Search Results (3,306)

Urban agglomerations (UAs) are the main battlefield of urbanization and the most concentrated areas of carbon emissions (CEs). Nevertheless, limited studies have examined the impact of urbanization level (UL) on CEs in UAs in China. This study aimed to identify the spatial relationship between UL and CEs in Chinese UAs and to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the differences in CEs caused by urbanization. The findings would provide scientific support for the China’s dual-carbon goals and the achievement of green and low-carbon urban development. Spatial variations in UL and CEs in 19 Chinese UAs were assessed in 2000, 2010, and 2020 using distribution dynamics and spatial regression models. The results indicated that the UL of UAs in China evidently increased over time, and UAs contributed approximately 80% of the national CEs. Significant spatial dependence was identified between urbanization factors and CEs. The regression results indicated that an increase in UL promoted the growth of CEs, and the form of the urban land had a significant and highly variable impact on CEs. Our findings provide a valuable case study for exploring relationships between UL and CEs in other UAs worldwide. Full article

A large amount of industrial heritage has been preserved owing to the wide recognition of its value as part of urban renewal and rural revitalization. Shaanxi’s industrial heritage is unique because of its rich historical resources. However, research on Shaanxi’s industrial heritage has been of point and piecemeal form rather than systematic. In this study, through the collection of historical data and study of the academic literature, we analyzed 385 industrial heritage sites in Shaanxi in time and space from 1840 to 1978 using a geographic information system (GIS) to reveal their evolution patterns. We comprehensively examined the influence of factors such as natural resources, traditional ancient industry inheritance, transportation conditions, and historical policies, and found that the distribution of industrial heritage in Shaanxi resulted from the interaction of these factors. We have constructed the first ever level categorized and quantified multilevel industrial heritage atlas of Shaanxi in the form of a Sankey diagram using GIS spatial maps, which provides a traceable historical record for each industrial heritage site. We not only reveal the spatial evolution law of industrial heritage in Shaanxi but also provide an overall view of the practice of industrial heritage protection and renewal, thus helping avoid the homogenization of future design. Our findings are also of academic and practical significance for the study and protection of industrial heritage. Full article

The Western Taiwan Strait (WTS) Economic Zone connects the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta, playing a significant role in China’s coastal economy and forming part of the East Asian economic structure. This study used panel data from 20 cities in the WTS Economic Zone, spanning 2011 to 2020, to investigate urban land use efficiency and its dynamic evolution characteristics. The study used a super-efficiency EBM model, which accounts for undesirable outputs, combined with kernel density estimation and Malmquist–Luenberger (ML) index analysis, to thoroughly examine the changes in total factor productivity (TFP) of urban land use and the factors driving these changes within the WTS Economic Zone. The findings are as follows: (1) From 2011 to 2020, the overall trend of urban land use efficiency in the WTS Economic Zone was upward, with coastal areas generally exhibiting higher urban land use efficiency compared to inland areas. (2) The urban land use efficiency of cities in the WTS Economic Zone displayed four types of changes: rising, stable, “U”-shaped, and inverted “U”-shaped. (3) The TEP index of the WTS Economic Zone exhibited a right-leaning “M” trend. Technological change was the primary driver of enhanced urban land use efficiency, although there is still room for improvement in technical efficiency. Based on these findings, this study proposes policy insights to foster high-quality development of urban land use efficiency in the WTS Economic Zone. Full article

Understanding the relationship between urban form and urban shrinkage is crucial for developing sustainable urban policies, particularly in medium-sized cities facing demographic and economic challenges. This study investigates the complex relationship between urban form and urban shrinkage in medium-sized Polish cities (population of 20,000 to 100,000), highlighting the implications for sustainability. Utilising a comprehensive multi-factor approach, it analyses the shrinkage and growth trends over 15 years (2006–2021) by establishing a shrinkage/growth score based on social, demographic, and economic factors for each city. It examines spatial aspects, particularly urban form compactness and population density, using Corine Land Cover (CLC) spatial data, making the methodology applicable to urban areas across Europe. The findings reveal no significant overall correlation between urban compactness and shrinkage/growth score across all cities. However, a positive correlation exists within “urban municipalities”, indicating that less compact urban areas tend to experience more shrinkage. Additionally, a temporary negative correlation between population density and shrinkage/growth score was observed from 2006 to 2016, which shifted to a positive trend in “urban municipalities” from 2016 to 2021. These results highlight urban shrinkage’s complex and dynamic nature and its potential ties to urban form. The study concludes with recommendations for urban policymakers and planners regarding compact and dense urban strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of shrinkage and enhance urban resilience and sustainability. While the trends change, the study highlights the need for further analysis of these relationships. Full article

Anthropogenic pressures such as over-urbanization, intensive agriculture/forestry practices, and the development of energy farms alter natural landscapes. Intensive urban development poses the greatest threat to natural ecosystems. Habitat degradation, fragmentation, and loss are among the key factors behind the current rise of biodiversity loss. In this study, we hypothesized that urbanization advances the adaptation of forest bird populations to relatively new urban ecosystems. The study was conducted in Kaunas, Lithuania, located in Eastern Europe. Genetic samples were collected in the city, representing urban landscapes, and its surrounding forests. In total, 160 nest boxes were erected, of which 80 were placed in the urban areas and 80 in the forests. Using a set of microsatellite markers, we investigated the genetic differentiation, genetic diversity, gene flow, and population structure of two common forest bird species of the Paridae family, the great tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), in forests and urbanized areas. We observed low but significant differences between urban and forest great tit and blue tit populations, proving relatively high population genetic diversity. We determined that cities’ spatial structure and fragmented natural habitats can influence the formation of small and isolated bird populations (subpopulations). Urban blue tits had higher genetic differentiation and a higher tendency to form subpopulations. In conclusion, forest birds can inhabit urbanized landscapes but both great tits and blue tits respond differently to urbanization-related changes. Full article

Petrochemical clusters are forms of industrialization that use compounds and polymers derived directly or indirectly from gas or crude oil for chemical applications. They pose a variety of short- and long-term risks to the environment and the people who live nearby. The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between the degree of perceived technological risk and the emotional value generated by the contemplation of the petrochemical industry landscape in order to try to establish strategic lines of action to mitigate the perception of risk and improve the emotional well-being of the population. This study uses manipulated pictures and a Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS) survey to assess changes in perception and emotional response in residents in Teheran (Iran). Key findings show an insignificant relationship between technological risk and landscape value perception in both original and manipulated pictures. However, taking into account that, in general, in manipulated pictures, there is a more significant relationship, designing the landscape could help to mitigate the technological risk perception. This study contributes to the broader discussion about industrialization and its environmental and social consequences. It emphasizes the importance of considering public perception when planning and developing industrial areas, so as to balance industrial functionality and environmental and aesthetic considerations for long-term urban development. Full article

Background: Normative data on hand and precision grip strengths are essential for evaluating the level of development, the efficacy of rehabilitation, and treatment results. The need for established norms of grip strength in Polish children is one of the problems that Polish physiotherapists and physicians face when treating upper limbs. The aim was to establish normative values of hand and precision grips strengths in Polish children and adolescents aged 3–19. Methods: In the years 2012–2023, a sample of 358 children and adolescents with no history of upper limb injuries or congenital upper extremity defects were randomly chosen from kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools, and high schools. They were living in urban agglomerations and in smaller towns or villages. Hand and precision grips like the pincer, three-point, side, and opposition grip strength were assessed using a hand dynamometer and pinchmeter in standard positions. Results: The strength in all types of examined hand grips increases with chronological age in both genders. The grip strength was higher in the boys’ group than in the girls’ and it was higher in the right hand than in the left, but the difference was no more greater than 10%. Detailed data with standard deviation were presented in the form of a table, divided by age and sex. Conclusions: Norms for grip strength were provided for Polish children and adolescents aged 3–19, allowing therapists and physicians to compare Polish patients with that of normally developed, healthy children of the same age and sex. Full article

In this paper, a quantitative ground risk assessment mechanism is proposed in which urban ground features are extracted based on high-resolution data in a satellite image when unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) operate in urban areas. Ground risk distributions are estimated and a risk map is constructed with a multi-layer method considering the comprehensive risk imposed by UAV operations. The urban ground feature extraction is first implemented by employing a K-Means clustering method to an actual satellite image. Five main categories of the ground features are classified, each of which is composed of several sub-categories. Three more layers are then obtained, which are a population density layer, a sheltering factor layer, and a ground obstacle layer. As a result, a three-dimensional (3D) risk map is formed with a high resolution of 1 m × 1 m × 5 m. For each unit in this risk map, three kinds of risk imposed by UAV operations are taken into account and calculated, which include the risk to pedestrians, risk to ground vehicles, and risk to ground properties. This paper also develops a method of the resolution conversion to accommodate different UAV operation requirements. Case study results indicate that the risk levels between the fifth and tenth layers of the generated 3D risk map are relatively low, making these altitudes quite suitable for UAV operations. Full article

This study aims to create virtual reality (VR) geovisualizations using 3D point clouds obtained from airborne LiDAR technology. These visualizations were used to map the current state of river channels and tributaries in the Thessalian Plain, Greece, following severe flooding in the summer of 2023. The study area examined in this paper is the embankments enclosing the tributaries of the Pineios River in the Thessalian Plain region, specifically between the cities of Karditsa and Trikala in mainland Greece. This area was significantly affected in the summer of 2023 when flooding the region’s rivers destroyed urban elements and crops. The extent of the impact across the entire Thessalian Plain made managing the event highly challenging to the authorities. High-resolution 3D mapping and VR geovisualization of the embarkments encasing the main rivers and the tributaries of the Thessalian Plain essentially provides information for planning the area’s restoration processes and designing prevention and mitigation measures for similar disasters. The proposed methodology consists of four stages. The first and second stages of the methodology present the design of the data acquisition process with airborne LiDAR, aiming at the high-resolution 3D mapping of the sites. The third stage focuses on data processing, cloud point classification, and thematic information creation. The fourth stage is focused on developing the VR application. The VR application will allow users to immerse themselves in the study area, observe, and interact with the existing state of the embankments in high resolution. Additionally, users can interact with the 3D point cloud, where thematic information is displayed describing the classification of the 3D cloud, the altitude, and the RGB color. Additional thematic information in vector form, providing qualitative characteristics, is also illustrated in the virtual space. Furthermore, six different scenarios were visualized in the 3D space using a VR app. Visualizing these 3D scenarios using digital twins of the current antiflood infrastructure provides scenarios of floods at varying water levels. This study aims to explore the efficient visualization of thematic information in 3D virtual space. The goal is to provide an innovative VR tool for managing the impact on anthropogenic infrastructures, livestock, and the ecological capital of various scenarios of a catastrophic flood. Full article

Today, with the increase in population, technological developments, industrialization and urbanization, problems related to waste management (WM) have become increasingly important to a sustainable and global clean environment. The gradual deterioration of the quality of environmental elements and the increase in environmental problems have caused societies to focus more on environmental problems. Waste management is a form of management that includes the prevention, non-prevention, reuse, recovery, and disposal of domestic, medical, hazardous, and non-hazardous wastes. This study aims to prioritize critical success factors (CSFs), via the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), in industrial waste management and to determine the most important critical success factor. The four main criteria and 23 sub-criteria were scored by the AHP method according to the opinions of five environmental engineers. After determining critical success factors, survey questions were prepared to make employees rank these factors. While the “national/local waste management strategies and policies” factor was the most important critical success factor according to environmental engineers, the most important critical success factor for employees was “enterprise waste management strategies and policies”. In addition, differences in the priorities of CSFs were found in the opinions of employees in different sectors. Full article

Urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa are facing significant developmental challenges due to rapid population growth and urban expansion, this study aims to predict urban growth and assess the SDG 11.3.1 indicator in the Chambishi multi-facility economic zone (CFEMZ) in Zambia through the integration of remote sensing data and spatial cooperative simulation so as to realize sustainable development goals (SDGs). The study utilized DMSP-OLS and VIIRS nighttime light data between 2000 and 2020 to extract the urban built-up area by applying the Pseudo-Invariant Features (PIFs) method to determine thresholds. The land-use and population changes under several development scenarios in 2030 were simulated in the study using the Spatial Cooperative Simulation (SCS) approach. The changes in SDG 11.3.1 indicators were also calculated in the form of a spatialized kilometer grid. The findings show a substantial rise in the built-up area and especially indicate a most notable increase in Chambishi. The primary cause of this growth is the development of industrial parks, which act as the region’s principal engine for urban expansion. Under the natural scenario, the land-use distribution in the study area presents an unplanned state that will make it difficult to realize SDGs. The results of the spatialization form of the SDG 11.3.1 indicator demonstrate the areas and problems of imbalance between urban construction and population growth in the CMFEZ. This study demonstrates the importance of remote sensing of nighttime lighting and spatial simulation in urban planning to achieve SDG 11.3.1 for sustainable urbanization in industrial cities. Full article

Making cities health-promoting places is an evolving theme. Numerous studies confirm the health-promoting qualities of contact with nature and problems resulting from the deprivation of access to public green spaces. Easy access to safe and inclusive public green spaces is still one of the long-lasting problems of urbanized areas around the globe. It is one of the sustainable development goals, SDGs, proposed by the UN: 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Point 11.7 By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. The major question is how to implement this goal in practice and design cities to provide easy access to safe and inclusive public green spaces. One of the important concepts for sustainable urban development is the urban block, Macrolot, coined by Christian de Portzamparc, which led to the new urban morphology of eco-neighborhoods in France. It combines the traditional, walkable urban grid with the Le Corbusier vision for a healthy modernist city offering daylight, fresh air, and greenery for everyone. Among the advantages of this particular urban morphology are the increased presence of green spaces and possibilities for placemaking. Studying the effects of the urban form of the Macrolot is of great significance for sustainable urban development. In this study, five neighborhoods—three eco-neighborhoods from France designed according to the open urban block, Macrolot urban morphology, ZAC Massena, ZAC Trapeze, and ZAC Clichy-Batignolles, and two award-winning developments from Poland, Riverview and Ostoja Wilanów—were chosen as case studies. The application of the Macrolot concept to sustainable urban planning and design and the possibilities for operationalization of the SDG—11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable—are discussed. This study offers valuable evidence to inform urban planning and design. Full article

Air pollution has recently gained much attention from the general population. Despite pollution control being an issue in both urban and rural regions, most of the available research has concentrated on urban districts. Hence, investigations into how urban–rural transition affects PM_2.5 are warranted within the framework of urban–rural integration. Using the Yellow River Basin as a case study, this study employed the entropy method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to uncover the extent of urban–rural transformation. It then used the spatial autocorrelation method to investigate the spatiotemporal features of PM_2.5 and the spatial econometric model to investigate the mechanisms that influence the relationship between urban–rural transformation and PM_2.5. The results are as follows: (1) The level of urban–rural transformation shows an obvious upward trend with time. The development has progressed from asymmetrical north-east and south-west elevations to a more balanced pattern of north-east, middle-east, and west-west elevations. (2) The PM_2.5 concentration increased steadily, then fluctuated, and finally decreased. Notably, the general pattern has not changed much, and it is high in the east and low in the west. (3) Different subsystems of the urban–rural transformation have different impacts on air pollution at different stages. The influence of industrial transformation (IT) on PM_2.5 showed an inverted “N-shaped” curve of negative–negative–changes, and the industrial structure played a leading role in the spatiotemporal evolution of PM_2.5. An inverted “U-shaped” curve forms the left side of the impact of population transition (PT) on PM_2.5. Land transformation (LT) has a “U-shaped” curve for its effect on PM_2.5. This study provides a new perspective on the topic of PM_2.5 and its connection to urban–rural integration, which is crucial to understanding the dynamics of this shift. To achieve the goal of high-quality development, this study supports regional initiatives to reduce PM_2.5 emissions in the Yellow River Basin. Moreover, the results of this study can provide a reference for decision-makers in the world’s densely populated areas that suffer from serious air pollution. Full article

The demand for low-carbon and energy-efficient building designs is urgent, especially considering that building energy consumption constitutes a significant part of global energy usage. Unlike small to medium-sized buildings such as residential and office spaces, large public buildings, like sports facilities, have unique usage patterns and architectural forms, offering more significant potential for energy-saving strategies. This review focuses on sports buildings, selecting 62 high-quality papers published in building science over the past 30 years that investigate low-carbon and energy-efficient research. Summarizing and synthesizing these papers reveals that current studies predominantly concentrate on four main areas: indoor air quality, ventilation, thermal environment, and energy consumption. Notably, many studies emphasize improving indoor thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption in sports buildings through measurements and evaluations of indoor thermal environments, temperature distributions, heat transfer phenomena, and energy consumption analyses. Key outcomes indicate that green technology innovations, such as energy substitution technologies, significantly enhance energy efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions. However, present research emphasizes singular energy-saving approaches, suggesting future directions could integrate comprehensive green technologies, life-cycle assessments, and applications of intelligent technologies and the Internet of Things (IoT). These enhancements aim to provide more effective and sustainable solutions for implementing green, low-carbon energy practices in sports buildings. The review emphasizes that in order to accomplish sustainable urban growth and achieve global carbon neutrality targets, a comprehensive approach involving technical innovation, legislative assistance, and extensive preparation is crucial. Full article

Human contact with the natural environment effectively counteracts negative symptoms of stress and has many positive psychological effects. For this reason, forests within city limits are increasingly seen as part of public health promotion. Being in an urban forest can take many forms, but there is still little known about whether being in a forest alone, without engaging one’s senses, is as effective for human renewal as an experience that involves greater, more conscious activation of the senses of sight, hearing, smell. A study measuring the effect of the forest (spring aspect) on human mental relaxation during passive exposure was conducted on a sample of 19 Polish young adults. The experiment consisted of two series. In the first, participants read an academic textbook in a tree stand for 20 min, while in the next session—conducted at the same location—they contemplated the landscape. Before the experiment and after each of the two series of tests, four psychological questionnaires were administered: the Profile of Mood State (POMS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Restorative Outcome Scale (ROS) and the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS). Analyses showed that being in a forest environment positively influenced the subjects’ mental relaxation, while the level of benefit from the activation of the senses, especially vision (looking at the forest) was significantly higher compared to the passive activity of reading a text. The research indicates that forest bathing is the best form of relaxation that can be obtained through contact with the forest. Full article