About this Research Topic

Background

A wide range of urban problems emerges every day, such as air and water pollution, loss of biodiversity, population growth, and urban heat islands, which in turn can lead to adverse effects on urban environments. In particular, promoting the loss of urban tree cover, magnifying the risk of environmental hazards, and elevating heat levels in urban air. Urban development, ecology, and technology experts revisited the classical definitions of modern infrastructures to address the challenges arising from these issues, and numerous solutions and strategies have been proposed, including the idea of “green infrastructure”.

Urban green infrastructure is recognized as a land conservation policy that revolves around green spaces in urban environments. Green spaces have various components that improve the quality of life in urban areas. Environmental qualities significantly affect the behaviors and perceptions of people in urban spaces. In addition to creating environmental comfort, urban green spaces are capable of increasing citizens’ attachment to place, level of cooperation, and positive social interactions. They can have wider socio-cultural and ecological applications beyond their utilitarian function. Urban green spaces can be used for enrichment purposes, such as creating a sense of place, linking public interests and public benefits, and improving ecological performance. Considering the role that green spaces play in environmental perceptions and social life, the placement of these spaces within the neighborhoods and local areas can strengthen the image of the livable city.

This Research Topic welcomes theoretical and empirical contributions that aim at providing deeper insights into the impacts of urban green spaces on the social behavior of people living in urban environments. Empirical analyses of the policies focused on urban green spaces are especially welcome. The geographical scope of the Research Topic is global, and contributions regarding case studies from both developed and developing countries will be equally relevant and welcome.

Submissions can include, but are not limited to, the following research areas:

• The role of urban green spaces on place attachment
• Urban green spaces and their impact on social interactions
• How urban greening projects can affect the sense of the presence of citizens
• The impact of urban green spaces on thermal comfort perceptions
• How urban green spaces provide tranquility and improve well-being
• The effects of designing urban green spaces on stress and relaxation of pedestrians

Keywords: Urban Green Spaces, Environmental Perceptions, Place Attachment, Social Interactions, Sense of Presence, Urban Quality, Thermal Comfort Perception, Well-being, Tranquility, Green Infrastructure

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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