This section provides a hypothetical example of how the Biophilic Decision model might be used and implemented as a decision making tool. Each step of the model is considered in turn with regard to potential users and scale of decision in the built environment. The Biophilic Decision Model is intended to be user-inspired and user- useful as it assists in strategic development and implementation of biophilic urbanism. The model is adaptive and can be tailored to suit the needs of the decision-maker concerned. By following the stages, projects proposing a biophilic element(s) can empower stakeholders to implement effective solutions that will achieve solutions that walk towards biophilic urbanism.
The first phase of the tool is identifying Pressures. Identifying Pressures comprises the preparatory role of presenting the foundational need for a biophilic element. More specifically, identifying the Pressure demonstrates the need to address a social, environmental or economic issue. Examples of Pressure identified in the Biophilic Decision tool can refer to a school recognising the need to enhance education (social benefit) for their students, as well as reduce energy consumption (economic benefit). Another example of a Pressure identified could refer to social and economic pressure for a community centre. For instance, the YMCA centre in downtown Toronto identified the potential in transforming its abandoned grey roof into a space for community members to escape the urban environment and connect with nature. This increased membership sales, educational opportunities such as school field trips as well as health benefits in terms of utilising the space to teach yoga classes and such. A final example of a Pressure identified could relate to a larger scale such as a city. A local council could identify environmental as well
economic costs due to negative externalities. For instance, stormwater runoff could cost a city in terms of sewage overflow. This Pressure creates the need to identify appropriate biophilic element(s) to internalise and address this externality.
Once the Pressure has been identified, the user of the Biophilic Decision Making tool will assess what other areas may require attention. Additionally, the context of value will be identified. For instance, the school may determine the context of value as social, meaning no quantification is necessary. Alternatively, the YMCA community centre may identify the context of value as economic and thus require a cost/benefit analysis to validate the green roof proposal. Finally, a City Council may identify other externalities in a city, such as increase urban heat island effect. Additionally, the user of the tool may identify the context of value to be social and economic. Therefore, the business case will follow suit. This begins to frame the business case for the user of the tool to propose a biophilic element(s).
The literature explains that identifying the context of value becomes particularly important in tailoring a business case that speaks the language of the decision maker. This is because once the user of the tool reaches components 4 (Selecting biophilic service) and 5 (Valuation), the user can select the service that address the initial Pressure and also services and correspondent valuation method that go hand in hand with the Decision Context. For instance the school may explore which biophilic element address the education aspect. Acknowledging that the decision context is social in nature, the user of the tool will find an economic valuation unnecessary. Rather reference to the supplementary direct or indirect biophilic service table serves as a guide to assist the user to select the appropriate biophilic element. This allows the user to reach a decision, thus concluding the Biophilic Decision Making tool.
The community centre on the other hand will select the services offered by the green roof which address the identified Pressure. A valuation technique will then be selected to assess these services to determine the validity of the proposal. The user can then make an informed decision as to whether a green roof can is appropriate or not. In terms of a City Council, the Biophilic Service Decision making table can be used to identify appropriate biophilic element in terms of the services it offers. This will in turn be assessed for economic and environmental performance. The user will thus conduct a demonstration project to generate data to support the final decision.
The Biophilic Decision Making tool can be as complicated or as simple as the user chooses. It is intended to serve as a guide to assist in appropriately selecting a
biophilic element. It also provides the framework for proposing a business case for biophilic element(s) i.e. pre-feasibility and strategic planning.
6.7 Conclusion
In this chapter the theory of Ecosystem Services was applied to the urban context, and a Biophilic Decision Model was presented for biophilic urbanism as a way to inform decisions to couple challenges, expectations or pressures with solutions. Using the findings of the previous chapters and building on the Ecosystem Service models, the Biophilic Decision Model presents an underlying decision making logic to undertake economic analysis of potential biophilic solutions. The Decision Model highlights the overlapping and iterative nature of the decision process, where model flow allows for a snowballing progression.
In conclusion, this Biophilic Decision Model presents an insight into developing the business case of biophilic urbanism informed by relevant theory and five case studies. In doing so it presents an opportunity to mainstream the concept of Biophilic Services to address urban externalities. Expanding the ecosystem service approach and model to integrate the process of quantifying biophilic elements has significant implications for expanding the field of Ecosystem Services in informing decisions for integrating nature in the built environment. The propositional knowledge is discussed further in Chapter 7, together with implications arising from the Decision Model for practice and theory.
7 Conclusions and Recommendations for Further Research
This dissertation explored the process of economic enquiry by which the business case for biophilic urbanism is investigated. In this chapter the overall conclusions are presented, including a discussion of the interpretive findings and subsequent requirements for broad application and analysis. The chapter begins with a brief summary of the research which included literature review, case studies and semi- structured interviews. This is followed by a series of propositions. This propositional knowledge is then used to discuss implications of the research to practice as well as its implications theory, specifically the Ecosystem Services concept. The chapter concludes with future research opportunities to further develop the Biophilic Decision model.