Urban Science

Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a critical environmental and health issue, particularly in urban areas where the use of plastic packaging for preserved foods, personal care products, and other consumables is prevalent. The rapid pace of urbanization amplifies the challenges associated with managing MP pollution, making it imperative to develop innovative and sustainable solutions. MPs are ubiquitous in urban environments, originating from various sources and pathways, including improper waste disposal, stormwater runoff, and atmospheric deposition. These tiny particles not only threaten ecological integrity but also pose significant risks to human health. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach that integrates environmental management, public health considerations, and socio-economic factors within urban planning. The presence of MPs adversely affects ecosystems and human health, highlighting the urgent need for effective MP management within sustainable urbanization strategies. This paper presents a novel perspective on managing MP pollution in urban environments, focusing on the specific challenges and opportunities. Unlike existing reviews that provide broad overviews of MP pollution, our study proposes management strategies designed to address the distinct issues faced in urban settings. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the current state of knowledge regarding MPs in urban areas, encompassing environmental, health, and socio-economic impacts. These strategies include promoting eco-friendly alternatives to plastics, enhancing waste collection and disposal systems, and implementing policy interventions aimed at reducing plastic consumption. By addressing urban-specific challenges and proposing comprehensive solutions, our study aims to significantly contribute to the field of MP pollution management in sustainable urbanization, ultimately safeguarding human health and the environment. Full article

The multi-decade housing crisis has emerged as a critical aspect of both the ability of individuals to remain housed within the community as well as a critical health concern that impacts the long-term well-being through the presence or absence of both physical space and facilities in the home. We employ national state-level data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and aggregated measures from the Annual Disability Statistics Compendium to analyze six housing metrics—complete kitchen and plumbing access, overcrowding, housing cost burden, old housing, and poor housing. Using a lagged time-series regression analysis, we found the prevalence of cost burdened households in 2022 when accounting for individual and compounding housing metrics, and housing types, from 2019 to 2022, across community-living adults by disability status. Ultimately, we demonstrate that the carryover effects of housing issues is a greater contributor to housing cost burden than concurrent housing issues. This compounding and multi-faceted crisis further demonstrates that housing conditions and affordability need to be considered primary factors in the study and support of people with disabilities. Additionally, there is an urgent need for inclusive housing policies that address the challenges faced by disabled individuals to promote equitable access to sustainable, quality housing as a fundamental component of public health. Full article

Planning for a green–blue infrastructure system around big cities, having the shape of a belt, to connect natural areas—such as green spaces, water, and agricultural land—is a solution for mitigating the challenges of climate change and urban sprawl. In this context, this study presents an innovative information technology solution for assessing the connectivity of the green and blue areas in the metropolitan area of Bucharest, Romania. The solution is to try to stop the sprawl of Bucharest into the adjacent rural areas and answer the need for a green infrastructure providing ecosystem services. The methodology uses datasets compatible with the European databases on environmental issues, CORINE Land Cover 2018 and Urban Atlas, and two tools in the ArcGIS PRO 2.9 software package, namely Cost Raster and Cost Connectivity. Based on the results, we developed a framework for implementing a strategy for the green–blue infrastructure for the Bucharest metropolitan area. Our methodology is a starter for planning a green–blue belt for the metropolitan area of Bucharest and a model of good practice in terms of making green–blue infrastructure part of urban and territorial planning. Full article

Transportation and land use are inextricably linked. Travel patterns are influenced by the location, design of new developments, and users’ behavior. In many Tier II cities in India where rapid transit systems are unavailable, such as Vadodara, spatial and transportation planning lack integration with land use. This disconnect neglects user behavior and travel needs, resulting in congestion and pollution as ongoing, reactive challenges rather than being addressed through sustainable and proactive solutions. This research used a triangulation approach incorporating literature analysis, questionnaire surveys, and field observations to enhance the robustness of the results. After a comprehensive analysis, findings were derived from the user behavior, traffic patterns, and field observations for mixed land use. The study revealed a heavy reliance on private vehicles for work trips (53%) despite low satisfaction with sustainable transport options (average rating of 2.8 out of 5). Infrastructure issues, such as disorganized parking and pedestrian safety concerns, exacerbate congestion and pollution. This study recommends a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (C.M.P.) and a land use and transport integration (LUTI) cell to address these issues and promote sustainability. Future research should explore comparative studies, socioeconomic factors, and legal frameworks for sustainable development. Full article

Cities are increasingly recognized as complex systems, emerging through conditional and history-dependent urban processes. To understand a complex urban phenomenon to the point where we can act on it, we need a quantitative yet holistic approach. In this paper, we report on a preliminary study on the gentrification of H Street NE in Washington, DC, USA. Popular accounts claim that this started in 2016, with wealthier new residents displacing poorer old residents. When we examined a cross-section of demographic, income, housing, commercial activity, and social activity data, we found a classic gentrification sweeping over H Street NE starting around 2000. These slow changes drove rapid changes in renter proportions and rents in one of the five census tracts making up the community, a wave of church closures, and a sudden doubling of restaurants and nonclassified businesses. Our results suggest that the gentrification of H Street NE is a small messy piece in a broader picture of urban transformation in Washington, DC. Full article

Understanding the relationship between urban crime and the built environment is crucial for developing effective crime prevention strategies, particularly in the context of rapid urban development and city planning. As cities grow, urbanization leads to environments that either promote or inhibit criminal activity, making it essential to explore the interactions between urban design and crime. This study investigates the impact of micro built environment (MBE) elements and place perceptions on crime occurrences in Toronto using street view imagery (SVI) data and machine learning models. We used logistic regression models and an XGBoost (Version 1.7.5) classifier to assess the significance of MBE and perception variables in classifying crime and non-crime intersections. Our findings reveal that intersections with criminal activity tend to be related to more mobility-related features, such as roads and vehicles, and fewer natural elements, such as vegetation. The “beautiful” and “depressing” perceptions emerged as the most significant variables in explaining crime events, surpassing the commonly studied “safety” perception. The XGBoost model achieved 86% accuracy, indicating that MBE and perception variables are strong predictors of crime risk. These findings suggest that enhancing vegetation and improving street aesthetics could serve as effective crime prevention measures in urban environments. However, limitations include the general nature of the perception model and the reliance on aggregated crime data. Future research should incorporate local perceptions and fine-scale crime data to provide more tailored insights for urban planning and crime prevention Full article

Facing substantial challenges due to rapid urbanization and socio-political shifts, the urban identities of our cities are in a state of significant transformation. This study explored the dynamic evolution of Damascus’s urban identity over distinct historical periods, employing a multi-dimensional methodology, which integrated spatial assessments, observational data from urban planners, and historical analyses. The findings revealed a transition from a stable urban identity in the pre-colonial period, to fragmented and, eventually, lost states in the post-colonial era. This study has underscored the need for strategic interventions to preserve the city’s identity amidst modernization pressures, providing valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers. The findings underscore the pressing need for strategic, context-sensitive interventions that can restore and revitalize Damascus’s unique urban identity, contributing to a broader discourse on the sustainable preservation of the cultural heritage in historic cities facing modernization pressures. Full article

This perspective paper analyzes selected policy strategies for transforming transport. It identifies four primary objectives: enhance economic efficiency, increase equity, reduce negative externalities, and improve the user experience (4Es). It then develops the framework of persuasion, police, purse, and platform powers (4Ps), which are available to governments to implement change and pursue their objectives. In a series of cases, it illustrates those powers, particularly the underappreciated platform powers, the formation and promulgation of standards, which are themselves the key technology for connecting institutions, showing how the establishment of technical standards transforms existing transport and lays the groundwork for new opportunities. Full article

Urban areas present different climates from those of their rural surroundings. Energy balance and especially energy storage play important roles in the resulting climate since more than 50% of the net radiation is absorbed in densely urbanized areas. A simple model of energy storage in the urban fabric is presented, fed with the air temperature of a given area and its thermal properties; it can estimate heat storage (Q_S) with good results. The proposed Q_ST energy storage model was compared with Q_S results obtained from two sites in Mexico City, Escandón (objective hysteresis model, Q_SOHM) and ENP7 (residual, Q_SRES), and one site in Marseille, France (thermal mass scheme, Q_STMS). The comparison between Q_ST and Q_SOHM showed that r² = 0.71, while in ENP7 (Q_N > 0), Q_SRES and Q_ST were 116.5 Wm⁻² and 142 Wm⁻², corresponding to 49% and 60% of the Q_N, respectively. The results obtained using the Q_STMS model in Marseille and Q_ST in Escandón showed similar behavior, with RMSEs of 109 and 101 Wm⁻², respectively, in a daily period. Although it is difficult to discern which method is better, it is possible to affirm that the presented method is quite accurate, easier to use, and inexpensive. Full article

Urban green spaces provide recreation opportunities that contribute to physical wellbeing, health, and social wellbeing. However, managing green spaces to promote access and use for recreation and at the same time meet the preferences of visitors is often challenging, especially in developing countries. Using Port Moresby Nature Park (PMNP) in Papua New Guinea as a case study, the objective of this study was to examine visitors’ perceptions of how to manage the park to improve its use for recreation, perceptions of acceptable user fees and preferences for nature types and recreation amenity alternatives. Data were obtained using interviews with 295 visitors to PMNP, of which 291 responses was valid for this study. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit regression marginal effect model. The results showed that PMNP can be improved by constructing more toilets, providing more benches at strategic positions, providing water fountains, expanding the children’s playgrounds and training more PMNP staff in customer care. A picnic area was the most preferred and an area containing the Papuan hornbill was the least preferred. On average, the visitors would pay 35% more than the park user fee. A recreation amenity associated with reptiles and birds of paradise was the most preferred and an amenity with only reptiles was the least preferred. Multinomial logit regression model results revealed that preferences for recreation amenity alternatives were influenced by demographic characteristics, the nature type visited, recreation activities, the level of the park user fee, and the time spent at and distance of the interviewees’ dwelling to PMNP. The most important explanatory variables associated with the choice of each of the recreation amenities as reflected by marginal effects include the use of a children’s playground for recreation, grilling and partying during recreation, engagement in walking in natural areas during recreation, the use of animal-dominated areas during recreation and the use of picnic areas during recreation. These findings will assist park managers in making informed decisions by considering visitors’ preferences, the affordability of the park user fee and how to improve an urban green space in a sustainable manner. Full article

Doha, the capital of Qatar, is the country’s administrative, economic, and political hub. With most of Qatar’s population residing in the metropolitan area, Doha effectively functions as a city-state. While the rapid growth of this Gulf metropolis is often celebrated as an emerging center of economic and cultural activity, the subtle yet crucial socio-cultural influences shaping its development as a rentier city-state are frequently overlooked in the existing literature. This research article explores the unique challenges rentier cities like Doha face in becoming truly smart and sustainable. Using a case study approach, the analysis draws from secondary data sources, including city reports, policy documents, and academic studies. By examining publicly available data and Doha’s urban planning history, the article identifies the critical issues and challenges the city faces, particularly following the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It reviews existing planning policies and offers insights into current initiatives and future directions aimed at achieving smart and sustainable development. The findings suggest that while Doha has made considerable progress, more inclusive and comprehensive policies are needed to move beyond entrenched socio-cultural influences and align the city’s growth with its broader sustainability and smart city goals. Full article

During the past two decades, Hue city has undergone significant changes in its economic development, leading to a rapid transformation of its land-use and land-cover (LULC) patterns. This study used remote sensing data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze changes in the land-use and land-cover in Hue city, providing essential insights for the city’s future development. This research examines indicators such as area and land-cover changes, urban development trends, and the morphology of urban areas during the period from 2000 to 2020, with assessments conducted at ten-year intervals. The results showed that built-up and forest land have increased, while agricultural and unused land have decreased over time. By 2020, the urban area had expanded by more than 60% in the north and northeast directions. Hue city developed through infilling and edge expansion of existing urban areas, while some regions primarily expanded into outlying sections in the east and south by constructing high-end residential areas on former paddy rice fields. These findings yield valuable policy implications that extend beyond the case study of Hue city, offering insights for other cities to pursue inclusive and prosperous futures. Full article

Increasing urbanization and rising consumption rates are putting pressure on urban systems to efficiently manage Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Waste collection, in particular, is one of the most challenging aspects of MSW management. Therefore, developing computer-aided tools to support decision-makers is crucial. In this paper, a Scatter Search algorithm is proposed to address the waste collection problem. The literature is relatively scarce in applying this algorithm, which has proven to be efficient in other routing problems, to real waste management problems. Results from real-world instances of an Argentine city demonstrate that the algorithm is competitive, obtaining, in the case of small instances, the same outcomes as those of an exact solver enhanced by valid inequalities, although requiring more computational time (as expected), and significantly improving the results of the latter for the case of larger instances, now requiring much less computational time. Thus, Scatter Search proves to be a competitive algorithm for addressing waste collection problems. Full article

The spatial configuration of urban areas impacts environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic and social resilience. This study examines the intricate relationship between spatial arrangements and the planning and design of BREEAM Outstanding projects in London, UK. It analyses the relationship between urban morphology and the effectiveness of sustainable building practices and contributes to the broader objectives of urban sustainability. This research focuses on London, UK—a city renowned for its complex urban fabric and architectural heterogeneity—using a multi-case study approach to dissect the elements that facilitate the development of BREEAM Outstanding projects. This study analyses key spatial characteristics such as land use diversity, subway network analysis, and street network analysis using betweenness centrality of edges and node degrees. These factors are considered due to their impact on energy performance, carbon emissions, and social sustainability metrics. Furthermore, this research explores how urban design strategies, such as enhanced walkability and mixed-use development, reinforce the success of BREEAM-certified Outstanding-rated projects. The findings of this investigation reveal a correlation between urban environments and the development of BREEAM Outstanding-rated projects in London. By aligning the spatial organisation of urban form with BREEAM principles, urban planners, policymakers, and architects can facilitate the creation of cities that are environmentally sustainable, socially inclusive, and economically prosperous. The research offers substantive insights and actionable recommendations for future urban development, advocating for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to sustainable city planning and design. The spatial arrangement of urban form impacts the planning and design of BREEAM Outstanding projects. Findings from current and future research will be used to investigate the connections between spatial arrangement and various categories in BREEAM and how they can influence future sustainable urban environments to set a benchmark for sustainability for contributing to a more equitable urban future. Full article

Tactile aspects of the urban environment may be recognised through various capacities of human sensation, including cutaneous, kinaesthetic, and proprioceptive awareness. Haptic attributes often need intentional engagement for ultimate experience and information provision, but it is exactly this imprecision that initiates challenges when dealing with tactility in a space. Whilst tactile components can be experienced when stationary or through walking an identified space (a sensewalk), there is no standard method for tactile sensewalk implementation. We therefore critically discuss common methodologies, outlining benefits, disadvantages, and suitability for each identified sensewalk method. We find that immersive sensory enquiry approaches are well suited to reveal past experience of sensory perceptions, deeper understandings and rediscovery of places; the recording of dimensional measurements is appropriate when determining linkages and correlations between physical and perceptual dimensions; and interviews and post-data collection reflections provide an opportunity to explore sensory characteristics and experience, and for realisation of local heritages. Furthermore, unusual methods such as the visualisation of urban textures and multimodal post-processing techniques are identified and discussed. Full article

This study examines the role of bulk cargo ports in improving supply chain efficiency within the Bohai Rim port cluster in China, addressing a gap in the research that has primarily focused on container ports. By analyzing 13 ports in the cluster through the shiftrate model and network analysis, this research aims to understand their adaptation to changing trade patterns and economic conditions. The Bohai Rim is a key hub for four major bulk cargo types—grain, coal, oil, and ore—each with distinct growth rates and trade networks. This research classifies the ports into four tiers based on their operational capabilities and market influence. Key findings reveal that the cargo transport network has shifted from a tri-power structure (Dalian, Tianjin–Tangshan, Qingdao–Rizhao port groups) to a dual-core pattern, now led by Tangshan and Qingdao Ports. Qingdao Port, with its advanced technologies and international orientation, has become a central player in global dry bulk transport. This shift reflects the changing dynamics of regional trade, with Qingdao’s port technologies and global connectivity positioning it as a leader in the industry. This study provides valuable insights for port authorities, helping them understand the evolution of port systems and enhance the efficiency of neighboring ports. Full article

Urban areas have a significant impact on climate change, with transport and mobility as one major source. Furthermore, the impact of urban areas on transport extends beyond their own geographic areas, via leisure travel. Research has suggested several mechanisms through which urban areas drive leisure travel, such as social norms, compensation for what is lacking in the urban environment or for the hectic daily life, and cosmopolitan attitudes, all of which increase leisure travel for its expected wellbeing benefits. More research is needed, however, about how the daily exposure to the urban environment affects leisure travel activity and how perceived wellbeing is associated with this. Therefore, this study was set to examine data from a 2017 softGIS survey from Reykjavík, Iceland, to study the connections between urban environment, local mobility, leisure travel, and life satisfaction. The study employs activity spaces as a basis for exposure modeling and canonical correlation analysis for statistical analysis. The results reveal that although exposure to green and gray spaces is important to overall life satisfaction, underlying socio-economic background is more relevant. Further, higher exposure to gray spaces was found to be associated with more emissions from long-distance leisure travel when socio-economic background was included, but it lost importance when attitudinal factors were added. Furthermore, indications of high levels of urban mobility leading to more leisure travel away from the city were found. Although overarching policy recommendations cannot be made, the study suggests having a more citizen-oriented approach in urban planning, particularly for mobility, which could yield benefits for both wellbeing and climate mitigation outcomes. Full article

Residential greening is a critical strategy for mitigating the negative impacts of urbanization on the environment, biodiversity, and human well-being. Proper plant species selection is essential for the success of residential greening projects, as it influences the ecological, aesthetic, and health outcomes. This review provides a comprehensive framework for selecting plant species for residential greening, considering environmental suitability, aesthetic values, maintenance requirements, and potential health effects. The plant’s adaptability to local climatic conditions, soil type, and water availability are key considerations. Aesthetic factors like plant form, texture, color, and seasonal interest should be balanced with maintenance needs, including pruning, fertilization, and pest control. Potential health concerns, like allergenic pollen or toxic properties, must also be evaluated while deploying residential greeneries. The guide emphasizes the importance of selecting native or well-adapted non-invasive species to support local biodiversity and minimize ecological disruption. Employing a systematic approach to plant selection for urban vegetation and residential greening initiatives can enhance the environmental, social, and health benefits. Plant species invasiveness is a critical global concern, with substantial ecological, economic, and social impacts that demand careful consideration in species selection and management. This method maximizes these advantages and promotes long-term sustainability and resilience against the challenges posed by climate change. This present review supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Society. Full article

The North Java coastal area, known as the Pantura region, is experiencing significant land subsidence, with certain areas sinking up to 10 cm per year. Pekalongan is among the most affected, with subsidence rates between 10 and 19 cm annually, mainly due to groundwater extraction, sediment compaction, and coastal erosion. Other coastal cities, like Semarang and Demak, show rates averaging 4 to 10 cm per year. This rapid subsidence is due to favorable geological conditions and ongoing urban development. This study investigates land subsidence in Pekalongan using the PS-InSAR method and dynamic visualization of time-series land cover data. PS-InSAR was applied to 45 scenes from ALOS-2 PALSAR-2 to monitor subsidence from 2014 to 2022. The results were validated with in situ subsidence benchmarks. Urban development dynamics were analyzed through land cover and land use change (LULC) and population density over the same period, using the GLC_FCS30D dataset in the GEE to detect non-natural LULC. The PS-InSAR results indicated that over 60.9% of investigation points experienced subsidence, up to 100 cm between 2014 and 2022. Ground validation showed an 83% agreement with PS-InSAR results. A statistical analysis of LULC from 2014 to 2022 did not show significant built-up area development, but the extension of salt marshes and water bodies indicated subsidence expansion. The population density reached 6873 people per square km by 2022, causing extensive groundwater use for domestic and industrial purposes, further aggravating the subsidence. Full article