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• Street images have become an important source of urban data. • SVI, CRI and SFI are important factors for the quality of street space in the main urban area of Fuzhou. • Improving the accuracy of street view spatial quality evaluation using ELO evaluation system. • Large scale and high-resolution evaluation of urban street spatial quality can be achieved through machine learning. • Analyzed and summarized strategies for improving the quality of street view space. With the advancement of global urbanization, urban streetscapes have become a critical part of urban public spaces. As one of the important ways to enhance the living environment, relevant government departments have accelerated the construction of urban streetscapes; however, certain issues, such as emphasis on surface and light protection, still persist. The visual effects of street landscapes hardly meet people's daily and spiritual needs. Therefore, assessing the quality of urban streetscapes has scientific and practical significance for improving urban planning and construction and creating a new intelligent and green city. In this study, the spatial distribution of vehicle interference index, spatial feasibility index, road area index, green visual index, sky visibility index, spatial enclosure index, color richness index, and visual entropy evaluation indices were drawn from the framework of combining deep learning and machine learning to quantify the spatial quality of urban streets by integrating a large number of streetscape images. The spatial quality of street landscape was evaluated according to the ELO scoring mechanism and random forest method, taking the main urban area of Fuzhou City as an example. The results showed that the overall street landscape quality of Fuzhou City was high, and the spatial distribution showed a pattern of concentrated high values in the center and dispersed high values in the periphery. Therefore, based on quantifying the spatial quality of urban streets, strategies, such as the pavement layout of pedestrian and vehicular paths, control of the continuity and permeability of visual landscape elements, and plant color matching, should be regulated. The method proposed in this study can provide novel insights for urban builders to improve the construction of cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban spaces and streets have been studied in a variety of ways in Montreal and Paris, but rarely have historians examined the specific relationship between the function of the street and social usage to reflect changes over time. The argument here is for an analytical approach to photographs combined with textual evidence to reveal the urban processes affecting the retail streets of rue Notre-Dame and rue Sainte-Catherine in Montreal, the through street of Boulevard de Sébastopol, and the pedestrian street of rue Mouffetard in Paris. Photographs reflect the success of modern urban transformations to rework the images of the city from various perspectives and for different purposes. They include the bourgeois female shopper on the late nineteenth-century retail and through streets, female retail and office workers interspersed among men on early twentieth-century rue Sainte-Catherine, and the agency of working-class women in the market transactions and peddler trades of rue Mouffetard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In two studies, we took a prospect–refuge based perspective to investigate how lighting and other physical attributes (i.e., prospect, concealment, and entrapment) affect people’s judgments of the safety of urban streets during nighttime. Both studies complement existing research, which predominantly use factorial designs, with more ecologically valid correlational research using a large and representative sample of urban streets as stimulus materials. Results from Study 1 corroborate existing research demonstrating that differences in prospect, concealment, and entrapment predicted, to a large extent, variation in the perceived safety of urban streets—thus demonstrating the utility of such environmental information for making safety judgments in real-life settings. Results from a mediation analysis conducted in Study 2 showed that the relation between appraisals of lighting quality and safety judgments was completely accounted for by co-occurring variation in appraisals of prospect and entrapment. Implications for theory and methodology are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modernized trams usually run on exclusive rail lanes along urban streets, but they share the right of way with general vehicles at intersections and often get interrupted by traffic signals. We developed a mixed integer model to resynchronize traffic signal timings to favor tram movements. The objective is to balance the operational needs between minimizing bidirectional tram travel times and reducing the likelihood of activating the green extensions. The model depicts both tram and vehicle progressions in one signal timing plan, making it possible to control the impact of signal timing resynchronization through traffic. Trams following the tram bands produced by the proposed model are prevented from being stopped by red phases at signalized intersections. The applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model were demonstrated in a real-world case study. Compared with the state-of-the-art practice approach, the developed model reduced tram travel time by 10% with lower negative impacts on traffic on side streets. The reduction in tram travel time was obtained without sacrificing the mobility of through traffic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic congestion, a common and complicated phenomenon in urban transportation systems, is attracting increasing attention from researchers in Geographical Information Science (GIS) and other fields. In this study, we illustrate a general mechanism that reveals the relationship between travel time and dynamic traffic conditions. We measure a vehicle’s travel time to its destination along any path, where the travel time is calculated based on the path length and on the real-time traffic volume and transport capacity of each road segment on the path. On the basis of this measurement, we present a simple dynamic routing strategy that allows each vehicle to dynamically choose the path to its destination while imposing the minimum travel time. The application of our routing algorithm to the Chengdu street network, Barabási-Albert scale-free network and Erdös-Rényi random network shows that the proposed strategy remarkably improves network throughput and balances traffic load distribution. Our findings suggest that mining the time mechanism of network transport is important to explore efficient time-optimization routing algorithms to enhance the transport capacity of urban street networks and other kinds of networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Having an active lifestyle is recognized to positively contribute to public health. Creating more walkable streets and neighborhoods is an important way to promote an active lifestyle for urban residents. It is therefore important to understand how the urban built environment can influence human walking activities. In this study, we investigated the interaction of human walking activities and physical characteristics of streetscapes in Boston. A large number of anonymous pedestrian trajectories collected from a smartphone application were used to estimate human walking activities. Publicly accessible Google Street View images were used to estimate the amount of street greenery and the enclosure of street canyons, both of which were used to indicate the physical characteristics of streetscapes. The Walk Score and population were also added in the statistical analyses to control the influence of nearby urban facilities and population on human walking activities. Statistical analysis results show that both the street greenery and the enclosure of the street canyons are significantly associated with human walking activities. The associations between the streetscape variables and human walking activities vary in different land use types. The results of this study have implications for designing walkable and healthy cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities have started adapting to uncertain climate drivers such as temperature and sea level rise, and some cities are also transitioning towards concepts such as Water Sensitivity. In adaptation planning, flexibility is considered as an important characteristic to respond to changing circumstances. This paper develops a novel approach to identify where flexibility can best be embedded in urban flood risk management systems. The identification of a flexible water sensitive adaptation response is based on change propagation; i.e. the response's ability to minimise negative or maximise positive impacts in urban systems . The Flexible adaptation planning process (WSCapp), comprising change propagation – especially how positive and negative impacts propagate in an urban environment, can be used by those concerned with urban planning and urban adaptation to identify “ where ” the flexible adaptation responses can be implemented. WSCapp can be used to decide the type of adaptation response such as changes to streetscape, place making or architectural forms that can best contribute towards the objectives of a water sensitive city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how contemporary on-going and lively debate on Critical Heritage Studies merges with previous discourses on World Heritage Cultural Landscapes and rural societies. The scholarly approach to authenticity and integrity, and the critical point of static and dynamic approaches to these terms allow the author to challenge previous World Heritage (WH) discourses with a view to obtaining innovative insight into abandoned vernacular landscapes. Two main arguments are thus developed in this study. The first of these is an overview of the dynamics of abandoned cultural landscapes on an international scale. The second is an inside view aiming to provide an accurate interpretation of how these landscapes should be scrutinised and understood. To do this, autotopias and heterotopias broach the fundamental issue of how the Outstanding Universal Value of attributes in abandoned cultural landscapes needs to be understood, enhanced, experienced, and managed in an innovative WH approach. In conclusion, complex proposals for these heritage landscapes should rely on understanding the dynamics of the material and the social construct of the habitats they contain in order to assess them effectively from the standpoint of a World Heritage Cultural Process Assemblage rather than that of Outstanding Material Stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the contours of a new way in which Rome was explored, imagined, and represented in the eighteenth century in texts and images by French travelers. These narratives, found in epistolary writings and the pictorial arts, reflected and suggested that viewers, readers, or strollers could enter into landscapes, wander through streetscapes, and commune with the past in both the space of the city and the space of representation. These narratives, found in epistolary writings and the pictorial arts, reflected and suggested that viewers, readers, or strollers could enter into landscapes, wander through streetscapes, and commune with the past in both the space of the city and the space of representation. French travelers brought with them a new modern form of walking linked to the creation of Parisian public boulevards, while contemporary philosophy associated the production of knowledge directly to the sensorial apparatus of the body. Writers would describe contemporary encounters with imagined figures from ancient history, while artists would visually reconfigure such encounters through the genre of the Roman capriccio. This pictorial mode was turned toward an exploration of the various ways in which movement, real or imagined, gave rise to popular forms of experiencing the Eternal City directly as well as to a verbal and visual language to express it to others. What this teaches us is that, for the enlightenment visitor, looking was not a passive act of consumption, but an active engagement with complex, confusing, and evocative material remains of the ancient city within the frame of the modern one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melbourne's legacy tram network is being modernised including redesign of over 1700 tram stops to provide level access boarding to comply with Australia's Disability Discrimination Act. This presents a significant opportunity to reimagine how tram corridor streetscapes can function as places that build upon neighbourhood identity and sustain local economic activity. However, the literature on the connection between transport infrastructure and place quality is small and relatively new. This is particularly true for street-running light rail (also referred to as ‘tram’ or ‘streetcar’) infrastructure. Based on the ‘movement and place’ model, this research presents a new framework to define place types served by Melbourne trams, as well as the different tram link types relating to tram infrastructure used to get people to/from those destinations. It implements the framework to the network and explores variation in movement and place framework links including categorisation of links into four tram streetscape groups. Implications of the framework for policy and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building facades contribute to attractive urban streetscapes. In between, physical elements and visual qualities of building façades play the most important role. This study seeks to identify the impact of building facades on creating attractive streetscapes in the city of Kuala Lumpur. In achieving this, a self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted to gather peoples' evaluation of building facades in Kuala Lumpur where combination of modern and traditional architecture creates worth-study urban landscapes. The researcher randomly surveyed 330 respondents, 18 to 50 years old, from the passers-by who just visit the area and those who reside and work there, using the time interval sampling method. The results demonstrate that consistency of colors and details of building facades, simplicity, unity, conformity of store lots in a single building block, large windows, transparency of the function of buildings, and display items of store-fronts determine visual richness of streetscapes in the study areas. The findings contribute to visual identity of cities through creating attractive streetscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focus on the problem of the street environment of block unit, based on making clear the acquisition mode and characteristics of 3D streetscape data, the paper designs the assessment model of regional block unit based on 3D streetscape data. The 3D streetscape data with the aid of oblique photogrammetry surveying and mobile equipment, will greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of urban regional assessment, and expand the assessment scope. Based on the latest urban regional assessment model, with the street environment assessment model of the current situation, this paper analyzes the street form and street environment assessment of current situation in the typical area of Beijing. Through the street environment assessment of block unit, we found that in the megacity street environment assessment model of block unit based on 3D streetscape data has greatly help to improve the assessment efficiency and accuracy. At the same time, motor vehicle lane, green shade deficiency, bad railings and street lost situation is still very serious in Beijing, the street environment improvement of the block unit is still a heavy task. The research results will provide data support for urban fine management and urban design, and provide a solid foundation for the improvement of city image. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

View factors for sky, trees, and buildings are three important parameters of the urban outdoor environment that describe the geometrical relationship between different surfaces from the perspective of radiative energy transfer. This study develops an approach for accurately estimating sky view factor (SVF), tree view factor (TVF), and building view factor (BVF) of street canyons in the high-density urban environment of Hong Kong using publicly available Google Street View (GSV) images and a deep-learning algorithm for extraction of street features (sky, trees, and buildings). As a result, SVF, TVF, and BVF maps of street canyons are generated. Verification using reference data of hemispheric photography from field surveys in compact high-rise and low-rise areas shows that the GSV-based VF estimates have a satisfying agreement with the reference data (all with R 2  > 0.95), suggesting the effectiveness and high accuracy of the developed method. This is the first reported use of hemispheric photography for direct verification in a GSV-based streetscape study. Furthermore, a comparison between GSV-based and 3D-GIS-based SVFs shows that the two SVF estimates are significantly correlated (R 2  = 0.40, p < 0.01) and show better agreement in high-density areas. However, the latter overestimates SVF by 0.11 on average, and the differences between them are significantly correlated with street trees (R 2  = 0.53): the more street trees, the larger the difference. This suggests that a lack of street trees in a 3D-GIS model of street environments is the dominant factor contributing to the large discrepancies between the two datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate-based design is very significant in the Brisbane planning context. Brisbane City Council's Vision 2031 aspires to capitalize on the city's enviable subtropical climate and be a city renowned for livability and sustainability. This paper focuses on the impact of multi-story residential buildings on both the quality of public spaces around them, and the livability of private dwellings in the evolving subtropical city. The study analyzed 15 recently-approved apartment buildings as well as a prominent older apartment building, Torbreck. The city's Multiple Dwelling Code was reviewed against frameworks for urban design quality and climate-responsive architecture and was found to provide a sound set of metrics. While the historic building was exemplary, the findings generally describe formulaic outcomes for high-rise apartments that seem to ignore the code's objectives. Some cases demonstrate high-quality interface with the street, yet perform less well as places for subtropical living; others demonstrate reasonable climate-responsive credentials, yet contribute little to the public realm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents research to develop a quality-of service rating system for assessing the pedestrian-oriented characteristics and functions of streets that can be used easily and quickly by practitioners. Most existing methods of assessing pedestrian quality fail to take into account micro-scale landscape and urban design elements that significantly enhance the pedestrian experience, and those few that do are difficult and time-consuming to use. The proposed rating system is (a) context-sensitive, (b) capacity-sensitive, (c) takes into account micro-scale design factors, (d) is feasible to use in a professional planning practice setting, and (e) has built-in flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The urban 3D greenery volume is below the minimum limit set by the 2D indicators in the greenery regulations. • The GVI of 30% that can be used as a preliminary standard reference. • The central greenery belt and the Tree-Shrub structure are critical to improve the GVI. • Roads with 4-bar pattern have the greatest potential for GVI enhancement. • To improve the GVI, the shrubs, rather than the complete vegetation structures, should be applied first to roads. Urban streetscapes play a critical role in ecological benefits and resident health. The green view index (GVI) can improve the limitations of the existing road greenery index, which is too planarized. This study used road patterns and vegetation structures to explore the intrinsic connection and application possibilities between the GVI and the urban road greenery indicators. The study acquired and then selected 27,038 valid street images to calculate the GVI through semantic segmentation, and used ArcGIS10.6 to calculate the greenery land ratio (GLR) and greenery coverage ratio (GCR) for 593 roads. After strictly controlling of the variables, typical roads were selected for simulation scenario comparison experiments. The results indicates that the GVI will be lower than the greenery volume of two-dimensional indicators, and a threshold within 30% can be set as a preliminary reference of the GVI standard for urban streetscapes. The GVI is irreplaceable and has a more flexible range, which provides a more comprehensive, accurate and rigorous evaluation of the greenery volume. The central greenery belt and the shrub layer are essential to enhance GVI. From all researched viewpoints, the Tree-Shrub and Tree-Shrub-Herb structures have similar GVI values. The roads with the 4-bar pattern have the greatest potential for GVI improvement. The impact of the divided greenery belts to affect the GVI may lower than the central greenery belt. In addition, the arbors are critical in enhancing the GVI, but for roads in the early stage of construction or when aiming to improve the GVI level, the application of shrubs should be considered first rather than the perfection of the vegetation structure. This study verifies the necessity of utilizing the GVI to improve the urban greenery index system and provides a quantitative reference for the practical application of the GVI, constructive comments on the greenery volume construction of urban streetscapes, and future research directions for the GVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streetscape examinations in the digital context offer a wealth of geospatial data and application support for urban informatization, facilitating a more scientific and efficient comprehension of the city image. Currently, digital investigations on streetscapes predominantly emphasize object-based parsing rather than perception-based parsing. Furthermore, there is a notable absence of a comprehensive analytical framework specifically designed to urban visual environments. Consequently, the accurate recognition and effective management of the city image have been limited. Therefore, this study parses streetscapes from the perspective of their visual perception, and accordingly develops a digital urban streetscape indexing to analyze urban visual environments. Specifically, the streetscape is decoded into multi-characteristic visual complexity including texture, shape, and color, which derive a three-dimensional dataset. The dataset is then fed into a machine learning technique, a self-organizing map (SOM), for synthetic training, resulting in an indexing that sheds light on the interconnections between the visual characteristics, the streetscape, and its geo-distribution, thereby enabling a multifaceted analysis of the urban visual environment. Three relevant applications of the proposed indexing are subsequently demonstrated. This study indicates that the streetscape can be parsed by multi-characteristic visual complexity of texture, shape, and color; based on this, the developed indexing can function as a digital system that facilitates streetscape management and exploration. The theoretical and technical contributions of this study can support the sustainable development of city image within the digital context. • Streetscapes can be parsed by visual characteristics of texture, shape, and color. • Visual complexity is efficient to measure the streetscape's visual perception. • Self-organizing map synthetically analyzes urban streetscapes by training the dataset. • Urban streetscape indexing interconnects the visual characteristic, the streetscape, and its geo-distribution. • This study facilitates data management of the urban visual environment in the digital context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leveraging the benefits offered by nature-based solutions (NBS) will be vital in addressing present and future environmental and social challenges as urban densification continues to exert pressure on cities. The greening of urban streets, in particular, provides many benefits in terms of livability, health, and biodiversity. While many studies have explored the suitability of NBS in a particular context considering the benefits they provide in relation to local environmental challenges (e.g. filtering the air in areas with high pollution, absorbing water in areas prone to flooding), this study focuses on residents' perspectives on and their demand for NBS. This is particularly relevant given the importance of public acceptance of NBS measures for their success. The research presented in this paper is based on a mixed-methods study, combining an online survey and eight focus group interviews, which aimed to better understand which types of NBS people prefer, how much and what types of street space they are willing to exchange for street greening, and the opportunities and concerns they have regarding varying degrees of street greening. Findings suggest that respondents are overwhelmingly in favor of greening their street with NBS, yet preferred NBS and opinions on where to implement them vary among participants. Further, street greening was thought to come up against other understandings of how streets should be used and for what purpose. These considerations should be taken up by planners to improve the uptake of NBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To test inter-rater reliability of the online Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS) tool between raters with varying familiarities of Phoenix, Arizona. Methods The online MAPS tool, based on the MAPS in-field audit tool and scoring system, was used for audits. Sixty route pairs, 141 segment pairs, and 92 crossing pairs in Phoenix were included. Each route, segment or crossing was audited by two independent raters: one rater in Phoenix and the other in San Diego, California, respectively. Item, subscale scores, and total scores reliability analyses were computed using Kappa or intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results The route overall score had substantial reliability (ICC: 0.832). Of the route subscale and overall scores, sixteen out of twenty had moderate to substantial reliability (ICC: 0.616–0.906), and the four subscales had fair reliability (ICC: 0.409–0.563). Sixteen out of twenty scores in segment and crossing sections demonstrated fair to substantial reliability (ICC: 0.448–0.897), and the remaining four had slight reliability (ICC: 0.348–0.364). Conclusions Most of the online MAPS items, subscales, and overall scores demonstrated fair to substantial reliability between raters with varied familiarities of the Phoenix area. Results support use of online MAPS to measure microscale elements of the built environment by raters unfamiliar with a region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appearance of the built environment plays an important role in people's physical, financial and psychological wellbeing. In light of this, it is important to ensure that transformation of urban streets and public spaces through individual projects can satisfy the aesthetic needs of those who regularly use them. Within projects, outcomes are regularly controlled by a steering group working on behalf of the project sponsor and other internal stakeholders. To ensure that the needs of those outside the project group are also met, some local authorities in New Zealand review project design at the planning approval stage. This process invites experts, who in some cases informed by design guides, to evaluate the architectural design. This paper addresses the question of whether the ways places are changing align with public expectations. A mixed methods approach was used to elicit people's preferences for building and streetscape characteristics, where stimuli were first presented as photographic representations and secondly as real streetscapes in two New Zealand cities. The findings identify the streetscape design characteristics that were best liked by people as well as those that were disliked. Of particular interest was a comparison between the preferences expressed by lay members of the public with those of design and planning professionals. The paper concludes with a brief discussion about the obstacles that may be limiting the achievement of well-liked streetscapes in the New Zealand context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam’s recent economic and social transformations are manifested in the streets of its capital city through millions of motorbikes and a rapidly growing presence of cars. Based on ‘motorbike ethnography’ in the streetscapes of Hanoi, the paper considers the changing practices and meanings of motorised mobility in Vietnam’s capitalist transition. It focuses on two main aspects: the everyday geography of the ‘system of moto-mobility’, and the ‘social life’ of cars and motorbikes. The paper finds that although motorbikes still dominate in Hanoi, the car has overtaken the throne as the main aspirational and positional good, and currently automobility is becoming progressively normalised. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: An online version of the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (Abbreviated) tool was adapted to virtually audit built environment features supportive of physical activity. The current study assessed inter-rater reliability of MAPS Online between in-person raters and online raters unfamiliar with the regions. Methods: In-person and online audits were conducted for a total of 120 quarter-mile routes (60 per site) in Phoenix, AZ and San Diego, CA. Routes in each city included 40 residential origins stratified by walkability and SES, and 20 commercial centers. In-person audits were conducted by raters residing in their region. Online audits were conducted by raters in the alternate location using Google Maps (Aerial and Street View) images. The MAPS Abbreviated Online tool consisted of four sections: overall route, street segments, crossings and cul-de-sacs. Items within each section were grouped into subscales, and inter-rater reliability (ICCs) was assessed for subscales at multiple levels of aggregation. Results: Online and in-person audits showed excellent agreement for overall positive microscale (ICC = 0.86, 95% CI [0.80, 0.90]) and grand scores (ICC = 0.93, 95% CI [0.89, 0.95]). Substantial to near-perfect agreement was found for 21 of 30 (70%) subscales, valence, and subsection scores, with ICCs ranging from 0.62, 95% CI [0.50, 0.72] to 0.95, 95% CI [0.93, 0.97]. Lowest agreement was found for the aesthetics and social characteristics scores, with ICCs ranging from 0.07, 95% CI [-0.12, 0.24] to 0.27, 95% CI [0.10, 0.43]. Conclusions: Results support use of the MAPS Abbreviated Online tool to reliably assess microscale neighborhood features that support physical activity and may be used by raters residing in different geographic regions and unfamiliar with the audit areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much of the physical activity and built environment literature has focused on composite walkability indices based on the D variables– design , density , diversity , destination accessibility , and distance to transit . This literature, however, has largely ignored the microscale streetscape features that affect the pedestrian experience. Five street level urban design qualities were recently identified and defined for quantitative measures although these measures are mostly through subjective field observation. View related features such as long sight line and proportion of sky have not yet been objectively measured due to the limitation of data and method. This study uses both 2D and 3D GIS to objectively measure street level urban design qualities in Buffalo, New York and tests their correlation with observed pedestrian counts and Walk Scores. Our results showed that 3D GIS helped to generate objective measures on view related features. These objective measures can help us better understand the influence of street level urban design features on walkability for designing and planning healthy cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban heat island (UHI) modifies the thermal behavior of cities. UHI effects increase the demand for electricity and decreases the livability of outdoor and indoor spaces. This paper seeks to identify forms of urban grids (UGs) that contribute to the reduction of the UHI in Mendoza-Argentina. The microclimates of 10 urban canyons (UCs) were monitored, analyzed and compared during the summertime. This investigation considers the thermal behaviors of open-forested and compact-non forested streetscapes using 4 UG forms. The data were statistically analyzed. The results suggest that the minimum air temperature is related to the combined effects of the neighborhood grid and the UC configuration. However, the maximum and average air temperatures are related to the UC configuration. The multi-azimuthal UG remains cooler. Additionally, the compact-non forested UC was found to be the hottest, which differs from what is known concerning the thermal behavior of UC configurations in the arid zone. When this streetscape is compared to the open-forested UCs, air temperatures differ up to 10.2 °C during the afternoon, 1.7 °C at night, and buildings consume up to 65% more electricity. In summary, creating thermally efficient cities in arid zones requires using the best combination of UG forms and UC design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconfiguration of urban transportation system has emerged at the forefront of population-wide interventions to tackle physical inactivity. However, the effectiveness of these interventions remains understudied, especially in developing countries. Using self-reported physical activity data from pre- and post-intervention periods, this study examines the impact of bus rapid transit (BRT) and Complete Street implementation on walking and cycling levels of catchment area residents in Mexico City. Propensity score matching is applied to control for sociodemographics when evaluating intervention effects on walking for transport, walking for recreation, and cycling for transport. On average, individuals living in post-intervention conditions tend to achieve 29 min more of walking for transport per week. However, the intervention effect on cycling for transport is insignificant. Using clustering techniques, intervention effects are evaluated across different sociodemographic groups. Women with low education experience the greatest increases in walking for transport. Sociodemographic clusters characterized by higher education experience improvements in recreational walking. Overall, BRT implementation and streetscape improvements enhance physical activity, specifically walking; and the impact of these interventions vary across different sociodemographic subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to make forecasts depends on atmospheric predictability and the growth of errors. It has recently been shown that the predictability of urban boundary layers differs in important respects from that of the free atmosphere on the mesoscale and larger; in particular, nonlinearity may play a less prominent role in the error evolution. This paper investigates the applicability of linear theory to the error evolution in turbulent street-canyon flow. Using large-eddy simulation, streamwise aspect ratios between 0.15 and 1.50, and identical-twin experiments, it is shown that the growth rate of the error kinetic energy can be estimated from Eulerian averages and that linear theory provides insight into the spatial structure of the error field after saturation. The results should be applicable to cities with deep and closely spaced canyons. Implications for data assimilation and modeling are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions between tree roots and sidewalks can result in damage to sidewalks and when sidewalk damage is repaired adjacent tree roots are often severed. The objective of this study was to quantify the growth response of urban trees in restricted planting spaces pre- and post-sidewalk construction. The research included four trees species commonly planted along streets in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. Species included were: Acer platanoides, Celtis occidentalis, Gleditsia triacanthos, and Tilia spp. Two street tree populations were sampled: trees adjacent to replaced sidewalk panels (<1.75 m) and trees on streets with sidewalk construction that were greater than 3 m from replaced sidewalk sections. In total, increment core samples from 292 trees were analyzed. Annual rings from each tree were measured and converted to basal area increment (BAI) for analysis. Comparisons of BAI were conducted between the two sample populations to assess differences in tree growth patterns. Pre- and post-sidewalk construction BAI was also evaluated to determine the influence of construction on growth trajectory. Growth response was quantified using resistance, resilience, and recovery indices. Species were found to differ in their response to construction disturbance. Planting space width was also found to influence post-construction growth. Tilia spp. had the highest resilience and fastest overall growth recovery post-sidewalk construction and A. platanoides exhibited the lowest resistance, resilience, and recovery post-sidewalk construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To place architecture within a site is to place an open space around it, as well as to form a streetscape. This study examines the characteristics of the contemporary Japanese open space and the streetscapes through a case study of an architectural design. The author has involved in designs of a construction and renovations of three adjacent houses. The construction of the oldest house dates back to 1881. Since then, structure of the city and the lifestyle of families have significantly changed. This study discusses on the transformation of them as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transit-oriented development (TOD) provides highly efficient access to transit facilities and, when implemented in concert with streetscape changes, improves neighborhood walkability. In some regions, TOD has generated controversy, seen as impinging on the local populations' preferences for single-family housing, as well as the desire of developers to build that category of housing. In New Jersey, however, there has been increased policy support for TOD. The question addressed here is how, if at all, TOD and TOD-proximate residents' perceptions of the benefits and shortcomings of TOD are perceived and addressed by professionals involved with TOD planning and development. A qualitative research approach was used, with focus groups with residents and structured interviews with professionals. A relatively well-fitting correspondence was found: There was broad agreement by residents and professionals on the value of transit and TOD for increased accessibility and walkability. Problems were identified with retail development and traffic problems; the latter expressed as a congestion problem by professionals but as a pedestrian safety problem by residents. This information provides useful insight for planners and developers seeking to deliver TOD designs that match the preferences of residents and potential residents, and for new avenues of research on how best to achieve this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cities are seeking to optimise the ecosystem service benefits of urban trees by incorporating goals for increasing tree canopy cover into strategies that promote liveability and urban sustainability. We adapt revealed preference valuation techniques as a combined policy evaluation and business case tool with broader application to urban forest planning and investment. We use spatial hedonic price modelling of 2,299 house sales across 80 sample sites in 52 residential Brisbane suburbs, to reveal home-buyers willingness to pay 3.73% more for houses in streets with target levels of footpath tree cover (50% tree canopy coverage of the footpath zone by 2031) nearby (within 100m). An estimate of the contribution of 2010 levels of footpath tree cover (35%) to the prices of houses sold in 2010 ($US15.03 – 15.91 million) far exceeded annual costs to those home owners in local property taxes. Associated annual rates revenues ($US 0.51 – 0.53 million) to local government and stamp duty revenues ($US 0.53 – 0.60 million) to state government help justify ongoing collaborative investment to achieve target levels of footpath tree cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the late 2000s, food trucks became common in US cities and municipalities debated controversial food truck regulations. When they justify the regulations, municipalities raise safety, health and general welfare concerns, including potential pedestrian congestion. This paper uses the insights from pedestrian behaviour research to determine whether food trucks interfered with pedestrian flow. Based on direct observation of food truck customers and customer-pedestrian interactions in and near the Chicago Loop, the findings show that food trucks served customers most often without interrupting pedestrian flow. In part, this was due to the street furniture zone, including trash cans, bike racks and utility poles that created waiting space along the kerb. During periods of crowding, pedestrians adeptly manoeuvred through lines of food trucks. Food truck customers were also responsive to pedestrian flow and the lines moved in ways that reduced impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street trees provide a wide range of benefits for cities. Street tree cover (STC) is explained by urban form, social stratification and lifestyle theories that operate at multiple scales. In this paper we examine how the urban form (street characteristics), social stratification and lifestyle (socio-demographics) account for variations of STC in Montréal. Tree cover was identified from Quickbird images and then overlaid on street segments to compute the STC. Each street segment was nested in a census tract. We used 2-level models with mixed effects and interactions (between street attributes and socio-demographic variables) while introducing a spatial term. Political, socio-economic or other explanatory factors operating at the tract level can potentially explain 17.6% of the variation of STC. Overall, the street characteristics explained more variation in STC than the socio-demographic context. Lifestyle is less important than social stratification. Street length is positively associated with STC; street width and the percentage of duplexes and triplexes are negatively associated with STC, while construction age has a u-shaped effect on STC. Interactions show that STC is higher in expensive and highly-educated areas that have residential streets or streets with large setback (sidewalk). Areas predominantly comprised of low-income households could have higher or lower STC depending on the number of buildings and the percentage of duplexes and triplexes. Streetscape and socio-demographic contexts intertwine to create complex patterns of STC. Greening programs should be designed carefully according to local contexts since certain types of greening can lead to gentrification and displacement of low-income households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impacts of urbanization on biodiversity are well known, and the use of native vegetation in private gardens and streetscapes have been shown to improve the species richness and abundance of native wildlife, thereby improving the biodiversity of the local area. This study poses the question of whether the general public is interested in planting native species, to determine whether a cultural shift in garden planting style is feasible. A total of 3707 questionnaires relating to nature in the backyard were delivered to residents in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia with 417 responses received (11.2% response rate). The results indicate that the public perception of the aesthetic appeal of native gardens is fairly positive and that Melbournians have considerable interest in planting native species in residential gardens and that a large number would like wildlife in their yards. The paper concludes that there is scope to encourage the use of native plants in residential landscaping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Walkability relates to aspects of a physical environment that have the potential to influence walking in that environment. In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency developed the National Walkability Index (NWI), an easily accessible, U.S. Census block-group-level indicator of walkability. Although the NWI could be the metric of choice for researchers and urban planners, there is a lack of empirical evidence for its validity. The current study examined the validity of the NWI and Walk Score for predicting physical activity (PA) occurring along urban streetscapes. A wearable video device (Gogloo E7 SMART eyewear) was used to capture videos of streetscapes in 24 U.S. Census block groups in three different sized cities. The block groups varied in walkability, income level, and minority composition. The videos, collected over 10 months during 2019 at different times on weekdays and weekends, were reviewed by experts to obtain counts of walkers/h and individuals performing leisure PA/h (dependent variables). The independent variables were the NWI, its components - transit stop proximity, intersection density, employment/household occupancy mix, and employment mix, and Walk Score. Block group was the level of analysis. Linear regression indicated Walk Score, employment/household occupancy mix, and employment mix were associated with walkers/h (p <.001) while only employment/household occupancy mix, and employment mix were associated with leisure PA/h (p <.001). The NWI did not account for a significant portion of the variance in PA outcomes. A place-based examination of PA and walkability indexes favors the use of Walk Score and a modified version of the NWI. • Counts of people observed being physically active were associated with walkability. • Associations between counts and walkability varied by walkability index used. • The National Walkability Index could be improved by making it more focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]