Nature-Based Solutions integration to Local Urban Critical Infrastructures Protection for a Climate Resilient Society

NBSINFRA supports improving the protection of local urban critical infrastructures against natural and man-made risks through the co-design and co-creation of nature-based solutions (NBS) for a climate-resilient society. NBSINFRA will demonstrate that nature-based solutions are: (a) technically feasible to protect critical infrastructures from hazards, b) socially acceptable and cost-effective at a local scale; and c) effectively capable of empowering communities through increasing their ecological, social and economic resilience. In order to achieve these objectives, NBSINFRA will establish five (5) representative European regions with an equal number of "urban laboratories". NBSINFRA's municipal laboratories will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of NBS in protecting local resources and their impact on the environment. infrastructure and will maximize their impact based on solutions that are owned by citizens and co-created by end users and administrators. and civil society. NBSINFRA will provide a set of tools that different stakeholders and society can use to compare and select the most appropriate solutions. effective NBS for the protection of local critical infrastructure, with the main objective being to support the strengthening of local urban critical infrastructure and its use. infrastructure against hazards through co-designing, co-monitoring and co-creating NBS for a sustainable and resilient society.
 

Project progress:

As part of the NBSINFRA project, Prague is testing nature-based solutions (NBS) in three distinct locations – at our UCEEB facility in Buštěhrad, on the CTU university campus in Prague, and at Českobrodská High School. These sites serve to examine various types of green roofs, green façades, systems for rainwater and greywater retention and reuse, as well as infiltration solutions. The goal is to understand how these measures help mitigate the impacts of extreme heat and improve urban water management.
Within the project, a botanical survey was conducted to identify native as well as invasive plant species. A detailed urban heat vulnerability map of Prague was also developed to identify the most at-risk areas and to help propose appropriate interventions. Regular monitoring is carried out using sensors to track soil moisture, substrate and near surface temperature, and the effectiveness of the implemented solutions. This long-term monitoring provides valuable insights into how green infrastructure functions and helps optimize its management and maintenance.

Findings confirm that nature-based solutions have positive effects on the urban environment and quality of life. The results show that green roofs with finer substrates and dense vegetation maintain significantly lower temperatures and manage rainwater more efficiently. Moreover, hybrid green roofs enable the effective use of treated greywater and contribute to more stable indoor temperatures, even during winter. The project thus offers important knowledge to support the future development of sustainable cities and strengthen the climate resilience of urban neighborhoods.
 

publications:

Hečková, P., Koestel, J., Klement, A., Kodešová, R., & Sněhota, M. (2024). Soil structure dynamics in constructed Technosols for bioretention cells: X-ray microtomography study. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 25(1), 591–608.

Petreje, M., Rybová, B., Hečková, P., & Sněhota, M. (2024). Biodiverse dual-purpose wetland-green rooftop design based on recyclates. EGU General Assembly 2024, Abstract EGU24-7673.

Felicioni, L., Rybová, B., & Sněhota, M. (2024). Nature-based solutions performance versus man-made hazards: A literature review for enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure. PLEA 2024 – Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design Conference, Wrocław, Poland.  

Marešová, P., & Sněhota, M. (2025). Evaluating the long-term performance of bioretention cell: A five-year study from the Prague City Lab. EGU General Assembly 2025, Abstract EGU25-9804.

for download:

Download here the City Lab Booklet Prague.