Bridging the gap between scientific evidence and practical assessment: A transferable framework for climate adaptation in public open spaces

Within climate adaptation, a persistent gap remains between scientific research and practical assessment. This gap stems from differences in how knowledge is organized, updated, and translated across domains. To address this issue, this study proposes a data-driven methodological framework with the potential for repeatability. The framework is demonstrated in the context of public open spaces (POSs) and climate adaptation, with pilot validation in a square in Bologna. The study constructs two independent knowledge domains, comprising 62 scientific evidence items and 480 practical assessment items. Thematic clustering and semantic standardization are applied to establish cross-domain comparability. A “three-degree filter” process is then introduced to systematically detect alignment between scientific evidence and assessment practice, producing 29,760 matched records. Then, through multiple cycles of independent assessment, Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA), and secondary screening, robustness and objectivity are improved. The results reveal a consistent pattern. Existing rating systems perform well in assessing physical provision but remain limited in capturing actual use processes and user experience. To address this limitation, the filtered results are translated into an extension module comprising five credits that can be embedded in existing systems. The module adopts a dual-mode design. A quick-check mode supports rapid screening under limited resources, while an expert mode enables quantitative evaluation based on data and defined thresholds. Both modes establish a direct link between environmental performance and actual use. Overall, this study provides both an operational tool and a generalizable framework for translating scientific evidence into practice, thereby supporting more adaptive, evidence-based, and user-centered decision-making.