Applied Urban Ecology: A Global Framework explores ways in which the environmental quality of urban areas can be improved starting with existing environmental conditions and their dynamics. Written by an internationally renowned selection of scientists and practitioners, the book covers a broad range of established and novel approaches to applied urban ecology. Approaches chosen for the book are placed in the context of issues such as climate change, green- and open-space development, flood-risk assessment, threats to urban biodiversity, and increasing environmental pollution (especially in the "megacities" of newly industrialized countries). All topics covered were chosen because they are socially and socio-politically relevant today. Further topics covered include sustainable energy and budget management, urban water resource management, urban land management, and urban landscape planning and design. Throughout the book, concepts and methods are illustrated using case studies from around the world. A closing synopsis draws conclusions on how the findings of urban ecological research can be used in strategic urban management in the future. Applied Urban Ecology: A Global Framework is an advanced textbook for students, researchers and experienced practitioners in urban ecology and urban environmental research, planning, and practice.

InhaltsangabeList of contributors xi Foreword xiii PART I: INTRODUCTION 1 1. Urban ecology - brief history and present challenges 3 Ulrike Weiland andMatthias Richter 1.1 Introduction 3 1.2 Brief history 3 1.3 Recent and present challenges 5 1.4 Purpose and structure of the book 7 References 9 PART II: URBAN ECOLOGY: RELATED DISCIPLINES AND METHODS 13 2. Thematicmethodical approaches to applied urban ecology 15 Matthias Richter and UlrikeWeiland 3. Monitoring urban land use changes with remote sensing techniques 18 Ellen Banzhaf andMaik Netzband 3.1 Land use changes and their consequences for urban ecology 18 3.2 Urban remote sensing (URS) and geographical information systems (GIS) for research in urban ecology 19 3.3 Measuring physical characteristics of urban areas with remote sensing technology 21 3.4 Global initiatives to measure urban expansion and land use change 24 3.5 Regional urban monitoring activities 26 3.6 Synthesis and outlook 29 References 30 PART III: SELECTED FIELDS OF URBAN ECOLOGY 33 A. PATHWAYS OF THE ECOSYSTEM APPROACH. 4. Quantifying spatiotemporal patterns and ecological effects of urbanization: a multiscale landscape approach 35 Jianguo Wu, Alexander Buyantuyev, G. Darrel Jenerette, Jennifer Litteral, Kaesha Neil and Weijun Shen 4.1 Introduction 35 4.2 Characterizing the spatiotemporal pattern of urbanization 36 4.3 Simulating spatiotemporal dynamics of urbanization 41 4.4 Effects of urbanization on biodiversity and ecosystem processes: examples from CAP-LTER 43 4.5 Concluding remarks 47 Acknowledgments 49 References 49 5. Designing urban systems: ecological strategies with stocks and flows of energy and material 54 Peter Baccini 5.1 The challenge of a new urbanity 54 5.2 Urban systems and their resource management 56 5.3 Strategies of reconstruction 60 5.4 Developing strategies for the design of urban systems 63 References 65 B. SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL THREATS. 6. Environmental and ecological threats in Indian mega-cities 66 Surinder Aggarwal and Carsten Butsch 6.1 Urbanization dynamics and emergence of mega-cities 66 6.2 Environmental threats 68 6.3 Megasocial challenges 74 6.4 Concluding remarks 78 Acknowledgments 80 References 80 7. From wasteland to wilderness - aspects of a new form of urban nature 82 Dieter Rink and Harriet Herbst 7.1 Introduction 82 7.2 Urban wilderness - some attempts at defining the term 83 7.3 Wastelands as a source of urban wilderness 83 7.4 Urban wilderness in planning 85 7.5 On the ecology of urban wilderness 86 7.6 Urban wilderness in a social context 87 7.7 Educational value of urban wilderness 89 7.8 Conclusions 90 References 91 C. FLOODING AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION. 8. Multiscale flood risk assessment in urban areas - a geoinformatics approach 93 Norman Kerle and Dinand Alkema 8.1 Introduction 93 8.2 Flood risk in the context of urban ecology 94 8.3 Comprehensive flood risk assessment - Naga City, the Philippines 96 8.4 The role of remote sensing in flood risk assessment and management 99 8.5 Disaster risk in the context of urban ecology - an outlook 104 References 104 9. Urban open spaces and adaptation to climate change 106 Marialena Nikolopoulou 9.1 Cities, climate change and the role of open spaces 106 9.2 Outdoor comfort 107 9.3 Use of space 108 9.4 Thermal perception 111 9.5 Adaptation 113 9.6 Design interventions 116 9.7 Conclusions 120 References 121 D. URBAN BIODIVERSITY. 10. Social aspects of urban ecology in developing countries, with an emphasis on urban domestic gardens 123 Sarel Cilliers, Stefan Siebert, Elandrie Davoren and Rina Lubbe 10.1 Introduction 123 10.2 Social benefits and human perceptions of urban green areas 124 10.3 Consequences of socioeconomic aspects on the urban green infrastructure 125 10.4 Urban domestic gardens 126 10.5

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