RESUMO
Urban forests provide direct and indirect benefits to human well-being that are increasingly captured in residential property values. Remote Sensing (RS) can be used to measure a wide range of forest and vegetation parameters that allows for a more detailed and better understanding of their specific influences on housing prices. Herein, through a systematic literature review approach, we reviewed 89 papers (from 2010 to 2022) from 21 different countries that used RS data to quantify vegetation indices, forest and tree parameters of urban forests and estimated their influence on residential property values. The main aim of this study was to understand and provide insights into how urban forests influence residential property values based on RS studies. Although more studies were conducted in developed (n = 55, 61.7%) than developing countries (n = 34, 38.3%), the results indicated for the most part that increasing tree canopy cover on property and neighborhood level, forest size, type, greenness, and proximity to urban forests increased housing prices. RS studies benefited from spatially explicit repetitive data that offer superior efficiency to quantify vegetation, forest, and tree parameters of urban forests over large areas and longer periods compared to studies that used field inventory data. Through this work, we identify and underscore that urban forest benefits outweigh management costs and have a mostly positive influence on housing prices. Thus, we encourage further discussions about prioritizing reforestation and conservation of urban forests during the urban planning of cities and suburbs, which could support UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and urban policy reforms.
RESUMO
Cardiac imaging with fast computed tomography (CT) is a quickly evolving field starting to become established in the cardiac routine work-up. The exclusion of coronary calcification is the most accurate noninvasive method to exclude significant coronary stenosis whereas the detection of calcification identifies coronary arteriosclerosis. The total calcium load correlates with the risk of coronary stenosis, but there is not a 1 : 1 relationship. CT angiography with contrast enhancement offers promises to increase diagnostic accuracy. 4-slice scanners acquire data with a slide width down to 1 mm. The spatial resolution of invasive coronary angiography cannot be achieved yet. Severe coronary stenosis may be excluded with 90% specificity if image quality is not impaired by artifacts, severe calcification, arrhythmia, and a heart rate > 70 beats/min. With present technology, about 26% of segments may not be adequately assessed. Despite these limitations CT angiography is a useful tool to reduce the number of invasive diagnostic angiography. In patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD), progression as well as stent occlusion can be assessed. Instent stenosis can only be diagnosed indirectly. The patency of arterial and venous grafts can be assessed very well including also the bypass insertion site. Actual studies on the significance of noncalcified plaques are in progress.A CT angiography should take place in order to avoid further exposure to radiation. Therefore, patients with typical angina or significant signs of coronary ischemia have to be investigated by invasive methods and do not profit from a CT scan. Preparation and implementation of this method should only be applied in cooperation with radiologists and cardiologists in an experienced center.