Impact of blue/green infrastructure interventions and future
land use scenarios on dynamic evolution of natural capital
(Ref IAP2-18-104)
Heriot–Watt University: Institute for Infrastructure and
Environment, Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, School of
Energy, GeoScience, Infrastructure and Society
In partnership with Newcastle University
Supervisory Team Professor Scott Arthur, Heriot-Watt University
Dr Vassilis Glenis, Newcastle University
Professor Teresa F Fernandes, Heriot-Watt University
Dr Sikhululekile Ncube, Heriot-Watt University
Dr Greg O’Donnell, Newcastle University
Key Words Natural capital; blue/green infrastructure systems; ecosystem
services; environmental assessments; urban planning.
and natural resource depletion (Natural Capital
Overview Committee, 2015; Holt et al., 2015).
Understanding of these concepts have led to an
The natural capital and ecosystem services interest in the development of suitable metrics,
concepts are a popular way of describing the models, datasets and tools for measurement of
multiple benefits we get from the natural natural capital as well as assessing how it is
environment. The publication of the Millennium changing overtime. The Natural Capital
Assessment in 2005 have, along with national Committee suggests the concept of natural capital
publications such the UK National Ecosystem be tried in core environmental context such as
Assessment (2011), raised the profile of the urban settings. This PhD will take this research
importance and study of these concepts. Natural further, focusing on natural capital assessments
capital refers to the stock of natural and opportunities associated with different
features/assets - e.g. freshwater, land, soil, blue/green infrastructure systems for urban
minerals, air, seas, habitats, biodiversity and resilience and sustainability in light of future
processes which together provide the foundation uncertainties associated with factors such as
for the flows of ecosystem services (Rouquette, climate change, demographic changes etc.
2016; Guerry et al., 2015; Natural Capital
Committee, 2015). Ecosystem services are the Although urban expansion/intensification impacts
flows of benefits such as food, flood regulation, on natural capital and the multiple benefits
climate regulation, recreational opportunities available to the urban population, it is recognised
which people gain from natural ecosystems that blue/green infrastructure systems (e.g. rain
(Constanza et al., 2017). gardens, swales, ponds etc.) can at least reduce
these impacts (Hansen and Pauleit, 2014). While
Both global and national trends show that natural ecosystem services knowledge is already in use in
capital has been on the decline due to human urban planning, especially the multiple benefits
influenced land use changes such as urbanisation from blue/green infrastructure systems (Meerow
and Newell, 2017; O’Donnell et al., 2017), there is
still need for natural capital assessments at the
relevant scales to inform planning decisions and Methodology
outcomes (Cortinovis and Geneletti, 2018).
Furthermore, the multifunctionality of blue/green The PhD student will be expected to undertake
infrastructure systems beyond addressing just one original research on natural capital assessment and
main issue such as urban flooding - in most cases, develop novel techniques and approaches which
has not been adequately explored and accounted can be applied in practice. Understanding of
for (Cortinovis and Geneletti, 2018) yet natural capital and blue/green infrastructure
blue/green infrastructure systems are often systems requires biophysical knowledge on the
promoted on their multifunctionality potential elements of these concepts and approaches as well
compared to grey infrastructure (Hansen and as a recognition of the multiple benefits provided
Pauleit, 2014). The multifunctionality of green to local communities – more suited to social
infrastructure is mostly traded-off for sciences. In this regard the potential PhD candidate
locational/technical/physical factors and this in turn will tackle this challenge from both angles based on
influences the multiple benefit areas among the an integrated methodological approach (mixed
urban communities. The question is whether such research methods). Tasks such as mapping natural
multiple benefits are located where they are capital areas, locations of multiple benefit
needed the most in a locality. While the quality and provision areas and blue/green infrastructure
quantity of blue\green infrastructure is important, systems for example, will be complemented by
the Natural Capital Committee, 2015 also argues knowledge of beneficiaries of these multiple
that its distribution and equity is of equal benefits and stakeholder prioritised benefits.
importance as it is usually the poor who lack
access to good quality green infrastructure and There is growing interest in using practically
associated multiple benefits. applicable analytical tools that link the natural
environment and society. A wide range of tools
The aim of this PhD is in twofold; firstly, to have recently been developed to analyse
investigate how different blue/green infrastructure ecosystem services, natural capital and green
investment pathways and future land use change infrastructure (see: tinyurl.com/y8teql9g). This
scenarios affect the dynamic evolution of natural PhD study will for example utilise tools such as the
capital and secondly, this study will also seek to Natural Capital Planning Tool (NCPT) to assess
compare the technical suitability location of the impact of proposed housing developments on
blue/green infrastructure to where the multiple natural capital and ecosystem services, and a GIS
benefits from such intervention systems are based analysis will be used to evaluate current and
needed the most (demand areas) in a locality as future natural capital spatiotemporal changes
identified by local stakeholders. Working with key associated with different blue/green infrastructure
stakeholders such as local authorities, planning investment pathways. Fieldwork will be
agencies, developers and local communities, this undertaken to case study sites for activities such
research will demonstrate natural capital as verifying the natural capital maps, stakeholder
assessments in practice. This will be based on case consultations. A 6 month student placement will
studies focussing on natural capital changes also be arranged with the Local Authority in the
associated with existing urban case study areas for an in depth understanding of
expansion/intensification plans and different the project focus and data collection.
blue/green infrastructure investment pathways.
Such an assessment will also aid planners and
decisions makers to understand the Timeline
interdependency between the natural
environment, economy and society in the planning # Research Activity Y1 Y2 Y3 Y3.5
process. When undertaken as part of wider (6m)
environmental assessments, natural capital 1 Agree detailed aims x
assessments could ensure that natural capital is 2 Literature review x x x
considered alongside built, financial, social and 3 Data Collection x x
human capital in sustainable urban development. 4 Data Analysis x x
5 Training/Workshops. x x x x
# Research Activity Y1 Y2 Y3 Y3.5 M., Bateman, I. J., Duraiappah, A., Elmqvist, T.,
(6m) Feldman, M. W., Folke, C., Hoekstra, J., Kareiva,
6 Progress meetings x x x x Keeler, P. M., Li, B. L., Mckenzie, S., Ouyang, E.,
7 Thesis writing and Reyers, Z., Ricketts, B., Rockström, T. H., Tallis,
x x J., & Vira, B. 2015. Natural capital and ecosystem
submission of drafts
8 Final thesis x services informing decisions: From promise to
practice. Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences, 112, 7348-7355.
Training & Skills Hansen, R. & Pauleit, S. 2014. From
Multifunctionality to Multiple Ecosystem Services?
The student will receive and have access to the full A Conceptual Framework for Multifunctionality in
variety of the extensive IAPETUS2-cohort training, Green Infrastructure Planning for Urban Areas.
including workshops and cohort meetings. This Ambio, 43, 516-529.
will enable the PhD student to develop broader Holt, A. R., Mears, M., Maltby, L. & Warren, P.
transferable skills and knowledge. 2015. Understanding spatial patterns in the
production of multiple urban ecosystem services.
As part of the PhD programme at Heriot-Watt Ecosystem Services, 16, 33-46.
University, the student will be offered training and Lennon, M., & Scott, M. 2014. Delivering
development opportunities. It is anticipated that ecosystems services via spatial planning:
over the course of the PhD study, the student will Reviewing the possibilities and implications of a
develop knowledge skills and expertise to green infrastructure approach. Town Planning
undertake independent research in his/her field or Review, 85(5), 563–587.
future employment in policy or practice. The http://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2014.35.
student’s training needs will be identified within Meerow, S., and Newell, J.P. 2017. Spatial
the first year of study. These will be compiled into Planning for multifunctional green infrastructure:
a training and development plan tailor made to the Growing resilience in Detroit. Landscape and
specific student needs and skills set. As part of Planning, 159, 62-75.
annual progress monitoring, training undertaken Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005.
will be recorded and discussed with the student. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis.
To develop key skills and expertise such training Washington (DC): Island Press.
and skills development will broadly be on: Natural Capital Committee. 2015. The state of
1. Subject specific training e.g. GIS, use of natural Natural Capital: Protecting and improving natural
capital assessment analytic tools etc. capital for prosperity and well-being, Third
2. Research methods training e.g. qualitative or Report to the Economic Affairs Committee,
mixed research methods etc. England.
3. Development skills training (including O’Donnell E, Woodhouse R and Thorne C. 2017.
professional and transferable skills) e.g. Evaluating the multiple benefits of a Newcastle
academic writing, publishing, presentation skills, surface water management scheme. Proceedings
viva training and stakeholder engagement etc. of the Institution of Civil Engineers – Water
Management,
References http://dx.doi.org/10.1680/jwama.16.00103.
Cortinovis C and Geneletti D. 2018. Ecosystem Rouquette, J.R. 2016. Mapping Natural Capital
services in urban plans: What is there, and what and Ecosystem Services in the Nene Valley.
is still needed for better decisions. Land Use Report for the Nene Valley NIA Project. Natural
Policy, 298-312. Capital Solutions.
Costanza, R., de Groot, R., Braat, L., Kubiszewski,
Fioramonti, I., Sutton, L., Farber, P., & Grasso, S. Further Information
2017. Twenty years of ecosystem services: How
far have we come and how far do we still need to Professor Scott Arthur: Email:
go? Ecosystem Services, 28: 1-16.
[email protected] Tel: +44 131 451 3313
Guerry, A. D., Polasky, S., Lubchenco, J., Chaplin-
Kramer, R., Daily, G. C., Griffin, R., Ruckelshaus,
