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Assessing the sustainability development efficiency of port cities is an essential step toward improving their management. However, current research on this topic is limited, which makes it difficult for policymakers and urban planners to make informed decisions. To address this issue, we focused on 10 port cities in China as the subjects of our research. This was achieved using input indicators such as quay length, number of berths, labor population, and energy consumption, and output indicators such as cargo throughput, container throughput, smoke dust (DUS) emissions, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, the average annual concentration of respirable fine particulate matter (PM2.5), wastewater (WW) emissions, and GDP. The sustainability efficiency of 10 port cities is assessed over the period 2018-2021. This was achieved using the super-efficient SBM model and the Malmquist Index Model. We were able to accurately determine the levels of sustainability of the 10 port cities, and 7 were found efficient while 3 were found inefficient. The sustainability of the inefficient port cities is mainly affected by the number of berths, quay length, container throughput, DUS and SO2 emissions, cargo throughput, water waste emissions, and GDP growth. Between 2018 and 2021, the annual mean total factor efficiency of Chinese port cities is less than 1, indicating a lagging situation that needs to be improved by optimizing port operations management and organization. The outcomes of our study can provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in port cities worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to articles published within the issue is presented including one about the reality of the concept of urban spatial segregation, the memorialization of architectural spolia in Oaxaan churches, and the social history of architecture.

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) ports are pivotal in shaping the Yangtze River Economic Belt and advancing urban economies across China. This article utilizes panel data from 20 cities with ports in the YRD area, spanning from 2011 to 2020, using the spatial Durbin model to explore how these ports influence urban economic growth. The findings indicate that: (1) The YRD ports significantly contribute to economic growth in both the port cities and their surrounding areas, with the indirect impact on neighboring cities being more substantial than the direct effect on the cities themselves; (2) The beneficial spillover effects of the YRD ports on the economic growth of nearby cities vary in intensity over different spatial ranges, marked by distinct boundary effects and geographical attenuation. The influence extends up to approximately 110km; (3) Within the various elements impacting the economic growth of cities in the YRD, financial development prominently exhibits a threshold effect on urban economic growth; (4) Upon analyzing heterogeneity, inland and coastal port cities manifest divergent spillover effects, with inland port cities predominantly exerting a positive spillover on adjacent regions. Accordingly, in order to eventually achieve the shared prosperity of the region's economy, it is recommended that a strong top-level design be established and that efforts be made to transform the YRD region into a core region a diffusion and driving effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, using a contingent valuation framework, provides an initial assessment of the environmental benefits derived from the hypothetical adoption of a low-carbon fuel path, and onshore power supply, by the ferry sector in the Canary Islands in compliance with the FuelEU Maritime Initiative. To this end, a sample of 502 respondents was asked about their willingness to pay (WTP) for the increase in their well-being resulting from improvements in air quality and noise pollution. Special attention was paid to the problem of zero responses and the possible presence of self-selection due to protest responses. The results show that about 75% of the respondents expressed their WTP extra for a single ferry ticket between the most populated cities in the archipelago, with an estimated mean WTP of €13.12. This would represent a 33% increase in current ferry tickets. Aggregating the mean WTP across the population affected, has resulted in a conservative estimate of the total benefits derived from this policy of €65.9 million over a 30-year horizon time, and €94.2 million over a longer horizon time (100 years). In short, this study aims to fill an existing research gap while providing a quantitative basis for decision-making in densely populated port cities connected by ferry. • Willingness to pay for a reduction in emissions is estimated. • A quantitative basis for decision making is provided. • Special attention is paid to the problem of zero and protest responses. • A vast majority of respondents had a positive willingness to pay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing electrical power to ships while they are docked, cold ironing allows ships to turn off their engines and reduces emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases. This study identifies and assesses ship and port emissions and analyzes the potential for emission reduction achievable by cold ironing in European ports. It includes (1) a review of the current state of cold ironing in European ports; (2) an analysis of the time spent in ports by ships; (3) a quantification of emissions potentially avoided by means of a larger-scale use of cold ironing in Europe; (4) an estimation of the benefits achievable and the perspective to play a role in meeting emission reduction targets, improving air quality in port cities; (5) an analysis of the challenges and limitations of larger-scale cold ironing implementation; (6) potential solutions to overcome them. The results of this study could have important implications for (a) the shipping industry, which could benefit from the need for additional standardized electrical equipment onboard; (b) port authorities, which could benefit from providing additional services to the ships; (c) policymakers working to reduce emissions and promote energy efficiency, who could better approach their local and global targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China's land‐based anthropogenic emissions are decreasing, the impact of marine shipping emissions (MSEs) on the atmosphere, especially in coastal areas, deserves further attention. This study investigates the impact of MSEs on MDA8 ozone (O3) levels during the warm seasons of 2017 in China, considering different seasons and synoptic patterns. The results indicate that the average impact of MSEs on O3 decreases from offshore to inland, peaking at over 29.0 ppb at sea and 13.8 ppb along the coast of mainland China. Influenced by precursor emissions, meteorology and other factors, MSEs contribute differently to O3 in Beijing‐Tianjin‐Hebei (BTH), Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD), with contributions of 3.0, 5.2, and 4.9 ppb, respectively, and ranging from 2.7 to 7.3 ppb in 13 coastal port cities. The O3 impacts of MSEs are higher on polluted days than on clean days, especially during onshore winds. In the BTH, MSEs increase O3 by 5.5 ppb on polluted days and 3.0 ppb on clean days with northeast winds from the Bohai Sea. In the YRD, MSEs increase O3 by 9.4 ppb on polluted days and 7.3 ppb on clean days with southeast winds. MSEs significantly increase O3 levels in the PRD by 11.0 ppb on polluted days and 5.0 ppb on clean days with southeast winds. Although the emission inventories, initial and boundary conditions, etc. may introduce uncertainties, our results still provide useful information for O3 pollution management in coastal cities as a reasonable way to track mass contributions. Plain Language Summary: This study looks at how marine shipping emissions (MSEs) affect ozone levels in coastal China during the warm seasons in 2017. The impact of MSEs on ozone levels varies by season and region. They are significant during onshore winds and higher on polluted days than on clean days. They decrease from offshore to inland, peaking at over 29.0 ppb at sea and 13.8 ppb (21.5%) in coastal areas of mainland China. In several port cities, MSEs increase ozone levels by 2.7–7.3 ppb. In the Beijing‐Tianjin‐Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta, they increase ozone levels by 3.0, 5.2, and 4.9 ppb, respectively. In these three regions, MSEs can increase ozone levels on polluted days (clean days) by 5.5 ppb (3.0 ppb), 9.4 ppb (7.3 ppb), and 11.0 ppb (5.0 ppb) under synoptic patterns with onshore winds. These results show the importance of considering MSEs in managing ozone pollution in coastal cities. Key Points: Ozone impact of marine shipping emissions (MSEs) decreases from sea to inland, peaking at 29.0 ppb at sea and 13.8 ppb in coastal mainland ChinaIn 2017, MSEs increase ozone levels by 2.7–7.3 ppb in coastal port cities and 3.0–5.2 ppb in three major regionsMSEs have a higher impact on polluted days and are significant during onshore winds [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problem of logistics competitiveness of coastal cities, a logistics competitiveness evaluation method based on weighted and partially ordered set combinations is proposed. Carbon emissions and inhalable pollutant concentrations are included in the evaluation scope, and an evaluation index system for the logistics competitiveness of 17 coastal port cities is constructed. The results show that: (1) the competitiveness of the logistics industry in 17 coastal port cities in China has been continuously improved, and the catch-up effect of logistics industry development in coastal port cities such as Shenzhen, Ningbo and Qingdao is obvious. The competitiveness level of the logistics industry shows an obvious spatial imbalance. (2) The competitiveness of the logistics industry in Yingkou, Beibu Gulf and other coastal port cities is low, and the difference in competitiveness of the logistics industry in coastal port cities is the main reason for the overall imbalance. (3) The technological innovation, openness and economic development level of the city and the hinterland have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the logistics industry, and the level of economic development has the greatest contribution to the variance of the competitiveness of the logistics industry. The logistics competitiveness of 17 cities is ranked and classified. The leading cities have core diffusion effects and promote the development of the competitiveness of each city. Suggestions on improving the competitiveness of cities are conducive to the high-quality development of China's logistics industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like many port cities in the 19th-century Caribbean, the free port of Gustavia in the Swedish-Caribbean colony of St Barthélemy had a high ratio of women to men, many of whom were enslaved women or free women of colour, disenfranchised under Swedish colonial law. They were present in public life, and can be seen in many cases of breaking 'vägfrid' or participating in public fights, verbally or physically. Sexual honour was a frequent point of conflict in these fights, which could be directed to not just individuals, but entire households. When we examine these cases more closely, we can see how what might at first seem to be random arguments were often embedded in interpersonal relationships, where the street became the meeting place for people, but also an area of conflict between houses. Noise was a frequent consideration in these cases, especially the racialized noise of Black women, as Caribbean homes were very open and led to noise spreading quite easily. In this way, what were at first private disputes easily became public disturbances and colonial courts worked to discipline and control noise from Black women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Port cities are places at the edge of sea and land, where flows of goods and people create unique spaces, institutions and cultures, often over long periods of time. History matters when it comes to understanding and designing the future of port cities such as the two ancient Mediterranean cities of Beirut and Naples, where institutions and spaces are the result of longue durée histories. Long-standing spatial and institutional frameworks in these cities have influenced recent plans. In the Italian city of Naples, historic spaces and practices have impeded transformation, because port and city authorities are pursuing divergent and historically established goals while many industrial sites, including areas used by oil industry, await redevelopment. In Beirut, reconstruction following the tragic explosion of 2020, which significantly damaged both port and city, shaping and perhaps limiting the present and future of the city. This article analyses the historic development and the opportunities for future planning of Naples and Beirut through the lens of the Adaptive Strategies course, a master-level course coordinated by Carola Hein and co-taught with Paolo De Martino and John Hanna at TU Delft in 2022. Students, through imaginative methods, rethought the relationship between land and water, port and city, questioning current planning models and imagining new resilient and adaptive processes.

The history of the Mediterranean region and its port cities is crucial in understanding the origin and development of many modern societies. These cities have always been characterized by their interdependent relationships, forming an essential part of a system of crucial regional and international routes, made possible and enriched by the sea. Simultaneously, these cities have been able to preserve their urban values while continuously adapting to new requirements and circumstances, making them ideal case studies of urban resilience. Despite their decisive role in the emergence of the global economic system, these cities have received little attention from the humanities and social sciences. This article aims to consider the Mediterranean port cities in relation to their historical context, their urban model, and their intrinsic and shared conditions. For this purpose, a narrative literature review is developed, with reference authors on this topic. Additionally, fiction resources are explored as a complementary research method based on the intersections between description and invention in three projects focused on the Mediterranean region and its port cities.

AbstractDuring the last four decades, communities in the city of Buenaventura, Colombia’s main seaport, have mobilized in order to access public water services. Privatization, poor infrastructural maintenance, and intermittence have made access to water a matter of concern. In this context, the Committee for the Defense of Water and Life came into being in 2014, as an urban grassroots organization, making calls on the city’s population to mobilize for their right to clean water. In this article, however, we argue that the acts of defending water are not limited to the realm of collective action and overt activism against national and local governmental decisions. Rather, defending water in places such as Buenaventura is also an everyday gendered practice where water is secured and protected against other beings such as microbes and/or mosquitoes. Drawing on collaborative work, we document how women protect water in less visible scenarios such as the home. These women engage in a repertoire of domestic activities and techniques in order to obtain, store and keep water clean, as stored (and therefore stagnant) waters are never only water but are also home to large and threatening communities of organisms such as microbes and mosquitoes on their water stages. We bring political ecology indoors to reflect on how gendered domestic spaces become a dynamic and crucial ecological and political arena for the defense of water and life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wherever and whenever systems of slavery existed, enslaved people struggled to attain freedom. Spanning various imperial contexts from 1750 to 1920, this special issue convenes a team of scholars to investigate the aftermath of emancipation. What did freedom from slavery entail in deeply unequal colonial societies? This issue explores diverse experiences, from maroon communities in the Caribbean wilderness to the forced resettlement of freed slaves in European colonies in Africa, and the legal emancipation of slaves in segregated colonial port cities in Asia. Enslaved people encountered 'freedom' with its attendant threats and opportunities in myriad ways. Building on the rich historiographical tradition of slavery studies, this special issue aims to broaden the scope of historical research from the slave trade and the lives of enslaved individuals to their post-emancipation existence. However, even recent literature often treats freedom after abolition and manumission as distinct phenomena, representing different legal paths to freedom—one associated with the early modern period and the other with the nineteenth century. This special issue re-evaluates this presupposition by foregrounding the post-emancipation life events of formerly enslaved individuals. It questions whether and how these different transitions from slave status to freedom can and should be structurally compared in slavery studies. By tapping into previously unexplored sources, re-examining older datasets with fresh perspectives, and employing record linkage to uncover forgotten slave histories, the authors seek to assess the living conditions of formerly enslaved people and their direct descendants after emancipation. In doing so, we aim to explore how past experiences of enslavement influenced future life choices and opportunities, thereby questioning the so-called afterlives of slavery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Purpose: The fourth industrial revolution has pushed companies, and even seaports, to adapt the way they operate in order to remain competitive in the marketplace. Thus, ports are going from analog to digital, and are on their way to achieving the status of smart ports. The purpose of this paper is to analyze what is already known about smart ports. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the contributions of Industry 4.0 to seaport logistics (using the PRISMA method), based on studies present in the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases, both at the bibliometric and content level. Findings: Using this method, it was possible to identify the most used technology of Industry 4.0 in the smart port context, the benefits, and the challenges of the digital transformations in seaports, and the world’s smartest port cities. Curiously, from the universe of studies found, few articles are concerned about the impacts of smart ports on the human factor and on the cities and municipalities where the port is located. Originality/value: This study presents contributions both at the theoretical level (which increases knowledge about the status of some of the ports considered smart), and at the practical level (which aims to help/encourage other ports to start/continue to become increasingly smart). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional approaches to causation in the social sciences draw on approaches in the Philosophy of Science in which a causal force acts on cases and generates change in the form of events. This relies on just one of the Aristotelian conceptions of cause – efficient cause – what brings the effect in to being. We should also pay attention to Final Cause – purpose and Formal cause, what makes something what it is and no other.The somethings are complex far from equilbric socio-ecological systems in which human agency has causal powers. This resonates with the understanding of the nature of effect in the complexity frame of reference as the state of the system both in relation to stability and transformation of kind. Effects are systems states. The argument draws on Hegel's and Dewey's understandings of cause / effect relationships as not separable but intimately interwoven. Effects have continuing reciprocal impacts on causes themselves as in positive feedback in systems. This way of thinking about causation allows us to engage with macro social change. The argument will be illustrated by a discussion of the transformation from industrial to post-industrial character across port city regions in high income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the multi-scale evaluation of port city's international trade goal is conducive to the sustainable development of port city's international trade. In order to make a more in-depth study on the realization ability of port city's international trade sustainable development goal, this paper proposes a new multi-scale evaluation method of port city's international trade goal. This method selects the evaluation indexes, uses the improved normalization method to process the indexes, uses the combination of AHP and factor analysis method to form the subjective and objective combination weighting method, brings the processed indexes into the least square optimization combination evaluation model, calculates the index weight, and uses the fuzzy evaluation method to carry out multi-scale index evaluation on the international trade of port cities to realize its multi-scale evaluation and analysis. The results show that the standardized index of Shanghai's foreign trade dependence is 0.0056, indicating its independence in international trade. In the comprehensive evaluation, the evaluation values of Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou are 92.56, 87.89, and 88.45, respectively, which are very close to the actual results, which shows that the accuracy of the evaluation method is high, and provides a theoretical basis for the sustainable development of international trade in port cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plate-coupling estimates and previous seismicity indicate that portions of the Makran megathrust of southern Pakistan and Iran are partially coupled and have the potential to produce future magnitude 7+ earthquakes. However, the GPS observations needed to constrain coupling models are sparse and lead to an incomplete understanding of regional earthquake and tsunami hazard. In this study, we assess GPS velocities for plate coupling of the Makran subduction zone with specific attention to model resolution and the accretionary prism rheology. We use finite element model-derived Green's functions to invert for the interseismic slip deficit under both elastic and viscoelastic Earth assumptions. We use the model resolution matrix to characterize plate-coupling scenarios that are consistent with the limited spatial resolution afforded by GPS observations. We then forward model the corresponding tsunami responses at major coastal cities within the western Indian Ocean basin. Our plate-coupling results show potential segmentation of the megathrust with varying coupling from west to east, but do not rule out a scenario where the entire length of the megathrust could rupture in a single earthquake. The full subduction zone rupture scenarios suggest that the Makran may be able to produce earthquakes up to M w 9.2. The corresponding tsunami model from the largest earthquake event (M w 9.2) estimates maximum wave heights reaching 2–5 m at major port cities in the northern Arabian Sea region. Cities on the west coast of India are less affected (1–2 m). Coastlines bounding eastern Africa, and the Strait of Hormuz, are the least affected (<1 m). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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During the sixteenth century, small diasporic communities of businessmen of Ragusa Republic settled in some Mediterranean ports. These communities were made up of commercial agents, merchants and seamen who, using the detailed information system of the motherland and relying on the Republic's fleet, were engaged in the trade of grain. This study expands previous analysis of Mediterranean Ragusan trade considering it as a trade network diaspora and investigating it in this perspective. In particular, using a network-institutional approach, the role of the Ragusan diaspora in grain trade has been analysed as an instrument of diffusion of the merchant practices in commerce, shipping and finance which have thus become as a cultural heritage of the Ragusa society. The environmental and social pressures conditioned the activity of the merchants and shaped its role as mediators of social capital in support of the economic activity of the motherland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the relationship between port productivity and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in port cities. The study initially employs the global Malmquist productivity index (MPI) to measure productivity growth in 16 major inland ports along the Yangtze River, obtaining data on the ports' total factor productivity (TFP). Through an analysis using the panel data model with two-way fixed effects, we find a positive correlation between the improvement of port TFP and the increase in CO2 emissions in port cities. Further panel quantile regression analysis reveals the heterogeneity of this impact, especially in cities with medium and higher CO2 emissions, where the positive effects of TFP on carbon emissions are particularly significant. The study also indicates a threshold effect of port size in the relationship between TFP and CO2 emissions: in smaller ports, the impact of TFP improvement on CO2 emissions is less significant; however, once the port size exceeds a certain threshold, the growth in TFP significantly promotes an increase in CO2 emissions. These findings provide theoretical justification and decision-making references for policymakers to adopt effective measures to mitigate the growth of CO2 emissions while promoting the efficiency of port production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though previous scholarship has presumed singlewomen in medieval Southern Europe were nearly non-existent and had few means, notarial sources from the late medieval Mediterranean reveal not only that singlewomen were present in the thriving port cities, but also that they created extensive networks among other women and men in order to survive and in some cases to flourish. Some had children out of wedlock, some were formerly enslaved, others traveled long distances and still remembered family members in their places of origin, and many built new communities in their homes. Indeed, it is remarkable that many of these migrant and formerly enslaved women created deep ties to both local and migrant neighbors, and their actions suggest a sense of responsibility to manumit other enslaved peoples and give charity to poor women. We investigate how singlewomen strategically used their final wills and testaments and other notarial documents to sustain, post-mortem, the networks that nurtured the women in their life, both friends and family members. We consider how women bestowed personal goods and financial legacies to maintain and memorialize their relationships and to sustain community, even in their absence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ports play an important role in transportation networks, but the ecological efficiency of many ports cannot reach an effective level. To improve the ecological efficiency of ports, we need to analyze the current ecological efficiency of ports and propose policy recommendations based on the results. In this paper, we first employed the super-efficiency SBM model to calculate the ecological efficiency of the four major ports in the Yangtze River Delta port group from 2011 to 2021. The results showed that the average comprehensive ecological efficiency of the four major ports was 0.647, which did not reach the effective level. The overall ecological efficiency curve was U-shaped. Then we used the Tobit model to analyze the key factors affecting the port's ecological efficiency. We found that the economic development of port cities could promote the improvement of port ecological efficiency. The application level of emerging technologies also had a positive impact, but the impact was weak. However, expanding the scale of the port would reduce its ecological efficiency. At last, we provided some policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 1916 and 1919, thousands of Anzac troops visited the port cities of Durban, Cape Town and, to a lesser extent, Freetown on their way to Europe during the First World War. Their impressions were recorded in diaries or letters back home, and published in local papers. Identity formation, race, and the colonial encounter have thus far taken centre stage for understanding Anzac experiences as 'soldier tourists.' This paper argues that ideas about 'modernity,' progress,' and the built environment were equally part of the colonial encounter for these soldier sojourners as they visited these African ports cities. With details on urban sanitation, housing, architecture, infrastructure, transport and population, Anzac assessments of these urban spaces were informed not only by travel writing conventions and literary tropes of Africa, but by city guide books and hegemonic trans-empire discourses about the 'ideal' modern city.' The latter however, was not independent of ideas of race, but rather interacted with, and was often shaped by, a sense of white, Anglophone, superiority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green development is a primary path for ports and cities to achieve a low-carbon transition under the Sustainable Development Goals and a powerful driving force to elevate regional port–city relations to a high level of coordination. In this paper, twenty port cities in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) were selected and port environmental efficiency (PEE) was calculated through the window SBM model, while the EW-TOPSIS model was used to evaluate high-quality urban economic development (HED). The coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, the kernel density model, GIS spatial analysis, and the grey prediction model were used to further explore the spatial–temporal dynamic evolution and prediction of the CCD between PEE and HED. The results suggested that: (1) PEE fluctuation in the YRD is increasing, with a trend of seaports achieving higher PEE than river ports; (2) HED in the YRD shows upward trends, and the polarization of individual cities is obvious; (3) Temporally, the CCD in the YRD has risen from 0.438 to 0.518. Shanghai consistently maintains intermediate coordination, and Jiangsu has experienced the most significant increase in CCD. Spatially, CCD is led by Lianyungang, Suzhou, Shanghai, and Ningbo-Zhoushan, displaying a decreasing distribution pattern from east to west. The projection for 2026 suggests that all port cities within the YRD will have transitioned to a phase of orderly development. To enhance the coordination level in the YRD, policymakers should consider the YRD as a whole to position the ports functionally and manage them hierarchically, utilize the ports to break down resource boundaries to promote the synergistic division of labor among cities, and then tilt the resources towards Anhui. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to analyze how vloggers use interactions of different modalities in transnational travel vlogs on YouTube to draw audiences' attentions, as well as the impact of the socio-cultural context on the discourse of these vlogs and the represented city images. This research project adopts a multimodal approach by using a new analytical framework based on provenance symbols in semiotics, appraisal systems, and visual grammar in linguistics as theoretical foundations. Our research findings show that there are four dominant themes, including nature enjoyment, landmark visiting and street wandering, food tasting, and infrastructure evaluation in these vlogs. North American full-time vloggers with advanced skills and rich experience are the main contributors, which may lead to a fixed and biased representation of city images. The mechanism of city image formation, from cities' physical existence to foreign viewers' perception via transnational travel vlogs, has also been illustrated. The city image exists in a dynamic landscape where online opinion leaders also hold significant discourse power. Though becoming more visible, cities are facing challenges related to the increasing homogenization of mediated images. The research findings also have practical implications for redefining approaches to the international communication of city images to diverse stakeholders including city administrators and travel vloggers. This paper expands the scope of research on urban communication by adopting a comparative and global perspective. The new analytical framework can serve as a reference for future studies on new media content. Furthermore, the systematic mechanism of city image formation presented contributes to a deeper understanding of the role of new media in the international communication of city images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary urban development places a critical emphasis on pedestrian environments, especially in historic cities like George Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Malaysia. Although survey questionnaires effectively captured public perceptions of issues such as poor road connectivity, weak accessibility, crime and safety concerns in George Town, they fell short in providing a comprehensive understanding of the root causes. This study leverages space syntax theory to model and analyze George Town's unique pedestrian landscape, aiming to identify strategies for improving pedestrian networks in historical urban landscapes. Space syntax theory, known for revealing structural issues within urban contexts, is applied after a thorough examination of George Town's urban layout, climate, architectural features, and development policies. George Town employs an informal grid layout widely utilized in British colonial port cities to enhance overall efficiency. The predominant architectural form is the shophouse, which is characterized by a ground level designed for pedestrian movement known as the "five-foot way" and adapted to Malaysia's climate. Various axis drawing methods for the unique five-foot way under different circumstances are considered. The George Town special area plan (SAP) emphasizing heritage preservation guides development policies, thus requiring an inclusive approach to pedestrian environments. This enhances the practical significance of the current study, with the eastern and northern coastal areas serving as crucial focal points for investigation. This approach results in a comprehensive spatial model that captures the essence of George Town's pedestrian landscape. Evaluation using space syntax indicators such as connectivity, integration, intelligibility, and choice reveals issues like poor overall network connectivity, inadequate access to key attractions, suboptimal integration, concentrated pedestrian flows, and significant safety concerns, which are exacerbated by limited infrastructure on certain two-way roads and a lack of zebra crossings. The practical implications of this study include recommendations for enhancing pedestrian spaces along identified roads and strategically installing zebra-crossings. This research is significant for its focus on a historical city in a Southeast Asian developing country, deeply integrating local environmental characteristics and providing insights into urban planning and optimization, thereby serving as a reference for similar cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an overview of urban botany and its significance in understanding urban spaces. It explains that urban botany extends beyond the scientific field and encompasses cultural and ecological aspects. The concept of forensic ecologies is introduced, which combines forensic architecture with indicator species to reconstruct past environments. The article emphasizes the importance of rare plants in marginalized urban areas for socio-ecological challenges to capitalist urbanization. It also highlights the role of urban botany in uncovering overlooked dimensions of urban ecology and connecting with global history. The text includes references to various sources, including books and articles, that discuss the history and presence of plant life in specific urban areas. An illustration from Richard Deakin's book, published in 1855, is included to visually represent the flora found in ruins. [Extracted from the article]

The island cluster in the South Indian port city of Kochi has been the site of immense development activities since the 2000s. Thickly populated by shore communities and other caste-oppressed groups, the islanders struggled and mobilised themselves against development projects which threatened their livelihood and marine ecology. One such protest against the Liquefied Petroleum Gas terminal of the Indian Oil Corporation in Puthuvype, a scenic island off the Arabian sea, went on for over a decade. The protestors, including large numbers of women, sustained their struggle despite the state repression in various forms and thereby inserted the need for environmentally and locally conscious development as a necessary step towards social justice. An analysis of this protest signposts the need to acknowledge environmental injustice towards marginalised communities, including shore communities, to deliberate about locally nuanced and relevant development for sustainable eco-futures in South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The text is an obituary for Michael Pearson, a maritime historian who was known for his interdisciplinary approach and his commitment to exploring the cultural and social aspects of the Indian Ocean. Pearson criticized the prevailing trend of writing economic histories of the Indian Ocean based solely on trade statistics, arguing that this approach resulted in incomplete stories. He emphasized the importance of anthropology, culture, and world literature in understanding the relationships between people and the sea. Pearson's intellectual journey was marked by his willingness to stretch the boundaries of his discipline and his interest in Africa's maritime history. He also questioned the idea of the ocean as a unified region for world history, highlighting the heterogeneity of different oceans. Pearson's work focused on the concept of a "littoral society" and the connections between land and sea. He was interested in the influence of geography on littoral boundaries and the multiple frameworks of identification that coastal and littoral people have. Pearson also explored the human experience of the sea through world literature and considered the possibility of studying land from the perspective of the sea. He saw the coast as an ecotone, a zone of transition between different ecosystems, and noted the territorialization and transformation of coastal areas in recent centuries. Overall, Pearson's work challenged disciplinary boundaries and offered new perspectives on the history of the Indian Ocean. [Extracted from the article]

The article summarizes the book edited by Manuel-Reyes García Hurtado, which examines the conflicts and tensions in the port societies of the northern Iberian Peninsula during the 16th-19th centuries. The book includes fifteen contributions that address topics such as the adaptability of the elites in the Basque Country and Galicia, controversies in the port of Pasajes, the salt monopoly in Aveiro, conflicts in Galician brotherhoods, smuggling in Bilbao and Galicia, the work of pilot guides in the ports, and a project to build a naval arsenal in Santoña. The conflicts and resistances in Betanzos, A Coruña, and Pontevedra are also analyzed, as well as violence against women and the issue of abortion and infanticide on the Galician maritime facade. These studies offer a detailed view of the conflicts and social relationships in Galicia during that period. [Extracted from the article]

One of the most successful new acts in the international anglophone music scene in 2022 was Wet Leg, an indie (i.e. independent music label) ensemble led by singerguitarists Hester Chambers and Rhian Teasdale. The band attracted attention for its effective pop-rock compositions and arrangements, the sardonic tone of lead singer Teasdale's delivery of their debut single 'Chaise longue' and the band's inventive music videos. One element that was prominent in the band's biographies was its origin in the Isle of Wight (IOW), a diamond shaped island lying off the south coast of England, close to the major port cities of Portsmouth and Southampton. The island provided both an insular context for the development of the band and an element of 'domestic exoticism' within the UK market. The latter aspect was also manifest in the band's decision to employ a female Morris (traditional folk dance) troupe to accompany its performance at the 2023 BRIT Awards, where it was awarded prizes for best group and best new artist. This article focuses on the role of the IOW in the band's biography, perception and oeuvre, with particular regard to its self-produced music videos, and the nature of the island as a repository of what might be regarded as quintessential English sensibilities that the band has inflected in ways that appeal to both domestic and broader audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The port in Flensburg, Germany, has shaped the city's identity. Globalisation and deindustrialisation have seen the northern German port on the Baltic Sea lose its economic importance. The city of Flensburg is currently planning to build a new district on a huge redevelopment site. The idea is to create a district with an infrastructure that promotes and enables lifestyles that use resources and land sustainably. The real-world laboratory on sufficiency-oriented urban development described and evaluated here aimed to better understand the process of implementing unsufficiency policies and their effects, and to develop the knowledge and skills needed for sufficiency-oriented policymaking. The real-world laboratory is a collaborative project between members of the city administration and academics from the Europa-Universitit Flensburg. The evaluation shows both the difficulties of putting sufficiency policies into practice and their potential for sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study endeavours to explain the geostrategic conditions of the north coast of Java, as well as the activities and maritime policies of the Demak Sultanate. It adopts a historiographic approach comprising heuristics based on the book Suma Oriental as a primary source and other relevant secondary sources; in-depth verification and interpretation of data from various sources; and methodical historical writing. The results illustrate (1) the geostrategic conditions of the north coast of Java, which is in the middle of the Nusantara spice route, helped make Demak and other port cities an important emporium. The region is traversed by monsoon winds that support shipping activities and has abundant teak wood resources for the shipbuilding industry. (2) Demak’s maritime activities included military expeditions to conquer the Portuguese in Malacca and several important emporiums on the north coast of Java; trade expeditions to export-import various commodities; and establishing trade partnerships with other regions, especially Malacca and Maluku. (3) Raden Patah’s maritime policy included the deployment of military expeditions to conquer the Portuguese in Malacca in 1512, establishing trade partnerships with Malacca, producing Jung ships, and building port cities on the north coast of Java as important emporiums; Pati Unus mobilized a military expedition to conquer the Portuguese in Malacca in 1521 and formed the Demak-Cirebon-Palembang military alliance; and Trenggana conquered Lampung and Banten to control the pepper trade until the conquest of the Sunda Kelapa emporium under the Pajajaran kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Examining the transformative impact of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), this research investigates how CPEC fosters cross-border cooperation and regional development. The research focuses on transnational institution building and the creation of multi-scalar geographies involving diverse public and private agencies, reshaping regional, sub-regional, and local territories. Design/Methodology/Approach: Employing a case study approach, the research focuses on Gwadar, the pivotal node of CPEC where the economic belt meets the maritime silk road. It integrates a literature review, analysis of official documents, and empirical data, supplemented by insights from independent researchers and international organizations such as the World Bank and IMF. Findings: The designation of Gwadar as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with a globally competitive deep-sea port has introduced significant economic opportunities. However, multi-scalar interactions have led to tensions between central and local authorities, reflecting conflicts between the Centre-led macroeconomic agenda and its socio-economic sustainability at the local level. Implications/Originality/Value: The research emphasizes the need to rescale political, economic, and social structures to establish sustainable institutions in cross-border regions. It provides policy recommendations for Gwadar's development, drawing lessons from global best practices such as Dubai, Shenzhen, and King Abdullah Economic City.

The article is a book review of "Down by the Water: Interdisciplinary Studies in Human-Environment Interactions in Watery Spaces" edited by Veronica Walker Vadillo, Emilia Mataix Ferrándiz, and Elisabeth Holmqvist. The book explores the concept of the maritime cultural landscape and expands it to include all watery environments, such as rivers, estuaries, and lakes. It examines the relationship between humans and water throughout history and offers diverse perspectives and approaches from various regions and time periods. While the collection lacks cohesion and accessibility, it provides valuable insights for researchers interested in studying human activity in watery spaces. [Extracted from the article]

City competitiveness is a complex product of local and international conditions, local characteristics, social and economic superstructure, and the actions of individual companies. Although many scientific studies have examined the country’s and urban competitiveness, the competitiveness of port cities still needs to be assessed comprehensively, taking into account their crucial economic role. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the competitiveness and economic security of the Baltic port cities (Klaipėda, Riga, and Tallinn). Statistical processing and multi-criteria evaluation methods (SAW, COPRAS, and TOPSIS) were chosen to achieve this goal. The comparative analysis showed that the population change in port cities is not significant for the final result of the competitiveness assessment, and the unemployment rate in port cities is lower than in the country. The assessment of the competitiveness of port cities from the point of view of economic security shows (after checking such indicators as unemployment rate, company income, and infrastructure) that Tallinn is the most competitive port city according to the three multi-criteria evaluation methods, while Klaipėda is the least competitive. The assessment was carried out in three stages to monitor changes in the situation of port cities, compared to changes in a certain indicator and the costs of timely solutions or the improvement of the city’s position in relation to other cities.

International authorities such as the European Commission and the United Nations pay special attention to sustainable urban development, for this purpose, strategies such as the European Green Deal or the Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 agenda, SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities are developed. Urban development represents a fundamental direction in the transition process towards the green economy, a sustainable economic model. The paper aims to identify the degree of efficiency of economic development in the context of sustainable development for 41 cities in Romania, Germany, Japan, United States of America and Australia. To achieve this objective, the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method is used, with the aim of identifying the gaps regarding the sustainability of the analyzed cities. Data Envelopment Analysis allows the evaluation of the efficiency of urban settlements in the sample based on representative variables, selected as input. So, the research is ready to give answer to question like "What are the efficient cities in terms of sustainability?" and "What are the relationships between the cities included in the sample?". The main results showed that there are cities that have a model of sustainable economic development, but certain cities present significant gaps from the point of view of efficient sustainable economic development. In addition, port cities seem to develop an association relationship, with inefficient port cities being associated with efficient port cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communities of the East African coast have had a long history of international interaction. Swahili maritime networks linked African port towns across the Indian Ocean seaboard, thus enabling merchandise to reach the hinterlands of the continent. One of these Swahili towns is the ancient city of Gedi, located on the central Kenyan coast near the medieval town of Malindi. Located inshore, 6 km from the main ocean to the southeast and 3 km from Mida Creek to the southwest, Gedi's lack of seaward connectivity has perplexed scholars. To effectively function within the vibrant Indian Ocean maritime trade networks of the 10th to 16th centuries CE, Gedi needed access to the sea. Inevitably goods had to be transported overland from a port or landing place. The 'MUCH to Discover in Mida Creek' project carried out an archaeological survey around the Creek to form a broader understanding of the region's maritime past. The study identified a range of sites that evidence past coastal activity. In particular, a concentration of contemporary house sites at Chafisi near the closest point on the Creek to Gedi would suggest it may have acted as an outport for the stone town. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation and soil erosion are becoming increasingly problematic in Africa's rapidly developing urban areas, particularly in Major Port Cities. Uncontrolled expansion and human pressures are hindering planning, adaptation, and conservation efforts. To understand the extent of these issues, this study combined morphometric analysis, soil loss calculation, field monitoring, and remote sensing and GIS tools to assess soil erosion in the Metropolis of Tangier (Morocco) located at the confluence of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the Strait of Gibraltar. The study relied on data from 13 rain gauge stations, official reports, and remote sensing acquisitions, as well as field observations. Results showed an average soil erosion rate of 24.2 t/ha/year, equivalent to an annual soil loss of 588,051 t/year. This high rate was largely due to areas with a high erosion risk (99.8%), covering only 8.3% of the territory, which were characterized by recently burned topsoil, fallow land, and steep slopes. These areas included both uncontrolled neighbourhoods and areas for planned urban and industrial expansion, posing a threat to the landscape's sustainability and socio-economic prospects. The morphometric analysis revealed its high vulnerability to erosion and degradation, with the highest soil loss rates observed in the eastern and western regions. The study also found that flash floods caused by hydroclimatic hazards can lead to significant damage to infrastructure and equipment, particularly in western sub-basins and mountainous regions. In conclusion, the use of remote sensing and GIS technologies provided valuable insights into the physical characteristics and vulnerability of the Tangier Metropolis to land degradation and soil erosion. These findings emphasize the need for effective land management practices and conservation measures to mitigate the impacts of land degradation and soil erosion in the face of climate change. This information is crucial for decision-makers and stakeholders to develop strategies to address these pressing issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an introduction to a special issue of the journal Water, which focuses on the interplay between port structures, maritime transport, and tourism. The special issue aims to explore various aspects related to port infrastructure, maritime transport, and their relationship with tourism. The articles in the special issue cover topics such as port infrastructure and technological advancements, sustainable practices in maritime transport, tourism in port cities, cruise tourism, and the role of ports in regional development. The authors hope that the insights presented in this special issue will contribute to the existing literature and foster future research in these fields. [Extracted from the article]

This study reconstructs the paleoecological settings of Chilia/Licostomo, the most important Genoese colony in the Danube delta. Our paleoenvironmental data (i.e., sedimentology, pollen, charcoal, radiocarbon ages) corroborate historical and archaeological information over the last seven centuries to document the habitation at Chilia and its military and socioeconomic activity during ca. 14th–19th centuries A.D. Palynological data show the continuous presence of humans, with anthropogenic pollen index calculation (API) values between 2% and 16% during the last five centuries. The variability of API, corroborated with the major peaks of the charcoal concentration, matches the documented military conflicts and population changes in the area: the Ottoman conquest of Dobrugea (15th century A.D.), the Zaporozhians Cossaks raids (17th century A.D.), and the Russian–Ottoman wars (18th–19th centuries A.D.). The presence of coprophilous fungi fits the Ottoman tradition of animal husbandry, whereas their appearance after the Zaporozhians Cossacks raids and their good correlation with open land vegetation suggest that the Chilia loess island was temporally used as a refuge from multiple menaces (e.g., wars, administrative crisis). These paleoecological data, together with the rare archaeological findings, exclude human habitation of the Chilia Plain earlier than the documented arrival of the Lipovans during the late 18th century A.D. The critical assessment of the correspondences between the paleoecological and historical data shows the relevance of the approach in deltaic environments, when applied to lagoon/lacustrine sediments, yet often limited to chronologically disparate, decennial‐ to multicentennial‐scale temporal frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this work is to obtain reliable predictions of pollutant concentrations related to maritime traffic (SO2, PM10, NO2, NOX, and NO) in the Bay of Algeciras, located in Andalusia, the south of Spain. Furthermore, the objective is to predict future air quality levels of the principal maritime traffic-related pollutants in the Bay of Algeciras as a function of the rest of the pollutants, the meteorological variables, and vessel data. In this sense, three scenarios were analysed for comparison, namely Alcornocales Park and the cities of La Línea and Algeciras. A database of hourly records of air pollution immissions, meteorological measurements in the Bay of Algeciras region and a database of maritime traffic in the port of Algeciras during the years 2017 to 2019 were used. A resampling procedure using a five-fold cross-validation procedure to assure the generalisation capabilities of the tested models was designed to compute the pollutant predictions with different classification models and also with artificial neural networks using different numbers of hidden layers and units. This procedure enabled appropriate and reliable multiple comparisons among the tested models and facilitated the selection of a set of top-performing prediction models. The models have been compared using several quality classification indexes such as sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and precision. The distance (d1) to the perfect classifier (1, 1, 1, 1) was also used as a discriminant feature, which allowed for the selection of the best models. Concerning the number of variables, an analysis was conducted to identify the most relevant ones for each pollutant. This approach aimed to obtain models with fewer inputs, facilitating the design of an optimised monitoring network. These more compact models have proven to be the optimal choice in many cases. The obtained sensitivities in the best models were 0.98 for SO2, 0.97 for PM10, 0.82 for NO2 and NOX, and 0.83 for NO. These results demonstrate the potential of the models to forecast air pollution in a port city or a complex scenario and to be used by citizens and authorities to prevent exposure to pollutants and to make decisions concerning air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religious persecution, segregation, and commercial networks triggered the diaspora of Iberian New Christians and Sephardic Jews throughout the Atlantic in the Early Modern period. Despite the geographical dispersion, the diverse host environments, and the complex religious experiences, the so-called Western Sephardic Diaspora was founded on the principles of unity and preservation, which were cemented by the notion of belonging to the Nação. Thus, as a cross-border community connected by common geographical origins, collective cultural identity, and a shared New Christian background, the concept of Nação was structural for the definition and evolution of the diasporic experience of Portuguese and Spanish exiles and their descendants from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. This article overviews the most recent findings and perspectives on the concept of the Nação as a unifying element of the Western Sephardic Diaspora. Then, it problematizes the interpretation of this concept in different Sephardic communities established in Atlantic port cities. This problem is approached by analyzing these communities' internal bylaws (ascamot) under the lens of two critical questions: (1) the concept of Nação as defining the borders of belonging to the community and (2) the unity and preservation of the Nação as essential drifts of the organization and management of the community. This analysis emphasizes the tension between the dynamism and particularities of each community and the conservatism of the idea of Nação, promoted by small social and economic elites that exercised increasing control over the communities and their interaction with the surrounding environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]