OBJECTIVE: To determine the potential and impact of blue-green infrastructure based on spatial and technological scenarios developed through co-design.

Coaches: Dr. Ganbaatar Khurelbaatar und Dr. Jan Friesen (both UFZ)

Cities often face the challenge of identifying, comparing, and integrating suitable blue-green infrastructure measures into their planning processes—particularly in the context of complex boundary conditions, limited resources, and sometimes conflicting objectives. As a result, strategies are often developed that do not adequately address the actual challenges faced by urban areas.

This is where we come in. We support municipalities in establishing methodologically sound decision-making frameworks. This includes the development of technically and spatially plausible scenarios, the simulation of their impacts, and the spatial modelling of their effects. In addition, economic assessments are essential for evaluating the feasibility of different design options.

The coaching demonstrates approaches for estimating—or at least qualitatively assessing—direct costs, follow-up costs, as well as direct, indirect, and induced benefits with a reasonable level of effort. This makes different courses of action transparent and comparable, providing a solid basis for planning and investment decisions. See also the module "Costs, Benefits and Financing".

Particular emphasis is placed on co-design processes in which municipal administration, technical experts, policymakers, and civil society jointly develop scenarios and solution strategies. This makes it possible not only to demonstrate the potential of blue-green infrastructure—for example, for stormwater management, urban cooling, or biodiversity enhancement—but also to integrate these benefits into local planning in a targeted way. In this way, knowledge-based, participatory strategies are developed that go beyond purely technical measures.

For the coaching, we use, among others, the following methods: