Sustainability

27 pages, 17265 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Visual Elements Shape Perceived Spatial Quality in Urban Waterfront Space: An Explainable Machine Learning Approach for Urban Landscape Planning

by Wenhan Li, Yinzhe Li, Gaoming Liang, Congxi Liu, Dezheng Kong and Yan Feng

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8610; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168610 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 501

Abstract

As China’s urbanization shifts toward quality-oriented development, urban regeneration increasingly prioritizes the perceived quality of public spaces to enhance urban vitality and advance sustainable urban living. This study takes Zhengzhou’s Dongfeng Canal, a revitalized urban core waterfront, as a case to develop a [...] Read more.

As China’s urbanization shifts toward quality-oriented development, urban regeneration increasingly prioritizes the perceived quality of public spaces to enhance urban vitality and advance sustainable urban living. This study takes Zhengzhou’s Dongfeng Canal, a revitalized urban core waterfront, as a case to develop a human–machine collaborative analytical framework for exploring nonlinear relationships between visual environmental features and human spatial quality perception. By integrating 779 geolocated panoramic images with volunteers’ subjective rating data, this study adopts deep learning-based semantic segmentation to quantify eight objective visual indicators (e.g., greenness, color diversity, spatial structure). A random forest (RF) model links these indicators to three perceptual dimensions: scenic beauty, safety, and recreational value. Adopting explainable artificial intelligence (SHAP and PDPs), the results indicate that: (1) greenness is positively associated with positive perceptions but exhibits a significant threshold effect; (2) color diversity and waterfront accessibility substantially improve user experience, while excessive uniformity and extreme openness negatively affect perceived spatial quality. These findings challenge the simplistic linear “more-is-better” assumption in urban design and highlight the value of balanced, context-sensitive spatial interventions. This study provides evidence-based, segment-specific strategies for urban waterfront regeneration, advancing people-centered planning that integrates ecological functionality, social inclusivity, and long-term sustainability via Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) and geospatial analytics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Geospatial Technologies on Urban, Environmental, and Public Health Sustainability)

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54 pages, 876 KB

Open AccessArticle

Industrial Intellectual Property Upgrading Reform, Inclusive Potential of Regional Innovation Ecosystems, and Low-Carbon Green Energy Eco-Co-Evolution—A Machine Learning-Based Causal Inference Analysis

by Yuzhi Wang and Cong Zhang

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8609; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168609 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 496

Abstract

The core predicament of energy transition lies not in the availability of clean technologies, but in whether an economy possesses the institutional capacity and social foundation to systematically regulate its carbon-energy metabolic processes. Drawing upon co-evolutionary theory from evolutionary economics, this paper constructs [...] Read more.

The core predicament of energy transition lies not in the availability of clean technologies, but in whether an economy possesses the institutional capacity and social foundation to systematically regulate its carbon-energy metabolic processes. Drawing upon co-evolutionary theory from evolutionary economics, this paper constructs a composite indicator of Low-Carbon Green Energy Eco-Co-evolution (LCEE) encompassing three functional dimensions: efficiency advancement, kinetic energy replacement, and boundary adherence. Concurrently, by integrating innovation ecosystem theory with inclusive development theory, we propose the concept of “Inclusive Potential of Regional Innovation Ecosystems” (IEP), characterizing the systemic potential for transforming innovation outcomes into social welfare across four dimensions: Knowledge Matrix Abundance (KMF), Cultural Capillary Permeation (CCP), Technological Community Succession (TCS), and Social Root Nourishment (SRN). Taking China’s 2016 intellectual property (IP) powerhouse construction pilot as the institutional prototype of Industrial Intellectual Property Upgrading Reform (IPR), we incorporate IPR, IEP, and LCEE into a unified causal analytical framework, proposing a testable transmission logic of ‘institutional supply → ecological development → co-evolutionary synergy. Using panel data from 30 Chinese provincial-level administrative regions over 2010–2022, we employ a Spatial Durbin Difference-in-Differences (SDM-DID) model to identify the direct and spatial spillover effects of IPR on LCEE, and embed a Double Machine Learning (DML) framework to test the mediating mechanism of IEP while controlling for high-dimensional nonlinear interference. The findings reveal that IPR exerts a significant and robust direct promoting effect on LCEE, generating positive spatial spillovers to neighboring regions through the public disclosure of patent information. IEP significantly promotes local LCEE, yet its spatial spillover lacks statistical support due to structural conflicts in inter-dimensional transmission attributes. IEP plays a significant partial mediating role between IPR and LCEE, with the indirect effect accounting for over one-third of the total effect, a finding robust to alternative machine learning algorithms, sample split adjustments, and exclusion of contemporaneous competing policies. Sub-path tests reveal that KMF bears the strongest mediating efficacy, serving as the primary transmission channel, while CCP exhibits full mediation—the institutional effect on LCEE in the cultural dimension depends almost entirely on the mediating transformation through the public cultural service system. Heterogeneity analysis further demonstrates full mediation in the Low-Carbon Green Energy Eco-Kinetic Replacement (KER) dimension, indicating that the institutional catalytic effect on clean energy substitution must be realized through IEP transformation. This paper provides empirical evidence for the proposed causal pathway through which institutional public goods indirectly enhance the synergistic quality of carbon-energy transition via the inclusive potential of innovation ecosystems, providing theoretical foundations and policy implications that, while grounded in China’s institutional context, may offer valuable reference points for emerging market economies facing similar dual pressures of technological constraints and green transition. Full article

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38 pages, 15178 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Technologies for Sustainability-Oriented Decision-Making: Integrating BIM and Computational Programming for Building Envelope Selection

by Giuliana Parisi, Emanuele Testa and Rosa Caponetto

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8608; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168608 - 21 Aug 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 367

Abstract

The growing environmental impact of the construction sector is driving a shift toward sustainable design practices, in which digital technologies are integrated to enable designers to make informed decisions from the early design stages. In this study, a DSS is developed that combines [...] Read more.

The growing environmental impact of the construction sector is driving a shift toward sustainable design practices, in which digital technologies are integrated to enable designers to make informed decisions from the early design stages. In this study, a DSS is developed that combines BIM, VPL and TPL to identify the optimal wall stratigraphy for the building envelope. The process is structured into sequential phases, in which Autodesk Revit v2026.06.24.01, Dynamo v.3.6.1 and Python v3.9 are integrated within an end-to-end workflow. In the first phase, wall stratigraphies are modelled in BIM, and parametric variations in layers are allowed alongside customisation of the material database. In the second phase, an automated workflow calculates a set of indicators covering thermal performance, environmental assessments (LCA, MRc2 LEED and mandatory national requirements), and economic evaluations (LCC). In the third phase, indicators are imported into an automated Dynamo-based MCDM, where a hybrid AHP/PROMETHEE analysis is applied and results are directly integrated into BIM, thereby supporting sustainability-focused decisions. The tool is validated on different sustainable wall stratigraphies in warm-climate contexts. The hybrid solution is ranked first, followed by rammed earth, while platform frame and X-LAM are ranked lower. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Enhancing Sustainable Construction Design and Project Execution Using Information Technology)

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26 pages, 3786 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrologically Derived Winter Water Level Targets and Replenishment Requirements for Sustainable Management of a Regulated Plain River Network

by Yu Zhang, Geng Niu, Guanhang Sui, Tianchi Duan, Tian Cheng and Yue Xin

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8607; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168607 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 316

Abstract

Winter water allocation in regulated plain river networks requires an operational link between hydrological low water benchmarks and replenishment decisions. This study focused on the Lixiahe plain river networks; utilizing winter water level records from nine stations during 2006–2021, five hydrological methods were [...] Read more.

Winter water allocation in regulated plain river networks requires an operational link between hydrological low water benchmarks and replenishment decisions. This study focused on the Lixiahe plain river networks; utilizing winter water level records from nine stations during 2006–2021, five hydrological methods were applied to derive candidate water level benchmarks. A one-dimensional MIKE 11 model was applied to simulate total upstream replenishment scenarios of 40–400 m³/s and to establish station-specific stage–discharge relationships under fixed downstream boundaries and structure operation rules. Within the simulated range, the candidate benchmarks corresponded to scenario-specific replenishment requirements of 153.94–268.49 m³/s. The framework supports comparison of winter water allocation strategies and identification of controlling stations, but ecological sufficiency requires independent evidence from species, habitat, thermal, dissolved oxygen, and water quality responses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Water Management)

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34 pages, 508 KB

Open AccessArticle

Disclosure of Sustainability-Related Information and Risk-Adjusted Financial Performance of Agri-Food Cooperatives

by Cenaide Francieli Justen, Roberto Frota Decourt, Clea Beatriz Macagnan and Bruno de Medeiros Teixeira

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8606; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168606 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 356

Abstract

The cooperatives combine a pyramidal structure, in which few members concentrate decision-making power, with ownership dispersed among a broad membership base. This configuration favors adverse selection and moral hazard arising from information asymmetry between managers and stakeholders, which legitimacy theory suggests may be [...] Read more.

The cooperatives combine a pyramidal structure, in which few members concentrate decision-making power, with ownership dispersed among a broad membership base. This configuration favors adverse selection and moral hazard arising from information asymmetry between managers and stakeholders, which legitimacy theory suggests may be reduced through sustainability disclosure. The study advances the literature by combining three elements not yet integrated in research on cooperatives: the cultural pillar as an autonomous dimension of sustainability, disaggregated analysis by pillar, and risk-adjusted financial performance. The level of sustainability disclosure was analyzed from a stakeholder perspective, along with its association with financial performance. Forty-four expert-validated indicators were applied to 39 cooperatives listed in the 2022 World Cooperative Monitor that published complete reports over the 2020–2022 triennium, resulting in 117 observations, estimated by fixed effects with cluster-robust standard errors. Mean disclosure was 0.52, led by the environmental pillar (0.70), followed by the economic (0.62), social (0.47), and cultural (0.33) pillars. The aggregate index showed no statistically significant association with risk-adjusted financial performance, either for ROA or for ROE, whereas the social dimension remained positive and significant regardless of the metric used. This pattern is consistent with the propositions of legitimacy theory regarding the social pillar, although the underlying mechanisms of information asymmetry reduction and legitimacy strengthening were not directly measured in this study. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

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43 pages, 11061 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability-Oriented Parametric Exergetic Analysis of Liquid Air Energy Storage Systems with Waste Heat and Cold Recovery

by Adalia Andreea Percembli (Chelmuș), Lavinia Grosu, Dănuț Cristian Urduza and Alexandru Dobrovicescu

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8605; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168605 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 294

Abstract

Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) is a promising large-scale storage technology for supporting the sustainable integration of intermittent renewable electricity into power grids, particularly when electricity storage is combined with waste-heat valorization, cryogenic cold recovery, and reduced exergy degradation. In this thermodynamic sense, [...] Read more.

Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) is a promising large-scale storage technology for supporting the sustainable integration of intermittent renewable electricity into power grids, particularly when electricity storage is combined with waste-heat valorization, cryogenic cold recovery, and reduced exergy degradation. In this thermodynamic sense, the present study proposes a sustainability-oriented framework for the comparative and parametric exergetic analysis of LAES systems, integrating the liquefaction and discharge stages within a unified analysis. The assessment focuses on thermodynamic resource efficiency and exergy performance rather than on a complete economic, environmental, or life-cycle evaluation. The objective is to identify the components and operating parameters that most strongly influence performance and to quantify the reductions in exergy destruction and losses achieved through configuration changes and parameter variation. Three Linde–Hampson-based liquefaction configurations are compared, including arrangements with external and intermediate auxiliary pre-cooling. Improved heat-exchanger integration and temperature matching increase the structural liquefaction exergetic indicator from 7.95% in the baseline configuration to 19.28% in the two-RHX configuration. The discharge stage is assessed parametrically with respect to cryogenic pumping pressure, turbine inlet temperature, and expansion architecture. Single-stage and two-stage adiabatic expansions are compared with an ideal isothermal benchmark. The adiabatic configurations provide mechanical-work recovery together with recoverable cooling potential, whereas the isothermal case gives the highest work-recovery benchmark. Under the reference conditions, using the aggregated compressor representation adopted for the main parametric analysis, the two-stage adiabatic configuration reaches a global exergetic efficiency of 15.92% for the improved Linde–Hampson-based chain and 24.87% for the selected Claude–Heylandt reference block. Full article

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18 pages, 2256 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hierarchical PPO–TD3 Energy Management for Renewable-Rich Microgrids with Safety-Filtered Action Projection

by Yuanyuan Xu, Yixin Lin, Shuhao Li, Xiutao Gao and Zhichun Liu

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8604; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168604 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 360

Abstract

For renewable-rich microgrids, effective energy management is essential to improve economic efficiency and renewable-energy utilization while maintaining supply adequacy and network security. However, online dispatch remains challenging because variable renewable generation and demand must be coordinated under battery operating limits, distribution-network voltage constraints, [...] Read more.

For renewable-rich microgrids, effective energy management is essential to improve economic efficiency and renewable-energy utilization while maintaining supply adequacy and network security. However, online dispatch remains challenging because variable renewable generation and demand must be coordinated under battery operating limits, distribution-network voltage constraints, and limited forecast information. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a safety-filtered hierarchical PPO–TD3 framework for microgrid energy management. The upper PPO layer selects coarse battery operating modes for long-horizon economic scheduling, while the lower TD3 layer refines continuous battery-power commands for short-term regulation. Before execution, the fused command is projected through a model-based safety filter considering state-of-charge limits, supply-priority rules, and voltage screening under a 33-bus radial-network surrogate. Fixed-test evaluation over five random seeds and 62 chronologically held-out test days shows that the proposed controller reduces total operating cost from 1003.66 to 686.31 k c.u. (31.6%) and unserved energy from 1743.25 to 1052.14 kWh (39.6%) relative to MPC-Lite, while reducing average decision time from 180.21 to 43.55 ms per step. In a separate safety-filter ablation, the filter reduced total cost from 912.47 to 686.31 k c.u., the hard-voltage violation rate from 25.31% to 19.46%, and the executed state-of-charge violation rate from 0.40% to 0.00%. These results indicate that the proposed framework supports reliable and efficient renewable-rich microgrid operation, facilitating renewable-energy integration and enhancing operational resilience. Full article

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31 pages, 13599 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Parcel-Level GIS Analysis of Development Disparities, Floodplain Exposure, and Building Growth in Texas Border Colonias

by Dean Kyne, Bridget R. Scanlon, Yiming Zhang, Keri K. Stephens, Brent Porter, Wonhyun Lee and Aracelli V. Vega

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8603; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168603 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 334

Abstract

Colonias are historically underserved communities along the Texas–Mexico border facing infrastructure deficiencies, socioeconomic vulnerability, and environmental hazards. This study examines parcel-level development conditions across 66,160 properties in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, Texas. Property appraisal records, colonia boundaries and 2014 classifications, and [...] Read more.

Colonias are historically underserved communities along the Texas–Mexico border facing infrastructure deficiencies, socioeconomic vulnerability, and environmental hazards. This study examines parcel-level development conditions across 66,160 properties in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy Counties, Texas. Property appraisal records, colonia boundaries and 2014 classifications, and geographic information system analyses were integrated to evaluate property values, platting, public service district coverage, floodplain exposure, and reconstructed building patterns from 1990 to 2025. These indicators represent physical and economic conditions associated with resilience rather than a comprehensive measure of community resilience. Results reveal variation among counties and 2014 baseline classification categories. Communities classified as Green exhibited higher property values, greater district coverage, and more established development, whereas those classified as Red showed lower values and greater developmental disadvantages. Reconstructed building inventories more than doubled in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties and increased in Starr County, although survivorship bias and missing year-built data limit interpretation of growth rates. Many colonia properties remain within mapped floodplains, particularly in Hidalgo County. Because the analysis is descriptive, these patterns cannot be causally attributed to specific policies. This study provides a replicable parcel-level framework for evaluating development disparities and floodplain exposure to inform equitable infrastructure investment and planning in underserved border communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Resilient Cities: The 11th World Sustainability Forum (WSF 2025))

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21 pages, 3753 KB

Open AccessArticle

Extrusion Puffing Combined with Irpex lacteus Fermentation Strategy for Peach Branch Feed Valorization

by Cheng Chen, Anqi He, Junbo Wang and Sasa Zuo

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8602; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168602 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 305

Abstract

Valorizing peach pruning residues into alternative feed is a potentially sustainable strategy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of extrusion puffing (EX) and white-rot fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Irpex lacteus, and Phlebia acerina) on the lignocellulose composition of peach [...] Read more.

Valorizing peach pruning residues into alternative feed is a potentially sustainable strategy. In this study, we evaluated the effects of extrusion puffing (EX) and white-rot fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Irpex lacteus, and Phlebia acerina) on the lignocellulose composition of peach branches. We selected I. lacteus as the best-performing fungus for subsequent investigations of its effects on enzyme activities, in vitro rumen fermentation, and metabolomic analyses. Compared with the control, EX alone reduced the concentrations of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin by 27.3%, 22.4%, and 9.0%, respectively. The EX combined with I. lacteus (EI) treatment showed high selectivity for lignin degradation relative to cellulose degradation and increased β-glucosidase activity in the middle stage (days 14 and 21) compared with I. lacteus treatment (p < 0.05). Through metabolomic analysis, we identified organic acids and their derivatives (mainly carboxylic acids) as the most abundant superclass. On day 28, betaine and L-leucine were enriched in the fermented samples, and their abundances appeared to be descriptively associated with the enzyme activity patterns observed at this time point. In conclusion, the EI treatment represents a potential approach for altering the composition of peach branches; however, its practical benefits must be weighed against the energy input required and the complexity of the process. In this work, we provide a theoretical foundation for feed-oriented valorization of orchard pruning residues. Further studies are needed to assess economic feasibility and scale-up performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture Bioresource Utilization Technology)

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31 pages, 69724 KB

Open AccessArticle

Ontology-Driven Semantic Configuration and Prioritization of Earth Observation Opportunities for Sustainable Urban Disaster Response

by Jie Li, Liang Zhao, Bo Jia, Xuan Ding, Wu Jing and Ke Wang

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8601; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168601 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 384

Abstract

Sustainable urban disaster response requires Earth observation (EO) resources to be selected according to event demands, environmental conditions, sensing capabilities, and urban targets. This study proposes an Observation Linked Open Data (O-LOD)-based Urban Disaster Observation Task (UDOT) enhancement framework for semantic EO resource [...] Read more.

Sustainable urban disaster response requires Earth observation (EO) resources to be selected according to event demands, environmental conditions, sensing capabilities, and urban targets. This study proposes an Observation Linked Open Data (O-LOD)-based Urban Disaster Observation Task (UDOT) enhancement framework for semantic EO resource configuration. O-LOD organizes heterogeneous data through four dimensions, Event, Context, Subject, and Object, which an instantiation algorithm populates as task graphs. Layered GeoSPARQL queries then match thematic and analytical capabilities, qualify orbit-derived observation opportunities against context and object constraints, and rank feasible alternatives using the Observation Capability Evaluation Model (OCEM). Evaluation on the 2020 Khartoum flood and Bobcat wildfire narrowed 202 satellite–sensor pairs to three flood-capable and four wildfire-capable pairs and returned two Khartoum and eight Bobcat ranked opportunities, with complete queries executing in 3.0 s and 0.07 s. Constraint ablation and resolution sensitivity analyses identified the conditions governing the feasible set. Publicly accessible Sentinel, Landsat, and MODIS products corroborated both retained and excluded results, supporting water-extent and burn-severity mapping where coverage, spectral bands, and image quality met the task requirements. O-LOD therefore provides a traceable semantic link from disaster observation demand to qualified and ranked EO opportunities and subsequent image assessment, supplying task-oriented inputs for downstream scheduling and supporting context-aware sensing for sustainable urban disaster response. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustaining Urban and Environmental Systems with Geospatial Digital Twins and Intelligent Sensing)

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25 pages, 9485 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Multi-Scale Framework for Quantifying Spatial Perception in Sustainable Historic-Town Conservation and Renewal: Evidence from Yun’an Ancient Salt Town, China

by Yusu Xu, Wei Mao, Anqi Kang, Xuan Zhou, Hongjie Xie, Libo Chen and Kai Xue

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8600; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168600 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 408

Abstract

Sustainable historic-town conservation requires preserving historical patterns and cultural memory while understanding how spatial environments shape everyday perception. Using Yun’an Ancient Salt Town in Chongqing, China, this study develops a three-layer framework of spatial topology, scene interfaces, and historical semantic elements. Space syntax, [...] Read more.

Sustainable historic-town conservation requires preserving historical patterns and cultural memory while understanding how spatial environments shape everyday perception. Using Yun’an Ancient Salt Town in Chongqing, China, this study develops a three-layer framework of spatial topology, scene interfaces, and historical semantic elements. Space syntax, deep-learning image recognition, rule-based coding, image-based questionnaires, Spearman correlation, random forest regression, and SHAP were used to examine perceived historicity, safety, attractiveness, and comfort. The analysis combined axial models for 1985, 2004, and 2024 with 140 images—55 human view and 85 aerial view—each evaluated by 264 valid respondents. Yun’an’s street network shifted from a salt-production and transport structure toward modern traffic corridors; integration declined in the historic core, and intelligibility fell from 0.13 in 2004 to 0.07 in 2024. At the human-view scale, modern interference was negatively associated with historicity and attractiveness, whereas stairs, traditional components, and micro-historical objects were positively associated with historicity. At the aerial-view scale, historical visibility, character integrity, and blue-green-space indicators were associated with historicity, attractiveness, and comfort. Cross-validated random forest performance was strongest for aerial-view historicity and limited for other outcomes. The findings support a human-centered, culturally sustainable renewal pathway linking historical-street continuity, townscape integration, blue-green quality, and heritage-node activation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sustainable Conservation of Architectural and Cultural Heritage)

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34 pages, 2325 KB

Open AccessArticle

From City to Region: Spatial Structure and Evolution of Resilience Networks in the Yangtze River Delta

by Sainan Lyu, Caipeng Yin, Beibei Zhang, Dongyue Zhan, Xin Hu, Xiaopeng Deng and Martin Skitmore

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8599; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168599 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 323

Abstract

Urban agglomerations are increasingly exposed to shocks that extend across administrative boundaries through infrastructure systems, industrial chains, population mobility, and shared ecological spaces. Existing urban resilience research has predominantly assessed city-level capacity, while comparatively less attention has been paid to the relational structures [...] Read more.

Urban agglomerations are increasingly exposed to shocks that extend across administrative boundaries through infrastructure systems, industrial chains, population mobility, and shared ecological spaces. Existing urban resilience research has predominantly assessed city-level capacity, while comparatively less attention has been paid to the relational structures associated with differences in resilience capacity and geographic proximity. This study examines the model-implied spatial correlation network of urban resilience across 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta from 2013 to 2022. A multidimensional resilience index covering economic, infrastructure, social, and ecological dimensions was constructed using the entropy weight method and directed intercity interaction potentials were estimated using a modified gravity model and analyzed through social network analysis. The results show that overall resilience improved during the study period, although substantial cross-city disparities persisted. Under the baseline row-specific mean threshold, network density remained broadly stable, fluctuating between 0.2476 and 0.2506 and decreasing slightly from 0.2506 in 2013 to 0.2482 in 2022. The model-implied network remained fully reachable but relatively sparse, with persistent positional differentiation. Nanjing and Hangzhou consistently occupied leading total-degree positions, while Hefei, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Huangshan, and Chuzhou repeatedly exhibited relatively high betweenness. The block-model structure was also comparatively stable, with only three cities changing block membership between 2013 and 2022. Robustness analyses further showed that broad positional differentiation was more stable than exact density levels, outward-oriented rankings, and brokerage positions. Overall, improvements in city-level resilience did not translate into substantial densification or reorganization of the regional network, highlighting the need to distinguish internal resilience capacity from model-implied network position when designing differentiated regional coordination strategies. Full article

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28 pages, 20715 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Patterns and Driving Factors of Low-Altitude Tourism Bases in China: Implications for Sustainable Regional Planning

by Jiacheng Hu, Lulu Zhang, Yinuo Jia and Yuhao Feng

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8598; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168598 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 302

Abstract

The rapid development of the low-altitude economy is reshaping tourism activities, infrastructure provision, and landscape resource use, yet national-scale research on low-altitude tourism bases remains limited. Using data on 1247 bases in China, this study applies average nearest-neighbor analysis, kernel density estimation, and [...] Read more.

The rapid development of the low-altitude economy is reshaping tourism activities, infrastructure provision, and landscape resource use, yet national-scale research on low-altitude tourism bases remains limited. Using data on 1247 bases in China, this study applies average nearest-neighbor analysis, kernel density estimation, and spatial inequality measures to characterize multi-scale patterns. The study further employs an optimal parameters-based geographical detector within a geographical nature framework to identify influencing factors and interactions. The results reveal significant clustering and regional inequality, with a pronounced east–west divide along the Heihe–Tengchong Line. A diamond-shaped core bounded by Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Sanya, together with its 200 km buffer zone, contains 89.17% of all bases. Domestic tourism revenue, the number of low-altitude industry enterprises, general aviation airports, national tourist resorts, and domestic tourist arrivals constitute the leading factors, although the dominant factor combinations vary across base types. Factor interactions are dominated by two-factor and nonlinear enhancement. The three natures form a coupled pathway: first nature provides environmental suitability, second nature transforms resource potential into marketable tourism products, and third nature regulates implementation. General aviation infrastructure acts as an operational interface linking environmental conditions, tourism demand, industrial support, and policy arrangements. The findings provide a basis for differentiated regional zoning and type-specific facility planning, thereby informing the sustainable development of low-altitude tourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Regional Tourism)

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41 pages, 1435 KB

Open AccessArticle

Financial Development and Selected Telecommunications Infrastructure Indicators Associated with SDG 9: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

by Alina Elena Ionașcu, Dereje Fedasa Hordofa, Elena Cerasela Spătariu, Irena Munteanu, Alexandra Dănilă, Gabriela Gheorghiu, Liliana Nicodim and Sorinel Cosma

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8597; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168597 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 299

Abstract

This study examines the association between financial development and selected telecommunications infrastructure indicators in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), focusing on mobile cellular subscriptions (MBS) and fixed telephone subscriptions (FTS). It also examines whether urbanization moderates these associations and explores the relationships of trade openness, [...] Read more.

This study examines the association between financial development and selected telecommunications infrastructure indicators in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), focusing on mobile cellular subscriptions (MBS) and fixed telephone subscriptions (FTS). It also examines whether urbanization moderates these associations and explores the relationships of trade openness, final consumption expenditure, and economic growth with telecommunications infrastructure. The study is based on an unbalanced panel of 44 SSA countries with data for the period 1981–2021 and includes two-way fixed effects (TWFE) models as the baseline specification, Panel Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) to estimate long-run associations within the cointegrating framework, and TWFE models with Driscoll–Kraay standard errors as a robustness procedure. The results indicate that financial development is positively and significantly associated with both FTS and MBS across the main specifications, with a substantially stronger association for MBS. These results validate the hypotheses that financial development has a positive relationship with the fixed and mobile telecommunications infrastructure. The moderation analysis also shows that financial development is positively associated with MBS when the level of urbanization increases, while such a positive moderating relationship is not statistically significant for FTS. Trade openness is generally positively associated with telecommunications infrastructure, while the associations of final consumption expenditure and economic growth vary across the MBS and FTS specifications. Overall, the findings suggest that the association between financial development and telecommunications infrastructure is technology-specific and varies with the level of urbanization. Robustness tests with the balanced panel sample and the post-1990s subsample generally give similar results, but caution should be taken in comparing results across specifications because of the differences in samples. The findings provide evidence relevant to the telecommunications infrastructure dimension of the broader Sustainable Development Goal 9 agenda, but they should not be inferred as evidence of comprehensive SDG 9 progress or causal effects. Future studies should use more comprehensive digital infrastructure indicators, disaggregated data, and better identification strategies to mitigate potential reverse causality and other forms of endogeneity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Measuring Progress towards the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs))

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28 pages, 4232 KB

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic Sustainability of Agricultural Drone Adoption in China: Impacts on Production Costs, ROI, and Labor Structure

by Huan Chen, Yi Cai, Jingyi Wei, Tong Wu, Yu Lin and Dongxu Chen

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168596 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 424

Abstract

Agricultural drones have been increasingly adopted to improve production efficiency and address labor shortages in agriculture. However, their broader socioeconomic effects remain unclear, particularly regarding whether drone-assisted farming may increase unemployment pressure or attract excessive capital intervention that threatens farmers’ access to farmland [...] Read more.

Agricultural drones have been increasingly adopted to improve production efficiency and address labor shortages in agriculture. However, their broader socioeconomic effects remain unclear, particularly regarding whether drone-assisted farming may increase unemployment pressure or attract excessive capital intervention that threatens farmers’ access to farmland and the sustainable development of agricultural production systems. To address these issues, this study evaluates the development scale and economic effects of agricultural drones in China. A comparative analytical framework is constructed to quantify production costs, return on investment (ROI), and labor demand under traditional and drone-assisted farming modes. Corn and citrus are selected as representative grain and fruit crops for empirical analysis. The results indicate the following: (1) Drone-assisted farming reduces production costs. (2) At the baseline prices, the ROI of drone-assisted corn and citrus production increases to 10.53% and 7.65%, respectively, but remains low, suggesting a limited risk of excessive capital intervention. (3) At the national scale, drone-assisted farming generates estimated cost savings for corn and citrus. (4) In terms of labor effects, agricultural drones mainly help alleviate agricultural labor shortages rather than generate large-scale unemployment, while also improving production efficiency and supporting sustainable agricultural development. Full article

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28 pages, 815 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Digitalization and Greening Promote the Synergy of Pollution and Carbon Emission Reductions? Evidence from the Dual-Policy Pilots of Key Air Pollution Control Zones and Broadband China

by Jingjing Lin and Ying Wang

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8595; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168595 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 250

Abstract

Coordinating air pollution control with carbon mitigation is a central challenge for urban sustainability. However, there is currently a lack of sufficient research on whether digital infrastructure can complement environmental regulations to enhance the synergy of pollution and carbon emission reduction (SPCER). Using [...] Read more.

Coordinating air pollution control with carbon mitigation is a central challenge for urban sustainability. However, there is currently a lack of sufficient research on whether digital infrastructure can complement environmental regulations to enhance the synergy of pollution and carbon emission reduction (SPCER). Using the overlapping implementation of China’s Key Air Pollution Control Zones (KAPCZs) and Broadband China (BC) policies as an empirical policy setting, this study applies a partially linear Double Machine Learning framework to panel data for 282 Chinese cities from 2006 to 2023. The results show that the dual-policy pilots significantly improve urban SPCER, while a unified interaction test further provides statistical evidence of a positive synergistic effect between the two policies. Mediation analyses provide evidence consistent with Green Technological Innovation, industrial structure upgrading, and green finance development as potential transmission mechanisms. Formal cross-group tests reveal significant heterogeneity across regions and city characteristics, with larger effects in highly urbanized, low industrial development, non-old industrial base, central, and non-resource-based cities. Spatial Durbin Model estimates further indicate positive spillovers to neighboring cities. These findings demonstrate the potential value of coordinating environmental regulation with digital infrastructure and provide evidence for differentiated policy design and cross-regional collaboration in urban digital–green transitions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability)

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34 pages, 421 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Digital Inclusive Finance on Employment in Micro- and Small Enterprises: An Empirical Analysis Based on the China Micro- and Small-Enterprise Survey (CMES) Database

by Zhangxing Xu and Hanbing Li

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8594; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168594 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 208

Abstract

Digital inclusive finance has become an important policy instrument for promoting inclusive growth and decent employment. Using matched data from the China Micro- and Small-Enterprise Survey (CMES) and the Peking University Digital Financial Inclusion Index, this study applies a bivariate Probit model to [...] Read more.

Digital inclusive finance has become an important policy instrument for promoting inclusive growth and decent employment. Using matched data from the China Micro- and Small-Enterprise Survey (CMES) and the Peking University Digital Financial Inclusion Index, this study applies a bivariate Probit model to 3263 micro- and small enterprises (MSEs) across 28 Chinese provinces to examine how digital inclusive finance relates to MSEs’ labor hiring decisions, distinguishing between formal and informal employment and exploring the underlying mechanisms. Digital inclusive finance is positively associated with formal employment and negatively associated with informal employment in MSEs. Mediation analysis shows that credit constraints are an important transmission channel, accounting for 9.17% and 10.58% of the associations with formal and informal employment, respectively. The breadth of coverage and depth of use of digital inclusive finance are positively associated with formal employment and negatively associated with informal employment, whereas the degree of digitalization exhibits the opposite pattern. Digital inclusive finance also alleviates supply-side credit constraints faced by MSEs but shows no significant relationship with demand-side constraints. These findings offer policy implications for promoting inclusive and decent employment in MSEs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability)

18 pages, 826 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Framework for Assessing the Performance of Occupational Health and Safety Practices in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

by Miskeen Ali Gopang, Inayat Ali, Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh, Tauha Hussain Ali, Awais Khatri and Hussain Bux Marri

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8593; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168593 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 394

Abstract

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) currently face substantial challenges in maintaining their operating standards. Implementing occupational health and safety practices (OHSPs) can be an important strategy for success. This empirical study assessed the performance of OHSPs in SMEs. A framework was developed comprising [...] Read more.

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) currently face substantial challenges in maintaining their operating standards. Implementing occupational health and safety practices (OHSPs) can be an important strategy for success. This empirical study assessed the performance of OHSPs in SMEs. A framework was developed comprising four performance indicators: operations, customer satisfaction, finance, and employee satisfaction. Data were collected from 35 SMEs in the Sindh Industrial Trading Estate (SITE) in Kotri, Sindh, Pakistan, through a self-administered questionnaire and convenience sampling. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess data reliability, yielding a coefficient of 0.85 and indicating acceptable reliability. The data were then analyzed using descriptive statistics and intercorrelations among the components. Most SMEs reported improved performance, including greater employee motivation (94.2%), target achievement (85.7%), timely order delivery (91.4%), product quality (80%), ease of supervision (57.1%), company reputation (94.3%), profitability (60%), productivity (91.5%), and sales (57.1%). Overall, the SMEs reported improvements across all four key performance areas, primarily following the effective implementation of OHSPs. Intercorrelation analysis also indicated positive relationships among all factors, most of which were statistically significant at the 0.05 level. These findings demonstrate that implementing OHSPs can support sustainable growth and promote healthy lives and decent work, thereby contributing to SDGs 3 and 8. Full article

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22 pages, 709 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Transformation and Innovation in an Entrepreneurial Fintech SME: Implications for Social Sustainability from the PiggyVest Case

by Tomasz Bernat and Jude Akposibruke

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8592; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168592 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 299

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between digital transformation capabilities and perceived organizational performance in an entrepreneurial fintech SME and considers, at an interpretive level, how these capabilities may support more accessible digital financial services. The study focuses on PiggyVest, a Nigerian digital savings [...] Read more.

This paper examines the relationship between digital transformation capabilities and perceived organizational performance in an entrepreneurial fintech SME and considers, at an interpretive level, how these capabilities may support more accessible digital financial services. The study focuses on PiggyVest, a Nigerian digital savings and investment platform. Methodologically, it adopts an embedded single-case research design that combines quantitative survey evidence with qualitative interpretation and secondary-source analysis of the firm’s inclusion- and governance-related practices. The quantitative component examines digital integration, process automation, change management, and training and capability development in relation to perceived organizational performance. The case-based analysis then considers how PiggyVest’s digitally enabled service model may reduce barriers to savings and investment services and support financial inclusion under appropriate governance conditions. Descriptive and correlational results indicate positive associations between the examined dimensions of digital transformation and perceived organizational performance. The broader implications for financial inclusion and social sustainability are not directly measured and are therefore presented as case-based interpretations rather than demonstrated societal effects. The paper contributes to research on digital transformation, SME innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainability by clearly distinguishing between firm-level empirical evidence and broader interpretive implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Innovation and Sustainability in SMEs and Entrepreneurship)

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26 pages, 927 KB

Open AccessArticle

Green Digital Technologies, Circular Economy Adoption, and Sustainable Business Performance: The Mediating Role of Eco-Innovation and the Moderating Role of Institutional Support

by Ra’ed Masa’deh and Zaid Dannoun

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8591; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168591 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 649

Abstract

Green digital technologies are increasingly used to improve environmental visibility, resource efficiency, and sustainability-oriented decision-making. However, their association with sustainable business performance may depend on whether firms convert digital resources into organizational capabilities and implemented circular practices. Drawing on the Natural Resource-Based View, [...] Read more.

Green digital technologies are increasingly used to improve environmental visibility, resource efficiency, and sustainability-oriented decision-making. However, their association with sustainable business performance may depend on whether firms convert digital resources into organizational capabilities and implemented circular practices. Drawing on the Natural Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Institutional Theory, this study examines a moderated serial mediation model in which eco-innovation and circular economy adoption sequentially mediate the relationship between green digital technologies and sustainable business performance, while institutional support moderates the relationship between eco-innovation and circular economy adoption. Survey data were collected from managers and professionals in Saudi industrial and manufacturing firms. Of the 450 questionnaires distributed, 420 were returned, and 386 usable responses remained after data-quality screening and were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS 4. The results show that green digital technologies are positively associated with eco-innovation (β = 0.662, p < 0.001) and circular economy adoption (β = 0.263, p < 0.001). Eco-innovation is positively associated with circular economy adoption (β = 0.487, p < 0.001), which, in turn, is strongly associated with sustainable business performance (β = 0.726, p < 0.001). The serial indirect association through eco-innovation and circular economy adoption is significant (β = 0.234, p < 0.001). Institutional support also strengthens the eco-innovation–circular economy adoption relationship, although the interaction is comparatively modest (β = 0.118, p = 0.002). The study contributes by distinguishing eco-innovation as a resource-conversion capability from circular economy adoption as an implemented organizational practice and by identifying institutional support as a boundary condition within Saudi industrial firms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Circular Economy and Sustainable Business Management: The Catalytic Role of Green Technologies)

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33 pages, 667 KB

Open AccessArticle

Renewable Energy, Efficiency, and Waste Management for Firm Competitiveness: Exploring Heterogeneity in Policy Effectiveness

by Xinyu Lyu, Suhaiza Zailani and Marini Nurbanum Mohamad

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8590; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168590 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 358

Abstract

China’s transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable energy system requires renewable energy firms to align their technological decisions with environmental policy objectives. Drawing on the Porter hypothesis, this study examines how command-and-control, market-incentive, and voluntary environmental regulations influence firms’ utilization of three sustainable [...] Read more.

China’s transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable energy system requires renewable energy firms to align their technological decisions with environmental policy objectives. Drawing on the Porter hypothesis, this study examines how command-and-control, market-incentive, and voluntary environmental regulations influence firms’ utilization of three sustainable energy technologies (SETs): renewable electricity, energy-saving technologies, and waste management. It also assesses how these technological practices contribute to firm competitiveness. Survey data collected from 273 renewable energy firms in China’s hydropower, wind, and solar sectors were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The results show that command-and-control and voluntary environmental regulations positively influence all three SET dimensions. Market-incentive environmental regulation positively affects energy-saving technologies and waste management but has no significant effect on renewable electricity utilization. Renewable electricity, energy-saving technologies, and waste management all positively contribute to firm competitiveness. These findings provide conditional support for the strong Porter hypothesis by demonstrating that technological responses that can improve firms’ competitiveness depend on the alignment between the regulatory instrument employed and the technology targeted. This study provides firm-level evidence for designing differentiated regulatory strategies that support both China’s decarbonization objectives and the competitiveness of renewable energy firms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Technology for Circular Economy Towards Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 744 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pharmaceutical Waste Management for Sustainable Healthcare: Perspectives, Practices, and Perceived Barriers of Community Pharmacists in Saudi Arabia

by Mona Y. Alsheikh

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8589; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168589 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 270

Abstract

Background: Pharmaceutical waste presents significant economic and environmental challenges, necessitating systemic interventions for sustainable healthcare. Community pharmacists are pivotal in mitigating this waste through optimized dispensing, patient education, and facilitating safe disposal. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the perceptions, [...] Read more.

Background: Pharmaceutical waste presents significant economic and environmental challenges, necessitating systemic interventions for sustainable healthcare. Community pharmacists are pivotal in mitigating this waste through optimized dispensing, patient education, and facilitating safe disposal. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate the perceptions, practices and perceived barriers of community pharmacists in Saudi Arabia. Data regarding barriers and mitigation strategies were collected using a five-point Likert scale. Results: A total of 275 pharmacists participated, with an average age of 33.86 ± 7.46 years. Pharmacists showed strong understanding of the economic impact of medication waste, with an average score of 4.41 ± 0.85. The lowest score, 2.80 ± 1.25, reflected poor public awareness about proper disposal practices. The most identified source of waste was the discarding of unopened medication packages, scoring 3.80 ± 1.05. The top barrier was the lack of national guidelines, with a score of 3.82 ± 1.01. Unified patient records and e-prescribing were viewed as the most effective strategies, scoring 4.17 ± 0.94. Practice gaps were clear, as 27.64% of pharmacies did not provide any disposal service. Conclusions: Saudi community pharmacists demonstrate high readiness but are hindered by logistical gaps and fragmented frameworks. Achieving sustainable pharmaceutical stewardship requires standardized national guidelines, formalized take-back pathways, and the expansion of digital tools like Wasfaty to align clinical practice with Saudi Vision 2030 sustainability goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health, Well-Being and Sustainability)

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28 pages, 2379 KB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Heterogeneity and Directed Primary–Secondary Interactions in Completed Road Infrastructure Projects: A Data-Driven Analysis

by Aleksandar Senić

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8588; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168588 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 313

Abstract

Road infrastructure risk management often relies on aggregate rankings that assume stable priorities across projects. This retrospective, document-based study examines between-project differences in risk structure and directed associations between primary and secondary risks within adverse events. The analysis uses 1177 consolidated analytical records [...] Read more.

Road infrastructure risk management often relies on aggregate rankings that assume stable priorities across projects. This retrospective, document-based study examines between-project differences in risk structure and directed associations between primary and secondary risks within adverse events. The analysis uses 1177 consolidated analytical records of documented cost- and/or time-related adverse events from 28 completed road infrastructure projects implemented during the construction of Pan-European Corridor X and adjacent road infrastructure in Serbia. Primary-risk, secondary-risk, and joint primary–secondary edge profiles were compared using Jensen–Shannon divergence, permutation testing, empirical-Bayes adjustment, and a beta-binomial model. Directed network analysis identified source, receiver, and bridge roles among seven risk groups. Significant heterogeneity was found in all three profile types. At the record level, 69.8% of the 1053 records containing at least one secondary risk included a secondary risk from a different group, whereas at the link level, 53.8% of the 1717 directed group-level link occurrences were cross-group. Project documentation was the dominant source and bridge, generating 59.6% of cross-group links, whereas external factors were the largest receiver and had the highest authority score. The most frequent link, from project documentation to external factors, was not overrepresented after project-specific composition was preserved. Several less frequent links were significantly overrepresented, especially those connecting project-wide factors with employer-related risks. The findings support coordinated preventive planning. The proposed data-driven framework can support the development of digital decision-support systems for project-specific risk monitoring, coordinated preventive planning, and sustainable management of road infrastructure delivery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Smart Transportation Systems)

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29 pages, 781 KB

Open AccessArticle

Firm-Level Nature Dependence and Green Innovation

by Wenhan Wu and Angela C. Chao

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8587; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168587 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 268

Abstract

Firms both influence natural systems and depend on the ecosystem services that support their ongoing production and operations. A higher degree of such dependence may strengthen firms’ motivation to pursue green technologies aimed at conserving resources, limiting pollution, and mitigating nature-related operational exposure. [...] Read more.

Firms both influence natural systems and depend on the ecosystem services that support their ongoing production and operations. A higher degree of such dependence may strengthen firms’ motivation to pursue green technologies aimed at conserving resources, limiting pollution, and mitigating nature-related operational exposure. Drawing on a panel of Chinese A-share firms observed during 2010–2023, we examine how firm-level nature dependence relates to corporate green innovation. The empirical evidence indicates that firms with stronger dependence on nature exhibit greater green innovation activity. This finding remains stable when the key variables are measured differently and when an alternative sample period is considered. A policy shock analysis based on China’s Water Resource Tax Reform provides complementary evidence. Further analysis indicates that environmental investment accounts for part of the link between nature dependence and green innovation. Moreover, stronger local environmental regulation amplifies this relationship. Tests across different firm groups, together with formal interaction tests, show a stronger association among state-owned enterprises and firms in heavily polluting industries. The study therefore adds to prior research on corporate reliance on nature by demonstrating that reliance on ecosystem services can stimulate firms to undertake green technological adjustments. Full article

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27 pages, 5955 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Toward an Integrated Assessment Framework for Living Terraced Cultural Landscapes (LTCLs): A Systematic Literature Review

by Jiahui Xu, Siyu Feng, Mohd Johari Mohd Yusof and Adam Aruldewan S. Muthuveeran

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8586; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168586 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 352

Abstract

Living terraced cultural landscapes (LTCLs) bind together agricultural heritage, ecological function, and local culture. International instruments such as the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments, Enhancing Our Heritage Toolkit 2.0, and Preparing World Heritage Nominations guide heritage protection, but none integrates [...] Read more.

Living terraced cultural landscapes (LTCLs) bind together agricultural heritage, ecological function, and local culture. International instruments such as the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments, Enhancing Our Heritage Toolkit 2.0, and Preparing World Heritage Nominations guide heritage protection, but none integrates all four dimensions, and no LTCL-specific framework exists to diagnose a candidate site before formal nomination. Following PRISMA 2020, this review synthesized 61 peer-reviewed studies from the Web of Science Core Collection (2012–2026; screening Cohen’s κ = 0.82). Keyword co-occurrence mapping in VOSviewer, combined with manual thematic coding, produced six clusters that we consolidated into four analytical dimensions: heritage value, landscape integrity, tourism–heritage balance, and governance and protection. Reading across these dimensions revealed three gaps—no tool integrates all four in an operable form, the balance between tourism and protection lacks an explicit evaluative mechanism, and socioeconomic stressors such as rural labor out-migration fall outside official criteria—together pointing to a fourth, procedural gap: the absence of pre-nomination diagnosis. On this basis we propose IAF-LTCL, a preliminary conceptual framework of four dimensions and 22 elements, designed so that strength in one dimension does not offset weakness in another. The framework is not yet empirically validated; we present it as a structured starting point that heritage managers can use for pre-nomination self-assessment, pending future field validation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Tourism, Culture, and Heritage)

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22 pages, 1106 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Spatial Assessment of Allergenic Pollen Risk in Urban Green Infrastructure: A Systematic Review and an Integrated Hazard-Exposure-Risk-Planning Framework

by Liangkun Li, Yunjie Duan, Jie Dang and Chenlu Li

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8585; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168585 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 348

Abstract

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) serves as a core pillar of sustainable urban development, delivering multiple benefits including urban heat island mitigation, stormwater regulation, and health promotion. However, allergenic pollen released by urban vegetation represents a typical ecosystem disservice, creating a prominent sustainability trade-off [...] Read more.

Urban green infrastructure (UGI) serves as a core pillar of sustainable urban development, delivering multiple benefits including urban heat island mitigation, stormwater regulation, and health promotion. However, allergenic pollen released by urban vegetation represents a typical ecosystem disservice, creating a prominent sustainability trade-off between greening benefits and residents’ allergy risk. For a long time, research in this field has evolved along two largely independent lines: vegetation allergenic hazard assessment and atmospheric pollen exposure analysis. Marked disconnections persist in indicator systems, spatial scales, and outcome translation, and an integrated spatial assessment framework remains lacking. Based on a systematic review of 127 publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (2000~2025) using framework synthesis methods, this study constructs a hazard–exposure–risk–planning (HERP) framework for the spatial assessment of allergenic pollen risk in UGI. This paper systematically synthesizes the core indicators, technical approaches and inherent limitations of each framework layer and identifies five key barriers: inconsistent indicator definitions, lack of cross-validation between surface vegetation and atmospheric pollen data, missing population vulnerability layer, insufficient multi-scale coupling, and weak translation of research into planning practice. The proposed framework provides a potential comparable and reproducible standardized pathway for cross-regional allergenic risk assessment and offers methodological support for healthy urban planning that balances ecosystem services and residents’ respiratory health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Future Trends of Sustainable Urban Development and Transition)

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23 pages, 3824 KB

Open AccessArticle

Bidirectional Vulnerability Between East Asia and the Global Liner Shipping Network Under Typhoon-Driven Port Failures

by Yichuan Zhang and Zhenqi Cui

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8584; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168584 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 285

Abstract

East Asia is both the densest subsystem of the global liner shipping network and the home basin of its signature hazard, the typhoon. This study quantifies the relationship in both directions, as a stress test of the sustainability of maritime connectivity, across Alphaliner-based [...] Read more.

East Asia is both the densest subsystem of the global liner shipping network and the home basin of its signature hazard, the typhoon. This study quantifies the relationship in both directions, as a stress test of the sustainability of maritime connectivity, across Alphaliner-based reconstructions of the 2017 and 2021 networks that cover every port with at least one scheduled liner service. A Typhoon Vulnerability Index built from validated IBTrACS exposure, betweenness sensitivity, and national adaptive capacity scores 330 and 272 affected ports. The risk geography anchors in East Asia in both years and more strongly in the second, as the regional share of affected ports is 29 percent in 2017 and 44 percent in 2021, the 2017 top five are all East Asian, and the 2021 top four are all Chinese, led by Shanghai. Removing every indexed typhoon port in descending risk order destroys 47.5 and 41.3 percent of baseline efficiency. Equal-sized random removals destroy a similar share at the end, so the information of the hazard ordering lies earlier and elsewhere, in early losses that run about forty percent above the random expectation, in seven of the ten earliest failures being invisible to degree screening, and in the identity of the removed ports, while equal-depth-degree targeting destroys far more at every stage. An East Asia-only attack reproduces a third of the full attack’s damage in 2017 and half in 2021. Under one fixed baseline, East Asia carries 23.8 and 24.6 percent of global efficiency before the attack and its survivors retain 7.1 and 3.6 percent after it. On the evidence of these two years, the typhoon corridor is a jointly held systemic asset, its protection is a problem shared by the three economies, and the bidirectional accounting gives sustainable maritime transport a measurable resilience baseline under a warming climate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 2nd Edition)

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33 pages, 17049 KB

Open AccessArticle

Public Service Facility Layout Types, Travel Carbon Emissions, and Low-Carbon Renewal Strategies in TOD Blocks

by Peng Dai, Ke Wang, Yanjiao Xie, Zhigang Wang, Anran Xiao, Ziqi Zhang and Yanjun Wang

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8583; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168583 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 282

Abstract

The spatial organization of public service facilities within transit-oriented development TOD blocks is closely related to residents’ daily travel conditions and travel-related carbon emissions. This study examined all 172 operating metro station areas in Qingdao using public service facility POIs, buildings, pedestrian road [...] Read more.

The spatial organization of public service facilities within transit-oriented development TOD blocks is closely related to residents’ daily travel conditions and travel-related carbon emissions. This study examined all 172 operating metro station areas in Qingdao using public service facility POIs, buildings, pedestrian road network and population data, field observations, and a resident travel survey. K-means clustering, spatial syntax analysis, Global Moran’s I, spatial regression, FDR-adjusted Pearson correlation analysis, and scenario simulation were jointly applied. Four facility layout types were identified: Spatially Balanced Type, Main-Road-Concentrated Type, Point-Concentrated Type, and Scattered-and-Disordered Type. The survey included 240 valid respondents distributed across all 41 station areas along Qingdao Metro Line 1. The Spatially Balanced Type had the lowest mean weekly per capita travel carbon emissions, followed by the Main-Road-Concentrated Type, whereas the Point-Concentrated and Scattered-and-Disordered types had similarly higher emission levels. The density and accessibility of Commercial and Entertainment facilities, Medical and Health facilities, and total facilities remained negatively associated with travel carbon emissions after FDR correction. Spatial syntax analysis showed that higher road network integration and connectivity were associated with stronger facility agglomeration. Facility density, road density, and population density exhibited significant positive network-based spatial autocorrelation, and the spatial error model provided the best fit, identifying positive associations of facility density with road density and population density. Based on these findings and field observations, three differentiated renewal pathways—node embedding, proximity coordination, and intensive integration—were proposed. Under the specified scenario, a 20% increase in facilities was associated with modeled reductions in aggregate weekly carbon emissions of 32.3% in Li Village, 28.1% in the University of Petroleum station area, and 33.0% in Jinggangshan Road. These results suggest that improving overall facility coverage may support lower-carbon travel across different facility layout contexts. This study connects facility layout typology, spatial structure, travel carbon emission associations, and differentiated renewal strategies at the TOD-block scale. Full article

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33 pages, 2961 KB

Open AccessArticle

Designing an Integrated IoT Monitoring and Value Stream Mapping Intervention to Reduce In-Storage Food Loss in a Thai SME Cold Chain

by Jirapat Wanitwattanakosol, Grerg Suriyamanee and Nadthawat Muenmanee

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8582; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168582 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 313

Abstract

In-storage food loss is a persistent yet under-addressed source of economic, environmental, and social waste in small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) cold chains, where continuous monitoring and lean workflows are typically absent. This study asks how such loss can be reduced under SME [...] Read more.

In-storage food loss is a persistent yet under-addressed source of economic, environmental, and social waste in small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) cold chains, where continuous monitoring and lean workflows are typically absent. This study asks how such loss can be reduced under SME constraints and what benefits an intervention designed for that setting could yield. Following a design science approach in a Thai chilled warehouse case, it develops an integrated intervention coupling an Internet of Things (IoT) early-warning platform—ESP-32 and DHT22 sensing with commodity-specific alerting through the LINE Messaging API—with value stream mapping (VSM) of the depositing and withdrawing workflows. Monitoring showed that 7.4% of quality-controlled readings exceeded the 6 °C control threshold. Value stream analysis established that elapsed time is governed by information latency rather than physical work and that produce spends 290 min per handling cycle outside controlled conditions. The redesigned workflows project lead-time reductions of 47.5% and 69.4% and remove 125 min of that exposure. An ex ante Triple Bottom Line assessment estimates approximately 19,700 kg of avoided produce loss, 6500 kg CO₂e, and 590,000 THB retained annually. This study contributes a complementarity account of digital monitoring and process improvement, advancing SDG Target 12.3. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Operations, Logistics and Supply Chain Management)

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36 pages, 4510 KB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning-Based Groundwater Level Forecasting in a Semi-Arid Agricultural Area: Insights from SHAP, PELT, and Mann–Kendall Analyses in the Saïss Basin, Morocco

by Hind Ragragui, Abdellah El-Hmaidi, Lamya Ouali, Rabia El Fakir, Jihane Saouita, Habiba Ousmana, Abdelaziz Abdallaoui and My Hachem Aouragh

Sustainability 2026, 18(16), 8581; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18168581 - 21 Aug 2026

Viewed by 375

Abstract

This study proposes an innovative framework that combines hydroclimatic and agro-environmental predictors, including nitrate concentration and NDVI, with climatic factors such as Rainfall, temperature, and evapotranspiration to forecast piezometric level variations in the Saïss Basin, Morocco. Eight Machine Learning (ML) models were benchmarked, [...] Read more.

This study proposes an innovative framework that combines hydroclimatic and agro-environmental predictors, including nitrate concentration and NDVI, with climatic factors such as Rainfall, temperature, and evapotranspiration to forecast piezometric level variations in the Saïss Basin, Morocco. Eight Machine Learning (ML) models were benchmarked, and feature importance was assessed using Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) to ensure model transparency and interpretability. In parallel, the PELT algorithm was applied to detect structural change points, while Sen’s slope estimator and the Mann–Kendall test were used to quantify long-term trends. The Extra Trees (ET) model achieved the best performance (R² = 0.92), with Rainfall emerging as the most influential predictor, followed by nitrate concentration, confirming the added value of hydrochemical indicators for groundwater forecasting. Change-point analysis revealed significant declines during the 1980s and 1990s, followed by lower-amplitude fluctuations since the late 2000s. Projections toward 2050 suggest partial stabilization in the central part of the basin under favorable recharge conditions, whereas persistent declines are expected to continue in peripheral areas subjected to sustained groundwater abstraction pressure. These findings provide a robust and transferable decision-support tool for the sustainable management of groundwater resources in semi-arid agricultural area. Full article

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