Addressing urban sustainability requires an understanding of the psychological experience of place. This study explores the relationship between people and two types of nature. Semi-structured interviews with 40 householders in a UK city suggest remarkable differences in how gardens and public greenspaces contribute to residents' sense of self. Control and private space emerged as distinguishing factors. Having a connection with nature positively affects perceptions of ecological value; this value corresponded with environmental concern. Findings support the proposition that greenspaces are meaningful for people-environment relationships with implications for promoting quality social and ecological urban settings.
Learning from the present polycrisis exacerbated by the global pandemic and applying these lessons to the issue of climate change could bring long-term benefits. This contribution offers a novel point of view on the active role of urban services (re-defined as adaptation services) in supporting human systems’ adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, it discusses the implications of cross-level and cross-scale interactions in the management of adaptation services’ systems. The convergence of information collected from different sources (data triangulation) by means of literature review, in-deep analysis of policy documents and a continuous dialogue with key stakeholders shall ensure the consistency of the point of view proposed.
The Tuscany Masonry Database (TMDB) is an online database containing the results and the complete experimental data of in situ experimental tests carried out on masonry panels of masonry buildings located in the Tuscany Region (Italy), starting from 1990. The results can be freely downloaded by users after registration on the site. To date, the TMDB includes 142 georeferenced tests, comprising 50 diagonal tests, 5 compression tests, and 87 flat-jack tests. In addition, there are tests on the components, such as compression tests on blocks, penetrometric testing on mortar, macroscopic or microscopic analysis of mortar, and coring. The results are supported by a qualitative description of the masonry texture and are compared with the reference values of the mechanical characteristics proposed by the Italian Building Code. The data come from scientific literature and are the result of collaborations between the Seismic Sector of the Tuscany Region and some Tuscan University Laboratories, or they are shared by private test laboratories mainly acting in Tuscany. The TMDB was developed and is constantly updated by the authors to provide support to researchers and freelance engineers in the knowledge process phase of masonry buildings, as well as for that of particular structures, such as heritage buildings. Furthermore, it allows for the filling of the lack of particularity of masonry classification and for the consideration of particular masonry types existing in local areas, for which there are no literature data or specific experimentation. Further tests are currently being processed to be included in the database, and divulgation activity on the project is foreseen. Furthermore, national and international collaborations are underway for the expansion of the database, with the aim of unifying test procedures and updating the codes.
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