Empowering Greening Cities through Data Dashboards: Insights from Mannheim and Online Exchanges
The UNP+ project recently concluded a comprehensive series of Urban Nature Exchanges dedicated to the development and implementation of data dashboards. Following an initial in-person workshop held in Mannheim on 14 October 2025, a follow-up online session was conducted on 21 January 2026.
Authors: Sam Jelliman and Caroline Nash are researchers at the Sustainability Research Institute at the University of East London, specialising in urban nature and NbS. As part of the UNP+ project, they work to enable and empower cities to monitor biodiversity and other ecosystem service indicators.
The Urban Nature Plans Plus (UNP+) project recently concluded a comprehensive series of Urban Nature Exchanges dedicated to the development and implementation of data dashboards. Following an initial in-person workshop held in Mannheim on 14 October 2025, a follow-up online session was conducted on 21 January 2026. These sessions represent a cornerstone of the UNP+ mission: supporting Greening Cities in the creation of robust, centralised data repositories. By integrating biodiversity and city-wide environmental data into a single, user-friendly interface, cities can ensure that vital information is accessible to inform inclusive planning, rigorous monitoring, and transparent public communication.
In Mannheim, the exchange, facilitated by Sam Jelliman (University of East London), focused on the foundational value of dashboards as strategic rather than just technical tools. Caroline Nash (University of East London) introduced London’s Green Infrastructure Focus Map, a pioneering case study demonstrating how spatial data can identify ‘priority zones’ for greening. This map allows decision-makers to see exactly where environmental or social issues, such as poor air quality, high surface flood risk, or a lack of accessible green space, intersect, ensuring that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are deployed where they are most needed. Following this, Gillian Dick from Glasgow City Council shared her city’s experience in developing an ‘environmental digital twin’. She highlighted a common administrative hurdle: the ‘silo’ effect. In many cities, different departments hold fragmented datasets that rarely communicate with one another. Glasgow’s approach showed that a centralised dashboard can act as a ‘common language’ across city governance, breaking down these silos to foster a more holistic approach to urban greening.
The online Urban Nature Exchange in January 2026 built upon these practical examples by introducing specific technical and governance guidance. Laura Wendling (University of East London) provided a detailed briefing on centralising urban nature data, noting that organisational alignment often matters more than technical sophistication. She outlined a three-layer model for effective systems: a data foundation layer (gathering raw data), an integration layer (standardising and connecting data), and a decision-focused product layer (the dashboard itself). The session also featured updates from Barcelona and Paris. Barcelona showcased a platform that centralises data on urban trees and climate change to help manage drought impacts, while Paris demonstrated their Geoportal, a cross-departmental tool that allows technicians to build maps using data from green space, mobility, and sanitation departments.
These exchanges allowed UNP+ Greening Cities to reflect on their own data roadmaps and identify the necessary enablers, such as high-level political support and dedicated technical personnel, needed to move from the conceptual phase to a functional digital tool. Participants also debated the benefits of open-source software versus proprietary systems, noting that open-source options often provide the transparency and longevity required for public-sector projects.
Key Learning Outcomes:
- Centralisation as a Catalyst for Governance: Dashboards are not merely repositories; they are mechanisms for institutional change. Centralising data enables better inter-departmental coordination and provides a transparent visual overview that simplifies complex environmental information for public engagement and political advocacy.
- Evidence-Based Decision Making and Funding: By using interactive visual tools, planners can ground their interventions in hard data. This evidence-based approach is essential for identifying the most impactful locations for greening interventions and is increasingly a prerequisite for unlocking national or international climate funding.
- Technical and Strategic Roadmaps: While ‘Lighthouse’ cities provide excellent models, each Greening City must scope its specific needs based on its local context. This involves identifying potential roadblocks, such as data gaps or personnel constraints, and determining the right software environment to ensure the dashboard remains a living, updated resource.
- Interoperability and Standardisation: Successful data systems require clear ownership and governance. Ensuring that datasets from various sources are interoperable and that metadata is standardised is crucial for consistent reuse across different city departments.
- Open Data for Transparency: Opening data to the public and private stakeholders can significantly improve access and transparency. However, this requires careful coordination to ensure that the information remains precise, secure, and regularly updated to reflect real-world changes.
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