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To control the COVID-19 epidemic, the Japanese government and the local governments have repeatedly implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) throughout 2020–2022. Using Bayesian state-space mediation models, we examined the effect of repeated NPIs on infection spread mitigation, mediated by human mobility changes in each prefecture during three epidemic phases: from April 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021; from March 1, 2021 to December 16, 2021; and from December 17, 2021 to December 31, 2022. In the first phase, controlling downtown populations at nighttime was effective in mitigating the infection spread in almost all prefectures. In the second and third phases, the effect was not clear, especially in metropolitan prefectures. Controlling visitors from the central prefectures of metropolitan areas was effective in mitigating infection spread in the surrounding prefectures during all phases. These results suggest that the local spread of infection can be mitigated by focusing on nighttime human mobility control in downtown areas before the epidemic spreads widely and transmission routes become more diverse, and that the geospatial spread of infection can be prevented by controlling the flows of people from large cities to other areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Street trading is a highly gendered form of economic activity practiced by the urban poor in most global south cities. Drawing from focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, this paper examines the everyday struggles facing female street traders with children as they negotiate access to contested urban spaces to make a living in Harare's Central Business District (CBD). The paper argues that public spaces in Harare's CBD act as both 'livelihood spaces' and places of intense vulnerability for women who have caregiving roles. Female street traders struggle to balance between selling their goods as well as watching for municipal surveillance. These challenges are dire for women with children. The women often engage in precarious strategies to evade municipal enforcement including using their children as 'shields' for protection from a highly repressive state machinery that is less sympathetic to the plight of the urban poor. Despite facing these constraints, women enact creative practices to lay claims to urban space. This paper contributes to the ongoing scholarly debates on gender and the informal economy in global south cities. We suggest that urban planning initiatives should be attentive to gendered experiences and needs to create more inclusive and equitable urban environments, where female street traders can engage in their livelihoods without facing harassment or violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The downtown area of the city of Coimbra, Portugal, is at low altitude and has historically suffered floods that have caused serious economic losses. The present research proposes a mobile augmented reality (MAR) application aimed at visualising the effect of possible scenarios of flooding in an area of higher risk in the city. A realistic 3D model of the city was created, using data extracted with BLosm and processed through Blender, followed by its integration into Unity with Vuforia for AR visualisation. The methodology encompasses the extraction and simplification of 3D models, mapping real-world coordinates in Unity, analysing several datasets, obtaining a model through regression and implementing a workflow to manage interactions between various Unity objects. The MAR application enables users to visualise potential flood impacts on buildings, utilising colour-coded indicators to represent different levels of water contact. The system's efficacy was evaluated by simulating various use-case scenarios, demonstrating the application's capability to provide real-time, interactive flood risk assessments. The results underline the potential of integrating AR and machine learning for enhancing urban flood management and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the process behind the post-war pedestrianization of the urban core of Antwerp, Belgium and specifically the role of the urban design imaginary of pedestrianized public spaces in this process. It investigates how pedestrianization as an urban design concept and image first arrived in Antwerp, how it evolved over time, and how it contributed to the implementation of pedestrian projects across the urban core. The research underscores the persistence of the idea of pedestrianization beyond individual actors, across time, and through political processes. The eventual pedestrianization of Antwerp’s urban core and its main shopping street the Meir represents the realization, maturation and evolution of the urban design idea that had persisted and circulated for decades. This research stands as an example of how urban design concepts are shared, adapted, and localized across national, ideological, and professional divides. The process of pedestrianization in Antwerp provides generalizable case study of how urban design concepts may adapt and be realized in pluralistic stakeholder settings over time. Though the conceptual roots of pedestrianization are grounded within modernism, its implementation process evolved into something much more tactical and flexible than the original modernist comprehensive plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the influence of flow rate increment on the solute transport parameter of immobile zones in a karst system, a dye tracer test was conducted in the Downtown Salado Spring Complex (DSSC) comprising three springs: Big Boiling, Anderson, and Doc Benedict springs. The Multiflow two-region nonequilibrium model (2RNE) was used to simulate the breakthrough curve (BTC) of the springs, and changes in the solute transport parameters in response to flow rate increment were observed. The simulation result showed that the 2RNE model was capable of reproducing the BTC of all the DSSC springs, with an R-squared value greater than 0.9 in all flow rate increment scenarios. The research demonstrates that a positive correlation will exist between the flow rate and solute transport parameter of the immobile zones if the tracer transport to the spring is truly influenced by immobile zones. In contrast, a negative correlation will exist between the flow rate and mass transfer coefficient if the immobile zone has less influence. Overall, the research provides insights into contaminant movement in karst by documenting how tracers are retained in the immobile fluid zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

De‐centralization has depleted the vitality of mid‐size city downtowns for years. Growing the downtown residential population will help achieve smart growth and strategic infill objectives. Demand for a downtown residential lifestyle can animate many facets of revitalization (e.g., economic, social, cultural, public space). Resident views on factors that they believe would grow the demand for living downtown is the focus of this article. A survey and focus groups were used to learn how to enhance Downtown Saskatoon as a place to live. Findings indicate a convenient lifestyle close to work, school, retail, services, and nightlife, and preferably housing within a couple of blocks of the river valley, make Downtown Saskatoon desirable. Concerns with safety, lack of food stores, and absence of a sense of shared purpose among residents, businesses, and institutions downtown are barriers. The residential context is potentially quite appealing downtown, and demand can be cultivated if downtown's efforts at revitalization are choreographed by a collaborative multi‐sectoral network of actors with strong leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durban Port in South Africa is the largest container port and the busiest shipping terminal in sub-Saharan Africa. Approximately 60% of the country's containerised cargo and 40% of break-bulk cargo transit through Durban. The port is near the central business district, which has a positive spin-off in terms of tourism, recreation, and accessibility to transport and other business activities. The juxtaposition of industry, the port, and the community has resulted in sustained public health implications, a relic of the apartheid era. Like most ports in Africa, Durban Port lacks proper quantification of emissions from marine mobile sources. This study is aimed at estimating atmospheric emissions from ocean-going vessels (OGVs) in and around Durban Port for a period of one year from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 using a mid-tier (activity-based) approach to supplement existing understandings of emissions from local industries. Emission estimates were then inputted to the AERMOD atmospheric dispersion model to allow for a comparison between ambient concentrations and national ambient air quality standards to assess potential health impacts. The study is an advancement in understanding the impact of mobile sources, particularly shipping, on air quality and health, and offers an example for other African ports to follow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem, research strategy, and findings: As active transport planning gains momentum worldwide, our study underscores the importance of connecting people and places by focusing on the convenience dimension of walkability. Specifically, we used the pedestrian detour ratio (PDR) to measure the degree of circuity of a walking route. We considered residential buildings as origins and 10 different types of public facilities as destinations within the walkable range of 1 km. This led to a territory-wide analysis covering 3.85 million origin–destination pairs in Hong Kong. Overall, walking convenience was the best in the central business district (CBD), but variations existed by district and by facility. Through an assessment matrix, 35.8% of home–destination pairs required attention. When examined at the street block and village cluster levels, walking inconvenience was associated with vehicle-oriented street blocks (with higher vehicular traffic and more private parking spaces), high-income areas, and difficult terrain. Pedestrian crossings, major roads, and bus stops enhanced route directness. This research is a first step in helping quantify the PDR distribution across different cities and their various functional areas. Takeaway for practice: In areas where walking is inconvenient, treatments to calm vehicular traffic and facilitate pedestrian crossings should be stipulated. In the longer term, we recommend integrating the PDR in the design and planning of streets, especially around essential facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambient PM2.5 samples were collected in Laiwu, a small industrial city in China known for steel production, to measure and evaluate the mass concentrations of PM2.5 and the inorganic water-soluble ions (IWS ions). The highest PM2.5 value recorded was 251.28 μg/m3, which occurred during winter and was lower than other major Chinese cities. The spatial distribution showed that the center of the city, which is connected to the downtown area, was heavily polluted (170 μg/m3 higher) compared to the suburbs. With the exception of winter, the weight of PM2.5 was dominated by IWS ions, with three secondary ions (NO3-, SO42-, and NH4+) accounting for more than 70% of the total ions in mass. This percentage is higher than that of big cities. An increase in sulfur oxidation ratios (SOR), nitrogen oxidation rate (NOR), and anion equivalent/cation equivalent (AE/CE) indicated that the atmosphere in Laiwu was more oxidized than other big cities. The ion analysis revealed that PM2.5 was highly correlated with NO3-, SO42-, and NH4+. The principal component analysis indicated that district heating during winter and industrial output and secondary transformation during summer were the major sources of the water-soluble ions. The backward trajectory study identified the north of Shandong Province as the likely source-area that affected air quality in Laiwu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most cities in the world suffer from excessive population and unplanned urban growth. The objective of the present study was to investigate the spatiotemporal changes of built-up areas and their growth in the proposed Greater Silchar City (GSC) (Assam, India). The obtained LANDSAT satellite data from 1991 to 2021 for the GSC have divided into non-built-up and built-up land use categories, and recode tools in Erdas Imagine 2014 software have been used to improve the accuracy of the output. The study area has been classified into 8 spatial directions and 11 concentric circles with radial distances of 1 km and resulted from intersected areas consisting of 60 gradient zones. The study used Shannon entropy model for detailed urban sprawl study of every nook and corner. FRAGSTATS v4.2 tools have been used to analyse landscape metrics in respective spatial directions. The built-up area growth of the city was 15.18 km2 during the mentioned period. The landscape metrics and LU/LC results show the maximum built-up growth has taken place in South to South-West direction (3243.87 ha) and the area within a 2–3-km radius (221.85 ha) of the central business district, which is the periphery of the existing Silchar municipal limits. The entropy values indicated that the GSC has compacted infill growth form in the core area, while the dispersed urban sprawl trends followed with increasing distance from the city centre. Moreover, the research findings will provide a conceptual model for assessing urban growth trends for other cities as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban business circles are important locations for economic and social activities. Improving the vitality of urban business circles is conducive to stimulating the potential of the consumer market and promoting sustainable economic development. However, targeted research on the factors influencing business circle vitality is lacking. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to quantitatively examine the impact of the number and diversity of urban amenities on business circle vitality at the street block level using open-source geospatial big data from 32 Chinese metropolises. We found that the number of residential, transportation, educational, cultural, and recreational amenities and the diversity of catering and retail amenities had significant positive impacts on business circle vitality. Catering and retail diversity were the two most critical factors, followed by the number of transportation, cultural, and recreational amenities. However, the effect of urban amenities on business circle vitality varied considerably across different cities and business districts. The results of this study contribute to a holistic understanding of how to improve the vitality of business circles by optimizing urban amenities at the street block level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of South Architecture / Nanfang Jianzhu is the property of South Architecture Editorial Office 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.)

In this study, chemometric and spatial interpolation methods were employed to characterize non-conventional pollutants in the atmosphere of Santiago de Cali, Colombia. The pollutants were monitored using passive diffusion samplers during two distinct periods (January to February and March to April) in the two years after the pandemic (2021 and 2022). None of the monitored cases exceeded the concentration limits established by the National Air Quality Standard. Cluster analysis revealed distinct groups, categorizing sites into low, medium, and high pollutant influence. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was employed to condense all variables into two primary constituents. The first component (PC1) serves as an indicator of mobile pollutant sources due to the consistent contribution of pollutants. Conversely, the second component (PC2) indicates punctual emissions of toluene, which made the most significant contribution. Spatial analysis demonstrated that downtown and the northern region of the city were highly influenced by PC1, with a substantial decrease in its effects towards the periphery, particularly the south. Utilizing Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW), we identified hotspots for both PCs, notably in areas undergoing real estate construction and the downtown industrial sector. Finally, our analysis revealed a cancer risk in the downtown and northeast areas of the city, associated with exposure to benzene and ethylbenzene. This observation aligns with the region of incidence indicated by PC1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien plants (IAPs) are rapidly increasing around the world, mainly due to land transformation, climate change, and urbanisation. Whilst urban areas are highly susceptible to invasion by IAPs, crucial information on the distribution and abundance of woody invaders in small towns is limited. Here, we determined the distribution and abundance of woody IAPs across different suburbs and land use types in 12 small towns in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. We enumerated 38 427 individual woody IAPs, and their abundance and distribution varied across surveyed towns. Although species such as Melia azedarach, Pinus elliotti, Jacaranda mimosifolia, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Ligustrum lucidum were the most distributed, species density varied across towns. More than half of the woody IAPs were identified in affluent (56%) suburbs compared to the townships (23%), Central business district (CBD) (16%), and low-income housing neighbourhoods (5%). There were significant differences in woody IAPs distribution across different land use types, with more than half (54%) found in the residential areas compared to road verges (32%) and public urban green spaces (14%). Some socio-economic and environmental predictors such as town population, mean temperature, unemployment rate, and Gross domestic product (GDP) showed significant and positive correlations with woody IAPs species richness and density. Our findings suggest an uneven spatial distribution and diversity of woody IAPs across the different small towns, suburbs, and land use types in the region. It is recommended that small towns in South Africa need financial and human resources support to effectively manage IAPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Davao de Oro by employing descriptive quantitative research. The focus is on demographics and operational characteristics. Twelve registered MSMEs from five municipalities were included using convenience sampling. Our analysis revealed a dynamic entrepreneurial landscape among respondents aged 26-30 years old, with a significant presence of female entrepreneurs. Maragusan and New Bataan emerged as central hubs, reflecting diverse geographical distribution. The duration of operations indicated a mix of newer and established enterprises, and a substantial portion of surveyed businesses operated with moderate monthly expenses. Perceptions regarding the impact of lockdown measures were consistent, with a significant proportion of respondents perceiving severe negative effects, particularly at Level 5. This study underscores the challenges faced by MSMEs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for tailored policies to support diverse business needs. Policymakers are urged to leverage these insights for evidence-based interventions, considering the urgency of addressing economic repercussions and promoting resilient recovery in Davao de Oro. Suggested strategies include financial assistance, business continuity programs, and capacity-building initiatives to alleviate hardships and foster economic recovery post-COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the 2010–12 earthquakes in Christchurch, New Zealand, and the subsequent demolition of multiple buildings within the central business district, a host of creative projects emerged intermittently as vacant spaces appeared in the betweenness of demolition and rebuild. This widespread do-it-yourself (DIY) urbanism brought back life and energy to the city. These expressions demonstrated how citizens can be involved in the (re-)making of a city through projects that experiment with ideas about what it means to be urban and what is possible in urban space. These projects inhabit an alter-temporality that treats the future as open-ended and time as an active force in the becoming of things. Understanding the temporality of such urban engagement in Christchurch holds significance for understanding the value of open experimentation in cities in general and the importance of process to urban learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The city of Malatya, nestled in the Upper Euphrates region of Eastern Anatolia, has witnessed notable urban expansion due to its railway connection and subsequent industrial growth. This development has intricately intertwined with the city's historical fabric. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the morphological state of Malatya's central business district (CBD), particularly focusing on Millet Square and its iconic İnönü Monument. The overarching objective is to bolster the integration of Millet Square within the CBD through a redesign strategy, employing Space Syntax Analysis and Marshall taxonomy. This methodology seeks to positively influence public perception, enhance the city's image, and improve spatial clarity for its inhabitants. Additionally, the study aims to assess the morphological structure of Malatya's CBD and propose a redesign for integrating the Malatya Central Business District (MİA), utilizing the same analytical tools. The analyses encompass typological, space syntax, integration, and preferability assessments, guiding the restructuring of street and road networks to enhance spatial organization. As a result, the study aims to renew the central business district of Malatya and facilitate urban transportation. In this context, the analyses made have contributed positively to the overall urban development of the city by ensuring better integration of important settlements such as the CBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the requirements of refined urban governance strategy, not only the construction of physical space security defense system, but also fully creating residents' sense for daily life security should be emphasized in urban security research, so as to improve the quality of the city and enhance its attractiveness. Firstly, this research fully considers the interaction among residents' activities, natural disasters, social risks and the built environment, and then constructs the urban security sense mechanism model. Secondly, the indicator system of urban security sense is established from three dimensions of personal sense, built environment and behavioral activities. Furthermore, it uses multi-source big data to synthetically measure residents' security sense, taking the main urban area of Nanjing as an example. Finally, this research evaluates the security sense in Nanjing City, explores its spatial distribution pattern, and puts forward the corresponding spatial optimization path. The results show that: the spatial pattern of residents' security sense in Nanjing City is wholly 'higher in the center and lower in the north & south, with obvious group distribution', although there are some differences in the three dimensions. The security sense is higher in the important business districts and their surrounding residential areas developed early, and it is lower in the developing new towns and the industrial supporting residential areas. Many optimization strategies can promote the security level of the low-security sense areas, including function implantation, transportation system design, public service facility layout, environmental feature restoration, community space design, planning policy guidance, organization system design and smart management platform construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a summary of three books that discuss the divergent histories of Columbus and Cleveland, two cities in Ohio. The authors shed light on the successes and shortcomings of these cities, contributing to the growing literature on cities in the Midwest. The books explore topics such as business development, environmental change, urban revitalization, and economic shifts. They provide valuable insights into the history and development of these two Ohio cities, highlighting the consequences of deindustrialization and the challenges they faced in establishing a positive image. [Extracted from the article]

Since the 1990s, cities and professional sports franchises have engaged in a frenzied competition to maintain or lure teams, build modern amenity-laden venues, and revitalize underdeveloped or underperforming downtown areas. This article argues that the case of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (1982) in Minneapolis is instructive for understanding the current context and prevailing trends in stadium redevelopment. To secure a move of baseball and football operations from suburban Bloomington to the city of Minneapolis, boosters and city officials lauded the prospects for downtown revitalization the stadium would bring. Leverage of a stadium's "intangibles" was particularly alluring to municipal and business leadership in the 1970s as cities like Minneapolis wrestled with population loss and a post-industrial reality. Despite promises unfulfilled, threats of franchise loss and the prospect for downtown revitalization in contemporary stadium development games remain a lasting legacy of Minneapolis's dome debate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents an interdisciplinary study on the impact of planning policies on the seismic vulnerability of historic areas, encompassing architecture, urban planning, and engineering aspects. It examines the spatial and temporal dynamics of urbanization and population growth, which alter cities' seismic exposure and vulnerability over time. Urban and engineering research methods are used to assess the seismic vulnerability variability in Yungay Quarter, a historic district west of downtown Santiago, Chile, with buildings constructed between 1839 and 2022. The study begins with a thorough review of Chilean urban planning policies and building regulations, combined with a detailed survey of the construction features in the historical neighborhood to classify building types. Next, the macro-seismic method is applied to a representative sample of 484 buildings to calculate vulnerability indices for unreinforced masonry and reinforced concrete structures, which are then used to estimate damage distributions. Seismic fragility curves for each building class are derived based on peak ground acceleration. These fragility curves are incorporated into risk assessments for potential ruptures along the San Ramon, Santiago splay and a deep intra-slab splay fault. The resulting risk scenarios can guide future urban planning policies and processes affecting this historical urban center. The innovations introduced by this work include a summary of how changes and updates to planning policies have influenced construction practices in the Yungay Quarter from 1839 to 2022 and the translation of these urban changes into variations in building fragility functions, enabling a comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts on these buildings from various potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the relationship between gentrification and the economic-gastronomic landscape in two neighborhoods in downtown Mexico City. The objective is to conceptually readjust these terms and to recognize the singularities of their manifestations in Latin America. To this end, a theoretical framework is constructed that outlines the three epistemological cores for the analysis of gentrification in the region and that articulates such concept with cultural commodification and gourmetization. Through a descriptive quantitative analysis, we examine the transformation of the food landscape through the presence and diversification of gastronomic and retail businesses in the Condesa and Santa María La Ribera neighborhoods. The results show that there is a trend towards an increase in commercial activity under the model of mini-supermarkets and other businesses that diversify and, at the same time, homogenize cultural and gastronomic offerings in these neighborhoods. However, the pandemic affected these neighborhoods in a particular way: while in Condesa the proliferation of these businesses slowed down, in Santa María La Ribera they increased their presence. It is concluded that this analytical argument offers a view that can strengthen the qualitative study of the effects developed by gentrification and its consequences in other areas of urban daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document reflects on the 14-year tenure of the authors as editors of the Urban Affairs Review (UAR) journal. The document highlights the journal's focus on various urban issues, including governance, sustainability, environmental justice, race, ethnicity, poverty, economic development, and fiscal architecture. It emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary and multi-scalar approaches to understanding urban dynamics and acknowledges the challenges posed by the centralization of government authority and the nationalization of politics. The document also discusses the measurement of journal impact and the editorial responsibilities of promoting emergent ideas and responding to disruptive events. Overall, the authors express gratitude for their role as journal editors and the impact they have had on the urban scholarly community. [Extracted from the article]

This paper explores ways to promote the Shared Parking Business Economy Model (SPBEM) in traditional business districts (TBD) to mitigate their declining survival. A microscopic four-party evolutionary game model investigates the mechanisms behind the complex interactions among four typical businesses in TBD. Evolutionary stability is also analyzed based on three different scenarios. Secondly, this paper examines the limited rationality of participants and sifts the impact of significant factors on the dynamic evolution process by using the cumulative prospect theory and the quantitative equation of the conformity effect. The paper validates the game model and main conclusions through realistic scenarios and numerical simulations. Finally, the four main types of parameters are extensively discussed. The findings suggest that the implementation of SPBEM could enhance the economic development of TBD. Furthermore, successful promotion of SPBEM in TBD demands coordinated efforts from the four types of businesses. Initial participation probability, proportion of parking slots, historical average customer flow, and cooperation revenue all positively influence participation behavior; and promoting SPBEM in TBD requires coordination between the four business types. These findings serve as valuable references for TBD managers and operators in their decision-making processes. • An economic model of shared parking is presented. • The mechanism of the quadratic evolutionary game in traditional business districts is discussed. • Four factors influencing the participation decisions of merchants are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estudios Demográficos y Urbanos is the property of El Colegio de Mexico AC 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 discusses a special issue that originated from a workshop on "Kenyans Abroad" organized by Prof T. Michael Mboya, Dr Daniela Waldburger, and Dr Martina Kopf. It explores the themes of Kenyan diaspora, cultural dynamics, and literary representations, focusing on the relationship between local and global references in Kenyan literature and cultural expressions. The text delves into the complexities of identity, belonging, and the concept of 'home' for Kenyans living abroad, examining how cultural forms and practices shape experiences of 'abroad' and 'unhoming' in a contemporary world. The contributions in the special issue offer diverse perspectives on the multifaceted experiences of Kenyans abroad and their interactions with Kenyan culture, values, and societal expectations. [Extracted from the article]

As countries develop, the challenge of providing access to the outdoors and nature increases. Consequently, recent environmental justice research has focused on measuring children's access to parks. The results of these analyses better reflect differences in accessibility, but there are discrepancies between different accessibility models. This study aims to explore child-friendly accessibility measures and proposes a supply–demand-improved two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method for estimating urban park accessibility based on children's needs. The application of this improved 2SFCA method in Changsha City successfully identified areas with unequal park accessibility, offering valuable insights for urban planners, that can be used to promote equitable access to green spaces for all residents, especially children. The results demonstrate that park accessibility in Changsha City exhibits significant differences across various areas, with the lowest accessibility in the western part of Furong District, the northwestern part of Yuhua District, and the southern part of Tianxin District; while the highest accessibility is found in Yuelu District. The limited green space in the central business district of Changsha City, coupled with high population density, indicates a tension between green space planning and population density in the city's central area. The study proposes that the primary challenge in current green space planning in Changsha is the rational allocation of green spaces to meet the needs of high-density populations within limited urban space. It provides a comprehensive and realistic perspective for understanding the accessibility and availability of green spaces for children, which can help urban planners develop effective policies to support children's outdoor mobility, while considering equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a roundup of project management activities in Finland. It covers two organizations, Project Professionals Finland (PPF) and PMI Finland Chapter, and provides information on their conferences and events. The document also highlights the Kruunusillat project, which involves the construction of bridges and a tram line in Helsinki. The project has faced challenges, including a crane accident, but is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026. [Extracted from the article]

Traffic metering parameters in the CBD of Akure such as traffic composition and volume-capacity ratio were collected and evaluated to determine the levels of service of the selected major roads namely Oba Adesida road (directions A and B): direction A from Cathedral junction to 'A' Division and Direction B from 'A' Division to Cathedral junction and Arakale road (directions C and D): direction C from Isikan roundabout to NEPA roundabout and direction D from NEPA roundabout to Isikan Roundabout. The traffic composition analysis revealed the passenger car/taxi as the predominant mode while poor parking system, trading activities along the carriageway, bad roads, construction activities were identified as factors affecting the levels of service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been linked to air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM). PM comprises various elements, including iron-rich particles that may reach the brain through inhalation. Lima, Peru is one of the most polluted cities in Latin America, with a high rate of AD. The study aims to evaluate the association between iron (Fe) trace elements in PM10 and AD cases in Lima, Peru. This retrospective ecological study used monthly Fe concentration data from the Peruvian Ministry of Health. AD cases (ICD-10-G30) and dementia in AD cases (DAD, ICD-10-F00) were obtained from the Peruvian CDC. Fe trace element data were available for six districts in Lima for the years 2017–2019 and 2022. Cases were standardized based on ≥60-year-old populations of each district. Hierarchical mixed-effects models of Gaussian and negative binomial families were constructed to evaluate both outcomes jointly (AD + DAD) and separately (AD, and DAD). A sensitivity analysis was conducted by excluding data from Lima's downtown district. In the complete model, log-Fe concentration was associated with a higher rate of AD + DAD and DAD, and with a higher IRR for the three outcomes. After controlling for other metals, a higher DAD rate was observed (β-coeff = 6.76, 95%CI 0.07; 13.46, p = 0.048), and a higher IRR for AD + DAD (1.55, 95%CI 1.09; 2.20, p = 0.014) and DAD (1.83, 95%CI 1.21; 2.78, p = 0.004). The association was not significant in the sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, exposure to Fe through PM10 inhalation may be associated with the presence of AD in Lima. [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.)

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.)

We provide an experimental design to study how estimates of the distance deterrence parameter in a standard doubly-constrained gravity model respond to different patterns of spatial structure. The design is defined as an agent-based simulation framework that simultaneously considers the response of commuting and migration to changes in the spatial structure, accounting for labor and housing market issues. The agents are equipped with a utility function and are expected to maximize their utilities corresponding to their disposable income net of commuting costs and house value. We study how the estimates of the distance deterrence parameter respond to where the central business district is located, to the clustering of local and basic sector jobs, to changes in the road transportation network, and to the compactness in the system of towns in the geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]