microclimate, runoff mitigation, carbon storage and sequestration, noise reduction, air purification through removal and fixation of pollutants in leaves, stems, and roots are ecosystem services provided by urban greening. Additionally, the...
Hypothetical research into how the introduction and utilization of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) could be instituted into Nigeria’s higher education scheme, as a means to improve environmental awareness and sustainable development practices on university campuses, is explored. Qualitative methodologies are utilized based on reviewed litera...
Cities currently face a number of environmental issues which influence the wellbeing and everyday lives of millions worldwide. The latest United Nations projections indicate that world population will
reach 10 billion by the year 2050. In response to rapid population growth, we need to find innovative
approaches (e.g. biophilia, ecopolis and ecocit...
Recently published green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem disservices (ED) literature have focused primarily on the supply of urban regulating and cultural ecosystem services (ES). Other literature on urban and peri-urban agriculture has mostly studied the role of localized, intensive agricultural practices in providing food to...
More than half the world's population now lives in cities. According to a United Nations report, urbanisation combined with overall growth of population could add another 2.5 billion people to urban areas by 2050. As a result of urbanisation, many cities are facing social and environmental problems that have seriously compromised citizens' health a...
International-renowned forecasting of urban development in coastal environments indicates an increased exposure to the risks of climatic events by way of natural hazards. This indication indirectly exacerbates the vulnerability of relating coastal communities. Using this viewpoint, a decade long study between 2000-2010 conceptualises a considerable...
Bioindicators are organisms able to provide indirectly or directly
information on the impact of pollutants in the environment.
The content of heavy metals or other toxic compounds
in these living organisms is of great interest to assess the
level of contaminants. Leaves of the most common deciduous
trees (Acer pseudoplatanus L., Betula pendula Roth...
Urban green infrastructure has the potential to offer multiple ecosystem services to society. However, there is little information about the role of these tree dominated, public streetscapes on the local-scale provision of ecosystem services in European mid-sized cities. In the present study, we explored the local-scale effects of different tree do...
Recent climate change, environmental design, and ecological conservation policies require new and existing urban developments to mitigate and offset carbon dioxide emissions and for cities to become carbon neutral. Some North American models and tools are available and can be used to quantify the carbon offset function of urban trees. But, little i...
![Figure 1: CO 2 emissions in Bolzano [data from Sparber et al. (2010)].](profile/Alessio-Russo-4/publication/315794730/figure/fig12/AS:659796013379595@1534319036358/CO-2-emissions-in-Bolzano-data-from-Sparber-et-al-2010_Q320.jpg)
Population growth in urban areas is a world-wide phenomenon. According to a recent United Nations report, over half of the world now lives in cities. Numerous health and environmental issues arise from this unprecedented urbanization. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of urban green spaces and the role they play in improving both t...
Projects
Projects (9)
This project investigates both the challenges and the multi-functional benefits of rewilding in urban contexts. Focusing on and collaborating with local authorities, public land managers and
local communities, it examines the implementation challenges and consequences of moving towards "wild" aesthetics and management aims. It explores what local authorities hope to
accomplish through current policy initiatives and the difficulties of making those aspirations a reality. In association with this, it investigates the interface between biodiversity ambitions and
whether changes in objectives/aesthetics ultimately reinforce or eliminate disparities in access to, and experiences of, green space. The main objective of this research is to create a set of
resources able to help local authorities and other land managers determine how, where and what ‘types’ of urban rewilding can benefit local communities in provisioning health and
wellbeing through access to increased and higher quality green infrastructure (GI), alongside solutions for avoiding disbenefit and creation or amplification of inequality. “This work has been supported by the UKRI-funded RECLAIM Network Plus grant (EP/W034034/1)
I welcome enquiries from prospective students.
Research topics:
Nature-based solutions; biophilic urbanism; green infrastructure; urban agriculture; urban green spaces and health; ecological landscape design; sustainable planning; cultural landscapes; sustainable landscape architecture; urban ecosystem services and disservices; microclimatic landscape design.
https://www.glos.ac.uk/courses/course/rscne-phd-architecture-construction-and-environment/
Title: From Smart Urban Forests to Edible Cities: New Approaches in Urban Planning and Design
Editor(s): Alessio Russo (University of Gloucestershire, UK) and Francisco Escobedo (Pacific Southwest Research Station, USA)
Submission of Abstracts: 1-15 June 2021
Submission of Full Papers: 15-30 October 2021
Publication of the Issue: April/June 2022
Information: The latest United Nations projection shows the world’s population could grow to 8.5 billion in the next ten years, reaching 10.9 billion in 2100. Furthermore, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2030. As the urban population continues to grow, the twenty-first century is characterized by several challenges for sustainable urban development. According to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11, by 2030 we should “make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. Several approaches that use green spaces, urban agriculture and vegetation such as nature-based solutions, forest cities, smart cities, biophilic cities, eco-urbanism, blue green cities, garden cities, etc. have been proposed to address complex societal challenges in cities. Thus, there is an urgent need to better understand cities as social-ecological systems. This special issue encourages submission of original, trans-disciplinary research in the areas of: • Nature-based Solutions in cities;
• Smart urban forests;
• Edible cities and green infrastructure;
• Water and energy-sensitive urban design;
• Rewilding cities and urban biodiversity;
• Environmental justice aspects of urban green spaces.
https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/pages/view/nextissues