GRACE

Many urban and periurban areas, under population growth and climate change, are facing multiple environmental challenges: high energy consumption and related GHG emissions, heat island effects, air pollution, and reduced exposure to nature. A systematic planning of Urban Green Systems (UGS) can contribute to improve the resilience and quality of the urban environment.

The GRACE PRIN 2022 PNRR project - ‘Green for Climate Resilience’ – was created to demonstrate the contribution that UGS planning can provide to microclimate regulation, energy saving and GHG emission reduction, carbon sequestration, air pollution removal, soil carbon stock and biodiversity enhancement.

In particular, the GRACE project was conceived to assess and model various UGS implementation scenarios, on case studies in Bologna and Perugia, with the strategic goal to provide elements to support decisions for UGS implementation and integration in spatial planning, considering green areas, trees, and building-integrated vegetation.

Achieved results

The GRACE PRIN 2022 PNRR project - ‘Green for Climate Resilience’ team consisted of research groups of the University of Bologna (lead partner – PI prof. Daniele Torreggiani) and University of Perugia (Research lead Prof. Maria Elena Menconi), combining interdisciplinary expertise in the biosystems engineering, agroecology and soil sciences fields.

The initial phase consisted of an analysis of previous experiences, territorial and sectoral planning tools, and national and international projects related to urban green systems. This work provided the knowledge base for defining the green infrastructure scenarios analyzed in subsequent phases.

A significant result concerns the mapping and characterization of the urban green systems of Bologna and Perugia, thanks to GIS and remote sensing methodologies that provided a robust spatial basis for planning.

The project achieved original results in assessing the improvements in environmental conditions achievable through the implementation of different types of green infrastructure in pilot areas of the cities of Bologna and Perugia. These areas were identified through a multi-criteria GIS workflow, using digital models for microclimatic, environmental, and energy simulations that considered different scenarios for increasing greenery during critical periods in terms of thermal stress.

The project quantified the regulatory ecosystem services provided by urban trees, with particular reference to carbon storage and sequestration and removal of atmospheric particulate matter.

Through the processing of satellite data, floristic surveys, and soil sampling, interesting results were also obtained regarding the level of urban biodiversity and the contribution of soil to climate regulation, in relation to the types of green systems, their management, and scenarios.

The project achieved an integrated assessment of scenarios regarding microclimate improvement, reduction of energy consumption, increased carbon storage and sequestration, pollutant removal, and enhanced biodiversity.

The project also achieved significant results in terms of institutional and social involvement. The Municipalities of Bologna and Perugia were involved in selecting the study areas, assessing the feasibility of the scenarios, and discussing the results. To engage citizens, the GRACE app was developed and made available. This georeferenced smartphone serious game allows citizens and students to learn about the ecosystem services of urban trees and will remain available beyond the project's duration.

Finally, the project implemented intensive communication and dissemination activities: a bilingual website, logo, presentations at conferences, workshops, seminars, public events, scientific publications in international journals, and a final workshop held on February 25, 2026, in Bologna, in collaboration with the Municipality and the Rusconi Ghigi Foundation. Overall, the project produced operational tools, spatial data, simulation models, quantitatively evaluated scenarios, and public engagement materials useful for supporting evidence-based policies and interventions for more resilient, healthy, and sustainable cities.

Project details

Coordinator: Università di Bologna

Scientific Officer: Daniele Torreggian

Duration: 30/11/2023 - 29/11/2025

Research group: Daniele Torreggiani, Patrizia Tassinari, Alberto Barbaresi, Gloria Falsone, Marcello Di Bonito, Ilaria Marotti, Priyanka Rao, Andrea Zaniboni, Majeeb Ur Rehman.

Funding

Funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) - Mission 4 Education and research - Component 2 From research to business - Investment 1.1 Notice PRIN 2022 PNRR (DD N. 1409 del 14/09/2022), from title "Urban green systems: integrated modelling of environmental, energy and microclimatic benefits and GHG offsetting for strengthening resilience and adaptation to climate change – GRACE (Green foR climAte resilience)", proposal code P20229ZC79 - CUP J53D23018250001.