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Abstract:The Land Surface Temperature (LST) of a park is lower than the surrounding environment, and thus the parkland forms a Park Cool Island (PCI). However, more case studies are needed to reveal the relationship between park composition, vegetation characteristic and PCI development. The LST and Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) of 18 different sized parks in Changzhou, China were obtained from Landsat-8 and Mapworld Changzhou data. Then, a sample investigation method was used to calculate vegetation characteristics of these parks by an i-Tree Eco model. In order to reduce the impact from the external environment on PCI, the Temperature Drop Amplitude (TDA) and Temperature Drop Range (TR) inside the parks were analyzed by ArcGIS 9.3. Impact factors were tested by Pearson correlation analysis and curve fit to reveal the relationship between these factors and PCI formation. The result shows that a park area threshold of 1.34 to 17 hectares provides the best PCI effect, that park shape (perimeter/area), Leaf Area Index (LAI), density, tree cover, water cover, and impervious surface cover have significant correlation with PCI development, vegetation health and global climate change affect the PCI development. Advice is proposed to improve and maintain PCI effects.

Robotics and autonomous systems are reshaping the world, changing healthcare, food production and biodiversity management. While they will play a fundamental role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, associated opportunities and threats are yet to be considered systematically. We report on a horizon scan evaluating robotics and autonomous systems impact on all Sustainable Development Goals, involving 102 experts from around the world. Robotics and autonomous systems are likely to transform how the Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, through replacing and supporting human activities, fostering innovation, enhancing remote access and improving monitoring. Emerging threats relate to reinforcing inequalities, exacerbating environmental change, diverting resources from tried-and-tested solutions and reducing freedom and privacy through inadequate governance. Although predicting future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on the Sustainable Development Goals is difficult, thoroughly examining technological developments early is essential to prevent unintended detrimental consequences. Additionally, robotics and autonomous systems should be considered explicitly when developing future iterations of the Sustainable Development Goals to avoid reversing progress or exacerbating inequalities.

Green roofs can improve urban ecological conditions by mitigating the heat island effect and absorbing harmful gases. Soil additives can improve roof soil properties and promote the stability of the urban ecosystem. As soil additives, biochar and sludge are widely used in the ground, but their application on roofs is still scarce. This study examined the carbon storage potential of green roofs amended with sludge and biochar. The roof soil was composed of soil and varying proportions of the additives (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, v/v); Sedum lineare was then planted. The carbon contents of the soils and plants were measured for one year. The influence of biochar or sludge on the carbon content of the roof soil and the factors affecting the roof carbon storage potential were analyzed. The results showed that the carbon storage potential of a biochar green roof (9.3 kg C m −2) was significantly higher than that of a sludge green roof (7.9 kg C m −2). Biochar increased the carbon content of the green roof by improving the physical properties of the roof soil and promoting plant growth, whereas sludge increased the carbon content of the green roof by improving the chemical properties of the roof soil. Moreover, biochar could not only store large amounts of stable carbon, but also reduce the weight of the green roof, improve soil moisture, and provide a resourceful utilization of municipal sludge. Thus, biochar can be considered a material for promoting carbon storage on green roofs.