Green infrastructures and satellite images: the case study of Munich

Although being the main driver of economic growth, cities have simultaneously contributed to the most serious increase of environmental degradation, being simultaneously targeted by Climate Change effects. In this scenario, decision makers are called to identify the best actions for mitigation and adaptation of urban spaces, exploiting innovative Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) resources and approaches. The research methodology is based on the City Sensing approach, and the presented case study demonstrates how to integrate different ICT frameworks - including free Copernicus satellites data, big data sources and data visualization techniques – to support urban regeneration processes. The case study relates to the design of green infrastructures in urban context and shows how to create an interactive and multi-temporal visual framework to support decision makers and citizens to evaluate the real effectiveness of air pollution mitigation and carbon emission reduction projects. This contribution can have a significant impact both on decision makers who aims to be more transparent and inclusive, and visual designers who wants to better exploit the potential of the new public environmental data sources in designing services for more sustainable cities.