BrainMap

Ana-Maria Popa

- UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Researcher

Expertise & keywords

Evaluating the role of nature-based innovations for healthy cities Call name:
PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-0316 2020 - 2022

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNITATEA EXECUTIVA PENTRU FINANTAREA INVATAMANTULUI SUPERIOR, A CERCETARII, DEZVOLTARII SI INOVARII

Project partners: UNITATEA EXECUTIVA PENTRU FINANTAREA INVATAMANTULUI SUPERIOR, A CERCETARII, DEZVOLTARII SI INOVARII ()

Affiliation: UNITATEA EXECUTIVA PENTRU FINANTAREA INVATAMANTULUI SUPERIOR, A CERCETARII, DEZVOLTARII SI INOVARII ()

Project website: https://ccmesi.ro/?page_id=1589

Abstract:

Contribution of small urban green infrastructure in achieving environmental justice Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare pentru stimularea tinerelor echipe independente
PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-1543 2020 - 2022

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: https://ccmesi.ro/?page_id=1702

Abstract:

Sustainable urbanization and environmental justice represent key topics in international documents like the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Habitat Agenda and 7th Environmental Action Programme of the European Union. Small urban green infrastructures could have an important role in building sustainable and inclusive cities but the subject is still little approached in scientific studies because of the difficulties it poses, like the scale of analysis and the complex challenges these infrastructures face. The aim of the project is to analyze the contribution of small urban green infrastructure in achieving environmental justice using complex spatial and statistical analysis, remote sensing and sociological and expert evaluation. The project is structured in 4 objectives starting with establishing the conceptual framework for assessing the contribution of small urban green infrastructure in achieving environmental justice (O1), continuing with the assessment of the spatial (O2) and functional (O3) contribution of small urban green infrastructure in achieving environmental justice and developing a methodological framework for assessing their contribution (O4). The originality of the project resides in the approach of small urban green infrastructure which can be a valuable tool for creating compact green cities and on the focus of different social categories (in terms of age or social status) in order to provide inclusive planning and design options. The deliverables of the project include 4 ISI articles (cumulated impact factor over 8), 6 presentations at international conferences, 2 presentation at national conferences, case studies spatial databases publicly available through webGIS applications. Both project leader and members of the research team have good track of publications in the field of Urban, regional and rural studies.

Evaluating the role of nature-based innovations for healthy cities Call name: P 1 - SP 1.1 - Proiecte de cercetare pentru stimularea tinerelor echipe independente
PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2019-0316 2020 - 2022

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: https://ccmesi.ro/?page_id=1589

Abstract:

The main objective of the project is to evaluate nature-based innovations (NBI) and their health effects, integrating them in a framework for urban planning which will lead to the creation of healthy cities.

First step will be assessing the Challenges of urban environments in Romania, by evaluating specific targets and goals of sustainability and resilience, the transformation of land use and urban functions, the search for green cities and identifying key actors in the urban planning process.

The evaluation of nature-based innovations will require identifying typologies and connecting a range of nature concepts, evaluating their effects in cities, determining the services and disservices to urban health and developing a model for integrating NBI in urban planning.

We will explore ways of moving forward towards healthy cities in Romania by assessing the determinants of urban health, identifying the drivers and barriers of health, demonstrating the role of NBI in health and developing a framework for using NBI for healthy cities.

The project will use selected scientific methods on three levels for each WP: (i) establishing the theoretical framework of analysis, (ii) evaluating the existing situation and (iii) developing toolboxes of indicators and models for going forward to the development of an integrative framework for nature-based innovations in healthy cities. Project will use state-of-the-art methods: network analysis, grounded theory, multicriteria analysis, spatial analysis and modelling, PPGIS, sociological surveys.

The framework will represent a new approach between scientific knowledge of nature-based innovations with their health effects and their implementation in the urban planning process. This represents a significant contribution of the project as it develops a new vision on different types of NBI, shifting views of the roles of stakeholders and promoting a participative planning process with sustainable objectives.

Nature-based sollutions for increasing cities resilience and sustainability Call name: P 4 - Proiecte de Cercetare Exploratorie
PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0635 2017 - 2019

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: https://ccmesi.ro/?page_id=666

Abstract:

The UN Global Report on Human Settlements has warned that future synergic relations between urbanization and environmental changes will affect the stability of the human society. Urban ecologists need to develop integrative databases, principles, concepts and tools, required to create liveable cities. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) represent the cornerstone of new urban ecology approaches, which could help the urban areas to increase their resilience to new environmental challenges and improve their sustainability. The assessment of NbS has become an important challenge for practitioners, due to the high complex relations between the components of the urban systems, the high vulnerability to climate change, and the consequences in the social-economical systems. The project aims to assess the integration, acceptance, and the efficiency of NbS in Romania’s cities and to develop a conceptual model for enhancing cities resilience and sustainability, using and adapting some cutting edge methods (i.e. Grounded Theory, Qualitative Comparative Analysis, scenarios planning). The project starts with the identification of categories of NbS related to cities resilience and sustainability (O1). After, it assesses the integration of NbS in spatial planning (O2) and within different components of the urban environment (i.e.residential areas, green-blue infrastructure or social group facilities) (O3). Subsequently, the acceptance of NbS in cities will be assessed, along with the their conflictual dimension (O4). Finally, a conceptual model for enhancing cities resilience and sustainability based on NbS will be developed (O5). The project delivrables include 7 papers (cummulative IF over 12, high priority of top-ranked journals), 6 presentations at international conferences, 1 book, 1 workshop and 3 annual reports. The team includes 3 senior researchers, 3 postdoc, 1 PhD student and 2 master students, who will significantly contribute to the research in the field of Urban Ecology.

Experimental Methods for Ecosystems Services Assessment of Urban Lakes under Climate Changes Call name: P 2 - SP 2.1 - Proiect experimental - demonstrativ
PN-III-P2-2.1-PED-2016-1300 2017 - 2018

Role in this project:

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU OPTOELECTRONICA INOE 2000 INCD (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BUCURESTI (RO)

Project website: http://ccmesi.ro/?page_id=39

Abstract:

Urban ecosystems services assessment is an important challenge for practitioners, due to the high complexity of relations between urban systems components, high vulnerability to climate change, and consequences in social-economical systems. Urban lakes represent a significant component in several Romanian cities (average 5% of total surface). Adequate urban management supports diverse benefits of urban lakes: clean water availability, mediation of waste, toxics and other nuisance, air quality and climate regulation, support for physical, intelectual or spiritual interactions. Due to underestimation of climate change and misfit urban planning decision, these benefits may be lost or chaged into diservices. The aim of the project is to assess the potential changes in urban ecosystems services supplied by urban lakes under land use and climate change, considering the Smart Cities principles. Using innovative and traditional methods (e.g. spatial modeling, scenarios, LIDAR, fluorescence, sensors, remote sensing, expert opinion), the project experiments the evolution of ecosystems services of urban lakes under the pressure of urbanisation and climate change. Considering three case studies, it will assess the actual level of main urban lakes` ecosystems services supplying: climate and air quality regulation, water selftreatment and cultural services. Considering these results, the multicriteria spatial models are proposed to validate and to generate an integrative overview of urban lakes` ecosystem services supply. Land-use and climate changes scenarios will prove the future evolution of urban lakes functions and will emhasize the direction to be targeted towards SMART territorial planning decisions.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects