ASITIS recently conducted an evaluation of the 3-30-300 rule in the Královo Pole district of Brno, aiming to assess the impact of urban greenery on the quality of life for city residents.
The objective of this case study was to assess the applicability of this concept in the urban landscape of Brno and to evaluate the benefits it could bring to the residents of the Královo Pole district.
Introducing
… the rule 3-30-300
The 3-30-300 rule, developed by urban greening expert Cecil Konijnendijk, provides a framework for enhancing urban environments through greenery (Konijnendijk C., 2022 nad 2023). The rule proposes three key conditions for improving the urban living experience:
Urban greenery strategically
3
30
300
… the health benefits of 3-30-300
Following the 3-30-300 rule has significant mental health benefits, as evidenced by the study conducted in Barcelona (Nieuwenhuijsen et al., 2022). The study found that individuals who met the 3-30-300 criteria reported better mental health, reduced use of antidepressants and sedatives, and fewer visits to psychologists or psychiatrists. Specifically, the presence of surrounding greenness (serving as a surrogate for the 30% tree canopy cover) was strongly associated with these positive outcomes. Although only a small percentage of people in Barcelona fully met the 3-30-300 criteria, those who did experienced notable health benefits, underlining the importance of integrating green spaces into urban planning to promote mental well-being
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… the Background of Královo Pole
Královo Pole is one of the largest districts in Brno, characterized by a mix of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. The district is home to a diverse population, including families, students, and professionals, due to its proximity to several universities and business centers. While the district benefits from existing green spaces such as parks and tree-lined streets, rapid urban development in recent years has posed challenges to maintaining and expanding these green areas. As urbanization continues, there is a pressing need to assess the district’s compliance with the 3-30-300 rule to ensure that residents continue to benefit from accessible and sufficient urban greenery.
Methodology
The evaluation process was meticulously structured into several phases to ensure a comprehensive analysis. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and ortophoto data were used to assess the state of green spaces.
Step by step methodology
The first step involved mapping the green spaces within Královo Pole and identifying areas where trees were visible from residential windows.
Next, the total area of greenery was measured and analyzed. This included public parks, private gardens, tree-lined streets, and other vegetative areas.
The final step was to assess the proximity of parks and green spaces to residential areas.
Na tyto otázky pomáhá odpovídat jedenáct map obsahujících analýzy časových řad družicových snímků města Mělníka. Výsledné mapy popisují rozložení zeleně, vlhkosti povrchu nebo teploty území.
Overall outputs for rule 3-30-300 assessment with tree segments.
In detail: Tree Visibility Assessment (Rule 3)
Outputs: Rule 3
Outputs rule 3 summary:
- map layer of buildings with the attribute of value (yes/no),
- aggregated polygon layer of yes/no values showing areas where the rule is fulfilled,
- aggregated polygon layer per district containing percentage of houses served by 3 rule,
- 300 x 300 m grid layer containing percentage of houses served by 3 rule (visualized by 5 categories with 20 percent step)
The canopy coverage (Rule 30)
The second component of the rule required that every neighborhood in Královo Pole should have at least a 30% tree canopy cover. This was evaluated by defining each neighborhood as a 300-meter radius around each building. The analysis determined whether this area had the requisite 30% tree canopy coverage.
Outputs: Rule 30
The resulting outputs included a map layer displaying areas categorized by tree canopy coverage and an alternative map representing administrative units with assigned average canopy coverage values.
Image: rule 30 polygon layer with yes/no value
Outputs rule 30 summary:
- yes/no per building
- polygon layer with yes/no value
- aggregated layer of an administrative unit where the coverage is within a certain % category 0-10 %, 10-20 %, 20-30 %, 30-40 %, >40 %, + the exact value
- 300 x 300 m grid layer containing percentage of houses served by 30 rule visualized by 5 categories with 20 percent step
Proximity to Green Spaces (Rule 300)
The third rule stipulates that every resident should live within 300 meters of a high-quality green space. These green spaces must be at least 0.5 hectares in size and at least 20 meters wide. To assess this, satellite data was used to identify qualifying green spaces, and each building’s proximity to these spaces was analyzed.
Outputs: Rule 300
The outputs included a map layer for each building, indicating whether it is within 300 meters of a qualifying green space, and another map layer classifying buildings based on their distance to the nearest green space.
Image: An aggregated polygon layer displaying rule 300
Outputs rule 300 summary:
- map layer of buildings, each assigned the yes/no value
- map layer of buildings giving the distance category to nearest park (<300 m, 300-600 m, >600 m)
- aggregated polygon layer per district containing percentage of houses served by 300 rule
Overall Synthesis
The outputs included a map layer for each building, indicating whether it is within 300 meters of a qualifying green space, and another map layer classifying buildings based on their distance to the nearest green space.
Outputs rule 300 overview:
- map layer of buildings, each assigned the yes/no value
- map layer of buildings giving the distance category to nearest park (<300 m, 300-600 m, >600 m)
- aggregated polygon layer per district containing percentage of houses served by 300 rule
Results
85%
17.8%
40.9%
15.7%
Areas not meeting any rules
The evaluation in Královo Pole revealed several streets and neighborhoods lacking sufficient green infrastructure, leading to notable deficiencies in environmental quality and public health benefits for residents. These areas, particularly dense residential and industrial zones, are in urgent need of attention.
Notable streets where green space is minimal include Kyselkova, Chaloupkova, Škárova, and sections of Vackova.
Examples of streets, where no rules were met:
- Kyselkova
- Moskalykova
- Firkušného
- Jarmyly Kurandové
- Chaloupkova
- Škárova
- Košínova
- Vackova
Areas meeting all rules
The assessment of the 3-30-300 rule in the Královo Pole district identified several streets and neighborhoods where all three rules (tree visibility, tree canopy coverage, and proximity to green spaces) are fully met. These areas provide exemplary cases of urban planning that prioritize greenery, offering both environmental and health benefits to the residents.
Examples of streets, where all rules were met:
- Kolejní
- Mojžíšova
- Žleb
- Fibichova
- Myslínova
- Psotova
- Ondřeje Sekory
- Moskalykova
- Hogrova
- Zaječí hora
- Křižíkova
Discussion
The assessment of the 3-30-300 rule in the Královo Pole district of Brno reveals both promising aspects and areas for improvement in urban green space planning and management. This discussion will analyze the results for each component of the rule and their implications for urban development and residents’ quality of life. The findings are critical in light of global and European studies showing the numerous contributions of urban green spaces to public health, climate adaptation, pollution reduction, biodiversity conservation, and water regulation (Dobbs et al. 2017). Increasing urban greenery, specifically tree coverage, can reduce negative health outcomes such as those linked to the urban heat island (UHI) effect and are associated with reduced stress, improved concetration and lower levels of depression (Xiao et al., 2022). Urban green spaces play a crucial role in delivering ecosystem services and enhancing biodiversity (WHO, 2016 and 2017).
Rule 3
Tree Canopy Coverage (Rule 30)
The assessment in Královo Pole revealed that only 17.8% of buildings meet the 30% tree canopy coverage requirement. While this may seem like a shortfall, it reflects a common challenge faced by most urban areas across Europe. Achieving 30% canopy coverage in densely built environments is an ambitious goal, often difficult to realize due to spatial constraints, existing infrastructure, and competing land-use needs. While public parks and tree-lined streets contribute significantly to areas meeting this standard, the disparity in coverage indicates uneven distribution of green spaces across the district. This presents an opportunity for urban planners to focus on increasing tree canopy in undercovered areas, particularly in newer urban developments. Strategies could include implementing stricter green space requirements for new constructions, incentivizing the preservation of existing trees, and launching community tree-planting programs. The benefits of increasing tree coverage are far-reaching, as demonstrated by recent research estimating that expanding tree coverage to 30% in European cities could reduce premature deaths related to the UHI effect by up to 1.8% during the summer months (Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J. et al, 2022)
Proximity to Green Spaces (Rule 300)
The analysis of Rule 300 in Královo Pole revealed that 40.9% of buildings are within 300 meters of a qualifying green space. While this is a positive result, it means that the majority of buildings (59.1%) still lack easy access to nearby parks or green areas. What sets this assessment apart is the use of walking distance, rather than a simple aerial or straight-line measurement. This approach better reflects residents’ real-world experience, as walking routes often differ significantly from direct distances due to infrastructure, obstacles, or access points.
By focusing on walking distance, the results provide a more accurate picture of accessibility to green spaces, highlighting areas where residents may face difficulties reaching parks. The 640 buildings that fall over 600 meters from a green space present a key opportunity for urban planners to create new parks or enhance green corridors to ensure more equitable access for all residents.
Overall Rule Compliance
The synthesis of all three rules revealed that only 15.7% of buildings in Královo Pole met all three criteria—tree visibility, tree canopy coverage, and proximity to green spaces. Streets such as Kolejní, Mojžíšova, and Fibichova stand out as examples where all three rules are successfully met. These areas benefit from a well-balanced distribution of greenery, contributing to a higher quality of life for residents, with easy access to parks, tree-lined streets, and visual exposure to greenery from homes.
Conversely, 9.3% of the district’s buildings failed to meet any of the three rules. Streets like Kyselkova, Chaloupkova, and parts of Škárova are examples of areas where no green infrastructure is present. These neighborhoods suffer from a lack of tree coverage, limited proximity to green spaces, and no visible trees from residents’ homes. The absence of greenery in these areas underscores the need for targeted urban greening efforts, such as tree-planting initiatives and the creation of new parks or green corridors to improve the environmental quality and public health benefits for these underserved locations.
The fact that 75% of buildings met one or two of the rules suggests a strong foundation of green infrastructure in Královo Pole, but also reveals key areas where further investment is needed to enhance compliance and deliver a more equitable distribution of urban greenery.
Conclusion
The case study on the application of the 3-30-300 rule in Královo Pole, Brno demonstrates both the potential and the challenges of enhancing urban greenery in this district. The 3-30-300 rule, aimed at improving urban livability through greenery, sets clear targets for tree visibility, canopy coverage, and proximity to green spaces.
Key findings revealed that:
- A promising 85% of buildings met the tree visibility rule, suggesting a success in providing residents with visible access to greenery from their homes.
- Only 17.8% of the area met the 30% canopy coverage requirement, indicating a significant shortfall in ensuring sufficient greenery in many neighborhoods.
- 40.9% of buildings were within 300 meters of a qualifying green space.
Overall, only 15,7% of buildings met all three criteria, highlighting the need for further urban greening efforts, particularly in areas of industrial and dense residential development.
In conclusion, while Královo Pole has made strides in providing green spaces, the study underscores the need for strategic initiatives to increase tree canopy coverage and ensure equitable access to green spaces. Implementing the 3-30-300 rule more fully could significantly enhance the district’s urban resilience, public health, and residents’ quality of life.
References
Xiao, J., Zhao, J., Luo, Z., Liu, F., & Greenwood, D. (2022). The impact of built environment on mental health: A COVID-19 lockdown perspective. Health & Place, 77, 102889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102889
Konijnendijk, C. (2022). The 3-30-300 Rule for Urban Forestry and Greener Cities. Biophilic Cities Journal, 4.
World Health Organization. (2017). Urban green spaces: A brief for action. Regional Office for Europe, Bonn.
Dobbs, C., Martinez-Harms, M. J., & Kendal, D. (2017). Ecosystem services. In F. Ferrini, C. Konijnendijk van den Bosch, & A. Fini (Eds.), Routledge handbook of urban forestry (pp. 51–64). Routledge. London.
Konijnendijk, C. C. (2023). Evidence-based guidelines for greener, healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods: Introducing the 3-30-300 rule. Journal for Research, 34(3), 821–830
Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., Dadvand, P., Márquez, S., Bartoll, X., Pereira Barboza, E., Cirach, M., Borrell, C., & Zijlema, W. L. (2022). The evaluation of the 3-30-300 green space rule and mental health. Environmental Research, 215, 114387.
