Evaluation of the Ecosystem Services of the Green Infrastructure in the Valencian Community
The achievement of this main objective is ensured by meeting the following specific objectives: This project was funded by the Research and Development Program of the Conselleria for Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society of the Generalitat Valenciana under the Call for Emerging Research Groups (GE 2022), grant number CIGE/2021/079.
Aim
The general objective of the ECOVAL project is to fill the scientific and technical knowledge gaps related to the use of green infrastructure as an adaptation measure to the impacts of climate change and urban expansion. To this end, the project focuses on the comprehensive demonstration of the benefits of green infrastructure through the development of models and the analysis of their ecosystem services at different levels within the Valencian Community.
Principal Investigator
Daniel Jato-Espino (VIU): Responsible for modeling green infrastructure as an adaptation measure to environmental phenomena exacerbated by climate change.
Research team
Vanessa Moscardó Garcia (VIU): Responsible for spatiotemporal processing and data visualization using machine learning algorithms.
Kristin Dietrich (VIU): Responsible for analyzing the thermoregulatory services of green infrastructure and their relationship to energy efficiency.
Fernando Mayor Vitoria (VIU): Responsible for assessing the use of arable or edible green infrastructure.
Paula Nieto Alemán (ESIC): Responsible for promoting local production and self-sufficiency strategies based on green infrastructure.
Leticia Bartolomé del Pino (VIU): Responsible for researching the benefits of green infrastructure for animal welfare and biodiversity.
Fabio Capra Ribeiro (LSU): Responsible for evaluating landscape connectivity and the aesthetic and recreational value of green infrastructure.
Laura Gallardo Ortín (UNIZAR): Responsible for analyzing the mental and physical health benefits of green infrastructure.
Results
Scientific articles
Jato-Espino, D., Capra-Ribeiro, F., Moscardó, V., Gallardo, L.O., 2025. Citizen perceptions on the use, management and availability of green spaces in a Mediterranean region. City and Environment Interactions, 27, 100210.
Jato-Espino, D., Lierow, S., Rodríguez-Sánchez, M.-Á., 2025. Using classification algorithms to model nighttime Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI), with an emphasis on the role of urban trees. Building and Environment, 270, 112572.
Jato-Espino, D., Lierow, S., 2023. Spatiotemporal analysis of landscape dynamics and their use as input for the design of a habitat suitability index: A case study of Oryctolagus cuniculus in a Mediterranean region. Ecological Informatics, 82, 102731.
Roldán-Valcarce, A., Jato-Espino, D., Manchado, C., Bach, P.M., Kuller, M., 2023. Vulnerability to urban flooding assessed based on spatial demographic, socio-economic and infrastructure inequalities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 95, 103894.
Jato-Espino, D., Mayor-Vitoria, F., Moscardó, V., Capra-Ribeiro, F., Bartolomé del Pino, L.E., 2023. Toward One Health: a spatial indicator system to model the facilitation of the spread of zoonotic diseases. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1215574.
Jato-Espino, D., Capra-Ribeiro, F., Moscardó, V., Bartolomé del Pino, L.E., Mayor-Vitoria, F., Gallardo, L.O., Carracedo, P., Dietrich, K., 2023. A systematic review on the ecosystem services provided by green infrastructure. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 86, 127998.
Jato-Espino, D., Mayor-Vitoria, F., 2023. A statistical and machine learning methodology to model rural depopulation risk and explore its attenuation through agricultural land use management. Applied Geography 152, 102870.
Dissemination articles
Jato-Espino, D., González-Ávila, I., 2022. Inundaciones, de fenómenos meteorológicos a desastres naturales. The Conversation 191148.
Bartolomé del Pino, L.E., 2022. ¿Qué enfermedades parasitarias pueden transmitirnos los animales? The Conversation 183775.
Book chapters
Jato-Espino, D., Dietrich, K., González-Ávila, I., Pathak, S., 2024. A geographic information system-based procedure to assess the coupled implementation of photovoltaic panels and green roofs for improved energy efficiency, en: Jeguirim, M. (Ed.), Sustainable Development of Renewable Energy Latest Advances in Production, Storage, and Integration. Elsevier, pp. 453-474.
Conference contributions
Jato-Espino, D., 2025. Modelización de la Isla de Calor Urbana Superficial (ICUS) nocturna en función de las características del arbolado urbano. XX Congreso Nacional de Arboricultura. Organizer: Asociación Española de Arboricultura (AEA). Location: Santander (Spain).
Jato-Espino, D., Rodríguez, M.A., Lierow, S., Jensen, M.B., 2023. Spatiotemporal analysis of landscape fragmentation based on the degree of naturalness of land cover. 5th Euro-Mediterranean Conference for Environmental Integration (EMCEI-2023). Organizers: Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration and University of Calabria (UNICAL). Location: Rende, Cosenza (Italy) / Online.
Roldán-Valcarce, A., Jato-Espino, D., Manchado, C., Bach, P.M., Kuller, M., 2023. Urban flood vulnerability index based on differences in infrastructure, socioeconomic, and population factors. 11th International Conference on Urban water (NOVATECH 2023). Organizer: GRAIE. Location: Lyon (France).
Mayor-Vitoria, F., Jato-Espino, D., Moscardo García, V., Capra-Ribeiro, F., Roldan, J., Lopez Martinez, M., Bartolome del Pino, L.E., 2022. A system of indicators to account for the contributions of green infrastructure to the One Health approach. 7th World One Health Congress 2022. Organizer: SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI). Location: Singapur.
Tesis dirigidas
Rondal Simbaña, J., 2023. Determinación de puntos bioéticos en el estudio de indicadores de One Health. Una Revisión Sistemática. Grado: Máster. Directora: Bartolomé del Pino, L.E. Entidad: Universidad Internacional de Valencia – VIU.
