Beyond surface area
Integrating volumetric green infrastructure into planning regulations to enhance equity and sustainability in an arid city
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21498014 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Khalid Hussein (Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences), Elnazir Ramadan (0000-0003-0425-3331, United Arab Emirates University, corresponding author), Carolynne Parry (United Arab Emirates University), Khaled Al Arafati (United Arab Emirates University), Muhagir ElKamali (United Arab Emirates University), Tareefa AlSumaiti (United Arab Emirates University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 169 |
| Pages | 108166 |
| Publication date | 2026-10-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Land Use Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0264-8377 • E-ISSN: 1873-5754 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.landusepol.2026.108166 |
| OpenAlex | W7165382414 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 52 |
Urban green infrastructure (UGI) provides a vital nature-based solution for enhancing sustainability in arid cities, yet its adoption in formal planning frameworks remains limited. This study examines the spatial distribution, equity, and planning implications of UGI in Al Ain, UAE, a rapidly expanding inland desert city. Using ultra-high-resolution (9-cm) aerial imagery and 1-m LiDAR data, we applied a support vector machine (SVM) classifier to produce a detailed land-cover map with an overall accuracy of 90.2% and a three-dimensional assessment of vegetation volume. UGI covers 16.64% (40.76 km2) of the urban extent, providing a relatively high per-capita green space provision of 62.14 m2. Despite this, spatial analysis reveals pronounced inequities, with vegetated areas clustering in historic, oasis-adjacent neighborhoods, while newer high-density districts emerge as “cold spots” with minimal vegetation. Current municipal planning regulations, which prioritize built density and visual landscaping over ecological functionality, exacerbate these disparities. Integrating volumetric vegetation metrics and per-capita thresholds into planning codes can improve spatial equity, strengthen ecosystem services, and mitigate urban heat island effects. This study advances performance-based urban planning in arid environments and demonstrates the potential of high-resolution geospatial methods to guide sustainable, equitable urban development
Arid · Green infrastructure · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Urban Green Space and Health · Urban Heat Island Mitigation · Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
Co-benefits and synergies between urban climate change mitigation and adaptation measures
Associations between Nature Exposure and Health
Status of land cover classification accuracy assessment
Mosaic governance for urban green infrastructure
Support-Vector Networks
Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Climate Change Adaptation
Support vector machines in remote sensing
Promoting ecosystem and human health in urban areas using Green Infrastructure
Using green infrastructure for urban climate-proofing
A review on the generation, determination and mitigation of Urban Heat Island
Global forecasts of urban expansion to 2030 and direct impacts on biodiversity and carbon pools
Global Change and the Ecology of Cities
Integrating green infrastructure into spatial planning regulations to improve the performance of urban ecosystems. Insights from an Italian case study
Transforming underutilized urban spaces into green infrastructure in Global South cities
A framework for assessing and implementing the co-benefits of nature-based solutions in urban areas
Adapting cities for climate change through urban green infrastructure planning
The politics of multifunctional green infrastructure planning in New York City
Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice
| Highly cited | No |
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