Transversal Connectivity Index (TCI) for measuring the effectiveness of urban Blue-green infrastructure

This model introduces the Transversal Connectivity Index (TCI) as an ecological indicator for classifying the natural landscape patches by their effective transversal connectivity to the water surfaces. The method applies specifically to urban areas at which the quality of blue-green infrastructure (BGI) is of fundamental importance in reducing the climate change consequences. Effective transversal connectivity among the BGI at the metropolitan scale supplies various ecosystem services in support of nature-based solutions for emerging urban challenges. The TCI value is computed (determined) by integrating a variety of existing and novel landscape indicators into an equation. The connectivity indicators belong to two categories: the intra-patch consists of the isoperimetric quotient , and patch ecological indicator , and the inter-patch ones listed as the band level , the shared border ratio , and the transport fragmentation buffer . (The Processing Modeler- QGIS, will be available up to request|)