The project has followed a sequenced work starting from the development of a relevant integrated framework for NBS knowledge and analysis including methodologies for the holistic assessment of NBS projects benefits, co-benefits and costs. Then, the development of an exploitable platform together specifications definition of the platform resulted to the definition of a set of eight modules made up of databases, a knowledge bank, decision-making support, and assessment tools. Next, the developments, integration and tests have been conducted and the platform has been delivered, ready to be deployed, tested and finally improved on the four pilot cities. In parallel, communication and exploitation activities were conducted since the beginning of the project, feeding each other along the development and project progress.
The main results achieved so far are the :
>>> Development of a multi-scalar and multi-thematic NBS typology and corresponding NBS fact sheets
>>> Consolidation of the urban challenges framework structured to cover NBS impacts on 11 Urban Challenges
>>> Guideline to support the municipalities in understanding and selecting existing expert methods, models and tools that address urban climate resilience and other urban challenge assessment.
>>> Test of Agent Based Modelling methods to support the assessment methodologies
>>> Environmental assessment methodologies for NBS including both, life cycle analysis (LCA) and material flow analysis (MFA).
>>> Dynamic assessment approach for time series analysis of the urban indicators
>>> Monetary valuation scale
>>> Environmental Quality of Life valuation scale (EQoL)
>>> Implementation Models Typology and online database to structure and categorize existing innovative governance, financing and business models
>>> Societal acceptance analysis methodology
>>> Methodological approach to preliminary understand the potential impact of NBS implementation models
>>> Step-by-step guide for NBS interventions
>>> Noise Modelling tool extension to NBS as a stand-alone external application tool
As a final outcome, the project resulted to the Nature4Cities platform development and its eight modules namely : (1) the NBS Explorer, (2) the Geocluster4NBS including the NBS project observatory, the pre-selection tool and the replication functionalities, (3) the Diagnostic of your city’s trends module that integrates two complementary tools : Colouree Analytics and GreenCity, (4) the NBS project assessment module including : Urban assessment tools with the Expert Model-Based Box tool, the Colouree NBS tool, the Simplified GreenPass tool, the socio-economic assessment tool : NBenefit$, and the Environmental assessment tool, (5) the diagnosis of your assessment needs module, (6) the IM Pre-selection tool, (7) the NBS handbook and (8) the NBS projects participation tool.
The overall business model of the N4C platform is the Freemium Business Model. It takes into account the level of maturity of each result. While the N4C platform needs further developments and improvements before becoming a fully commercial product, some of its tools and modules are ready for the market or to implement consultancy services. At the end of the project, the N4C Platform was made available in Beta version, meaning that municipalities and technicians can use it for free. While if they need further support they can ask consulting service with the tool owners and the service providers.
For a widespread communication and dissemination of these results, complementary materials have been developed and shared to the widest possible audience, and especially clusters of stakeholders (Plante & Cité and MUTK) and the Nature4Cities community such as NBS Definition infographics, Grey to Green Leaflet, «Nature is the solution» infographics, project communication video, NBS Breakfast webinars, NBS white paper and a condensed guide on dynamic assessment.
