The NATURE-DEMO project was included in the technical program of the European Safety and Reliability Conference (ESREL 2026), held in Braga, Portugal.
On June 15th, Lauren Machí Castañer from alchemia-nova research and innovation delivered an oral presentation during the Special Session SS-34: Advances in Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Infrastructure Systems. The presentation addressed the current trend in engineering disciplines of prioritizing Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to improve the climate resilience of infrastructure.
Site-Specific Assessment for Critical Infrastructure Protection
The presentation, titled "NbS Site-Specific Suitability and Acceptance Assessment for Critical Infrastructure Protection" introduced a methodology for the localized evaluation of NbS. The presentation included a practical application developed for the NATURE-DEMO pilot site in North Macedonia, showing how these solutions are planned and validated in the field.
The underlying research is a joint work co-authored by representatives from alchemia-nova, BOKU, and UKIM-IZIIS:
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Lauren Machí Castañer and Sergio Fernandes (alchemia-nova research and innovation)
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Alfred Strauss (BOKU)
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Igor Gjorgjiev, Borjan Petreski and Marija Vitanova (UKIM-IZIIS)
This dissemination activity highlights the project's ongoing cross-border collaboration aimed at validating hybrid green-grey infrastructure across European regions.
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The presentation highlighted how the catalogue can support the identification, selection, and implementation of NbS for climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, and adaptation to natural hazards. It also provided an opportunity to discuss how NbS can be transferred into practical applications across different environments and communities.