Multi-objective optimization of nature-based solutions

Yang, Shengnan (author), Radinja, Matej (author), Atanasova, Nataša (author)

Urbanization and climate change have exacerbated many urban challenges such as flooding, water pollution and urban heat islands. Nature-based solutions (NBS) have been proposed as nature-inspired and cost-effective solutions that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits while tackling urban challenges. This research aims to identify multiple benefits of NBS and optimize NBS design under the local conditions. The hydrology-hydraulic model was built in Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to simulate performance before and after NBS scenarios. Adopting a multi-objective optimization algorithm and deriving the Pareto front solution set of NBS scenarios are core methods in this multi-objective optimization procedure, and the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) will be used. Thus, this research will further discuss the method to reduce dimensionality in building functions for multiple objectives optimization. The methodology was applied to a case study in Tivoli Park, Ljubljana, Slovenia, where various land-use types have been involved and frequent flooding problems have occurred. The optimized results demonstrate that NBS scenarios are effective for flood reduction, peak flow control, pollutant reduction, water reuse, infiltration increase, evaporation increase, and green space increase. This research provides an interpretation and explanation of the relationship between trade-offs and NBS scenarios.

• Language: English
• Keywords: nature-based solutions, multi-objective optimization, hydrological-hydraulic model, surface runoff
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.08 - Published Scientific Conference Contribution
• Organization: FGG - Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 8 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-181302
• UDC: 502/504:556
• DOI: 10.71573/83hp8h22
• COBISS.SI-ID: 260477955
• Publication date in RUL: 31.03.2026

Record is a part of a monograph

• Title: 13th Urban Drainage Modelling Conference : September 15th - 19th, 2025, Innsbruck, Austria
• Editors: Manfred Kleidorfer, Robert Sitzenfrei, Wolfang Rauch
• Place of publishing: Innsbruck
• Publisher: Open proceedings
• Year: 2026
• COBISS.SI-ID: 260411139

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: sonaravne rešitve, večkriterijska optimizacija, hidrološko hidravlični model, površinski odtok

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0180
• Name: Vodarstvo in geotehnika: orodja in metode za analize in simulacije procesov ter razvoj tehnologij