Currently, the mature metropolitan areas have special characteristics. on the one hand, its population is stabilized or has small growths. However, on the other hand, the artificial land increases. these areas present new dynamics in the last period: urban sprawl, transformation of rural or natural areas to artificial lands, increase of mobility, land demands for new uses, abandonment and degradation of con- solidated urban land. this new reality needs a new vision to plan and manage these areas. particularly, the new problems are more strong in coastal metropolitan areas because of in these areas the conflicts between territorial uses are very intensed. valència is a Spanish city in the mediterranean coast. the mediterranean coast of valència, where is its metropolitan area, had a period of economic expansion from 1997 to 2007 and is currently in the economic crisis period initiated in 2008. the metropolitan area of valència includes a large list of very different uses with its own dynamics, often contradictory among them. For exemple, there is an important touristic activity in beaches next to protected areas as the historical agricultural land named “Horta” or the natural park of l’albufera. the urban expansion for differents urban uses (big transport infrastructures, touristic activities, entertainement activities, sea port expansion, ...) is contradictory to the conservation of these natural resources in open spaces. recently, the european union developed the concept of green infrastructure in order to guarantee the natural Capital including urban areas. this article has an objective to analyse the current dynamics in the metropolitan area of valencia and design a planning process where environmental issues are essential and determinant, keeping in mind governance issues.

Water is considered the most important natural resource in the four Pacific Northwestern states (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington). Public attitudes about water resource issues and needs were deter- mined using a mail-based survey instrument every 5 years (2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017). The survey questions were identical over the 15-year period. The statistically designed survey study was also designed to measure change over the 15-year time period. Four specific survey questions were evaluated in this article. In 2017, over 83% of the public considered their home drinking water safe; however, this value was lower and compared unfavourably to the 93.1% who considered their drinking water safe in 2002. In 2017, 43.8, 40.7, 28.3, 25.3, 19.4 and 14.8% of residents considered phosphates, nitrates, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products and pathogens as problems in local waters, respectively. Compared to the 2002 survey, the perceived problem of phosphates, nitrates and pharmaceuticals has become worse; however, public views of problems caused in waters by pesticides and petroleum prod- ucts have lessened. Based on public perception, the problem of pathogens in waters has not changed over the 15-year span. Surface water and groundwater quality were considered to be excellent or good by 51.6 and 46.2% of survey respondents in 2017, respectively. In general, public views of water quality have improved since 2002.

Due to the persistently high frequency of flood-related disasters, which are exacerbated by the on-going effects of climate change, the impacts of flooding on cities and towns can be devastating and deadly, resulting in the need to design and assessment of flood protection object (FPO). In their preparation, implementation, evaluation and authorization it is necessary to ensure consistent application of the environmental impact assessment (EIA). This paper explores the benefits of using the risk assessment/ analysis technique in the evaluation of FPO by examining the results of the EIA for a selected planned FPO in Slovakia. The methodology consists of three steps: identification, prediction and evaluation of the impacts of flood protection measures on the environment. Risk analysis (RA), based on determination of probability and consequences, is an appropriate tool to determine the level of the risk of the proposed flood mitigation measures and through which it is possible to choose the alternative with the lowest level of risk for the environment. This paper introduces an application of a new approach for risk assessment of actions in water management (FPO projects) using risk analysis method – universal matrix of risk analysis (UMRA) and matrix of qualitative and semi-quantitative assessment. Analysis and evaluation of environmental impacts of FPO in Snakov village on the environment prove that construction of polder is better alternative for flood protection of village than water course regulation.

Water by Design is a capacity-building programme based in Brisbane, Australia, that focuses on wa- terway health and aims to aid local governments and the development industry in the goal of better managing waterways and also transitioning to water-sensitive cities. Water by Design’s survey of the issues affecting waterway health reveals a very broad suite of problems to solve. In short, the majority of these problems can be solved via thorough diagnosis of the catchment including assessing the distribution of hazards, values and needs and a strategic planning framework that can prioritise management actions and resources to maximise potential impact. This paper has identified a number of novel tools to simplify the visualisation and analysis of the problems but still address many competing demands that waterway managers need to consider. The tools are inspired by the medical model for managing health and also the addition of red/green/blue colours to produce multidimensional GIs heat maps to identify critical adjacencies within the catchment. With the plethora of management frameworks available today, it is the memorable ideas that survive and are passed on. To address this issue, careful thought has been placed in the design of these tools to enhance the chances that they are remembered, understood and disseminated.

This article presents the analysis of the probability of occurrence of wave overtopping events as well as its consequences at the Port of Las Nieves in Agaete, Gran Canaria Island, with the evaluation of the resulting level of flood risk. The study involves both the existing breakwater and its planned future expansion toward deeper waters and has been conducted using a third-generation spectral wave model, to reproduce wave propagation from deep to shallow water depths considering the associated mean sea level, and a neural network-based model, for estimating mean wave overtopping discharges. Results reveal that, in both cases, the access area to the infrastructure presents a risk level substantially higher than that associated with the cross-sections of the main body of the breakwater. Thus, control actions to reduce overtopping in the initial sections are required for the existing structure, and this fact should be seriously taken into account in the planning and construction phases of its extension, due to the impor- tant socioeconomic implications regarding the infrastructure inoperability.

The concept of green infrastructure (Gi) development is promoted worldwide within planning of urban spatial systems. it implies the application of resilience and sustainability considerations in spatial and more specifically transportation planning.

The purpose of this article is to assess the linking of incentives to promote green infrastructure develop- ment through transdisciplinary planning processes by integrating and mainstreaming related disciplines and planning in general. spatial planning traditionally deals with specific instruments and methodolo- gies focussing on developing the natural, socioeconomic and built environment. Transportation plan- ning, due to its integration with land use planning, focuses on movement systems and implies intra- and intermovement of people, goods and services supporting development and growth in urban spatial systems.

In decision-making for statutory planning, the impact of development is used to levy service contri- butions in urban areas. it includes the calculation of financial contributions to access conventional infra- structure services networks in terms of specific development policies and priorities. Limited incentives exist to promote, integrate and mainstream green development practices in land use and transportation planning.

Linking and alignment of Gi to brown and grey space planning and development processes is essen- tial to promote inclusivity in ecosystem service (es) attainment. This goal and objective requires devel- opment contribution policies inclusive of equitable incentives to promote green planning approaches and principles in planning processes. it implies application of alternative transdisciplinary practices in spatial planning, urban design, transportation and the provision of infrastructure in general.

Development goes beyond the limits of an individual discipline, site, neighbourhood, town, region or any related spatial and/functional entity and should be linked to system-wide approaches to enhance and integrate es development in a transdisciplinary way. in attaining this challenge, spatial and trans- portation planning processes have an important role to fulfil.

This study investigates consumer awareness and knowledge about two methods of food production and possible environmental impact, specifically organic farming and genetically modified or engineered food production. Consumers are often unaware of the details of the first step of the food supply chain, which is the food production method and its environmental impact. It is believed that organic farming causes the least damage to the environment as it uses no pesticides or herbicides in agriculture. How- ever, genetically modified food is used frequently in the United Sates to increase yield and to meet the growing demand for food. Consumers generally are becoming more interested to learn about the food they purchase and the possible environmental impact of how it was produced. An online survey was conducted to evaluate consumers’ knowledge about the production systems and their preferences. Two hundred and four adult participants answered all the questions on the survey. The survey questions in- cluded demographic data and general questions about their knowledge of and their beliefs regarding dif- ferent food production systems, particularly the genetically modified food and potential environmental impact. Almost half (48%) of the participants believed that genetically modified food production has a harmful impact on the environment, while 31.4% had no knowledge about this method of food production and possible environmental impact. A c2 test showed a significant association between preference for non-genetically modified food and individuals’ beliefs on how this food production system may impact the environment (c2 (1) = 29.592, p = 0.001). Seventy-five percent, of the 98 participants who believedthatgeneticallymodifiedfoodproductionhasaharmfulimpactontheenvironment,preferred foods to be labeled. A majority (almost 80%) of participants acknowledged that their food purchasing decisions are contingent on the method of food production and its possible impact on the environment.