Co design for climate sensitive urban spaces with disadvantaged populations

Blue and green spaces hold many benefits for human health, particularly in the context of climate change. They provide cooling effects and reduce air pollution, and safeguard mental and social well-being. The most disadvantaged parts of the population often miss out on nature’s benefits due to a lack of such spaces nearby and barriers related to infrastructure, stigma, and lack of involvement in planning processes.

We aim to counteract these barriers by considering their needs and including them in urban planning processes. We use geoinformation systems and artificial intelligence for visualizing and exploring potential changes to the city landscape, and involve these population groups, as well as decision-makers, in a participatory co-design approach.

Publications

Anthonj, C., Schrammeijer, B., Foellmer, J., van Rompay, T., Willems, W., Cerrone, D., Bockarjova, M., Kabaria, C., Musyoka, D., Janeka, P., Sawungrana, AR, Owaga, D., Martinez, J., 2024. Urban blue and green spaces for well-being of disadvantaged population groups, presented at 20th International Medical Geography Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 15 – 19 July 2024.

Anthonj, C., 2024. Water, Health and Decisions, presented at Jahrestagung des Arbeitskreises für Medizinische Geographie - Gesundheitliche Ungleichheiten in einer Welt im Wandel in Koenigswinter, Germany, 19 – 21 September 2024.

Anthonj, C., 2024. Involving those often not considered in decision-making, presented at Co-design panel at VU-UT Alliance day in Enschede, Netherlands, 4 October 2024.

Sawungrana, A.R., Janeka, P., Schrammeijer, B., Martinez, J., Cerrone, D., van Rompay, T., Willems, W., Anthonj, C., 2024. Co-Design Approach for climate-sensitive blue and green spaces with disadvantaged urban populations, presented at UT Climate event in Enschede, The Netherlands, 5 November 2024.

Anthonj, C., Schrammeijer, B., Janeka, P., Sawungrana, A.R., Cerrone, D., van Rompay, T., Willems, W., Martinez, J., 2024. Co-design approach for climate-sensitive blue and green spaces with disadvantaged urban populations, presented at Workshop on Adaptation and Citizen Science Projects for Resilient Cities, 22 November 2024.

Contact person

Team members

• Bep Schrammeijer (Athena, VU)
• Javier Martinez (University of Twente | ITC)
• Damiano Cerrone (UrbanistAI)
• Azzadiva Ravi Sawungrana (University of Twente | ITC)
• Paula Janeka (University of Twente | ITC)
• Thomas van Rompay (University of Twente | BMS)

This project is funded by the collaboration of VU Amsterdam-University of Twente awarded to the impact programme Creating Responsible Societies, Dr. Carmen Anthonj at the University of Twente and Dr. Bep Schrammeijer at VU University.

Our collaborators