Embedding technologies for improving Nature-Based Solutions performance and fostering social inclusion in urban greening strategies: Augmented NBS for cities

Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) have been at the forefront of the European Commission policies since 2015 (Eggermont et al., 2015) as a specific thematic area for developing sustainable cities strategies either from social inclusivity or innovative urban technology standpoints (European Commission, 2023). NBS have been considered as innovative solutions within the ambition to enact a new ambit of research for NBS and implications on urban transition (Zwierzchowska et al., 2022). Nonetheless, the technological advancements related to NBS implementation are increasingly demanded in correspondence to the need to improve and mainstream NBS impacts at architectural, urban planning and strategic levels (Hölscher et al., 2023). The experience of NBS in place has increasingly matured with many applications in practice (Mahmoud et al., 2022), which have enabled the development of new skills and related services and the refinement of new technologies and technical solutions (Wellmann et al., 2022). The technological support for NBS has become evident throughout the way people experience urban nature in their everyday lives (Ahlborg et al., 2019, Li and Nassauer, 2021). In this special issue, the theme of technology and its uses within urban planning and green infrastructure was investigated. We promote the concept of "Augmented NBS" that is, NBS supported and enhanced by the use of technology, whether incorporated directly into the solution in the field as a prosthesis of the natural element or deployed remotely through digital analysis tools or remote sensing (Mahmoud et al., 2024). Hence, the special issue embraces a broad conceptualization of the use of technology applied "in" and "for" NBS, including digital placemaking, air quality, economic benefits, health and wellbeing, and digital mapping and decision-making tools for landscape design. It is aimed to collect best practices on how technologies, in different ways, can enhance the performance and impact of NBS. From March 2022 till July 2023, this special issue collected several articles from the socio-ecological-technological aspects and NBS themes.