Comprehensive Evaluation of Green Infrastructure Restorative Practices for High-Quality Transitional “Sponge Node” Renewal Programs in China

In generalSponge node, GreenRenewalInfrastructureSunS (GI) is described as part of nature-based solutionsNature-Based Solutions (NBS) (NBS). It is not only recognised as a driver in sustainable water management and water resilient city construction, but also for promoting urban ecosystemEcosystem restoration, climate changeClimate change adaptation, and enhancing urban liveability and well-being. Due to their multi-objectives and multi-benefits, GI practices and GI-guided land use policies have gained attention in China’s Sponge City Program (SCP). Hence, the assessment of hydro-environmental performance is recognised as the foundation of SCP; however, there is a lack of a comprehensive quantitative evaluation system and a design and assessment process model including this evaluation system for high-qualityHigh-quality SCP at neighborhood scale. Taking the GI planning of the LiangnongLiangnong Town, SimingSiming Lake sponge nodeSponge node restoration as an example, this chapter applies the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM)Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to examine key indicators of hydro-environmental performance. The findings utilise ten design scenarios to compare the effectiveness of each facility and their combinations in practice. Furthermore, based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) system, other benefits are quantitatively evaluated through a comprehensive performance analysis of the ten GI scenarios. The final results suggest the most suitable GI general plan for the transitional regeneration of LiangnongLiangnongSimingSiming lakeside area. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation system is developed to highlight key sustainability indicators and design pathways for high-qualityHigh-quality GI design for the neighborhood scale SCP. The chapter’s findings provide a useful reference for similar program’s decision-makingDecision-making and GI design.