Valuing structured alternatives for retrofitting blue-green infrastructure at a catchment scale using the Benefit Estimation Tool (B£ST) Show others and affiliations
2025 (English) In: Blue-Green Systems, E-ISSN 2617-4782, Vol. 7, no 1, p. 139-155Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Blue-green infrastructure (BGI) options are considered to be more sustainable practices for water management and bring arange of benefits over and above water management. Davidshall in Malmö, Sweden, has been used as a case area toassess the multiple benefits of implementing BGI, considering seven alternative BGI schemes systematically developed alongtwo scales: naturalness (i.e. more/less engineered/complex) and spatial distribution (e.g. decentral vs. end-of-pipe). The baseline alternative was the existing situation. The Benefit Estimation Tool (B£ST) was used to carry out a socio-economicassessment. The overall benefits varied significantly (two orders of magnitude), depending on the BGI scheme implemented:the greatest values were associated with natural decentral, natural decentral/end-of-pipe, and engineered decentral/endof-pipe alternatives, those including sub-surface and open dry detention, stormwater tree pits, and rain gardens. The threeB£ST categories providing the greatest benefits were enhancing amenity, benefiting health, and reducing flooding. Cultural ecosystem services were provided by all alternatives, and two alternatives (natural decentral and natural decentral/end-of-pipe)also provided regulating ecosystem services. The study showed that amenity and health were the most significant benefitsof BGI implementation, contrasting with the main aim of BGI implementation, which was stormwater management (water quality and flood protection).
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages IWA Publishing, 2025. Vol. 7, no 1, p. 139-155
Keywords [en]
Benefit Estimation Tool, blue-green infrastructure, catchment scale, naturalness scale, social benefits, spatial scale
National Category
Water Engineering
Research subject Urban Water Engineering; Centre - Centre for Stormwater Management (DRIZZLE)
Identifiers URN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-112493 DOI: 10.2166/bgs.2025.022 ISI: 001518914700007 Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105009524549 OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-112493 DiVA, id: diva2:1953967
Funder Swedish Research Council Formas, 2021-00116 Vinnova, 2022-03092
Note Validerad;2025;Nivå 1;2025-06-25 (u5);
Full text: CC BY license;
Funder: Svenskt Vatten;
2025-04-232025-04-232025-10-21 Bibliographically approved