Smart Cities (Dec 2023)

The Intersection of the Green and the Smart City: A Data Platform for Health and Well-Being through Nature-Based Solutions

  • Dionysia Kolokotsa,
  • Aikaterini Lilli,
  • Elisavet Tsekeri,
  • Kostas Gobakis,
  • Minas Katsiokalis,
  • Aikaterini Mania,
  • Neil Baldacchino,
  • Sevasti Polychronaki,
  • Niall Buckley,
  • Daniel Micallef,
  • Kurt Calleja,
  • Emma Clarke,
  • Edward Duca,
  • Luka Mali,
  • Adriano Bisello

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities7010001
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 32

Abstract

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An increasingly important aspect of analyzing the challenges facing cities today is the integration of nature. Nature-based solutions have the potential to successfully cope with the adverse effects of extensive urbanization and climatic change. On the other hand, the incorporation of smartness in cities is a critical issue. This paper aims to analyze the steps towards integrating nature-based solutions and smart city aspects to develop a web-based data platform that focuses on tackling and investigating the role of nature-based solutions in city health and well-being and returns a digital twin of the natural and built environment, including health-related key performance indicators. Seven pilot cities are used as a basis for the analysis. The architecture of a smart green city data platform is described. The interaction with the citizens is ensured through apps and games. The paper lays the foundation for a future “phygital” NBS world.

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