Urban comfort and landscape architecture. Methods and tools of environmental monitoring towards their application in landscape design and management

Urban areas worldwide face escalating environmental challenges that threaten their sustainability and livability. Among the most pressing issues are air pollution, climate change, and the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which adversely impact public health and thermal comfort. Urban forests play a crucial role in mitigating these effects by providing ecosystem services such as shading and evaporative cooling. This thesis explores how ecological data can inform and enhance urban landscape planning through three complementary studies. The first study integrates remote sensing and ground measurements in Florence (Italy) to develop high-resolution models for predicting thermal comfort and identifying cooling contributions of urban vegetation. The second study employs dendroecological and isotopic analysis on Pinus pinea in urban and peri-urban areas of Florence and Pisa to assess physiological responses to urban climate and pollution, highlighting urban-specific stress factors and the importance of species selection. The third qualitative study gathers insights from landscape designers, emphasising the necessity of accessible, science-based datasets for planning, long-term monitoring, and informed decision-making. Together, these studies underscore the value of ecological research in shaping climate-resilient cities. The findings advocate for an interdisciplinary approach that bridges ecological science and urban design, enabling more precise interventions, optimized resource allocation, and the development of adaptive green infrastructure. This thesis presents methodologies and tools for quantifying ecosystem services, supporting the integration of scientific evidence into landscape architecture for healthier and more resilient urban environments.