Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are widely implemented to enhance urban resilience, however, their performance is strongly influenced by spatial environments in which they are embedded. This study examines how surrounding urban context shapes the ecological functioning potential of three European NBS interventions: Linderud Garden (Oslo), Giardino Nascosto (Milan), and Lucavsala Community Garden (Riga). Using Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery acquired during the peak summer season, three spectral indices, NDVI, NDMI, and NDBI were calculated within 100 m, 300 m, and 500 m buffers to characterize vegetation greenness, moisture availability, and built-up intensity. Results reveal distinct contextual patterns as Lucavsala Community Garden (Riga) is embedded in a highly supportive landscape, reflected in higher NDVI and NDMI values and strongly negative NDBI, indicating abundant vegetation and limited urban pressure. Linderud Garden (Oslo) exhibits a moderately supportive context, with greener and moister microsurroundings transitioning into more urbanized conditions at larger distances. In contrast, Giardino Nascosto (Milan) is situated within a dense and comparatively dry urban fabric, characterized by lower NDVI, declining NDMI, and positive NDBI values. These findings demonstrate that NBS potential is co-determined by broader spatial structure rather than site characteristics only, underscoring the importance of integrating spatial diagnostics into contextsensitive urban resilience planning.
Ikingura et al. (Wed,) studied this question.