Assessing cooling and flood mitigation ecosystem services of urban green spaces in Tashkent using GIS technologies

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2025-1-31-689-705

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About the Authors

Alijon O. Khayitmurodov

National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek, Faculty of Geography and GIS,
4, Universitetskaya str., Tashkent, 100174, Uzbekistan,
E-mail: xayitmurodovalijon97@gmail.com

Tatiana I. Kharitonova

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Geography,
1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119991, Russia,
E-mail: kharito2010@gmail.com

Mirkomil Gudalov

Jizzakh State Pedagogical University,
4, Sh. Rashidova ave., Jizzakh, Jizzakh Region, 130100, Uzbekistan,
E-mail: mirkomilgudalov78@gmail.com

Nurmukhamad D. Kosimov

Jizzakh State Pedagogical University,
4, Sh. Rashidova ave., Jizzakh, Jizzakh Region, 130100, Uzbekistan,
E-mail: qosimovnurmuxamad1@gmail.com

Abstract

This study investigates the various types of green spaces in Tashkent, analyzes their spatial distribution, and assesses the ecosystem services they provide. The extent of green space coverage across the city was quantified using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). To evaluate the cooling efficiency of green spaces, a surface temperature map was generated by processing the red, near-infrared, and thermal infrared bands from Landsat-8 satellite imagery. The InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) model was utilized to assess both the urban cooling effect and the flood mitigation capacity of green areas. The findings indicate that green spaces in multi-storey residential zones provide greater cooling and flood mitigation services than those in traditionally built neighborhoods. They also exhibit significantly higher cooling efficiency during the summer, with the maximum Heat Mitigation Index reaching 0.83. Furthermore, the flood mitigation potential of green spaces in Tashkent depends on the city’s river terrace formations. The terraces of the Chirchik River correspond to A, C, and D hydrological soil groups with varying infiltration rates. Green spaces on the floodplain and terrace I (A group) exhibit the highest infiltration and thus the greatest potential for reducing flood risks, whereas terraces II and III (C group) and IV and V (D group) show lower infiltration. Additionally, green spaces on terraces II and III (C group) have higher flood mitigation potential than those on terraces IV and V (D group).

Keywords

InVEST model, green spaces, ecosystem services, pluvial floods, NDVI, urban heat island

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For citation: Khayitmurodov A.O., Kharitonova T.I., Gudalov M., Kosimov N.D. Assessing cooling and flood mitigation ecosystem services of urban green spaces in Tashkent using GIS technologies. InterCarto. InterGIS. Moscow: MSU, Faculty of Geography, 2025. V. 31. Part 1. P. 689–705. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2025-1-31-689-705