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The global phenomenon of urban flooding has become a pressing issue for cities worldwide. Conventional strategies to alleviate flooding, such as augmenting the capacity of drainage systems, are incompatible with the principle of sustainable development. In this regard, Low Impact Development (LID) techniques have emerged as a promising and sustainable approach to manage storm water. The objectives of the present study are to determine the enhancement in functional and structural resilience of an UDS after implementation of LIDs and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis of implementation of LIDs. To showcase the role of LIDs in enhancing drainage system resilience, a case study was conducted in Gurugram, India, a city frequently impacted by flooding. The LID Performance Index is designed to measure the improvement in functional resilience and decrease in the number of vulnerable locations aims to quantify the enhancement in structural resilience. The LCC analysis is carried out to determine the Benefit–Cost Ratio (BCR) of implementing the LID. The study determined the optimal percentage of LIDs to incorporate into the urban drainage system through the creation of various scenarios that considered the impacts of urbanization, climate change, and the cost of implementing LIDs. Results indicated that a system incorporating 10% of LIDs (S1) with a Benefit–Cost ratio of 2.05 was the most suitable scenario for the case area. For the scenario S1 the functional resilience is enhanced by 21% and number of vulnerable locations decreases by 8.7%. The study also identifies the barriers to the implementation of LIDs in developing countries like India, categorizing them into planning, implementation, and maintenance stage barriers. Ultimately, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of nature-based solutions for the effective management of urban drainage infrastructure, offering valuable insights for urban planners, design engineers, and policy makers to protect cities from flood hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) may benefit the health and safety of drivers across the driving lifespan, but perceptions of drivers are not known. Lived experiences of drivers exposed to AVs in combination with surveys, can more accurately reveal their perceptions. We quantified facilitators and barriers from data collected in older (N = 104) and younger drivers (N = 106). Perceptions were assessed via Autonomous Vehicle User Perception Survey (AVUPS) subscales (i.e., intention to use, barriers, well-being, and acceptance) pertaining to group exposure (simulator first [SF] or autonomous shuttle first [ASF]). We quantified the effects of group, time, and group × time interaction. Multiple linear regressions identified predictors (e.g., optimism, ease of use, life space, driving exposure, and driving difficulty, age, gender, race) of the AVUPS subscales. The regression analyses indicated that optimism and ease of use positively predicted intention to use, barriers, well-being, and the total acceptance score. Driving difficulty significantly predicted barriers, whereas miles driven negatively predicted well-being. The regression results indicated that predictors of user acceptance of AV technology included age, race, optimism, ease of use, with 33.6% of the variance in acceptance explained. The findings reveal foundational information about driver acceptance, intention to use, barriers, and well-being related to AVs. New knowledge pertains to how demographics, optimism, ease of use, life space, driving exposure, and driving difficulty inform AV acceptance. We provided strategies to inform city planners and other stakeholders on improving upon deployment practices of AVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Planning Education & Research is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban vitality is a core feature of sustainable cities and neighborhoods. Acknowledging the significant role of the spatial and physical attributes of built urban landscapes in influencing urban vitality, scholars and planners in the field of urban studies have meticulously examined the relationship between urban morphology and variations in urban vitality. While most previous studies have primarily focused on a narrow range of factors when analyzing urban form, often neglecting its multifaceted nature, this study utilizes urban morphometrics using Python's Momepy library to offer a comprehensive typology. It integrates diverse urban components from individual buildings and streets to entire neighborhoods into a unified, holistic framework, providing a more integrated understanding of urban form's influence on urban vitality. Our spatial econometric models identified higher building floor areas, taller and narrower streetside buildings, diversely aged buildings, and higher building coverings on lots as favorable urban form settings for urban vitality. Measuring urban morphology with advanced methods and identifying their relationship to urban vitality provides insightful implications for urban planners and designers for creating vibrant cities and neighborhoods. Practical Applications: This study utilizes advanced methods to assess the design and layout of cities and neighborhoods and analyzes their effects on urban vitality. The Momepy Python package is used in this study to capture urban form in terms of size, density, layout, diversity, and connectedness. This study measures how diverse urban morphologies affect the variation of urban vitality captured by mobile phone data. This study introduces an integrated approach that identifies spatial relationships between buildings and street networks into a comprehensive framework. This holistic approach can suggest effective strategies for decision-making by urban planners and policymakers to create livable and sustainable cities and neighborhoods. Moreover, this study reveals how the effects of the urban morphology on urban vitality vary depending on the time of day and day of the week. The core findings suggest that urban planners and designers should consider spatial configurations of buildings and streets as well as residents' behavior over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing walkable urban environments is crucial for enhancing urban liveability and sustainability. To evaluate the chrono‐urbanism status, this study combines conventional census and mapping data with social media check‐in big data. A composite index is proposed, which assesses the accessibility of essential urban functions under the 5/10/15‐minute chrono‐thresholds. This index incorporates five categories of urban functions (public transit, living, education, health care and entertainment) in Macau. Utilising check‐in information from Sina Weibo, the level of attraction for different urban functions is integrated into the calculation. The findings highlight significant disparities in chrono‐urbanism status, with regions inhabited by lower socio‐economic status residents being more vulnerable than the affluent institutional and commercial centre of Macau. Leveraging social media big data, this study provides valuable insights to urban planners and policy‐makers, enabling them to understand the overall chrono‐urbanism status and target interventions for developing a more sustainable and liveable urban environment in Macau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green gentrification implicates urban greening as a driver of neighbourhood 'upgrading' and subsequent displacement. However, it is unclear whether the concept resonates with, or supports the work of, those responsible for much of the greening occurring in cities – urban green planners/practitioners. We interviewed 33 planners/practitioners in Canada to refine our understanding of the relationships between urban greening and gentrification. We found that greening is closely tied to development, with funding/space for greening often provided through development requirements/incentives. Thus, rather than greening causing gentrification (as described in current literature), here greening is often a requirement and direct outcome of new development – contributing to what we describe as a broader greening of the gentrification process that is facilitated by various political-economic factors. Many interviewees stated that their current work focuses on addressing existing inequities rather than strategizing to limit future gentrification. However, they had mixed opinions about whether knowledge of green gentrification as a concept can help them promote equitable urban greening due to their lack of power over where/how urban greening occurs, along with the finding that greening is not causing gentrification. The uneven power dynamics between urban green practitioners/planners, developers, and elected officials also influenced views on whether gentrification is an intended outcome of greening. We conclude that relying on new development to provide urban greening is antithetical to addressing existing green inequities and is likely to exacerbate inequities through associating greening with gentrification. Recent measures to improve housing affordability (i.e. the removal of developer greening requirements) will disrupt the current development-greening relationship but are unlikely to address the issue of inequitable greening. Increased and ongoing collaboration between those working in urban greening, housing, and planning is paramount and should focus on affordability and equity across urban systems – attending to the interplay between greening, housing, affordability, and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) of children is more specific than that of adults, and the complex influence of outdoor activity spaces on children's thermal comfort warrants further investigation. To investigate the outdoor thermal comfort baseline (OTCB) of children in Hangzhou and explore the thermal impact of outdoor surfaces on children, a survey was conducted in six typical outdoor activity spaces in Hangzhou, China, during spring and summer utilizing physical measurements, questionnaire surveys, and the universal thermal climate index (UTCI). This study analyzed the differences in thermal perception among children in Hangzhou in different seasons, their OTCB, and the impact of surface reflectance (Rs) on children's OTC. The results indicated the following: 1) In spring, children in Hangzhou generally felt comfortable, but their discomfort with heat noticeably increased in summer. 2) The neutral UTCIs (NUTCIs) for Hangzhou children were 11.6 °C (spring) and 27.7 °C (summer), and the NUTCI ranges (NUTCIRs) were 9.7–17.5 °C (spring) and 25.7–30.0 °C (summer); additionally, the thermal acceptability ranges (TARs) were 13.2–25.2 °C (spring) and 11.8–34.8 °C (summer). 3) A high Rs made children feel more uncomfortable with heat, which was primarily due to the space's total shortwave and longwave radiation, which peaked between 14:00 and 15:00. 4) Based on the research findings, corresponding bioclimatic design strategies were proposed. Recommendations include using high Rs underlays with shading, composite underlays, or the future adoption of thermochromic coatings. Keeping permeable underlays moist is essential for activating their cooling mechanisms. Fundamental safety measures are imperative. This study provides valuable data for urban planners and landscape designers to create public spaces suitable for children's outdoor activities, contributing to a harmonious and unified living environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper delves into the normative Productive City concept as outlined in the New Leipzig Charter, focusing on urban manufacturing's heterogeneity. We define urban manufacturing as manufacturing sectors located in proximity to housing. Urban manufacturing is analyzed based on sectoral (company data classified by NACE codes into 13 types of material industry) and spatial data, considering the distance to priority roads, supply areas, and land-use categories. The methodology is applied to Bochum, Gelsenkirchen, and Herne in the Ruhr area, utilizing 2018 data to identify material industry locations. We highlight differences between central and accessible, and more dispersed sectors in three groups. Group I, including other consumer goods, food products, clothing goods, and repair services, is predominantly located in central and mixed-use locations, suggesting these types could be preserved or developed by urban planners under the Productive City framework. However, there is a clear need for commercial and industrial spaces for emitting industries (Group II) to fully realize this concept. Construction industries (Group III) are often found in residential areas due to off-site activities. Challenges arise in historical industrial cities especially in integrated areas where existing zoning regulations and grandfathering rights restrict changes in manufacturing types or expansions near residential zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of shared e-scooters with public transit is a promising solution for urban mobility's first/last-mile challenge. This study explores spatiotemporal factors influencing this integration, using 35-day e-scooter trip data from Chicago. Employing a random-effect negative binomial approach, we modeled the frequency of e-scooter trips to access/egress to/from bus stops and train stations. Results indicate that weather conditions, design features like intersection density, and multimodal network density significantly influence usage. The transit system characteristics such as service frequency have a positive effect on the integration of e-scooters and trains while a similar effect for bus and e-scooter integration was not significant. Furthermore, safety-related variables such as accident and crime rates as well as demographic characteristics were also revealed to be significant factors in our study. These findings offer vital insights to urban planners and policymakers for infrastructure, safety enhancements, and interventions to encourage efficient e-scooter-public transit integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban greening has become an increasingly popular strategy to improve urban life and human health. However, there are indications that the presence and extent of urban greenness may increase the abundance of wild rats. Therefore, we investigated which environmental and socio-economic factors are associated with rat abundance, with a focus on factors related to urban greenness. We systematically trapped rats (222 Rattus norvegicus and 5 Rattus rattus) in parks and residential areas in three cities in the Netherlands. We modelled the relative abundance of rats against various environmental and socio-economic variables. In addition, we compared municipality rat complaint data with our trapping data and analysed trap success over time. We observed positive relationships between the relative abundance of rats and both greenness (NDVI) and different proxies for food resources (restaurants and petting zoos). In addition, there were more municipality rat complaints in residential areas compared to parks, while there was a higher relative abundance of rats in parks. Our findings corroborate that greenness is associated with a higher abundance of wild rats, and that municipality rat complaints may underestimate the abundance of rats in greener urban areas. This study provides new insights on factors affecting relative rat abundance in cities and can guide policy makers and city planners how to minimize rat nuisance in the greener parts of cities. By taking these potential effects of urban greenness on rat abundance into account, measures can be taken that on the one hand maintain the beneficial effects of urban greening, but at the same time reduce the carrying capacity for rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for electric vehicle public charging infrastructure (EVPCI), optimizing the charging network to ensure equal access is crucial to promote the sustainable development of the electric vehicle market and clean energy. Due to limited urban land space and the large-scale expansion of charging infrastructure, determining where to begin optimization is the first step in improving its layout. This paper uses a multidimensional assessment framework to identify spatial disparities in the distribution of EVPCI in Nanjing Central Districts, China. We construct a scientific evaluation system of the public charging infrastructure (PCI) layout from four spatial indicators: accessibility, availability, convenience, and affordability. Through univariate and bivariate local indicators of spatial autocorrelation (LISA), the spatial agglomeration pattern of the EVPCI service level and its spatial correlation with social factors are revealed. The results of this study not only identify areas in Nanjing where the distribution of PCI is uneven and where there is a shortage but also identify areas down to the community level where there are signs of potential wastage of PCI resources. The results demonstrate that (1) urban planners and policymakers need to expand the focus of PCI construction from the main city to the three sub-cities; (2) it is necessary to increase the deployment of PCI in Nanjing's old residential communities; and (3) the expansion of PCI in Nanjing must be incremental and optimized in terms of allocation, or else it should be reduced and recycled in areas where there are signs of resource wastage. This study provides targeted and implementable deployment strategies for the optimization of the spatial layout of EVPCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a series of gentle Piedmont slopes with a unique special stratigraphic structure in Ningzhen area of China, which manifest as clay on the surface and the underlying being primarily gravel, exhibiting a binary structure similar to fluvial facies. The number of landslides has increased significantly on gentle Piedmont slopes in this area in recent years due to an increase in extreme rainfall events. Medium to large creeping landslides are dominant, and the sliding surface is between the clay and gravel layers. The main reason is the formation of a water cushion effect due to the unique stratigraphic structure. In this paper, based on previous research, we conducted a model test to verify the influence of the water cushion effect on gentle Piedmont slopes. Meanwhile, we derived a stability equation based on the static equilibrium for gentle Piedmont slopes under three conditions and proposed two methods to derive an early warning value of the pressure head. The rationality of the early warning value was verified by comparing it with measurements. The research results provide important theoretical and technical guidance for early warning and prediction of landslides on gentle Piedmont slopes. Practical Applications: The stability equation of landslides is crucial in adequately mitigating hazards, which can provide guidelines for landslide prone areas to avoid hazards in the future. Therefore, landslide warning and prediction is of the utmost significance to ensure the safety of human life, mitigate the negative impacts on the economy, and prevent landslide hazards in gentle Piedmont slopes. Government agencies, policymakers, local authorities, and urban planners can use stability equations and early warning values to plan effective landslide monitoring and prevention measures, and make wise decisions on land-use zoning and development. By identifying areas with high landslide susceptibility through early warning values, constructing buildings and engaging in human activities in hazardous zones can be avoided, reducing the risk of damage and loss during potential landslide events. In addition, landslide warning and prediction play a crucial role in disaster risk management of landslides in gentle Piedmont slopes. Authorities can use these warning values to prioritize areas for early measures. Residents can benefit from the results by being made aware of landslide-prone areas on their property. Consequently, this study is a scientific basis and technical support for the early warning and prediction of landslides on gentle Piedmont slopes in the Ningzhen area, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization has led to increasingly prominent urban heat island phenomena and social inequality. It is urgent to quantify the threshold area of urban parks from multiple perspectives to maximize the cooling effect and improve the equity of park cooling services. Using 33 urban parks in Harbin City as research objects, four indices, i.e., park cooling intensity (PCI), park cooling distance (PCD), park cooling area (PCA), and park cooling efficiency (PCE), were used to explore the park cooling effect and the threshold value of efficiency (TVoE) of the size. The OD (origin–destination) matrix model was constructed to assess the spatial accessibility from the community to the cooling range. The Gini coefficient was used to assess the equity of cooling range accessibility. The relative contribution of each influencing factor to the cooling indicator was quantified through regression modeling. The results showed that the average PCI was 3.27 ℃, the average PCD was 277 m, the average PCA was 115.35 ha, and the average PCE was 5.74. Gray space area was the dominant factor for PCI, PCD, and PCA (relative contributions of 100%, 31%, and 19%, respectively). Park area was the dominant factor for PCE (relative contribution of 28%). The TVoE of park sizes based on PCA and PCE were calculated as 82.37 ha and 2.56 ha, respectively. 39.2% and 94.01% of communities can reach cooling ranges within 15 min in walk mode and transit mode, respectively. Approximately 18% of neighborhood residents are experiencing severe inequities in cooling range accessibility. This study can guide park design that maximizes cooling effects, as well as inform city planners on more equitable allocation of urban park resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has demonstrated that urban green spaces play a crucial role in mitigating the severe urban heat island (UHI) effect. However, existing studies often suffer from limitations such as the neglect of the cooling effect of water bodies within the green spaces and incomplete considerations of the overall cooling effect. These limitations may lead to inaccuracies in the research findings. Therefore, the present study takes the city of Xi'an as a case study to explore the optimal green space size for achieving efficient cooling. The results indicate that (i) urban green spaces exhibit robust cooling effects, with variations observed among the various types; (ii) for community parks without water, and for street gardens, the optimal areas of these green spaces are 3.44 and 0.83 hectares, respectively; (iii) for community parks with water, the area of internal water bodies should ideally be maintained at around 29.43% of the total green space area in order to achieve an optimal cooling efficiency. In conclusion, this study introduces a new perspective and new optimization methods for urban green space planning, thereby offering scientific guidance to urban planners in formulating effective development and management policies and urban planning schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density is a crucial indicator for urban sustainable development and is considered a critical factor influencing the carbon emission intensity of construction land (CICL). The impact of density on carbon emissions has been extensively explored, mainly focusing on grid-scale and single-factor effects. However, how density and its interactions affect carbon emissions at the block scale is unclear. Therefore, based on multiple data sources such as energy consumption, remote sensing, and the point of interest (POI) in the urban block of Changxing County, this study constructed a density system that reflects the block's physical environment and socioeconomic characteristics. An optimal-parameters-based geographical detector was employed to investigate the effects and interactions of density factors on the carbon emission intensity of residential blocks (CIRB), carbon emission intensity of commercial blocks (CICB), and carbon emission intensity of public blocks (CIPB). The results indicate the following: (1) The impact of density factors on different types of CICL varied significantly. Physical environmental factors (PEFs) had greater explanatory power than socioeconomic factors (SEFs) across the CIRB, CICB, and CIPB, with the floor area ratio (FAR) being the most influential. The spatial morphology of blocks also influenced the relationship between density factors and the CICL. (2) The interactions between the FAR and building density (BD), the FAR and commercial outlet density (COD), and the FAR and population density (PD) had the strongest explanatory power for the CIRB, CICB, and CIPB, respectively, and all exhibited nonlinear enhancements. Some factors exhibited more significant effects only when interacting with others. (3) An association chain encompassing the interactions of multiple density factors was extracted for the CIRB, CICB, and CIPB, respectively, as the basis for conducting collaborative management and control in spatial planning. The research findings can provide decision support for urban planners to consider the comprehensive effects of density factors and promote the development of low-carbon urban spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of pedestrian behavior within the built environment represent a multifaceted and evolving field of study, profoundly influenced by shifts in industrial and commercial paradigms. This systematic literature review (SLR) is motivated by the imperative to comprehensively investigate and assess the built environment through the lens of pedestrian modeling, employing advanced modeling tools. While previous scholarship has explored the interplay between the built environment and pedestrian dynamics (PD), there remains a conspicuous gap in research addressing the utilization of agent-based modeling (ABM) tools for a nuanced evaluation of PD within these contexts. The SLR highlights the essential and practical benefits of using ABM to study PD in built environments and combine related theories and practical projects. Beyond theoretical discussions, it emphasizes the real-world contributions of ABM in understanding and visualizing how people behave in urban spaces. It aims to provide deep insights for both researchers and urban planners. By thoroughly examining recent research, it not only explores the practical uses of ABM but also reveals its broad implications for various aspects of pedestrian behavior in built environments. As a result, this SLR becomes a key resource for understanding the crucial role of ABM in studying the complexities of our surroundings. The findings and discussion here highlight ABM's vital role in bridging the gap between theory and practice, improving our understanding of pedestrian behavior in urban settings. Furthermore, this study outlines promising avenues for future research, thereby fostering continued exploration and innovation in the dynamic realm of pedestrian behavior within built environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of urbanization and profound socioeconomic changes, the influx of people from various social strata into cities has led to the phenomenon of residential segregation. Currently, the international community has accumulated profound theoretical foundations and rich practical experiences in the study of residential segregation. This research, primarily based on the WOS literature database, sorts and summarizes relevant studies on residential segregation in recent years (focusing on publications from 2020 to 2024), emphasizing the following four key aspects: (1) tracing the evolution of the theory of residential segregation and analytical methods; (2) analyzing the main characteristics of urban residential segregation; (3) exploring the driving mechanisms and effects of urban residential segregation; and (4) summarizing research trends and providing future perspectives. This study aids urban planners in more accurately identifying areas and characteristics of residential segregation, optimizing urban layouts, and providing richer and more in-depth theoretical support and practical guidance for the field of urban planning science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the physical environment on people's active behaviour have been a central topic over the last decade, particularly in urban design, public health, and transportation. Research on the impact of the built environment attributes on walkability still needs to be completed in developing countries. Literature on walkability demonstrated the effectiveness of the studies, which consider micro-scale elements when evaluating pedestrian street environments. We are interested in assessing urban design qualities at the micro-scale level, which would give more evidence on the walking conditions of a developing country. This study explores whether the typo-morphological aspect of selected routes in a medium-sized African city is associated with urban design qualities related to walkability and compares the combined scores of urban design qualities with other cities. According to our findings, the typo-morphological aspect of urban routes correlates with the evaluated urban design qualities. The results revealed a significant difference in these qualities between the old colonial and the post-independence fabrics, with imageability and complexity appearing to be the most influential qualities. The results showed that urban design qualities related to walkability in a mediumsized African city scored lower than in other urban contexts. This study has several implications for city planners and decision-makers looking to improve the walking environment of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Survey Review is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article offers information on the challenges and implications of relying on Google Maps in urban environments, particularly outside Western contexts. Topics include the limitations of Google Maps in accurately reflecting local transit schedules and routes, the impact of Western-centric technological standards on global perceptions of urban efficiency, and the need for urban studies to embrace diverse perspectives to avoid reinforcing North-South academic divides.

Copyright of Cities, Communities & Territories / Cidades, Comunidades e Territórios is the property of Instituto Universitario de Lisboa, DINAMIA-CET and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Placeness is believed to play a significant role in enhancing the well-being and place-use of individuals, contributing profoundly to how spaces are experienced and interacted with. Despite its perceived importance, there is ongoing debate and insufficient clarity about how exactly placeness influences people's behavior. This study aims to bridge this gap by theorizing and investigating the pathways from placeness to people's behavioral intentions, emphasizing the roles of personal place attachment and public place image as pivotal mediators in this relationship. To explore these dynamics, we conducted a survey in Japan, examining the complex interplay between placeness and behavioral intentions, given their rich cultural heritage and modern urban pressures. We employed the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach for path analysis. The analysis suggests that placeness influences behavioral intention through personal place attachment. While placeness does affect public place image, this public image does not have an impact on behavioral intention. The results demonstrated that an individual's activities, experiences, and cognition of a place are significant factors in creating the intention to engage in word-of-mouth, recommendation, and revisiting behaviors. Policymakers, urban planners, and designers need to understand how to foster people's behavioral intentions when creating a place imbued with placeness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1961, Jane Jacobs's The Death and Life of American Cities placed the urban street at the center of "an immense laboratory of trial and error, failure and success, in city building and design" (Jacobs 6). This laboratory, however, was under attack from urban planners like Lewis Mumford and Le Corbusier, who would attempt to replace Jacobs's public street with the cookie-cutter monotony of the master-planned community. Five years later, Elizabeth Bishop's poem "Under the Window: Ouro Prêto" portrayed Brazil's disorderly streets as captivating scenes of public life, one viewed from a tourist's privileged position looking down on it through the poem's titular window. Robert Pinsky would render a street from his New Jersey childhood in much less sentimental terms in his poem "The Street" twenty years later, wherein an unnamed man in "pyjamas" on "The Street" finds public humiliation, outed as a cuckold on the Rockwell Avenue of Pinsky's childhood. With their descriptions of exotic streetscapes, both Bishop and Pinsky's poems reinforce the point that public streets can serve as nodes for healthy communities as Jane Jacobs argued, but they also argue that streets thus conceived are under threat from car-centered development and Foucault's skepticism of surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of the logistics industry, the demand for logistics activities is increasing significantly. Concurrently, growing urbanization is causing the space for logistics and warehousing to become limited. Thus, more and more attention is being paid to the planning and construction of logistics facilities. However, due to spatiotemporal trajectory data (such as truck GPS data) being used less often in planning, the method of quantitative analysis for freight spatiotemporal activity is limited. Thus, the spatial layout of logistics and warehousing land does not match the current demand very well. In addition, it is necessary to consider the interactive relationship with the urban built environment in the process of optimizing layout, in order to comprehensively balance the spatial coupling with the functions of housing, transportation, industry, and so on. Therefore, the layout of logistics and warehouse land could be treated as a multi-objective optimization problem. This study aims to establish a model for logistics and warehouse land layout optimization to achieve a supply–demand matching. The proposed model comprehensively considers economic benefits, time benefits, cost benefits, environmental benefits, and other factors with freight GPS data, land-use data, transportation network data, and other multi-source data. A genetic algorithm is built to solve the model. Finally, this study takes the Wuhan urban development area as an example to practice the proposed method in three scenarios in order to verify its effectiveness. The results show that the optimization model solves the problem of mismatch between the supply and demand of logistics spaces to a certain extent, demonstrating the efficiency and scientificity of the optimization solutions. Based on the results of the three scenarios, it is proven that freight activities could effectively enhance the scientific validity of the optimization solution and the proposed model could optimize layouts under different scenario requirements. In summary, this study provides a practical and effective tool for logistics- and warehouse-land layout evaluation and optimization for urban planners and administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public urban spaces are vital settings for fostering social interaction among people. However, understanding how spatial layouts can promote positive social behaviors remains a critical and debated challenge for urban designers and planners aiming to create socially sustainable environments. Space syntax, a well-established theory and research method, explores the influence of spatial configurations on social aspects. Despite its significant contributions, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews evaluating its effectiveness in enhancing social interaction within urban public spaces. This study aims to identify the existing scientific gaps in the domain of space syntax studies, with a primary focus on sociability in public urban spaces. Following the PRISMA framework, a thorough literature search was conducted in the Scopus database, yielding 1107 relevant articles. After applying screening and eligibility criteria, 26 articles were selected for in-depth review. This review adopted a novel approach to synthesizing and analyzing the findings for identifying underexplored scientific gaps. The findings suggested a wide variety of research gaps to address, encompassing evidence, knowledge, practical, methodological, empirical, theoretical, and target populations to provide a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge in this field. In conclusion, by exploring the interplay between space syntax and design elements such as the urban infrastructure, landscaping, and microclimate in these areas, future research can bridge this gap, particularly when considering a cross-cultural lens. This study underscores the importance of space syntax in promoting social interaction in urban public spaces, offering a robust foundation for future research and practical applications to create more socially engaging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that most of the cadastral maps and property plans in Iraq are preserved in paper form, with the majority dating back to the 1930s. These maps are widely used for various purposes, such as urban planning, sewage networks, and electricity networks. However, most of these maps suffer from some distortion and wear, with some being torn and taped due to the nature of the paper material and its handling, resulting in severe physical distortion. To address these issues, it is necessary to convert these maps into a digital format and perform corrective processing to mitigate the effects of past errors. Scanning alone is insufficient as it introduces many errors. Recently, fast and accurate computer software has become available that can process data from these maps and paper drawings, including addressing the wear they have undergone, and update them to meet the needs of local authorities developing and investing in these maps and implementing development projects. This process is also essential for establishing a digital foundation for the database. Geographic Information System (GIS) applications are widely used to enhance and assist decision-makers in making decisions that align with their purposes and application scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symmetry in traffic patterns is a fundamental aspect of intelligent transportation systems, aiming to precisely predict traffic flow in real time despite the complex interplay of spatial and temporal factors. This paper presents a novel method of traffic forecasting that incorporates parameters related to road symmetry into a Graph Convolution Network model. Our model is crafted to dynamically adjust to real-time changes in road conditions, including the presence of symmetric and asymmetric road layouts, which substantially influence traffic flow. We have developed a GCN model that not only accounts for standard traffic flow metrics but also integrates a matrix representing road symmetry. The model undergoes training and validation on the METR-LA dataset, showcasing a significant enhancement in prediction accuracy. In the comparative analysis of state-of-the-art methods, our model demonstrated a significant enhancement in performance, achieving 30.68% improvement in Mean Squared Error (MSE) and a 24.28% improvement in Mean Absolute Error (MAE) over the best-performing method. The implications of our research are profound for urban planners, traffic management systems, and navigation service providers, as it offers a more dependable tool for forecasting traffic conditions, aiding in road design, and refining route planning strategies based on the symmetry of road networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the reasons cities are attractive is the rich array of urban amenities they provide. In this study, we examine how investments in urban rail transit affect clusters of consumer amenities in China, based on the experiences of six Chinese cities that are at varying stages of rail transit development. A difference-in-differences model is built using geocoded data on wide categories of consumer amenities to estimate the rail transit effects from a sample of 315 new rail transit stations opened between 2015 and 2018. Our results show that the opening of a new station induces an increase of approximately 4% in the total number of consumer amenities in the vicinity of the station within the first year. The impact strengthens substantially after two years. The effect of rail transit varies across cities and among different neighborhoods within a city. In most cities, rail transit effects are stronger in central areas, contributing to agglomeration of retail and dining amenities. When the rail system expands rapidly, however, the opening of a new station tiggers greater growth of daily service amenities in the suburbs, leading to a decentralization effect. Additionally, we find that neighborhood purchasing power and transit-adjacent land supply have limited impacts on amenity growth driven by new rail stations. This study provides important insight into how public amenities interact with private amenities and its findings have significant implications for urban planners and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How much green space is available for individuals is a major question that city planners are generally interested in, and the present study aimed to address this issue in the context of Vellore, India, through two approaches, namely, the per capita and the geographical area approach. In existing studies, urban green space (UGS) was only calculated at the macro level, i.e., for the city as a whole. Micro-or ward-level analysis was not attempted before, and the present study carried out the same to get a clear picture of the amount of greenery available in each ward of a city. For this purpose, a two-step approach was proposed where the histograms of Google Earth (GE) images were analyzed first to check whether the green cover types such as trees, shrubs/grassland, and cropland were spectrally different. Then, classification techniques such as ISODATA, maximum likelihood, support vector machine (SVM), and objectbased methods were applied to the GE images. It was found that SVM performed well in extracting different green cover types with the highest overall accuracy of 93% and Kappa coefficient of 0.881. It was found that when considering the city as a whole, the amount of UGS available is 42% of the total area, which is more than the recommended range of 20-40%. Similarly, the available UGS per person is 97.84 m2, which is far above the recommended 12 m2/person. However, the micro-level analysis revealed that some of the wards have not satisfied the criteria of per capita and percentage area, though the city as a whole has satisfied both the criteria. Thus, the results indicate the importance of calculating the urban green space availability at the ward level rather than the city level as the former gives a closer look at the surplus and deficit areas. The results of terrestrial LiDAR survey at individual tree level revealed that if trees are located adjacent to buildings or roads, it results in fewer heat islands compared to the case where there are no trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding human movement patterns is crucial for comprehending how a city functions. It is also important for city planners and policymakers to create more efficient plans and policies for urban areas. Traditionally, human movement patterns were analyzed using origin–destination surveys, travel diaries, and other methods. Now, these patterns can be identified from various geospatial big data sources, such as mobile phone data, floating car data, and location-based social media (LBSM) data. These extensive datasets primarily identify individual or collective human movement patterns. However, the impact of spatial scale on the analysis of human movement patterns from these large geospatial data sources has not been sufficiently studied. Changes in spatial scale can significantly affect the results when calculating human movement patterns from these data. In this study, we utilized Weibo datasets for three different cities in China including Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. We aimed to identify the effect of different spatial scales on individual human movement patterns as calculated from LBSM data. For our analysis, we employed two indicators as follows: an external activity space indicator, the radius of gyration (ROG), and an internal activity space indicator, entropy. These indicators were chosen based on previous studies demonstrating their efficiency in analyzing sparse datasets like LBSM data. Additionally, we used two different ranges of spatial scales—10–100 m and 100–3000 m—to illustrate changes in individual activity space at both fine and coarse spatial scales. Our results indicate that although the ROG values show an overall increasing trend and the entropy values show an overall decreasing trend with the increase in spatial scale size, different local factors influence the ROG and entropy values at both finer and coarser scales. These findings will help to comprehend the dynamics of human movement across different scales. Such insights are invaluable for enhancing overall urban mobility and optimizing transportation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of spatial factors in reducing carbon emissions has been receiving increasing attention from researchers; however, these impacts may involve spatial heterogeneity. In this study, 337 prefecture-level cities in China were taken as the research object. Based on national-level urban data, the global impact of urban spatial form on carbon emissions was then investigated using ordinary least squares regression, the spatial error model, and the spatial lag model. The local effects of urban spatial form on carbon emissions in different cities were then investigated using geographically weighted regression. The findings are as follows. Overall, the larger the urban built-up area and the more fragmented and decentralized the urban land use, the greater the carbon emissions. Conversely, the more centralized the urban center of a city, the lower its carbon emissions. Locally, for some Chinese cities, the total area, landscape shape index, and mean Euclidean nearest-neighbor distance were found to have significant positive effects on carbon emissions, while the largest-patch index had a significant negative impact. For all Chinese cities, the patch density was found to have no significant effect on carbon emissions. In 29% of the cities in which the landscape division index was found to significantly affect carbon emissions, this effect was positive, while it was negative in the remaining 71%. The policy implications emerging from this study lie in the need for decision-makers and urban planners to guide the shaping of low-carbon urban spatial forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Planning Education & Research is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper makes the case for urban planners to become active participants in discussions concerning the placement of nextgeneration nuclear power plants. Centered upon an evolving concept of creating small modular reactors (SMRs), these plants are now being created and tested at various sites. They are intended to be low carbon sources of energy. While extensive technical research on SMRs is ongoing, the planning community has been quiet about the local impacts that could occur from their placement. This paper offers a review of the attitudes toward nuclear power, the characteristics of SMRs and why planners should be involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to identify the typomorphological dynamics of rural settlements and to prioritize them hierarchically using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Furthermore, the study aims to investigate changes in the top three dynamics over time in a sample village through the application of fractal and space syntax analysis. The dynamic and sub-dynamic elements of typomorphology were gathered from previous studies carried out at the urban and rural scales, and their equivalents in the rural settlement context were determined. The study participants, including 26 academics and independent architects and urban planners, were asked to participate in an online survey to rank the 12 typomorphological dynamics identified. The results were analyzed to determine the weighted outcomes of the dynamics and to form a hierarchical order of importance. The consistency ratio was also calculated. A fractal and space syntax analysis were conducted for the first three dynamics in a sample village to analyze the adaptation and mutation processes of the settlement region. The AHP results showed that cultivated and natural areas, socio-spatial references, and road/path networks are the key dynamics in the typomorphological analysis of rural settlements. The results emphasize the importance of enacting rural protection laws to regulate settlement and agricultural activities, given the significant impact of economic and demographic changes on rural settlement morphology. The study also highlights the need for sustainable land use practices that balance human settlement and agricultural activities with the preservation of natural ecosystems. Furthermore, the study underscores the role of road/path networks in shaping occupancy and emptiness. The results offer valuable insights into monitoring rural dynamics and managing rural settlements. The identified dynamics and their weighted values can guide decision-makers in rural planning and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rebuilding cities that have been significantly damaged or destroyed by multiple earthquakes is a challenging endeavor that has received considerable attention in recent days. It is necessary to conduct a thorough literature review to identify the key aspects that require closer examination to resolve this issue comprehensively. Significantly, the devastating earthquake that struck Kahramanmaraş caused extensive damage in twelve provinces, necessitating an immediate redesign of interior and outdoor spaces. This article emphasizes the importance of long-term planning involving multiple disciplines for implementing the proposed measures and actions. By leveraging the lessons learned from reconstruction efforts in earthquake-ravaged areas, it is possible to establish a comprehensive framework that provides policymakers, urban planners, and architects worldwide with invaluable guidance. By leveraging this collective knowledge, decision makers can develop holistic approaches that resolve immediate structural concerns and improve reconstructed cities' livability, adaptability, and disaster resilience. With Kahramanmaraş as a case study, this research provides a comprehensive road map for rebuilding earthquake-devastated urban spaces. This study provides invaluable insights into creating resilient cities that can withstand and recover from disasters by emphasizing long-term planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and lessons from previous reconstruction efforts. The findings of this study have far-reaching implications for cities around the globe, as they shed light on effective strategies to mitigate the destructive impact of future disasters and promote sustainable urban development in an era of growing vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From December 10 to December 11, 2021, a deadly tornado outbreak struck across several states in the US, including Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. This tornado outbreak resulted in at least $3.9 billion in damage, more than 90 fatalities, and hundreds of injuries. Mayfield, Kentucky, a small city in the eastern United States, was hit by a long-track tornado rated as an Enhanced Fujita 4 (EF4) scale and was one of the communities most heavily damaged during the tornado outbreak. Following the 2021 tornado event, an analysis was performed in the Interdependent Networked Community Resilience Modeling Environment (IN-CORE) for the City of Mayfield to investigate a design code change for residential structures and its effect on communitywide metrics related to functionality and dislocation. Specifically, the IN-CORE modeling environment was used to hindcast the community-level building damage and forecast the community-level building recovery in Mayfield for residential buildings. This required the development of a Mayfield test bed for IN-CORE with a focus on buildings. The generalization of multidisciplinary community resilience modeling from a test bed community to a real community impacted by a recent major tornado event is intended to benchmark that IN-CORE has a strong potential and capability to forecast/hindcast community resilience and provide what-if scenarios for decision makers, city planners, and stakeholders in communities with similar sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eutopía: Revista de Desarrollo Económico Territorial is the property of Eutopia: Revista de Desarrollo Economico Territorial and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research paper investigates the impact of Urban Living Labs (ULLs) on social resilience within urban communities, with a specific focus on the Multicultural City ChatterBox project in Portsmouth, the UK. Drawing on a rich body of literature and empirical data collected through ethnographic research methods, including interviews, focus groups, and participant observations, this study explores how participatory placemaking and co-creation activities foster community resilience. The ChatterBox project, a collaborative effort between the local community and researchers, led to the construction of a temporary timber pavilion in an underutilized urban space, serving as a vibrant hub for social interaction and engagement among diverse community groups. Our findings reveal that ULLs significantly contribute to enhancing social resilience by empowering communities, fostering a sense of belonging, and facilitating the development of social networks. Through the process of co-design and co-creation, participants not only gained a deeper understanding and ownership of their urban environment but also developed valuable skills and knowledge, thus strengthening their capacity to adapt to societal challenges. Furthermore, this study highlights the role of ULLs in bridging gaps between different community groups, thereby promoting inclusivity and social cohesion. The Multicultural City ChatterBox project exemplifies how ULL interventions can serve as catalysts for social innovation, offering flexible and adaptive solutions to urban challenges while simultaneously enriching the social fabric of cities. This paper contributes to the growing discourse on urban resilience, placemaking, and community-led urban development, providing valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and community organizers seeking to foster resilient and vibrant urban communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical parking lots and spaces are known as the "energy saver" of urban space because of their small footprint, high efficiency, and environmental protection. However, the location and number of mechanical parking lots and space planning have become an important part of effectively exerting the function of mechanical parking lots. In order to explore the planning problem of mechanical parking lots, this study used the gradient boosting decision tree–Shapley additive explanations (GBDT-SHAPs) to measure the non-linear impact of the urban built environment on the mechanical parking spaces ratio and extract the optimal threshold of key variables. The results show that land use mix and distance to Bell Tower (CBD) are two key variables affecting mechanical parking space planning, and both have a non-linear relationship with the built environment. The threshold values are 0.83 and 7 km. The results will provide urban and transport planners with strategies for planning mechanical parking lots and spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid urbanization in developing countries poses challenges such as rising crime rates and resource scarcity. Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) offer a promising solution to enhance public safety, but their integration requires addressing specific challenges. This study employs the Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) and System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) methodologies to identify potential hazards and requirements for integrating UAS into public safety systems in urban environments. The research objectives include identifying hazards and challenges, developing safety requirements and guidelines, and proposing strategies for efficient infrastructure investment. The proposed framework, based on STAMP/STPA, includes additional steps to consider early-stage systems and maintain stakeholder traceability. A risk matrix approach is utilized to prioritize risk mitigation measures for cost-effectiveness. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners in developing countries seeking to harness the potential of UAS technology for enhancing public safety while addressing the unique challenges posed by rapid urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-plus-one (2+1) highways are a special configuration of two-lane two-way (TLTW) highways with a continuous center lane that is used to alternate passing lanes. The main objective of this paper is, therefore, to evaluate the suitability of the 2+1 design for Middle East conditions as a replacement for traditional TLTW roads with higher traffic volumes or as an interim solution before transforming TLTW roads into four-lane highways. In our analysis, we considered both safety and mobility performances by comparing the 2+1 and TLTW designs. The new suggested 2+1 designs were evaluated, with the first design prohibiting overtaking in the opposite direction, while the second design permitted it. Additionally, two-speed-limit strategies, uniform speed limit (USL), and differential speed limit (DSL) were also evaluated. The results showed that the 2+1 design, which prohibited overtaking in the opposite direction, was superior to TLTW in terms of mobility and safety, while the other design compromised safety compared to TLTW. The results provide valuable information to policymakers, urban planners, and transport authorities to guide evidence-based decisions on the integration of the 2+1 design as a viable solution for sustainable and efficient transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air ambulances are a crucial enabler of emergency health care because of their high speed, ability to reach impassable areas, relocate more patients, provide better treatment while carrying patients, and ease of access to the hospital without traffic or sudden accidents. The right location must be selected according to scientific principles that address relevant factors to increase air ambulance efficiency in an emergency. A descriptive-analytical approach was adopted to solve the problem of identifying the best locations for aerial ambulances, combining three distinct methods. The first step was to identify criteria affecting the location of air ambulances. Then, the location was determined using a fuzzy analytical network process model coupled with a fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) technique and a geographic information system. To examine the method, a case study was conducted in a province in southeast Iran. Case study results showed insufficient aerial ambulance stations and roads to meet the need. This study provides helpful information for city planners and health policymakers to determine the optimal location of air ambulances by analyzing geographical conditions and barriers to delivering high-quality care to remote area. The study can contribute to more sustainable cities through better health services for communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced manufacturing agglomeration (AMA) plays a significant role in supporting regional development, but few studies have examined it on a regional geographic space. In this paper, the relationship between AMA and regional economic‒innovative‒social coupling coordination development (EISCCD) was studied spatially at a fine-grained scale (500 m × 500 m), taking Liangjiang New Area (LJNA), China, as an example. The results showed that (1) the spatial patterns of AMA and EISCCD in LJNA were similar; (2) among the four different combinations, the economic‒social combination had the highest degree of coupling coordination and a more balanced spatial distribution; (3) AMA and the four coupling coordination combinations all showed significant positive relationships, with innovation playing a prominent mediating role; and (4) there was evident spatial heterogeneity in the relationship between AMA and ECICCD. These results demonstrate the possibility of building suburban subcenters with advanced manufacturing. These findings are beneficial for urban and regional planners to monitor the development status at different locations within cities, enabling precise construction and management of various facilities, enhancing land utilization efficiency, and aiding in the realization of a business-friendly and livable urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the port planning dynamics of the neighbouring ports of Koper (Slovenia) and Trieste (Italy) since the Second World War. Through an analysis of port-related planning documents, it offers insights into how geographical proximity, divergent geopolitical circumstances, and a unique border context have shaped the development trajectories of these two ports. We argue that their spatial planning is somewhat idiosyncratic because the presence of a border did not necessarily condition unrelated planning efforts and vice versa. Max Fabiani was the only urban planner to propose a joint development plan for both port cities in the immediate post-war period. The port and local authorities pursued separate planning paths for the two port cities after the Yugoslav–Italian border was established in 1954. As the border became more permeable, a certain relatedness can be seen in the spatial planning of both ports. The port authorities worked toward a unified port system at the turn of the millennium, but the persistence of phantom borders prevented this. In recent decades of European borderless integration, there are fewer obstacles to planning cooperation. Currently, both ports are planning similar development, such as the expansion of container terminals, which is leading to their increased competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar radiation plays a dominant role in numerous engineering systems. Shading, resulting from various objects, modulates the amount and distribution of irradiance received by surfaces. This research aimed to develop a model for assessing the spatial and temporal distribution of insolation on urban surfaces affected by building shadows. A Scilab code was implemented to compute building shadows using a direct mathematical algorithm. The results indicate that the front façade of the building is exposed to the sun for approximately 35–40% of the year's hours, collecting more than 0.5 MW-hr/m 2 annually. It was observed that building shadows effectively mitigate solar radiation, especially when the building width is between 0.25 and 3 times the spacing between buildings. The ground exhibited the lowest shading factor value and the highest sensitivity to latitude. These findings are intended to serve as a reference for urban planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban vitality, a multifaceted construct, is influenced by economic conditions and urban structural characteristics, and can significantly be impacted by public health emergencies. While extensive research has been conducted on urban vitality, prevailing studies often rely on singular data sources, limiting the scope for holistic assessment. Moreover, there is a conspicuous absence of longitudinal analyses on urban vitality's evolution and a dearth of quantitative causal evaluations of the effects of public health emergencies. Addressing these gaps, this study devises a comprehensive framework for evaluating urban vitality, assessing Wuhan's vitality from 2018 to 2020 across economic, social, spatial, and ecological dimensions. Utilizing a Difference-In-Difference (DID) model, the impact of public health emergencies is quantified. The findings indicate pronounced spatial variations in Wuhan's urban vitality, with a gradational decline from the city center; public health emergencies exhibit differential impacts across vitality dimensions, detrimentally affecting economic, social, and spatial aspects, while bolstering ecological vitality. Moreover, high population and high public budget revenue are identified as factors enhancing urban vitality and bolstering the city's resilience against sudden adversities. This study offers valuable insights for geographers and urban planners, contributing to the refinement of urban development strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is now a central issue on the European as well as the national political agenda, as it represents a fundamental ecosystem for human survival on the planet. Today, more than ever, its protection and proper use in various contexts (agricultural, natural, urban) require stringent policies that can be implemented immediately. The difficult reversibility of urban transformations is the main threat to the ecosystem integrity of soil. Starting from this statement, the main objective of the proposed work is to analyze how the main European countries (Italy, France, Germany, and Spain) are addressing the issue of the goal of zero net land take by 2050 by examining the current laws and strategies. The results highlight how the regulatory aspect plays a key role in managing the phenomenon and how the absence of a national framework law can generate strong distortions and different interpretations of the soil ecosystem. The analysis of the Nature Restoration Law, adopted by the European Commission in July 2023, enables us to assess whether the regulations and measures adopted by the major European countries align with the European Union's trends. Through a comparative perspective, the study aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of sustainable development practices and provide valuable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and academics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of urban trees are very well known, but they can fall and cause damage, putting people's lives at risk. There are few studies on the vulnerability of species to falling. In Lisbon (Portugal), fallen trees have been recorded since 1990 without, however, the identification of the species, knowledge of which is fundamental for improving their management. This study aimed to identify the tree species most vulnerable to falling in Lisbon through a proximity-based approach of known species, since the city has 47,713 inventoried trees, of which only 26,595 (55.7%) were identified. Four criteria were designed to presume the species: (i) the tree must be within 15 m from the street median axis; (ii) at least three individuals within 30 m from the occurrence must belong to the same species; (iii) the surrounding species must be representative in the street (>50%); and (iv) visual identification of avenue medians. Through this approach, considering 3767 fallen trees, it was possible to identify 736 cases, representing 19.5% of all occurrences throughout the studied time and representing 43 different species. Species like Morus nigra L., Tipuana tipu (Benth.) Kuntze, Liriodendron tulipifera L., Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., and Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. were most vulnerable. Additionally, in 57.7% of cases (425 fallen trees), the wind speed 12-h before the occurrence was greater than 7 m s−1. This research will provide important data for urban planners seeking to maximize the ecosystem services of urban trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban regeneration is a sound, sustainable urban development strategy globally. In China, promoting urban regeneration has become the national sustainable urban strategy. Under the resource constraint, it is necessary to understand what benefits different types of urban regeneration projects can contribute to urban development. Much research has contributed to evaluating the benefits of urban regeneration on the project scale. The systematic investigation of their effects on surrounding economic vitality, especially the comparison between different types of projects, is relatively downplayed. This paper aims to evaluate and compare the effects of urban regeneration projects on surrounding economic vitality by calculating the change in housing prices. Chongqing is selected as the case city. Based on the housing transaction data from 2015 to 2021, a staggered difference-in-difference method is employed to capture the results. The finding shows that the overall effects are significantly negative, especially within a 400–800 m radius. Higher investment or better project location relates to stronger negative effects. Moreover, the differences in effects among the three types of urban regeneration projects are clearly revealed from diverse perspectives. It provides a valuable reference for policymakers and urban planners to make urban regeneration planning better by considering comprehensive benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military service members (MSVMs) suffer from mental and physical health ailments upon returning home from enlistment. Due to the enormity of these different and complex ailments, many unique therapeutic methods, like therapeutic gardens, have been utilized on MSVM populations to improve their overall wellbeing. Therapeutic gardens are built following a set of guidelines meant to serve general populations instead of target populations. There has been little research on the preferences of landscape design elements in therapeutic gardens by MSVMs. To determine if landscape design elements can be optimized for therapeutic gardens that serve MSVMs, a series of questions with pictures pertaining to preferences were created in an online survey that was released to civilians on social media and MSVMs through U.S. military organizations (N = 366, 90.6% completed). The average respondents were male, Caucasian, and 25–35 years old. The majority of MSVM respondents were or had enlisted in the Army branch, and were currently active duty, or honorably discharged. MSVMs and civilians had overall similar preferences of utilities and garden elements. While commonalities were found among the two respondent groups, with a preference for clear walkways, lighting wild and natural views, there were differences. In contrast to civilians, MSVMs also overwhelmingly preferred fences and gates, and the creation of privacy and prospect views instead of refuge views. Results indicate that an increased line-of-sight in fenced-in areas may make MSVMs more comfortable in therapeutic garden settings. These differences may assist urban planners and landscapers in the building of green spaces tailored to target populations like MSVMs and to illustrate the importance of building inclusive spaces for populations of concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]