The objective of the course is to understand the functioning of urban ecosystems, how major urban environmental issues are addressed, and how human activities impact natural and semi-natural ecosystems. Emphasis is placed on methods for assessing the impacts of these activities, as well as the practical applications of ecological knowledge in the organization and maintenance of urban and suburban parks through the implementation of Green Paths in cities. Additionally, the course presents the main methods of natural resource management in the urban ecosystem and describes the basic principles governing Urban Agriculture as an example of Urban Ecology.

Furthermore, the course aims to analyze the specific characteristics of the urban climate and the elements of the city that influence and shape it. Special attention is given to the phenomena of urban heat islands and cold islands. The basic concepts and principles of bioclimatic design in the urban environment are introduced. The concepts of human thermal sensation (comfort) are analyzed, and the bioclimatic and biometeorological indicators that quantify it are presented. Emphasis is placed on the analysis of microclimatic and bioclimatic conditions in the urban fabric and how they are distributed in outdoor spaces with different coverage. The course also aims to present and analyze techniques that aim to improve microclimatic conditions in urban centers after analyzing the interactions between urban greenery and the built environment. Finally, techniques for modeling atmospheric conditions in the urban environment are presented and developed with the purpose of diagnosing and predicting bioclimatic/microclimatic conditions. These processes analyze the methods of identifying points of interest and techniques for mitigating and curbing the urban heat island and other adverse atmospheric conditions.

The laboratory exercises aim to understand the methodology of Ecological Risk Assessment and the importance of using bioindicators in measuring urban pollution. Furthermore, the laboratory exercises aim to solidify the basic concepts of urban bioclimatology and gain experience in their analysis. In addition, the exercises familiarize students with the basic principles of bioclimatic design and their application to improve conditions in the urban environment.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Analyze spatial distributions of atmospheric parameters in the urban environment.

Design and conduct research on microclimatic and bioclimatic conditions within the built environment.

Apply bioclimatic principles and techniques in the design of outdoor spaces.

Work with simulation applications to assess and predict bioclimatic/microclimatic parameters in order to improve conditions in the urban environment.

Use bioindicators to measure urban pollution. Assess the Ecological Risk of various human activities.