Planning for transformative change with nature-based solutions

A geodesign application in Stockholm

verfasst von: Blal Adem Esmail, Chiara Cortinovis, Sigvard Bast, Carl C. Anderson, Lina Suleiman, Gustavo Arciniegas, Davide Geneletti, Ulla Mörtberg, Christian Albert
Abstract: Advancing towards urban futures in which both human communities and ecosystems can thrive requires transformative change (TC). Spatial planning can serve as a backbone for inspiring and fostering the desired transformation of cities. However, to support this transformation, the challenge for spatial planning is to create unconventional plans that account for the complex trade-offs and interactions of different scenarios through participatory procedures. A promising approach for addressing this challenge is geodesign, since it couples spatial co-design with impact simulations. This paper aims to explore how, and with what effects, a geodesign process can support the co-creation of transformative urban plans that enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services while meeting urban development goals. A geodesign process was developed and deployed for a case study neighborhood in Stockholm, Sweden. Two scenario storylines were developed: one that follows the current city plan, and another one where the most transformative elements of the plan are further emphasized. Fourteen planning stakeholders divided into three groups translated the storylines into actual land use changes and explored the impacts of the two scenarios. The study findings indicate that the geodesign process enabled participants to develop transformative plans that address housing needs while also promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services through nature-based solutions. Participants showed high perceived desirability of TC scenarios in Skarpnäck but were mostly sceptical regarding the plausibility and probability of future implementation. Changes in perceived plausibility, desirability and probability comparing before and after the geodesign process were minor, with some inter-group variation. We recommend practical applications of geodesign to strategically involve key stakeholders throughout study conceptualization, scenario development, and model generation for better consideration of context. Enhancing geodesign tools for user-friendliness is also crucial. We suggest geodesign research to focus more on understanding its impacts on participants as well as scaling up for addressing complex challenges in metropolitan and landscape planning.
Organisationseinheit(en): Institut für Umweltplanung
Externe Organisation(en): Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Eurac Research
Università degli Studi di Trento
Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Geo-Col GIS and Collaborative Planning
Typ: Artikel
Journal: Landscape and urban planning
Band: 257
Anzahl der Seiten: 16
ISSN: 0169-2046
Publikationsdatum: 22.01.2025
Publikationsstatus: Elektronisch veröffentlicht (E-Pub)
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Ökologie, Urban studies, Natur- und Landschaftsschutz, Management, Monitoring, Politik und Recht
Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung: SDG 11 – Nachhaltige Städte und Gemeinschaften, SDG 15 – Lebensraum Land
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105303 (Zugang: Offen)

BibTeX

@article{5bf33589b5104169847adb36e85d65d2,
title = "Planning for transformative change with nature-based solutions: A geodesign application in Stockholm",
abstract = "Advancing towards urban futures in which both human communities and ecosystems can thrive requires transformative change (TC). Spatial planning can serve as a backbone for inspiring and fostering the desired transformation of cities. However, to support this transformation, the challenge for spatial planning is to create unconventional plans that account for the complex trade-offs and interactions of different scenarios through participatory procedures. A promising approach for addressing this challenge is geodesign, since it couples spatial co-design with impact simulations. This paper aims to explore how, and with what effects, a geodesign process can support the co-creation of transformative urban plans that enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services while meeting urban development goals. A geodesign process was developed and deployed for a case study neighborhood in Stockholm, Sweden. Two scenario storylines were developed: one that follows the current city plan, and another one where the most transformative elements of the plan are further emphasized. Fourteen planning stakeholders divided into three groups translated the storylines into actual land use changes and explored the impacts of the two scenarios. The study findings indicate that the geodesign process enabled participants to develop transformative plans that address housing needs while also promoting biodiversity and ecosystem services through nature-based solutions. Participants showed high perceived desirability of TC scenarios in Skarpn{\"a}ck but were mostly sceptical regarding the plausibility and probability of future implementation. Changes in perceived plausibility, desirability and probability comparing before and after the geodesign process were minor, with some inter-group variation. We recommend practical applications of geodesign to strategically involve key stakeholders throughout study conceptualization, scenario development, and model generation for better consideration of context. Enhancing geodesign tools for user-friendliness is also crucial. We suggest geodesign research to focus more on understanding its impacts on participants as well as scaling up for addressing complex challenges in metropolitan and landscape planning.",
keywords = "Impact assessment, Knowledge co-creation, Land use change, Planning support, Scenario planning, Suitability analysis",
author = "{Adem Esmail}, Blal and Chiara Cortinovis and Sigvard Bast and Anderson, {Carl C.} and Lina Suleiman and Gustavo Arciniegas and Davide Geneletti and Ulla M{\"o}rtberg and Christian Albert",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 The Authors",
year = "2025",
month = jan,
day = "22",
doi = "10.1016/j.landurbplan.2025.105303",
language = "English",
volume = "257",
journal = "Landscape and urban planning",
issn = "0169-2046",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}