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The presence of snow, ice, and permafrost creates an intricate environment that uses the cold as a resource to develop unique forms of infrastructures. The articles featured in this special section highlight the crucial role of snow, ice, and permafrost in building, maintaining and sustaining human-environment relations in cold environments, particularly in the Arctic. Recent studies show that permafrost degradation poses a significant threat to built infrastructure (Hjort et al. [15]), resulting in substantial costs (Streletskiy et al. [33], [32]). The study of infrastructures has seen a growing interest in recent years across academic disciplines and global regions. [Extracted from the article]

Sand plays an important role in the Arctic urban development as construction material and stable ground. Significance of its studies increases in face of permafrost degradation and coastal erosion and for understanding human capacities to restore natural landscapes after anthropogenic disturbances. This paper examines changing human interactions with sand in the city of Nadym, northwest of Siberia. The study utilizes an interdisciplinary approach which includes remote sensing and GIS analysis, field observations, and interviews with local residents and stakeholders. Analysis of spatial and social characteristics of sand demonstrates different roles of sand as part of the landscape, a resource, and as a mediator in urban and infrastructure development. Understanding the diversity of sand qualities, its uses, and perceptions is relevant for studies of landscape disturbances, resilience, vulnerability, and adaptive capacities of Arctic cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]