Predicting the impact of Nature-based Solutions on rainwater management through urban analysis

The increasing frequency and severity of rainfall events, driven by rapid urbanization and climate change, are progressively affecting urban environments and communities. In response, Nature-based solutions (NbS) have proven highly effective to address these challenges while delivering multiple co-beneits. The urban fabric forms an essential part of urban systems and represents potential areas for NbS implementation. However, not all areas can be realistically transformed. This paper reports an investigation into different NbS for urban rainwater management and how they can be integrated with the existing urban fabric at the neighborhood scale. The study considers the combination of NbS, maps the urban fabric structure with different layers through urban analysis to develop alternative design scenarios, and uses Bolognina neighborhood, Bologna (Italy), as a test bed to further evaluate and discuss the potential of NbS in realworld urban conditions. The indings offer insights for urban planners, designers, and architects who aim to improve neighborhood resilience for urban rainwater management.