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Designing a Green Corridor for Clean Air and Comfort

Explore how to design a green corridor to promote clean air and thermal comfort.

308 enrolled on this course

People walking along a green corridor with plants and trees in the High Line park, New York City. Comprising high rise building on both sides.

Designing a Green Corridor for Clean Air and Comfort

308 enrolled on this course

  • 3 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Understand how green corridors can reduce air pollution

Green corridors can be key in supporting health and liveability in urban environments. Made up of connected linear parks and small-scale nature interventions, urban green corridors can include networked city areas with a high concentration of vegetation, as well as spaces for walking and cycling.

On this three-week course, you’ll explore the development of green areas in urban environments. You’ll discover how these areas enable safe mobility away from vehicles and air pollution while supporting outdoor exercise and everyday connections with nature.

By the end, you’ll have a sound understanding of how green corridors promote clean air and support citizen health and wellbeing.

Explore the considerations for designing a green corridor

You’ll discover the considerations associated with the constructed and natural elements in a green corridor. This will include developing an understanding of how green and grey elements affect temperature and air pollution.

Understand the basics of plant biology

To ensure you comprehend the fundamental environmental processes behind green corridors, you’ll cover the basics of plant biology.

This knowledge will help you develop the tools for decision-making, such as how to select plants, how to design to work with both constructed and natural elements, and the principles for planning decisions in response to a range of pressures.

Explore case studies from the built environment

To aid your understanding throughout the course, you’ll explore case studies and hear from industry experts. You’ll also be encouraged to explore a local corridor to cement your knowledge.

By the end of the course, you’ll understand how the corridor provides connections for people’s mobility, for ecology, and for the surrounding landscape.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    The benefits of sticky plants to our urban environment

    • The vital nature of green corridors

      First up we discuss what a 'green corridor' is and the benefits of a green corridor. We also look at different types of corridors.

    • The root and branch approach to green corridors

      Starting with a look at your local green corridor, we then explore tree biology and the role of trees in remediating air pollution.

    • Trees in the urban system

      We explore trees as part of the urban and natural system, and discuss street trees and their influence on temperature. We then look at the role of trees as filters of pollutants into soil, rivers and the sea.

    • Trees also bring challenges

      It is important to acknowledge and address challenges associated with trees, so we discuss allergies, pollution, social perception and risks in relation to trees before we explore the benefits of trees for cities.

    • Weekly wrap up

      In this activity, you will have the opportunity to test your knowledge of the topics covered during the week. You will also be provided with a summary of the week's learning, and some insight into what to expect in the new week.

  • Week 2

    Getting inside the corridor with the ‘green’ and ‘grey’ components

    • The ‘green’ and ‘grey’ components of a corridor

      First up we discuss the ‘green’ (biotic) and ‘grey’ (abiotic) components of a corridor so that we can start thinking about the ways that they interact.

    • Engaging with the elements: Thermal characteristics

      The ways that cities have been planned, influence the green and grey elements that are present, and their interaction. In this activity, we dive deep into the thermal effects of wind and materials in a corridor.

    • Engaging with the elements: Airflow

      Air pollution is a health risk for people in cities, and in this step, we consider the science, experience, and strategies associated with the interaction between green and grey infrastructure and air pollution.

    • Choosing trees and shrubs for your local environment

      Choosing the right tree is essential to good design, and we consider different ways to select trees including measuring tree and leaf area and obtaining a local perspective.

    • Weekly wrap up

      In this activity, you will have the opportunity to test your knowledge of the topics covered during the week. You will also be provided with a summary of the week's learning, and some insight into what to expect in the new week.

  • Week 3

    Moving in and out of the corridor with strategic planning

    • Moving through and beyond the corridor

      Green corridors don’t exist in isolation—they are part of a city and the surrounding landscape. In this activity, we look at an example of strategic planning that involves a landscape approach.

    • Accessible to all

      In this activity we take a closer look at how people use green corridors, focussing on accessibility, and specific considerations of shadeways and green corridors for kids.

    • Tactical urbanism

      Green corridors have social functions and values and in this activity we look at events, culture and climate change.

    • Course wrap up

      In this activity, you will have the opportunity to test your knowledge of the topics covered during the week. You will also be provided with a summary of the week's learning.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe green corridors and their benefits
  • Explain how the 'green' and 'grey' elements affect temperature, pollution, and airflow in a green corridor
  • Identify key considerations associated with the constructed and natural elements in the corridor
  • Present ways to encourage a holistic approach to designing green corridors
  • Present ways to encourage mobility in a green corridor from a range of perspectives.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for professionals working in or interested in urban mobility and sustainable urban development.

You could be either from the private or public sector.

Who will you learn with?

Academic researching environmental ethics, governance and diverse connections, with nature. Twitter: @lisadekleyn; www.linkedin.com/in/lisadekleyn/; https://cur.org.au/people/lisa-de-kleyn/.

Researcher, teacher @ RMIT University in sustainability & urban planning. Am passionate about the history of cities, urban greening and trees. Join us! https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-amati-682b871

Who developed the course?

RMIT University

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) is a global university, with over 80,000 students, specialising in technology, design and enterprise.

  • Established

    1887
  • Location

    Melbourne, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 210Source: QS World University Rankings 2022

EIT Urban Mobility

EIT Urban Mobility is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Since January 2019 we have been working to encourage positive changes in the way people move around cities in order to make them more liveable places. We aim to become the largest European initiative transforming urban mobility. Co-funding of up to € 400 million (2020-2026) from the EIT, a body of the European Union, will help make this happen.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 19 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

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