Introduction Coastal areas are complex territorial systems where natural processes and anthropogenic pressures interact, producing landscapes that are vulnerable yet culturally important. These areas are among the most exposed to climate change impacts while remaining attractive for tourism and urban development. This dual condition calls for resilient and adaptive planning approaches. This study examines opportunities and challenges in the sustainable management of coastal territories, focusing on urban waterfronts and innovative spatial planning processes. Central to the analysis is the integration of Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) as tools for climate adaptation, environmental mitigation, and landscape regeneration within a “Waterfront 4.0” framework combining ecological and digital innovation, participatory governance, and smart resource management.
Methods A multidisciplinary approach was employed, integrating historical–geographical analysis with ecological assessment through the use of spatial and multispectral analytical tools. Coastal settlement morphology and evolution were examined diachronically to identify structural vulnerabilities and risk-management gaps. A case study of the Portici waterfront (Naples, Italy) was conducted to assess how NBS can be embedded in regeneration strategies. Planning documents, interventions, and spatial transformations were analyzed to evaluate their environmental and socio-territorial impacts.
Results Contemporary waterfronts function as laboratories for integrated urban and ecological regeneration. NBSs—including dune restoration, vegetated buffers, artificial wetlands, permeable surfaces, and green corridors—enhance resilience to hazards, support biodiversity, mitigate runoff, and improve microclimate regulation. In Portici, the Parco a Mare and Pietrarsa dock redevelopment demonstrate how recreational infrastructure and ecological restoration can be integrated. These interventions promote ecological connectivity and landscape enhancement, improve public-space quality, and reinforce the cultural identity of the coastline shaped by the Miglio d’Oro and eighteenth-century Vesuvian villas.
Conclusions The “Waterfront 4.0” approach shows that resilient urban waterfronts can reconcile environmental mitigation, landscape valorization, and sustainable tourism. Data-driven, participatory strategies are essential to ensuring long-term ecological functionality, climate resilience, and balanced socio-economic development in coastal territories.
