Integrating Risk and Feasibility in the Spatial Planning of Nature-Based Solutions: A Cross-City Analysis of Barcelona, Boston, and Rotterdam

Integrating Risk and Feasibility in the Spatial Planning of Nature-Based Solutions: A Cross-City Analysis of Barcelona, Boston, and Rotterdam | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Integrating Risk and Feasibility in the Spatial Planning of Nature-Based Solutions: A Cross-City Analysis of Barcelona, Boston, and Rotterdam Svetlana Khromova, Svea Busse, Giulia Benati, Pablo Herreros-Cantis, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-9072391/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Urban areas increasingly turn to nature-based solutions (NbS) to adapt to climate-related risks, which require integrated and systemic planning evaluating risks and feasibility of implementation. Here we develop a transferable, SETS-based decision-support framework that spatially analyzes multi-hazard climate risk and feasibility for four NbS types: green roofs, permeable pavements, rain gardens, and urban parks, across Barcelona, Boston, and Rotterdam. Integrating spatial and statistical analyses, we identify where different kinds of NbS are both most needed and most feasible for mitigating urban flooding and heat stress. Results reveal strong spatial clustering of risks and feasibility across all cities, with heat risk showing the highest spatial autocorrelation. Across cases, green roofs and permeable pavements consistently exhibit high feasibility in dense, heat-prone urban areas, whereas rain gardens and urban parks are constrained by land availability and underground infrastructure. The comparative analysis highlights how urban morphology, governance structures, and socio-economic factors shape feasibility for NbS implementation. Overlaying risk and feasibility identifies priority high risk –high feasibility zones for rapid implementation and flags high-risk/low-feasibility neighborhoods where infrastructure deficits and vulnerability may constrain adaptation, supporting more justice-oriented, context-sensitive NbS planning. Earth and environmental sciences/Climate sciences Scientific community and society/Developing world Physical sciences/Engineering Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental social sciences Social science/Environmental studies Scientific community and society/Geography Social science/Geography Earth and environmental sciences/Natural hazards Urban Stormwater Urban Heat Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Social-Ecological-Technological Systems (SETS) Resilience Ecosystem Services Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files AppendixA.docx AppendixBrevised.docx AppendixC.docx AppendixD.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 16 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 16 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 16 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 12 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 09 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9072391","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":607167934,"identity":"18cb9b6c-5f23-46aa-98ad-4b79a6010b62","order_by":0,"name":"Svetlana Khromova","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Autonomous University of Barcelona","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Svetlana","middleName":"","lastName":"Khromova","suffix":""},{"id":607167935,"identity":"6ce3698a-de81-48ff-9a97-310cc45f8b18","order_by":1,"name":"Svea Busse","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Augsburg 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