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Public opinion is increasingly important in managing urban greenery. In this regard, this study demonstrates the importance of sociological (environmental worldviews), psychological (place attachment, perceived benefits of trees), and physical factors (type of building people live in, and urban greenery) in forming residents' opinions on whether the municipality or landowners should decide about tree removal on private land. Logistic regression models were applied to analyze data collected through a survey (N = 199) and satellite image-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index carried out in two Polish cities to predict the likelihood of a respondent indicating whether landowners or the municipality should decide about tree removal on private land. The results revealed that, of two worldviews, Anthropocentrism and Environmentalism, the former is connected with the opinion that the landowner should decide about tree removal. Moreover, a stronger sense of place attachment strengthens this opinion. At the same time, greater recognition of cultural ecosystem services provided by trees and living in multi-family houses is related to the opinion that the municipality should decide about tree removal. The results also demonstrated that, when managing urban greenery, it is vital to consider not only the quality of greenery but also less obvious metrics that can affect tree management. Based on these findings we conclude that the participation of residents in tree management decisions requires careful consideration of social factors affecting their preferences. [Display omitted] • Two main orientations were identified concerning deciding on tree removal on private land. • Anthropocentrically oriented respondents believe that the landowner should decide. • Environmentally orientated respondents believe that the municipality should decide. • It is important to consider psychological (together with physical) metrics affecting urban greenery management. • Future research could test how emotional attachment affects opinions on the management of urban greenery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the field survey and mapping of the existing Wu'an pavilions in Wu'an traditional market towns, the architectural subdivision of typology is carried out, and the location, architectural characteristics, functional bias and cultural connotation of different types of pavilions are deeply analyzed and summarized. It is a compilation of information on existing historical buildings, and also provides suggestions for further creative and sustainable protection and inheritance of Wu'an pavilions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the rapid assessment of possible numbers of casualties after an earthquake. We use data on earthquake casualties to study and verify the relationship between casualties and building types, building anti-lethal levels, seismic intensity and other influencing factors. A rapid assessment method for casualties based on buildings’ anti-lethal level is proposed. The method first uses the anti-lethal level and proportions of various types of buildings to obtain the overall anti-lethal level of the study area. Second, according to historical casualty data, the casualty rate of each intensity in the study area is obtained. On this basis, a rapid assessment matrix of casualties is constructed based on the overall anti-lethal level of the study area and the casualty rate of each intensity. Finally, we make a rapid assessment of casualties based on a matrix model. Through the verification of 7 selected historical earthquakes, we find that the data on casualties obtained based on this method are close to the actual number of casualties. The resulting casualty parameters are described against the overall casualty data from several historical earthquakes in China, and the error rates of earthquakes in Lancang-Gengma, Yushu, Lushan Min county-Zhang county and Changning are 4.1%, 25.27%, 12.75%, 2% and 7.69%, respectively. The error is relatively small, within 50%, and a more accurate evaluation result is obtained. Our findings illustrate the effectiveness and practicability of a rapid assessment method for casualties based on anti-lethal levels.

This article focuses on the rapid assessment of possible numbers of casualties after an earthquake. We use data on earthquake casualties to study and verify the relationship between casualties and building types, building anti-lethal levels, seismic intensity and other influencing factors. A rapid assessment method for casualties based on buildings' anti-lethal level is proposed. The method first uses the anti-lethal level and proportions of various types of buildings to obtain the overall anti-lethal level of the study area. Second, according to historical casualty data, the casualty rate of each intensity in the study area is obtained. On this basis, a rapid assessment matrix of casualties is constructed based on the overall anti-lethal level of the study area and the casualty rate of each intensity. Finally, we make a rapid assessment of casualties based on a matrix model. Through the verification of 7 selected historical earthquakes, we find that the data on casualties obtained based on this method are close to the actual number of casualties. The resulting casualty parameters are described against the overall casualty data from several historical earthquakes in China, and the error rates of earthquakes in Lancang-Gengma, Yushu, Lushan Min county-Zhang county and Changning are 4.1%, 25.27%, 12.75%, 2% and 7.69%, respectively. The error is relatively small, within 50%, and a more accurate evaluation result is obtained. Our findings illustrate the effectiveness and practicability of a rapid assessment method for casualties based on anti-lethal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to determine how three factors—the fence, the internal public space, and the type of building—affect the sense of community, as well as the perception of social divisions that gated communities generate and the need for integration between people living in and outside gated communities. Its results are based on the survey conducted in two villages, Józefosław and Julianów, located in the Warsaw metropolitan region. It has been found that the existence of a physical barrier in the form of a fence affects the perception of human relationships. Research has confirmed the negative impact of fencing off on social bonds, the sense of community, and attachment to the area beyond the housing estate. The study of Józefosław and Julianów, however, has proved that for the residents of suburban gated communities the key factor that can increase their sense of community is access to an internal public space. The sense of community and the attachment to the area of residence are also dependent on the type of building. Inhabitants of suburban gated communities dominated by multifamily housing are definitely characterized by a weaker attachment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study is an attempt to quantify rainwater utilization and miscellaneous water demand in Tokyo's 23 special wards, the core of the urban area in Tokyo, Japan, in order to elucidate the potential of further rainwater utilization. The rainwater utilization for miscellaneous appropriate water demands, including toilet flushing, air conditioning, and garden irrigation, were calculated for six different types of building: residential house, office, department store, supermarket, restaurant, and accommodation. Miscellaneous water demands in these different types of building were expressed in terms of equivalent rainfall of 767, 1,133, 3,318, 1,887, 16,574, and 2,227 (mm/yr), respectively, compared with 1,528 mm of Tokyo's average annual precipitation. Building types, numbers and its height were considered in this study area using geographic information system data to quantify miscellaneous water demands and the amount of rainwater utilization in each ward. Area precipitation-demand ratio was used to measure rainwater utilization potential for miscellaneous water demands. Office and commercial areas, such as Chiyoda ward, showed rainwater utilization potentials of <0.3, which was relatively low compared to those wards where many residential houses are located. This is attributed to the relatively high miscellaneous water demand. In light of rainwater utilization based on building level, the introduction of rainwater storage mechanisms with a storage depth of 50 mm for six different types of buildings was considered, and calculated as rainfall of 573, 679, 819, 766, 930, and 787 (mm), respectively. Total rainwater utilization using such storage facilities in each building from 23 wards resulted in the retention of 102,760,000 m³ of water for use in miscellaneous applications annually, and this volume corresponded to 26.3% of annual miscellaneous water demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As many people live in cities that lack green space, biodiversity in such areas is decreasing. Suwon, the study site, a city that strives to improve its biodiversity, is close to the capital city of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and has a large population. This study aims to identify habitat-suitable areas using the longitudinal distribution model in Suwon-si, examine habitat changes when rooftop greening scenarios are applied to various use areas, and distinguish efficient use areas to expand the number of forms. To establish a rooftop greening creation scenario, the area was calculated based on the rooftop greening promotion plan in the metropolitan area, and a representative use area where rooftop greening can be applied was selected. To generate a scenario for creating rooftop greening, the property of the green area was assigned to the corresponding use area, and it was produced as an environmental variable, while the species distribution model was driven. As a result of the study, the area of increase in habitat area according to the rooftop greening for each usage area was derived, and the efficiency of the increase in habitat area compared to the rooftop greening area for each usage area was derived. To improve biodiversity in Suwon-si, rooftop greening in residential areas was found to be the most efficient, and rooftop greening efficiency in commercial areas was the lowest. It is expected that information on the increase and efficiency of the habitat of the wild birds due to rooftop greening by area of use derived from this study will help establish a rooftop greening plan and support decision-making to promote biodiversity in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]