Common challenges and potential approaches in urban soil physics research
Abstract
Soil physics directly influences environmental health and quality by determining the exchange, movement, and retention of water, gas, and solutes in soils. Despite this key role, soil physical properties in urban environments remain understudied and frequently overlooked in urban planning and sustainable design, leading to missed opportunities for enhancing beneficial urban soil functioning, for example, for stormwater runoff management. Due to the ongoing climate crisis, urban water-soil management is becoming relevant for improving ecosystem services, including resilience to water scarcity, droughts, and flooding. Thus, the potential of urban soil physical studies, for example, mapping, modeling, and in situ characterization, for promoting healthier urban environments is discussed in this review. The focus is set on 3 current challenges in urban soil physical studies: (1) degradation of soil physical functions in the urban context, (2) lack of data on urban soil physical properties, and (3) the lack of a standardized taxonomy for urban soils classification. These challenges obscure the understanding of hydrological ecosystem services and urban soil functioning. Conversely, this review identifies key opportunities to advance the field, including (1) multiscale analysis of urban soils, (2) new technologies for determining soil hydraulic properties, and (3) the development of hydraulic functional soils. These advancements could improve urban soil management and enhance the climate change resilience of cities, contributing to healthier urban environments.
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BibTeX
@article{acevedo2026common,
title = {{Common challenges and potential approaches in urban soil physics research}},
author = {Sara Acevedo and Beverly Alvarez-Torres and Geoffroy Séré and Moreen Willaredt},
journal = {Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1525/elementa.2025.00099},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05625831v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Common challenges and potential approaches in urban soil physics research
AU - Sara Acevedo
AU - Beverly Alvarez-Torres
AU - Geoffroy Séré
AU - Moreen Willaredt
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/14
JO - Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene
DO - 10.1525/elementa.2025.00099
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05625831v1
AB - Soil physics directly influences environmental health and quality by determining the exchange, movement, and retention of water, gas, and solutes in soils. Despite this key role, soil physical properties in urban environments remain understudied and frequently overlooked in urban planning and sustainable design, leading to missed opportunities for enhancing beneficial urban soil functioning, for example, for stormwater runoff management. Due to the ongoing climate crisis, urban water-soil management is becoming relevant for improving ecosystem services, including resilience to water scarcity, droughts, and flooding. Thus, the potential of urban soil physical studies, for example, mapping, modeling, and in situ characterization, for promoting healthier urban environments is discussed in this review. The focus is set on 3 current challenges in urban soil physical studies: (1) degradation of soil physical functions in the urban context, (2) lack of data on urban soil physical properties, and (3) the lack of a standardized taxonomy for urban soils classification. These challenges obscure the understanding of hydrological ecosystem services and urban soil functioning. Conversely, this review identifies key opportunities to advance the field, including (1) multiscale analysis of urban soils, (2) new technologies for determining soil hydraulic properties, and (3) the development of hydraulic functional soils. These advancements could improve urban soil management and enhance the climate change resilience of cities, contributing to healthier urban environments.
SN - 2325-1026
ER -