Local-scale assessment of urban resilience and the role of nature-based solutions and stormwater modelling. Special Issue Urban Water Resources Assessment and Environmental Governance

Abstract

Although urban resilience is a complex concept, several initiatives have made it more tangible. Urban public authorities and policymakers are of utmost importance, as they influence multiple neighbourhoods, stakeholders and aspects of urban resilience. Nevertheless, the role of individual facilities—such as sports fields—should not be overlooked. While their impacts are smaller in scale, they can significantly enhance local resilience and serve as inspirational pilots for broader initiatives. To assess resilience at the facility scale, an existing assessment framework was adapted, aligned with ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria and climate action pillars and valuing ecosystem services. In the sports field case study, stormwater was reframed from a burden into a resource and integrated with other scheduled resilience-enhancing interventions: water conservation, installation of photovoltaic panels, enhanced tree shading, and circularity through sports equipment reuse. Together, these interventions strengthen urban sustainability, resilience, and climate adaptation while delivering ecological and social benefits. The stormwater drainage system was modelled to simulate naturalization actions. The assessment framework is described, and its application at both neighbourhood and facility scales is discussed. Comparisons between the existing and improved situations show clear resilience gains, and opportunities for extending these measures to the city scale are explored.