{"id":12689,"date":"2021-06-22T10:11:20","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T09:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=12689"},"modified":"2021-06-22T10:11:20","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T09:11:20","slug":"designing-sustainable-cities-with-urban-invest-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/designing-sustainable-cities-with-urban-invest-software\/12689\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing sustainable cities with Urban InVEST software"},"content":{"rendered":"
Created by researchers at the Stanford Natural Capital Project<\/a>, the neoteric software creates maps that visualise the relationship between nature and human wellbeing, empowering city planners and developers to analyse where the implementation of natural features would have the most considerable benefit to society<\/a>, creating sustainable cities. For example, investments into marshlands and parks could not only assist in flood prevention and management but give residents ample space to improve their health through exercise.<\/p>\n Anne Guerry, the Chief Strategy Officer and Lead Scientist at the Natural Capital Project, said: “This software helps design cities that are better for both people and nature. Urban nature is a multitasking benefactor – the trees on your street can lower temperatures, so your apartment is cooler on hot summer days.<\/p>\n “At the same time, they’re soaking up the carbon emissions that cause climate change, creating a free, accessible place to stay healthy through physical activity and just making your city a more pleasant place to be.”<\/p>\n In the United States alone, in excess of 80% of the population reside in cities, with experts estimating that over 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, meaning that green infrastructure is becoming an increasingly critical aspect of achieving sustainable cities. Community gardens and tree-lined paths can have a range of positive effects on the public, although the most optimal way to implement these features is still undetermined. Where will a path inspire people to exercise? Where can a strategically situated community garden allows people to relax in nature whilst also mitigating flood risk? This new technology looks to provide clarity in answering those questions.<\/p>\n Perrine Hamel, the leader of the research at the Stanford Natural Capital Project, said: “We’re answering three crucial questions with this software: where in a city is nature providing what benefits to people, how much of each benefit is it providing and who is receiving those benefits?”<\/p>\n Urban InVEST, a unique technology proficient in comprising environmental data, such as temperature patterns, with economic data, such as income levels. The software employs data from a range of sources, from local weather stations to NASA satellites, allowing designer of sustainable cities to pinpoint where nature provides the most benefits to people expertly.<\/p>\n