Work

A scale-invariant framework for integrating nature-based solutions into dense urban areas to improve accessibility and equity of access to urban blue and green spaces

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Improving accessibility and spatial equity of access to Urban Blue and Green Spaces (UB&GS) could potentially benefit biodiversity and urban sustainability. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), serving as small-scale decentralised forms of UB&GS, can enhance both environmental quality and human well-being by fostering positive interactions between humans and the natural environment. While there is growing interest in assessing the spatial distribution of UB&GS at multiple scales, existing evaluations commonly examine each spatial scale separately. Consequently, the intrinsic scaling relationships of UB&GS and the potential of NBS integration to improve accessibility and spatial equity of access across scales remain insufficiently explored. To address this gap, this study develops a scale-invariant framework based on Universal Multifractal (UM) theory to support the integration of NBS into existing UB&GS across various spatial scales, using Paris as a case study. Then, the fractal dimension ( D F ) and Gini index are employed as indicators to assess the effectiveness of NBS in enhancing accessibility and spatial equity of access to UB&GS, respectively. The results demonstrate that the developed scale-invariant framework can effectively support the optimal integration of NBS into the current UB&GS. With NBS integration, the D F increases by up to 0.07, while the Gini index decreases by a maximum of 0.27 across the study areas, indicating improved accessibility and enhanced spatial equity of access. Overall, the scale-invariant framework developed in this study provides quantitative recommendations to support the sustainable deployment of NBS in highly urbanised areas.

Source: Ecological Indicators

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115767

Authors: Yangzi Qiu, Daniel Schertzer, Ioulia Tchiguirinskaia

Institutions: École nationale des ponts et chaussées, Laboratoire Eau, Environnement et Systèmes Urbains, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Hydrologie Météorologie et Complexité

Language: English

Topic: Urban Green Space and Health

Subfield: Urban Studies

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Reduced inequalities, Life on land

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650