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Urban planners can benefit from extended reality (XR) technology to better understand data, history, design, and planning options through immersive sensory experiences. Though there are many examples of XR-assisted urban planning, there is little guidance on how to use it effectively. In this review I provide a comprehensive overview of XR in urban planning by examining recent literature. I begin by defining XR concepts and other influential technologies like metaverse, digital twins, generative artificial intelligence, and blockchain. Then, I review six key planning goals for using XR, including urban design, place marketing, planning support, education, research, and planning for metaverse platforms. In addition, practical considerations are discussed, such as public participation, ethics, and technical considerations. Planners can benefit from innovative applications of XR in planning. However, rather than focusing only on the technology, planners must examine and understand the critical factors for using XR effectively and ethically. Planners who choose to use XR in their projects must stay current with technological advancements and related knowledge, skills, and values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Segregation is a threat to the aspirations of producing a cohesive society and modelling its dynamics can be done in order to help design preventative measures. This work explores the question of whether the network topologies of urban spaces can affect the pace at which populations can become segregated. The simulation dynamics employed augment the canonical Schelling model in such a way that it also captures the affinity for agents to prefer denser regions which also offer sufficient local homogeneity. It is shown that different networks synthetically generated and from real city maps can alter the rate of segregation. The results also show that using the entropy trace on the distribution of agent edge degree across all agents correlates with the segregation reinforcing the relevance of physics inspired modeling of social systems. This investigation shows that it is possible to explore and select network arrangements which can be less conducive towards segregation movements during the stages of urban planning so that the rate is reduced. An additional finding is that the entropic measure is closely associated with the common statistic for such modeling efforts.

Objectives. To (i) ascertain stakeholders’ perceptions of the contextual factors and resources necessary to successfully implement the AMORE platform, a tool that provides accessibility assessments for health care services, considering factors such travel time and traffic conditions, and (ii) identify potential barriers to and facilitators for enhancing spatial accessibility to health care services within the Colombian urban context. Methods. In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of seven key stakeholders. The sample was drawn from individuals involved in development of policies in Colombia, service providers, and users, among others, who had expertise in the field. Interviews were conducted until saturation was reached. Results. The participants had positive views on the appearance of the AMORE platform, highlighting its user-friendly visualization. Suggestions were made about the variables used in the dashboard, the implementation of the platform, potential usage areas, and barriers and facilitators to implementation and use. Barriers included economic, political, and personnel challenges, while facilitators included creating a minimum viable product at a low cost and building interinstitutional and international cooperation. Conclusions. Innovations such as the AMORE platform have the potential to support decision-making processes across various sectors, including public policies and internal processes within private organizations, academia, and the community. However, implementing such a tool has financial, contextual and environmental challenges. The study identified key factors that were considered prerequisites for successfully implementing the AMORE platform in Colombian cities.

Abstract The mismanagement of waste is jeopardizing urban sustainability. Although polycentric waste governance (PWG) has been introduced, characterizing the PWG remains challenging. This paper employs game theory to illustrate polycentricity by investigating the equilibrium state from the stakeholders’ perspective. Shanghai, Tokyo, and Hong Kong are selected as target cities for comparative analysis. The findings reveal the heterogeneous characteristics in three megacities’ PWG—the collaboration by principal stakeholders (formal recyclers, informal recyclers, households) in Shanghai, the exclusion of informal recyclers in Tokyo, and the limited contribution provided by the formal recyclers in Hong Kong. The divergent PWG characteristics can be attributed to variations in governance patterns, socioeconomic factors, and policy formulation. Regarding urban sustainability, Tokyo and Shanghai’s PWG contribute to the circular economy’s expansion, while Hong Kong’ potential, in this regard, is undervalued. Despite Tokyo’s improved social recognition to practitioners, this PWG mode, primarily driven by formal recyclers and households, presents limited inclusion of low-income groups. Additionally, it is crucial for the authorities in Shanghai and Hong Kong to acknowledge the potential pollution of informal recyclers’ non-environmental behavior. This paper offers a valuable model for characterizing and analyzing PWG across different cities, facilitating knowledge aggregation and the implementation of PWG practice.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that maintaining and increasing individual and community resilience is essential, particularly in cities. Access to urban green spaces such as parks and gardens supports resilience and well-being. Here, we studied how the pandemic influenced the attitudes towards and outcomes of urban box gardening in the city of Turku in Finland. We analyzed this small-scale social-ecological system before and during the pandemic in 2019, 2020, and 2021. We find that box gardening’s importance increased for many gardeners due to the pandemic, supporting that box gardening can enhance resilience. We find that gardeners remain motivated to cultivate but contrary to expectations, they report receiving fewer benefits, suggesting the pandemic’s negative influence on well-being extends to urban gardening. Our findings highlight the manifold and long-term influence of disturbances. The long-term changes in attitudes and outcomes suggest that the pandemic’s influence on urban gardening might be even transformative.

Abstract The anticipated increase in urban population of 2.5 billion people by 2050 poses significant environmental challenges. While the various environmental impacts of urbanisation have been studied individually, integrated approaches are rare. This study introduces a spatially explicit model to assess urbanization’s effects on ecosystem services (green infrastructure availability, cooling, stormwater retention) and the environmental impact of building construction (material demand, greenhouse gas emissions, land use). Applied to the Netherlands from 2018 to 2050, our results show that integrating green infrastructure development with building construction could increase green areas by up to 5% and stabilize or increase ecosystem service provisioning. Dense building construction with green infrastructure development is generally more beneficial across the Netherlands, reducing resource use and enhancing ecosystem services. Conversely, sparse construction with green infrastructure is more advantageous for newly built areas. These findings offer insights into the environmental consequences of urbanization, guiding sustainable urban planning practices.

Abstract Online food delivery has become a popular mode of urban food consumption in China as its underlying business mechanism, Online To Offline (O2O), gaining popularity. However, the environmental impacts of a rapidly expanding online food delivery industry and its potential to mitigate environmental burdens remained unexplored in China. Our research found that Chinese cities generated 1.67 MtCO2-equivalent (CO2e) from 13.07 billion times of deliveries in 2019, including transport and packaging. The transportation-related GHG emissions were 745 KtCO2e in 2019, with an average of 0.057 kg CO2e per order and an average of 0.011 kg CO2e per capita. These emissions have surged from 0.31 MtCO2e in 2014 to 2.74 MtCO2e in 2021. We predict that this figure will increase further to 5.94 MtCO2e by 2035. However, with a range of policies such as replacing motorcycles with electric bikes and optimizing traffic routes, it is possible to mitigate such GHG emissions by 4.39–10.97 MtCO2e between 2023 and 2035. These findings highlight the need for further research into the environmental impact of online food delivery and the potential for mitigating it.

Abstract To improve biodiversity and human living conditions in the Anthropocene, urban forms must reconcile density with vegetation to meet the dual sustainability-liveability challenge. This paradox poses a dilemma for urban planners and is a critical research issue requiring comprehensive analyses. Multi-family residential housing holds the potential to achieve balanced density-greening, proximity ecosystem services and human-nature connectedness, but meeting such objectives relies on finding balanced morphologies and metrics at an operational scale. Analysing 11,593 plots in the Lyon metropolitan area (France) using a systemic approach, we identified critical tipping points in morphology and greening. Density explained only 6% of Plot Greening, while morphology and landscaping accounted for 94%. We identified an open-space ratio (unbuilt area/floor area) >0.3 as a morphological threshold to achieve sustainable green supply. Operational morphologies balancing density and greening were modelled and illustrated across building heights, providing guidelines for emerging regulatory tools in sustainable urban planning.

Abstract Assessing the impact of past and future urban land expansion on ecosystem services (ESs) is essential for the sustainable management of urban landscapes. Despite recent progress, it remains challenging to determine the influence mechanism of different urbanization stages and areas on ESs and their trade-offs/synergies. Here, we analyzed the responses of four ESs and their trade-offs/synergies to the spatial and temporal differentiation of urbanization in the Su-Xi-Chang region of China from 1990 to 2050. The results showed that the relationship between ESs and urbanization followed a U-shaped curve from 1990 to 2050. Between 1990 and 2020, urbanization weakened trade-offs and enhanced lose-lose situations, exhibiting an S-shaped curve. From 2020 to 2050, lose-lose situations are expected to diminish, and the curve is projected to display a downward trend. Our findings suggest the implementation of compact urban development, sustainable agricultural practices, reforestation, and the conversion of farmland to lakes.

Abstract This article examines whether the patterns of urbanization in China over the past twenty years have resulted in a more balanced or increasingly polarized city size distribution. China is an important study area due to the immense scale of its urbanization and the substantial role of its planners in coordinating and striving for more balanced development patterns. This study utilizes measures of the spatial and temporal characteristics of built-up area (BUA) expansion across 23 urban agglomerations in China, focusing on size dynamics through the urban primacy index and Pareto exponent. The BUA within these 23 UAs increased by 280.90% in the study period. Coastal urban agglomerations were larger in size at baseline and maintained relatively high annual growth rates compared to inland agglomerations, indicating rising polarization. Changes within agglomerations were indicative of declining polarization, as evidenced by the reduction in the urban primacy index and the increase of Pareto exponent. Policies implemented to achieve enhanced urbanization coordination in China appear to be partially successful, but the growth of urban regions with existing large size continues to fuel uneven urban development and polarization.

Abstract Cities in developing countries are fast transforming from area-based expansion, representing spatial growth, to volumetric expansion, representing a higher skyline. Existing urban growth prediction models predict only spatial or two-dimensional growth. This paper demonstrates a volumetric urban growth model, incorporating the vertical expansion of urban areas. Two separate models were calibrated for spatial and built-up height growth, using historical growth patterns of transit-triggered new town development in India. The models were applied to upcoming transit station areas in India to predict the volumetric urban expansion for the next twenty years.

Abstract This paper discusses literature and practice-based case studies in transformative, design-led reuse using emerging technologies. The inability of recycling to manage the assortment and complexity of waste materials within Circular Economy (CE) demands more discrete, attentive and granular approaches to reuse of waste by design professionals. This paper explores emerging and established digital technologies of Building Information Management (BIM), 3D scanning and artificial intelligence (AI) for their capacity to ease and improve transformative, design-led reuse practices for interiors, furnishings, architecture and building. Practice-based research is used to communicate first-hand encounters with the possibilities, benefits and challenges of these digital techniques.

Abstract Understanding the impacts of COVID-19 on citizens from different cities is crucial for urban resilience-building and reducing inequal resilience distribution. However, little research focuses on urban life at the individual level, particularly in second- and third-tier cities. An online survey was therefore conducted to collect data on how COVID-19 affected the cities and urban residents in mainland China. The results indicate that COVID-19 limited citizens’ access to healthcare facilities and socioeconomic activities apart from the immediate health crisis. Most citizens suffered reduced income, unemployment, and social anxiety. However, COVID-19 also raised social awareness and actions for disaster adaptation. The Chinese pandemic management has strengthened governmental leadership and credibility among most citizens in the early stage. Importantly, the results suggested that citizens in first-tier cities appeared more resilient to pandemics than those in second-tier cities. A networked resilience framework was therefore discussed for resilience-building policy implications.

Abstract Historical urban districts are imbued with a multitude of elements, including historical heritage, cultural significance, social relationships, and daily activities, making them of significant research value. Through a review of previous literature, it is evident that research on the protection and renewal of historical urban districts has mostly focused on macro-level planning and development. Addressing the lack of spatial morphology quantification research at the meso-level, this paper proposes a method suitable for quantifying interface morphology in historical streets. Using the historical cultural street district of Xijie in Quanzhou, Fujian Province as a case study, this research employs parameters such as Distance-Height Ratio, Interface Density, Build-To-Line Rate, and Near-Line Rate to quantify and summarize the morphology of street interfaces. It then proposes transformation strategies to guide the protection and renewal of streets in the future. The study validates the feasibility of this quantification method and provides valuable insights for the protection and renewal of historical urban districts.

S širjenjem mestnih območij v obmestne krajine postaja potreba po učinkovitem načrtovanju zelene infrastrukture čedalje pomembnejša za ohranjanje ekološke celovitosti območij in človekovega dobrega počutja. V članku je predstavljena matrika strokovnih ocen kot metoda vrednotenja potenciala območij, da zagotavljajo kulturne ekosistemske storitve (KES), pri načrtovanju zelene infrastrukture (ZI) v obmestni krajini. Strokovnjaki z več področij so sistematično ovrednotili različne vrste rabe zemljišč in pokrovnosti tal ter varstvene režime, značilne za obmestne krajine, in to glede na kategorije KES. Poleg potenciala za zagotavljanje kulturnih ekosistemskih storitev so ovrednotili tudi potencial za povzročanje kulturnih ekosistemskih nevšečnosti. Njihove ocene so bile združene in na tej podlagi so bile izdelane karte, na katerih so razvidna območja z visokim potencialom za zagotavljanje KES in tista, na katerih bi lahko ekosistemi povzročili nevšečnosti. Opisani pristop je bil nato uporabljen v treh študijah primera, pri tem je bila dokazana njegova učinkovitost pri določanju prednostnih območij za načrtovanje ZI in izvedbo upravljavskih posegov. Izsledki raziskave opozarjajo na pomen upoštevanja KES pri načrtovanju ZI, saj lahko to izboljša odpornost krajin, družbeno blaginjo in ohranjanje kulturne dediščine v dinamičnih obmestnih okoljih. S presojo, vrednotenjem zbranih strokovnih ocen in jasno prostorsko predstavitvi jo rezultatov za posamezno proučevano območje je bila potrjena uporabnost matrike strokovnih ocen kot uporabnega orodja za načrtovanje trajnostne ZI v krajinskem merilu.

V prvem desetletju 21. stoletja se je območje pod vrhom Bjelašnice, ene izmed štirih gora v okolici Sarajeva, ki so bile leta 1984 prizorišče zimskih olimpijskih iger, začelo hitro urbanizirati. Da bi to območje spremenili v sodobno letovišče, so bili tam zgrajeni novi hoteli in stanovanjski objekti, čeprav brez skupne oblikovalske vizije in ob precejšnjem neodobravanju prebivalcev. Avtorici sta v članku proučevali razvoj gorskega letovišča Babin Do pod vrhom Bjelašnice in ga primerjali z razvojem podobnih zimskih letovišč v Franciji. Za študijo primera sta izbrali francoski gorski letovišči Flaine in Les Arcs, ki so ju v šestdesetih letih 20. stoletja v okviru vladnega programa Plan Neige zasnovali ugledni arhitekti, od takrat pa sta se že precej spremenili in povečali. Njuni izsledki so po kazali nekatere podobnosti v urbanističnem načrtovanju in arhitekturi Babinega Doja ter proučevanih francoskih letovišč, čeprav je med njimi šestdeset let razlike. Nekatere stavbe v Babinem Doju ustvarjajo prijetno gorsko letoviško ozračje, ker pa za to območje ni regulacijskega načrta in je zato natrpano z nastanitvenimi objekti, hkrati pa nima dovolj skupnih javnih prostorov in storitev, ki bi privabljale obiskovalce vse leto, tega gorskega letovišča ne moremo obravnavati kot primer uspešnega prostorskega razvoja. Treba bi bilo čim bolj zmanjšati nadaljnje škodljive vplive na naravno okolje, človekovi posegi v naravo pa bi morali biti bolj premišljeni in trajnostno usmerjeni.

In the early 2000s, Mount Bjelašnica, one of the four Olympic mountains around the city of Sarajevo, experienced rapid urbanization. In an attempt to create a modern mountain resort, but without a general design vision and with substantial criticism from residents, new hotels and other accommodation were built. This article offers insight into the development of the mountain resort at Babin Do on Mount Bjelašnica, comparing it with the development of similar mountain resorts in France. Case studies are the mountain villages of Flaine and Les Arcs, both created in the 1960s by prominent architects as a part of the government program Plan Neige; however, they have largely been changed and extended since then. The findings show certain similarities in the urban planning and architecture at Babin Do with the case studies examined in France, even over a period of sixty years. Although certain buildings in Babin Do create a positive mountain resort ambience, the absence of a regulatory plan that has caused overcrowding with accommodation, and the lack of common public space along with poor all-year activities show that this mountain resort cannot be considered a successful development. Further damage to nature should be minimized, and development should have been more considered and sustainable.

Članek predstavlja problematiko potencialno nestabilnih pobočnih območij v kontekstu podnebnih sprememb. Predstavljen je možni pristop urejanja in upravljanja pobočij, ki upošteva različne rešitve, predvsem temelječe na naravi. Uporabljena je metodologija načrtovanja, ki upošteva vplive podnebnih sprememb na geomehanske lastnosti tal in posledično odziv tal in konstrukcij. Prikazani so tudi učinki izbranih ukrepov na prilagajanje podnebnim spremembam. Predlagan je koncept prilagajanja potencialno nestabilnih geokonstrukcij, glede na pričakovane podnebne spremembe za geomehanske analize in geotehničnega načrtovanja, ki upošteva vzročno verigo s t. i. signali podnebnih sprememb, učinki, vplivi (posledice) in ukrepi. Implementacija koncepta je prikazana na tipičnem primeru analize stabilnosti pobočja. Sklep analize je, da so za stabilnost pobočja pogosto ključni dejavniki, kot so neto infiltracija vode v pobočje, vodoprepustnost zemljine in pretok podzemne vode v pobočju. Te dejavnike lahko reguliramo tudi z na naravi temelječimi rešitvami.

With the encroachment of urban areas into peri-urban landscapes, the requirement for effective green infrastruc ture (GI) planning has become increasingly important for maintaining ecological integrity and human wellbeing. An expert-based matrix approach is proposed as a method for evaluating the potential of cultural ecosystem services (CES) in making informed GI planning decisions in a peri-urban landscape. Experts from various disciplines and areas of work were consulted to systematically evaluate various types of land-use and land-cover classes, as well as protection regimes characteristic of a peri-urban landscape across the CES categories. In addition to CES provision potential, experts also evaluated the possible potential to cause cultural ecosystem disservices. These scores are aggregated to generate spatially explicit maps that highlight areas with high CES provision potential and those with the potential to cause disservices. This approach was then applied to three case study areas, demonstrating its effectiveness in identifying priority areas for GI planning and management interventions. The results highlight the importance of integrating CES considerations into GI planning processes to enhance landscape resilience, social wellbeing, and cultural heritage preservation in dynamic peri-urban environments. Using scoring, validation exercises, and spatially explicit presentation on case studies, the utility and applicability of the expert-based matrix approach as a valuable tool for sustainable GI planning on a landscape scale is demonstrated.

Gibalno ovirani študenti imajo pravico, da se samostojno gibajo po celotnem območju kampusa. Avtorice v članku predstavljajo model vrednotenja poti, ki temelji na kriterijih dostopnosti in omogoča, da se v univerzitetnem kampusu določijo najustreznejše poti za invalidne osebe. Najprej so glavne dejavnike dostopne mobilnosti določili in ovrednotili gibalno ovirani študenti, nato pa so avtorice z metodo analitičnega hierarhičnega procesa določile uteži kriterijem in alternativam poti. Študenti so ovrednotili mrežo poti v kampusu univerze İnönü, ki so ga avtorice izbrale za raziskavo, pri čemer so ocenili tudi dostopnost treh glavnih poti v kampusu. Izsledki so pokazali, da sta med desetimi ključnimi kriteriji najpomembnejša naklon klančin in vrsta tlaka. Avtorice so s terensko analizo po trdile pravilnost rezultatov, pridobljenih z metodo analitičnega hierarhičnega procesa. Na podlagi izsledkov so oblikovale model določanja optimalne poti s čim manj ovirami za čim lažje vsakodnevno gibanje invalidnih oseb.

Numerous cities worldwide employ business improve ment districts (BIDs) to manage their central areas. This article analyses the contribution of BIDs to cities’ territorial brands. Employing a case study methodology, we utilize the “territorial brand in regional development” (TBRD) matrix for qualitative analysis of selected BIDs. The findings underscore BIDs’ role as a versatile territorial brand in regional development shaping strategic discussions and fostering local, regional, and global reputations. It can be concluded that BIDs significantly enhance the territorial brand of their cities, receiving endorsement across various scales. Furthermore, urban and regional development processes involve political and cultural discussions, and this article revealed that BIDs are an active player in these discussions.

Students with mobility impairments have the right to move independently throughout university campuses. This study presents a model to evaluate routes based on accessibility criteria to determine the most suitable paths for disabled individuals navigating a university. First, the main factors of accessible mobility were determined and rated by students with physical disabilities. Within this context, this study used the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to weight criteria and route alternatives. İnönü University was selected for quantifying the path network of its campus by physically handicapped students. Three main campus routes were evaluated to find the most accessible route for students. Based on the results, among ten key factors, ramp slope and paving are the most important. Furthermore, on-site analyses demonstrated the accuracy of the AHP method for this research. Contributions of the study include a model for determining the optimal route with the fewest physical obstacles to facilitate disabled individuals’ daily movement.

Številna mesta po svetu svoja središča upravljajo z uporabo območij izboljšanega poslovanja. Avtorji so v članku analizirali vpliv teh območij na teritorialne blagovne znamke mest. S študijami primera so na podlagi matrike teritorialne blagovne znamke v okviru regionalnega razvoja kvalitativno analizirali izbrana območja izboljša nega poslovanja. Njihovi izsledki so potrdili, da imajo ta območja v regionalnem razvoju vlogo vsestranskih teritorialnih blagovnih znamk in vplivajo na strateške razprave ter lokalni, regionalni in mednarodni ugled mesta. Raziskava je pokazala, da območja izboljšanega poslovanja pomembno krepijo blagovno znamko svojih mest, za kar prejemajo podporo na različnih ravneh. Poleg tega je razkrila, da imajo ta območja ključno vlogo v političnih in kulturnih razpravah, ki so del procesov mestnega in regionalnega razvoja.

This article addresses potentially unstable slope areas in the context of climate change. A possible approach to mitigating and adapting slopes is presented, considering various solutions primarily based on natural processes. The methodology incorporates planning considerations for the effects of climate change on the geomechanical properties of soils and consequently the response of soils and structures. The effects of selected measures to adapt to climate change are also demonstrated. A concept for adapting potentially unstable geotechnical structures is proposed, considering anticipated climate changes for geomechanical analyses and geotechnical planning, which encompasses the causal chain: climate change signals, effects, impacts (consequences), and measures. The implementation of the concept is illustrated through a typical slope stability analysis. The conclusion of the analysis highlights factors such as water net infiltration into the slope, soil permeability, and groundwater flow within the slope, which are often crucial for slope stability. These factors can also be regulated through nature-based solutions.

Avtorji v članku predstavljajo metodologijo proučevanja krajinske identitete podeželskih naselij, s katero so opisno analizirali naravne, grajene, družbeno-gospodarske in družbeno-kulturne parametre krajinske identitete na različnih ravneh. Za študijo primera so izbrali egejsko regijo v Turčiji, ki ima zelo raznovrstna podeželska naselja, ki so posledica geomorfoloških, arhitekturnih, podnebnih, gospodarskih in družbeno-kulturnih razlik. Več izsledkov raziskave se nanaša na fizično krajinsko identiteto. V članku predstavljajo tudi pomembne vidike podeželskih naselij, povezane s krajinsko identiteto, in izpostavijo pomen pristopov k trajnostnemu razvoju podeželskih območij, ki upoštevajo njihovo identiteto.

Abstract Cities and other human settlements are major contributors to climate change and are highly vulnerable to its impacts. They are also uniquely positioned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead adaptation efforts. These compound challenges and opportunities require a comprehensive perspective on the public policy of human settlements. Drawing on core literature that has driven debate around cities and climate over recent decades, we put forward a set of boundary objects that can be applied to connect the knowledge of epistemic communities and support an integrated urbanism. We then use these boundary objects to develop the Goals-Intervention-Stakeholder-Enablers (GISE) framework for a public policy of human settlements that is both place-specific and provides insights and tools useful for climate action in cities and other human settlements worldwide. Using examples from Berlin, we apply this framework to show that climate mitigation and adaptation, public health, and well-being goals are closely linked and mutually supportive when a comprehensive approach to urban public policy is applied.

Abstract Urban greening is becoming an important strategy in improving urban ecosystem services and sustainability. Identifying the response of vegetation to urbanization and urban landscape patterns can help in planning for urban greening. Urbanization may lead to both direct and indirect effects on vegetation, and the indirect effects of urbanization on vegetation growth (UIE-VG) have been paid much attention recently in large scale. In this study, we investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of UIE-VG and the effects of landscape patterns on UIE-VG using the boosted regression tree model and remotely sensed data. An increase in average UIE-VG from 4 to 56% was found during urbanization of Kunming, the case study area in southwest China. However, UIE-VG exhibited high variations due to landscape pattern changes at the local scale. Overall, area-related and aggregation-related landscape metrics had greater effects on UIE-VG than the other metrics. The increase and aggregation of built-up land enhanced UIE-VG by 3.1–81.3% while the increase and aggregation of unused land and waterbodies reduced UIE-VG by 0.7–20.6%. Moreover, we found that the large and aggregated vegetation areas may mitigate the negative UIE-VG in low urbanization areas. Our findings have important implications for integrating urban landscape planning into sustainable urban greening strategies.

Abstract Developing sustainable smart cities (SSCs) is crucial to modern urban growth, as recognised in various international policies and literature. With Abu Dhabi as a focus, this research aims to identify and evaluate the primary obstacles that hinder the creation of intelligent and sustainable cities. By categorising and ranking these barriers, the study seeks to prioritise the most significant hindrances to smart city development. The research analysed 31 barriers, classified them into six groups, and examined them through existing literature. Semi‐structured interviews with stakeholders responsible for implementing the SSC strategy provided additional valuable insights. The study used the Partial Least Squares Path Modelling method to prioritise the selected barriers. The results showed that the most significant barriers to SSC development were in the Economic category, followed by Technology, Governance, Social, Legal, Ethical, and Environmental barriers. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and the Abu Dhabi government to eliminate obstacles that hinder SSC development initiatives.

Abstract With the recent advances in smartphones and Internet technologies, ride‐hailing services (such as Uber and Didi) have emerged and changed the travel modes that residents use. An important issue within this area is how ride‐hailing services influence public transit usage. The majority of the research regarding this topic has focused on situations in large cities and has not reached a unanimous consensus among scholars. In particular, the role of ride‐hailing services in small‐ and medium‐sized cities may be different from the role of these services in large cities. In this paper, we choose 22 small‐ and medium‐sized cities in China as samples with a research time window spanning from 2011 to 2016 to examine the impact of the introduction of ride‐hailing services on public transit usage. The results of the synthetic control method, as well as other robustness checks, show that (1) the introduction of ride‐hailing services to China's small‐ and medium‐sized cities significantly increases public transit usage; (2) the effect of the introduction of ride‐hailing services on public transit usage in small‐ and medium‐sized cities is “proactive” for approximately 1 year; and (3) the positive effect of ride‐hailing services on public transit usage in small‐ and medium‐sized cities weakens over time. This study enriches the literature on the impact of ride‐hailing services on the urban transportation system by specifically taking small‐ and medium‐sized cities as the research scope. The above findings are of great significance to the urban transport department's formulation of ride‐hailing policies and the operation layout of public transit operators in small‐ and medium‐sized cities.

Abstract Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have gained substantial attention in recent years. However, the integration mechanism of multiple functions within ADAS remains unexplored, and the full potential of its functionality remains underutilised. This paper presents a novel multi‐functional integrated High‐level Automated Driving Assistance System that combines the Cruise Control (CC), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Automated Emergency Brake (AEB), and Automated Lane Change (ALC) functions. The presented system utilises a hierarchical framework. The extension multi‐mode switch strategy is established as the superior module and the Event‐Triggered Model Predictive Controller (ETMPC) is designed as the inferior controller. The CC, ACC, and ALC functions are effectively utilised to enhance traffic efficiency, while the AEB function ensures driving safety. To address the time constraints of conventional Model Predictive Control, an event‐trigger mechanism is proposed to reduce computational load. Simulations are conducted using the CarSim and Matlab platforms. The study results demonstrate significant improvements in both safety and traffic efficiency compared to conventional ADAS strategies. Furthermore, the proposed ETMPC method significantly reduces the frequency of solving Optimisation Problems and decreases online computation costs.

Abstract Numerous strategies have been proposed for the detection and prevention of non‐technical electricity losses due to fraudulent activities. Among these, machine learning algorithms and data‐driven techniques have gained prominence over traditional methodologies due to their superior performance, leading to a trend of increasing adoption in recent years. A novel two‐step process is presented for detecting fraudulent Non‐technical losses (NTLs) in smart grids. The first step involves transforming the time‐series data with additional extracted features derived from the publicly available State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) dataset. The features are extracted after identifying abrupt changes in electricity consumption patterns using the sum of finite differences, the Auto‐Regressive Integrated Moving Average model, and the Holt‐Winters model. Following this, five distinct classification models are used to train and evaluate a fraud detection model using the SGCC dataset. The evaluation results indicate that the most effective model among the five is the Gradient Boosting Machine. This two‐step approach enables the classification models to surpass previously reported high‐performing methods in terms of accuracy, F1‐score, and other relevant metrics for non‐technical loss detection.

Bandung merupakan kota dengan tingkat pembangunan ekonomi yang cukup cepat. Kondisi ini mendorong terjadinya perubahan penggunaan lahan (PPL) di kota tersebut. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah 1) menganalisis kondisi eksisting RTH dan PPL di Kota Bandung, 2) memprediksi luas dan sebaran RTH pada tahun 2021, 3) menganalisis kebutuhan RTH menurut luas wilayah dan jumlah penduduk serta tingkat kenyamanan berdasarkan indeks kenyamanan thermal serta 4) menyusun arahan pengembangan RTH Kota Bandung. Metode yang digunakan adalah interpretasi visual dengan software ArcGIS 10.1, teknik overlay, prediksi PPL dengan CA-Markov dan analisis kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan RTH publik sebesar 6,0 % dari luas Kota Bandung. PPL terjadi dari lahan terbuka menjadi lahan terbangun dan dari sawah menjadi lahan terbuka dan lahan terbangun. PPL tahun 2021 diprediksi akan menambah luas RTH menjadi 10,1% dengan asumsi menambah luas dari lahan tidak produktif yang direncanakan sebagai RTH dalam RTRW Kota Bandung tahun 2011-2031. Kekurangan RTH berdasarkan luas wilayah sebesar 2.338,1 ha lebih kecil daripada kekurangan RTH berdasarkan jumlah penduduk sebesar 4.171,0 ha. Berdasarkan indeks kenyamanan thermal, Kota Bandung tergolong dalam kategori nyaman. Pengembangan RTH publik diarahkan pada semak belukar dan lahan terbuka dengan nilai tanah yang rendah. RTH privat perlu dikendalikan karena luasnya terbatas.

Tri Hita Karana's philosophy of Balinese people is reflected in harmony with God (parahyangan), with others (pawongan), and with the environment (palemahan). In realizing these values of harmony, Balinese people have customs and culture in arranging their traditional settlement. Factors in traditional settlements that are assumed to influence the harmony are temple, banjar, and zoning. This study aims to examine those factors. Design study is questionnaire survey methode. The hypothesis was tested using multiple linear regression techniques in 200 respondents between the ages of 18-68. The results showed that the temple, banjar, and zoning had significant effect on the harmony of Balinese people. Partially, temple and banjar had a significant effect, while zoning did not show a significant effect. Community patterns and customary systems become more dominant than zoning. Furthermore, the availability of land become a constraint, so that the holy places, banjar, and setra in the zoning follow customary agreements and regulations. Based on these findings, the preservation of these three elements in traditional Balinese settlement needs to be maintained as part of local culture and wisdom to keep the harmony in the traditional Balinese community.

Penelitian tentang titik kumpul di Kecamatan Cepogo, Kabupaten Boyolali didasari dua latar belakang: Pertama wilayah studi Kecamatan Cepogo berbatasan dengan puncak Gunung Merapi yang sudah mengalami gempa guguran lebih dari seratus kali dari awal tahun 2022; Kedua data mitigasi bencana awan panas akibat Gunung Merapi pada tahun 2010 yang lalu menemukan banyak ternak yang mati setelah ditinggal evakuasi, sehingga hewan ternak dijadikan salah satu objek evakuasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mitigasi dan penanganan bencana melalui penentuan lokasi titik kumpul sebelum menuju barak pengungsian dan penentuan rute evakuasi. Batasan penelitian ini memprioritaskan hewan ternak dan penduduk sebagai prioritas utama, sedangkan pembahasan terhadap sister village yang lokasinya diluar wilayah studi cukup dalam wujud narasi pemetaan jalur evakuasi sederhana. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kuantitatif. Metoda analisis dalam penentuan titik kumpul sementara dengan melakukan pembobotan pada peta-peta yang memiliki sifat-sifat kuantitatif untuk dilanjutkan dengan network analysis jalur evakuasi dari titik kumpul menuju sister village beserta strategi dalam melakukan evakuasi bencana. Kesimpulan yang didapat adalah titik kumpul dengan hasil pembobotan tinggi terfokus di area jalan ideal dengan lebar jalan diatas 5 meter yaitu jalan kolektor, dan terdapat 3 desa yang tidak terlayani titik kumpul dengan skor ideal yaitu Desa Wonodoyo, Desa Gedangan, dan desa Candi Gatak. Oleh sebab itu perlu adanya pelebaran jalan agar memungkinkan ekspansi titik kumpul baru dan rute evakuasi baru ketika pemobotan di kalkulasi ulang serta menigkatnya performa rute evakuasi yang sudah ditemukan dalam penelitian ini.

Pembangunan kawasan perumahan menjadi primadona di Kota Depok mengingat letaknya yang strategis sebagai kota satelit Jakarta dengan fasilitas yang relatif memadai. Sebagai dampaknya, terjadi lonjakan penduduk yang terus meningkat. Hal ini kemudian berujung pada peningkatan harga jual rumah yang tidak terkendali dengan wajar. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengungkap faktor-faktor penentu harga jual rumah dan memberikan arahan spasial terkait pengendalian harga jual rumah di Kota Depok. Metode regresi Ordinary Least Square (OLS) dan Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) digunakan untuk menjawab tujuan tersebut. Hasil analisis regresi OLS mengungkapkan bahwa dimensi struktural dan atribut lokasi fasilitas memberikan pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap penentuan harga jual rumah. Selain itu, hasil analisis GWR mengungkapkan bahwa atribut lokasi fasilitas berupa jarak ke Central Business District (CBD) Jakarta dinilai dapat berperan efektif sebagai instrumen pengendali harga jual rumah demi pemanfaatan ruang berkelanjutan di Kota Depok.

Torongrejo Village, as one of the villages which developed as new rural tourism by the Batu City Tourism Office, has many attractions, such as nature and local heritage. However, community participation has not been seen in local tourism and still managed individually or privately. One of the alternative concepts to develop rural tourism is community-based tourism (CBT). This study aims to determine the potentials and problems of the village based on the CBT aspects, as follows economic, environmental, cultural, social, and political. In order to achieve these objectives, qualitative method as in Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), FGD and field observations were employed and qualitative data collected were analyzed using institutional analysis, evaluation of CBT aspects, and SWOT. This research finds that Cultural and Environmental dimensions are the strengths point, meanwhile politic, economic and social dimensiones are the weak point.

Abstract The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2019 has profoundly affected public health and the global economy. Policymakers face the challenge of evolving virus mutations and one key measure involves the use of Health Code to classify the public and enforce quarantine policies. Despite widespread adoption, its effectiveness in mitigating the epidemic is not well understood. Here, we proposed an infection component model to assess the Health Code’s effectiveness. We found that “Precise control” using Health Code can strike a balance between economic growth and public health, reducing 97% of deaths and improving 1% of GDP compared to “No control” or city shutdown policies. Moreover, its medical costs are only 43% of the latter. However, its effectiveness diminishes if the basic reproductive number ( $${R}_{0}$$ R 0 ) exceeds 16.5, indicating the end of this epidemic with “Precise control”. These findings have important implications for policymakers in developing effective strategies to combat the pandemic.

Abstract In this paper we explore the temporal dynamics of spatial inequality in housing prices for Madrid, the capital city of Spain. Spatial inequalities are a concerning feature of urban areas across the globe. It has been suggested that within cities housing prices are becoming more geographically unequal over time, particularly since the 2008 housing market crash. However, more evidence is needed at the intra-urban level to understand neighbourhood house price differences in large urban areas. Changes are analysed during a key period of the housing market bust (2010–2015) and boom (2016–2019), using data from a major housing listing portal. Fine grain space-time analysis of the distribution of housing prices supports an increase in spatial inequality and polarisation at the neighbourhood level. Two spatially differentiated housing sub-markets of high- and low-priced housing are identified. The persistence and growth of spatial house price inequality has important societal implications for the wealth gap and segregation of rich and poor in cities.

Abstract Blue-green infrastructure (BGI), combining semi-natural and engineered elements, offers multifaceted benefits like stormwater management, water purification, heat mitigation, and habitat provision. However, current BGI designs prioritize engineering goals, overlooking its ecological potential. Here we advocate for integrating engineering and ecological objectives into BGI design to enhance performance and biodiversity. Through an interdisciplinary literature review, we emphasize the importance of species diversity, abundance, and ecological processes, to improve engineering performance and resilience, and lower management costs. We emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to navigate trade-offs between engineering and ecological objectives, ultimately enabling us to engineer both for and with biodiversity.

Abstract A growing number of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) has been advocated for urban flood risk management (FRM). However, whether NbS for FRM (NbS-FRM) achieves both social and ecological co-benefits remains largely unknown. We here propose and use a conceptual framework with a coupled social-ecological perspective to explore and identify such “win-win” potential in NbS-FRM. Through a scoping-review we find that ecological FRM measures are unevenly distributed around the world, and those solely targeting flood mitigation may have unintended negative consequences for society and ecosystems. In elaborating this framework with evidence from the reviewed studies, we find that NbS-FRM has the potential to provide both social and ecological co-benefits, with remaining gaps including a lack of resilience thinking, inadequate consideration of environmental changes, and limited collaborative efforts to manage trade-offs. The proposed framework shows how to move forward to leverage NbS for equitable and sustainable FRM with improved human well-being and ecosystem health.