Examinando por Autor "Arriazu Ramos, Ainhoa"

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    Ítem
    Assessing the outdoor thermal comfort impact of nature-based urban interventions in dense informal settlement upgrading processes: the case of Barrio 20 in Buenos Aires
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2026-04-20) Guillén Gutiérrez, Guido; Felder, Natalia; Arriazu Ramos, Ainhoa; González Álvarez, Sara; Giusti, Mariana; Hardoy, Jorgelina; Almansi, Florencia; Kozak, Daniel
    Introduction – The intensification of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) is increasing urban thermal risk, with heat-related impacts unevenly distributed across populations. In informal settlements, precarious infrastructure, high occupancy densities and limited access to green spaces often converge. Under these conditions, heat stress is frequently experienced as everyday thermal discomfort and remains a persistent yet under-recognised threat to well-being and public health, receiving limited attention in both policy and practice. In this context, spatial design plays a central role in enhancing outdoor thermal comfort, with Nature-based Solutions (NbS) emerging as key strategies for climate mitigation and adaptation. However, evidence remains limited on how vegetation and shading configurations translate into measurable thermal performance at the micro-urban scale, particularly in Latin American informal-settlement upgrading contexts. Methods – This study examines the contribution and limitations of NbS for outdoor thermal comfort within an informal-settlement upgrading process in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The analysis focuses on two pedestrian passageways, Teresa Rodríguez and Eva Estela Carrizo, in Barrio 20, currently undergoing a comprehensive re-urbanization process. As part of a climate-focused research-action initiative, both passageways were subject to pilot NbS interventions co-designed through participatory processes. While sharing a similar southeast -northwest orientation, they differ markedly in morphology, spatial configuration and urban origin, enabling a comparative assessment of NbS performance under contrasting conditions. Outdoor thermal comfort was assessed through microclimatic simulations and quantified using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) across three scenarios: a pre-intervention baseline, a current post-intervention scenario, and a desirable medium-term future scenario incorporating vegetation growth and further NbS strategies. Simulations were conducted under both typical summer conditions and extreme heatwave events. Results – Results indicate that NbS can substantially reduce pedestrian-level thermal stress, particularly under extreme heat conditions. While post-intervention effects differ between the two passageways, future-oriented scenarios reveal substantial cooling potential, reaching the UTCI category No Heat Stress under typical summer conditions and Moderate Heat Stress during heatwaves. Discussion – These findings provide comparative evidence to inform urban planning practices and the revision of regulatory frameworks in informal-settlement upgrading processes. In doing so, they highlight that NbS performance is context-dependent, reflecting the combined influence of morphological and climatic conditions as well as institutional and socio-cultural factors, such as community acceptance. This also underscores the role of microclimatic simulation as a decision-support tool in advancing climate-responsive and equity-oriented urban transformation.
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    Ítem
    Health impacts of urban environmental parameters: a review of air pollution, heat, noise, green spaces and mobility
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-05-10) Arriazu Ramos, Ainhoa; Santamaría Ulecia, Jesús Miguel; Monge Barrio, Aurora; Bes Rastrollo, Maira; Gutiérrez Gabriel, Sonia; Benito Frías, Nuria; Sánchez-Ostiz Gutiérrez, Ana
    This literature review examines the relationship between the urban environment and human health, focusing on five key parameters: air pollution, extreme temperatures, noise, green spaces, and urban mobility. A systematic review was conducted using indexed scientific databases (Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed) and technical reports, following predefined search terms and exclusion criteria. A total of 131 publications were selected and analyzed. The study highlights the negative health effects of air pollution, heat, and noise—particularly on the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, and reproductive systems—especially in vulnerable populations including older adults, children, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. In contrast, green spaces and sustainable mobility have shown beneficial impacts, including improvements in mental health, increased physical activity, and indirect benefits as they contribute to reducing air pollution, urban heat, and noise. Among all parameters, air pollution emerges as the most extensively studied and regulated, while significant research gaps persist in the fields of urban mobility and noise pollution. Furthermore, regulatory development remains limited across all parameters analyzed, highlighting the need for more comprehensive and consistent policy frameworks. Based on the evidence, three key urban strategies are proposed: renaturalizing cities, promoting sustainable mobility, and implementing data-driven management and educational tools. These actions are essential to create healthier, more resilient, and sustainable urban environments.