Promoting capacity building and knowledge for the extension of urban gardens in European cities.
Acronim- U-GARDEN
Urban gardens are a key component of the traditional urban and peri-urban landscapes of the main European cities. Beyond food production and consumption, urban gardens provide a wide range of ecosystem and social services, with a positive impact on the urban and socio-residential environment. Thus, the main aim of this project is to promote the implementation of urban gardens and
agroforestry experiences as key components of the strategic framework for sustainable urban development in European cities, from an interdisciplinary approach. To this end, the project will try to achieve several objectives: 1) to identify needs, problems and opportunities concerning urban garden and agroforestry experiences; 2) to promote, through Urban Living Labs, the stakeholders’
capacity building in terms of green governance for food production and consumption in cities; 3) to drive citizens’ capacity building for the involvement in sustainable urban development experiences; 4) to foster innovative business models around sustainable and local food production; 5) to evaluate the impact of the implementation of agroforestry/urban garden experiences in their social, cultural and environmental dimensions; and 6) to set up a multi-criteria framework to support decision-making in the location of urban gardens and agroforestry plots.
NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS IN CONSORTIUM- 16
DURATION OF THE PROJECT (MONTHS) – 36
Stage 1 – Defining the requirements, implementing the technological framework and defining the evaluation criteria for the urban laboratory 01/04/2022 – 30/12/2022
Activity 1.1 – Defining the requirements and designing the urban laboratory
This activity describes an introduction to urban gardens and the benefits of urban gardens. Urban gardens are living spaces whose importance lies in reconnecting nature with the urban area. The needs identified at the European level were analyzed from the point of view of the desire to develop urban gardens in large cities, with an emphasis on the development of ecological agriculture. An analysis of the specific requirements of the users and the detailed definition of the technical elements necessary to develop a platform where information is collected to meet the needs of the market were also carried out. The main requirements are: air and soil telemetry, automatic irrigation systems and plant risk alerting, as well as the requirements for the design of an urban laboratory.
Activity 1.2 – Design and implementation of the technological framework for the urban laboratory
As part of this activity, an analysis of urban gardens at the global level was carried out, as well as an analysis of some urban gardens in Romania. Also the description of how the technological framework for an urban laboratory was implemented and finally the analysis of the chosen location for the case study, together with descriptive images and the design techniques used.
Activity 1.3 – Defining the methodology and evaluation criteria for the urban laboratory
This activity entailed the analysis of the urban laboratory from the point of view of process, impact and profitability. The analysis is performed at a technical level, focusing on the functioning of the urban laboratory and its level of efficiency. The results of the U-GARDEN project were also disseminated by participating in various conferences and events.
Results
In Stage I of the project, the 3 activities declared for this stage were analyzed. The activities started from a general situation regarding the existence of urban gardens in the world, what types they are and what they are focused on, followed by a description of the urban garden that will be implemented in Romania. The final activity within this stage consisted in defining the evaluation system valid for the preparation, implementation and evaluation of the activities within the project. The evaluation framework consists of a common set of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) methodologies and tools that will be tailored to each country with a dedicated protocol. For the evaluation of the urban laboratory, the technical aspects of its operation are analyzed, by presenting a brief description of the monitoring system, the main modules and communication protocols used, the storage, processing and visualization of data.
Stage 2: Interpretation of data, creation of interactive maps and evaluation of the potential for implementation of technical solutions in the field of urban gardens – 01.01.2023 – 31.12.2023
Activity 2.1 Collection and interpretation of data from the urban laboratory
This activity describes how the data from the urban laboratory in the Bucharest area was collected, as the urban laboratory in Brasov is in its initial phase and will be completed in the next phase. Smart Agriculture PRO monitoring stations with high-precision sensors are used to monitor the urban laboratory. Another key component of the U-GARDEN architecture is the visualization platform, which gives users the possibility to access data in graphical or tabular form, apply mathematical formulas to graphs and set up alerts.
Activity 2.2 Designing and making interactive maps
As part of this work, a detailed study was carried out on decision-making based on several criteria. This is a tool to address choice issues that have multiple competing criteria. MCDM (Multiple-criteria decision-making) has been used in a variety of academic research efforts. Five main typologies of gardens have also been identified in the U-GARDEN project. These are: the social garden, the educational garden, the recreational garden, the economically profitable/productive garden and the environmental garden. For each of the five typologies, a set of critical success factors can be identified. Such factors could be the type of ownership (public or private) or the type of level of accessibility within the urban ecosystem, also the availability of public networks in the area (such as water and sewage, electricity, data network/internet access, etc.).
Activity 2.3 Evaluation of the potential for the implementation of technical solutions in the field of urban gardens
This activity looked at assessing the potential for implementing technical solutions for urban gardens. The analysis shows that urban gardens have evolved from simple green spaces in the urban environment into true multi-functional hubs. They not only improve the aesthetics of cities, but also bring significant benefits by providing local food, recreation, environmental support and community education. Technical solutions for developing urban gardens have advanced considerably and offer a wide range of technologies and approaches that can transform urban environments into productive and sustainable green spaces.
Results
In Phase II of the U-GARDEN project, entitled Data Interpretation, Interactive Map Making and Evaluation of the Potential for Implementation of Technical Solutions in Urban Gardens, some methods for making different interactive maps were described and the requirements for making interactive maps by installing QGIS were presented. With the help of the Brasov Metropolitan Agency, the purpose was analysed and highlighted, whereby any interested party or local stakeholder could upload their own data, group the variables of interest by dimensions, weight them according to their own criteria and obtain a result that would allow them to quickly visualise the empty plots that best correspond to their interests for the realisation of an urban garden.
In conclusion, it is highlighted that urban gardens have evolved from simple green spaces in the urban environment into true multi-purpose hubs. They improve the aesthetics of cities and bring significant benefits by providing local food, recreation, environmental sustainability and community education. Technical solutions for developing urban gardens have advanced considerably and offer a wide range of technologies and approaches that can transform urban environments into productive and sustainable green spaces.
Stage 3: Evaluation, testing and validation of the urban laboratory; Definition of business models, coordination and dissemination – 01.01.2024 – 31.12.2024
Activity 3.1 Evaluation, testing and validation of the urban laboratory
Activity 3.1 aims to evaluate, test and validate the urban laboratory in the context of urban agriculture and green infrastructure. It focuses on the creation of urban gardens and their integration into a wider urban ecosystem regeneration framework. Urban agriculture and community gardens play an important role in this process, not only as sources of healthy and local food, but also as tools for education, income growth and job creation. In addition, they contribute to the development of a sustainable green infrastructure that enhances the biodiversity and climate resilience of cities. The concept of green infrastructure is central to the project, comprising a network of green spaces and aquatic ecosystems that can provide important ecological services, such as reducing the negative impacts of traditional transportation and energy infrastructure, but also improving the quality of urban life by facilitating recreational activities and natural habitats. In Brașov, this urban laboratory intends to integrate these principles by creating urban gardens, parks, peri-urban green spaces, green roofs and vertical farming systems such as aquaponics and hydroponics.
Activity 3.2 Defining the market exploitation strategy
The launch of U-GARDEN is supported by a digital marketing strategy, participation in conferences and collaboration with heritage conservation organizations. Workshops and user training sessions are organized, offering guides and educational materials. Ongoing technical support and software updates improve the long-term experience. System operations promote innovation and sustainability by collaborating with users and partners and adapting to market requirements, ensuring a scalable and robust infrastructure.
Activity 3.3 Coordination and dissemination
This dissemination activity included an overview of the project identity design concept and provided the initial U-GARDEN dissemination and communication plan, together with the first implemented activities. In terms of communication activities, the main activities and target audiences were identified, while qualitative communication objectives were presented in this report. The most important communication channels, such as the project website, fact sheets, newsletters and event organisation have been listed.
Regarding dissemination activities, the target audience and the main dissemination channels of the project have been identified. The most important dissemination channels were listed, such as publications in scientific journals, participation in conferences and demonstrations at exhibitions and EU events. In addition, the plan for all related activities was reported.
Results
Phase III of the U-GARDEN project was essential to validate the system functionalities and define the market strategy. Through testing and evaluation in an urban laboratory, the system was optimized to meet the requirements of the target market. A viable business model has been defined, based on collaboration with users, offering scalable and adaptable solutions to diverse market needs.The U-GARDEN project represents an innovative model for integrating urban agriculture and green infrastructure in the regeneration of the urban ecosystem. By evaluating, testing and promoting the urban laboratory concept, the project not only contributes to the sustainability and ecological resilience of cities, but also provides socio-economic benefits such as education, job creation and community involvement. The extensive marketing and dissemination strategy supports the uptake and scaling up of this initiative, ensuring impact and visibility at local and European level. The project thus aims to become an example of good practice for future sustainable urban development initiatives with a focus on cooperation and adaptability.
Dissemination activities
Web page : http://www.beiaro.eu/u-garden/
Tweeter: https://twitter.com/U_GARDENproject
Project meeting
Beia attended the annual project meeting on 13-15 September in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Publications in 2022:
- Baouche, F.Z.; Abderezzak, B.; Ladmi, A.; Arbaoui, K.; Suciu, G.; Mihaltan, T.C.; Raboaca, M.S.; Hudis, S.V.;Turcanu, F.E., Design and Simulation of a Solar Tracking System for PV, Appl. Sci.2022, 12, 9682. https://doi.org/10.3390/app12199682, Publicat 27 Septembrie 2022
- Somayajula, V.K.A.; Ghai, D.; Kumar, S.; Tripathi, S.L.; Verma, C.; Safirescu, C.O.; Mihaltan, T.C. Classification and Validation of Spatio-Temporal Changes in Land Use/Land Cover and Land Surface Temperature of Multitemporal Images, Sustainability 2022, 14, 15677, https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315677, Publicat 25 Noiembrie 2022
Conference participation in:
2022
- BEIA presented the article entitled “Water Quality Monitoring for Irrigation in Site Location Moara Domnească”, on March 18, during the international conference Air and Water Components of the Environment, 2022.
- BEIA presented the article entitled “Diseases Detection System based on Machine Learning Algorithms and Internet of Things Technology used in Viticulture”, on November 18, 2022, at the EEE E-HEALTH AND BIOENGINEERING – EHB conference, year 2022. The article was based on the U-GARDEN project.
- International Symposium ISB-INMA TECH – Technologies and technical systems in agriculture, food industryand environment, Smart Systems Integration For Improved Disease Detection And Crop Optimization In Romanian Viticulture, Andrei DANILA, Robert STRECHE, Oana ORZA, Sabina BOSOC, Cristina Mihaela DOBRE, George SUCIU. BEIA attended the conference where he presented the paper which was based on the U-GARDEN project.
2023
- 26th International Symposium “The Environment And The Industry”, SIMI 2023. BEIA presented the paper “Minimizing Food Loss And Repurposing Waste Within The Viticulture Industry” based on the U-GARDEN project, authors: Robert Streche, Oana Orza, Sabina Bosoc, Cristina Dobre, Andrei Danila, Larisa Carp, George Suciu.
- SIITME 2023 IEEE 29th International Symposium for Design and Technology in Electronic Packaging 18th-21st October, Craiova, Romania Conference & Exhibition. BEIA a prezentat articolul intitulat „The Reuse of Food Loss and Waste in the Viticulture Sector”, R.Streche, O. Orza, C.S. Bosoc, C. Balaceanu and G. Suciu, articol ce se bazeaza pe proiectul U-GARDEN.
2024
- Participation in SIMI 2024, „ The 27th International Symposium «Environment and Industry», September 19th – 20th, 2024, cu articolul Advanced Solution for Urban Gardens Based on IoT Systems, Prediction Algorithms and Multi-Criteria Application, Eng. Andrei-Bogdan Dănilă, ing. Robert-Alexandru Streche, ing. Oana Orza, Dr. ing. Cristina Dobre , Dr. ing. George Suciu
- Participation at the SIITME 2024 conference, October 16 -19, 2024, Sibiu , Romania and presentation of the paper Smart Solutions for Sustainable Urban and Food System Development, authors A.B. Danila, R.A. Streche, O. Orza, F.E. Osiac, C.M. Dobre and G.. Suciu, https://siitme.ro.
Events in:
2022
- GoTech World 2022
BEIA participated as exhibitor in GoTech World 2022, the largest B2B conference & expo in Central and Eastern Europe on 3-4 November 2022 and had the opportunity to disseminate the U-GARDEN project.
Visit website here: https://www.gotech.world/
- SCEWC (Smart City Expo World Congress) 2022
Our company participates in SCEWC (Smart City Expo World Congress) 2022 on 15-17 November 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. It’s a great opportunity for BEIA to disseminate the U-GARDEN project with participants.
Visit website here: https://www.smartcityexpo.com/
- TAFIE 2022 & ROMAT 2022
BEIA participated in TAFIE & ROMAT 2022 fairs in Bucharest, Romania on 23-25 November 2022. It was a great opportunity to disseminate the U-GARDEN project.
2023
-
BEIA attended GoTech World 2023, a major conference in Eastern Europe, on 8-9 November 2023 and had the opportunity to disseminate the U-GARDEN project. Event webpage: https://www.gotech.world/
-
BEIA participated in the INDAGRA 2023 event on 25-29 October in Bucharest, Romania. During this conference, BEIA had the opportunity to present the U-GARDEN project. Conference webpage:https://www.indagra.ro/en/
2024
- AgriPlanta – RomAgroTec 23-26 May 2024
Papers and publications in 2024:
- WATER QUALITY MONITORING FOR IRRIGATION IN SITE LOCATION MOARA DOMNEASCA
- DETECTION OF VINEYARD DISEASES USING THE INTERNET OF THINGS TECHNOLOGY AND MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS
- ROȘCĂNEANU, R., STRECHE, R., OSIAC, F., BĂLĂCEANU, C., SUCIU, G., DRĂGULINESCU, A. M., & MARCU, I. DETECTION OF VINEYARD DISEASES USING THE INTERNET OF THINGS TECHNOLOGY AND MACHINE LEARNING ALGORITHMS
Social Media
Logo
Visual Materials