Urban Science

Rising urban temperatures driven by the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect highlight the need for architectural strategies that enhance thermal comfort while promoting environmental sustainability. In Budapest’s District 7, characterized by diverse multi-family historical buildings, existing studies predominantly address energy consumption for heating, leaving a gap in passive cooling research. The categorization of typologies derived from the Tabula database, the ZBR strategy, and architectural surveys of the old Jewish quarter is based on heating potential. While historic courtyards offer natural shading and ventilation possibilities, passive cooling strategies remain fragmented. To address this, the paper introduces the “Adaptive Block,” a mid-rise, modular typology integrating courtyard ventilation, dynamic shading, high-albedo surfaces, and low-conductivity insulation. Climate Consultant software is used to analyze passive cooling strategies based on climate data from a local meteorological station, the Budapest Meteorological Center station (WMO ID: 12840), which is an official national station. This serves as a preliminary step to guide future energy simulations by narrowing down the most effective design interventions. The Climate Consultant tool was applied not as a final performance simulation but as a Passive Strategy Pre-Assessment. This pre-assessment bridges regional climate data with building-scale adaptation by identifying which passive cooling options are climatically justified before typology-specific constraints are introduced. By combining the most promising adaptive features from existing typologies, the Adaptive Block presents a scalable framework that supports urban climate resilience while respecting architectural heritage. The findings contribute to adaptive urban design and invite further exploration of its applicability in other existing urban contexts. Full article

The urban forest canopy provides critical ecosystem services, including carbon storage and sequestration. Healthy, well-managed trees in an urban setting can provide these services in a way comparable to forests managed for production or as nature preserves. Disturbance events threaten these benefits by reducing canopy cover and biomass. A tornado struck Ruston, Louisiana, on 25 April 2019, resulting in severe canopy damage through a swatch of the city. We used iTree Canopy to obtain estimates of ecosystem services (carbon sequestration, etc.) and converted this to a per-pixel value before interpolating for the study area. Fractional vegetation estimates obtained from spectral unmixing were obtained from pre- and post-tornado images using Sentinel-2 data and applied to weight damage. Pre- and post-tornado assessments revealed that Ruston’s urban forest canopy sequestered 85% of its pre-storm capability, with an estimated decline in social value of approximately $36,000. Assessing disturbance-based landscape changes, and subsequently calculating fractional changes in biomass and corresponding monetary impacts, will increasingly be looked to as ecosystem services and severe weather events are expected to become more commonplace in the future. The methodology employed demonstrates a cost-effective way to assess disturbance impacts in small urban areas, offering a framework to small municipalities to monitor canopy dynamics. Full article

Urbanisation exerts profound effects on biodiversity, driving species extinctions while promoting behavioural adaptations in generalist taxa. The European badger (Meles meles) exemplifies such adaptability, exploiting anthropogenic resources and modifying activity rhythms. This study assessed badger activity within the Varese province in northern Italy, comparing an urban park and a sub-urban landscape. From August 2023 to August 2024, camera traps recorded badgers and sympatric mesocarnivores, including red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), domestic cats (Felis catus), and beech martens (Martes foina). Despite high activity overlap between sites (∆ = 0.87), the Mardia–Watson–Wheeler test revealed significant differences. Urban badgers displayed heightened nocturnality relative to sub-urban individuals, consistent with comparisons to nearby protected natural areas. This pattern indicates anthropogenic disturbance as a driver of temporal adjustment. Urban badgers are active from 18:00 to 07:00, whereas sub-urban badgers are active from 17:00 to 08:00. The later onset and earlier termination of urban activity suggest behavioural avoidance of human presence. Red foxes exhibited even greater nocturnality in urban settings, while domestic cats were primarily crepuscular and less frequently detected, particularly in sub-urban areas. Results underline the ecological plasticity of badgers, highlighting their capacity to accommodate urban pressures and providing city administrations with information to improve park management planning. Full article

This article examines the level of public knowledge regarding the development of a network of climate shelters in Barcelona and the degree of acceptance by city residents (use and rating of the network) of this strategy of adaptation to extreme temperatures. This question is of interest due to the information deficit in communication about climate adaptation processes and the relatively minor role attributed to communication in climate governance, could be a barrier to public participation in these processes. The research used the survey technique. A total of 300 surveys were carried out face-to-face at 30 points in the network. The results show that the mere existence of these facilities in the city does not guarantee that they can be used effectively by residents. Their use depends on the level of knowledge, which is the result in part of the information provided to potential users and the communication strategies applied to this end. The study highlights that although general information about the existence of a network has reached the residents, more specific information about the rollout of the network at city and district level has been clearly insufficient. The people of Barcelona have serious difficulties in identifying the nodes in this network so as to be able to use them in times of need. This research provides ideas that could contribute to the better design of an information and communication strategy that would improve knowledge of the city’s climate shelters. The planning and implementation of climate shelter networks must take the information and communication variable into account, in order to promote the use of these facilities and improve effective climate-related action. Full article

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning performance may be degraded due to the effects of various natural and adversarial causes, most notably those related to space weather, geomagnetic, and ionospheric conditions and disturbances. Here we present a contribution to understanding the nature of geomagnetic and ionospheric conditions in terms of the effects on the GPS positioning performance through the comparative time-series analysis of the long-term annual (Year 2014) non-linear properties of Disturbance storm-time (Dst) index, an indicator of geomagnetic conditions, and the single-frequency commercial-grade GPS horizontal positioning errors as derived from raw single-frequency commercial-grade GPS observations taken at the International GNSS Service (IGS) reference station at Darwin, Northern Territory (NT), Australia. The analysis reveals candidate non-linear property indicators for future assessments and modelling, as potential descriptors of the long-term non-linear association between geomagnetic/ionospheric disturbances and GNSS positioning performance degradation: recurrence rate ($RR$), total number of lines in the recurrent plot, Shannon entropy, and trapping time ($TT$). The inference presented may serve as a framework for introducing advanced GNSS PNT correction procedures to mitigate environmental ionospheric effects on GNSS positioning performance, thereby offering more resilient and robust PNT services for GNSS applications in urban mobility, systems, and services. Full article

From a sustainability perspective, the production of the city is a co-construction aimed at providing opportunities for residents to access different urban centres. In the absence of co-design of electricity network extension projects, Grand Lomé and Greater Accra face the challenge of social acceptance due to the diversity of perceptions. How do the residents of Accra and Lomé experience the diversity of perceptions of power grid extension projects? To answer this question, this paper uses a mixed and comparative approach to analyse the impact of this diversity of perception on access to electricity in Greater Accra and Grand Lomé, based on spatial equity. The results show that structural non-recognition and residents’ dissatisfaction lead to social contempt. When structural non-recognition and dissatisfaction accumulate, socio-spatial injustice occurs. Full article

Urban ecosystem services (ESs) are increasingly recognized as critical determinants of residents’ quality of life and well-being. This study develops a data-driven demand–supply matching framework to integrate ES concepts into community-level planning and service performance evaluation. Based on 312 resident surveys across 10 communities in Wuhan, China, we identify the key environmental attributes shaping perceived service quality. A random forest (RF) algorithm is employed to assess the relative importance of environmental features, while a multinomial logit (Mlogit) model quantifies their specific effects. The results highlight that community autonomy, neighborhood relations, environmental awareness, and infrastructure—such as broadband networks and security systems—play pivotal roles in improving service quality. Although provisioning and regulating ESs, such as safety and infrastructure, are relatively well established, cultural services that promote social cohesion and civic participation remain under-supported. These findings uncover the heterogeneity of residents’ environmental expectations and provide actionable insights for incorporating ES-oriented thinking into community planning and fiscal decision-making. By bridging ecological theory with operational urban governance, this study contributes a replicable approach for advancing more inclusive and sustainable community development. Full article

Informal settlements accommodate more than one billion people worldwide, yet their intricate urban forms are frequently perceived as chaotic, which impedes the formulation of sustainable upgrading strategies. The main objective of this research is to bridge a major methodological gap by developing analytical tools that can systematically decode the inherent spatial logic of such environments. This paper develops and applies an integrated four-part morphological framework designed to provide a deep, form-based reading of informal urbanism. The framework’s indicators were systematically derived from an extensive review of the literature and subsequently validated through the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) with a panel of 15 experts, ensuring analytical robustness. The validated framework was then applied to the Saadi neighborhood, a representative informal settlement in Shiraz, Iran, using a multi-scalar, mixed-methods approach that integrated GIS, remote sensing, and in-depth field surveys. The analysis produced a comprehensive analytical atlas, culminating in a detailed morphological profile. The findings identify Saadi’s urban form not as disordered, but as a ‘consolidating, low-rise, fine-grained fabric shaped by topography,’ revealing a clear, self-organized spatial logic. The study concludes that the proposed framework is a robust and replicable tool for moving beyond pejorative descriptions of informality. By providing an evidence-based method to read the physical language of these settlements, the approach offers a crucial foundation for developing more context-sensitive and sustainable urban upgrading strategies. Full article

Climate change exerts wide-ranging impacts on urban tourism, influencing visitor well-being, experiences, and the timing and location of activities. Anticipating future variation in climatic conditions in urban destinations is essential for developing climate-resilient strategies and targeted adaptation measures. This study employs high-resolution (1 km) land surface simulations to assess tourism’s climate potential in Szeged, Hungary. Two tourism climate indices were computed at the urban scale for multiple future periods using bias-corrected datasets under different emission scenarios. The analysis examines whether the model can capture urban-induced alterations in the indices and how these impacts emerge in their spatiotemporal patterns. It also evaluates projected changes in tourism potential, arising from the combined influence of regional climate change and urban climate processes, across scenarios and periods. Results show that the climate-modifying effects of urban surfaces are reflected in both urban–rural and intra-urban variations, with outcomes strongly dependent on the index, season, and scenario. Projections indicate a decline in conditions between May and September, alongside stable or improved potential during other months. The findings underscore the challenges and opportunities posed by climate change and urban modifications, emphasizing the potential to extend the tourism season and the need to improve pedestrian comfort during critical periods. Full article

Hurricane Maria’s devastating impact on Puerto Rico in 2017 exposed critical vulnerabilities in the island’s centralized infrastructure, particularly its energy grid and housing stock. This case study evaluates Earthship architecture as a sustainable solution for post-disaster resilience and energy independence through systematic analysis of existing projects and documented implementation challenges. Earthships are self-sufficient structures characterized by passive solar design, on-site renewable energy generation, rainwater harvesting, contained sewage treatment, and integrated food production using natural and recycled materials. Through analysis of the Earthship PR at Tainasoy Apiario in Aguada and comparative examination of global implementation challenges, this study examines both the potential benefits and significant barriers to Earthship adoption in Puerto Rico. While Earthship principles align theoretically with post-disaster resilience needs, documented problems, including moisture management failures in humid climates, regulatory barriers, and financing challenges, present substantial implementation obstacles that require careful consideration for Caribbean applications. Full article

Urban heat islands (UHIs) intensify thermal stress in cities, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions undergoing rapid urban expansion. The main objectives of this study are to quantify and compare UHI intensity in six major Saudi Arabian cities (Dammam, Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Abha) representing diverse climatic zones and to examine how UHI patterns vary between urban, suburban, and rural zones over a 30-year period. Understanding the magnitude and spatial variability of UHIs across different climatic settings is crucial for developing effective urban planning and climate adaptation strategies in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding cities. Except for Abha, these cities are the five most populous cities in the Kingdom. Each city was categorized into urban (>1500 people km⁻²), suburban (300–1500 people km⁻²), and rural (<300 people km⁻²) zones using high-resolution population density data. Two independent temperature datasets (ERA5-land and CHIRTS-ERA5) were analyzed for the years 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024. Both datasets revealed consistent spatial patterns and a general warming trend across all zones and cities over the 30-year period. The UHI effect was most pronounced for minimum temperatures, with urban zones warmer than rural zones by 0.85 °C (ERA5-land) and 1.10 °C (CHIRTS-ERA5), likely due to greater heat retention and slower cooling rates in built-up areas. Mean temperature differences were smaller but still indicated positive UHI. Conversely, both datasets exhibited a reversed UHI pattern for maximum temperatures, with rural zones warmer than urban zones by 1.73 °C (ERA5-land) and 1.52 °C (CHIRTS-ERA5). This reversed pattern is attributed to the surrounding desert landscapes with minimal vegetation, indicated by low normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), while urban areas have increasingly benefited from greening and landscaping initiatives. City-level analysis showed the strongest reversed UHI in maximum temperatures in Abha, while Jeddah exhibited the weakest. These findings highlight the need for localized urban planning strategies, particularly the expansion of vegetation cover and sustainable land use, to mitigate extreme thermal conditions in Saudi Arabia. Full article

Monitoring nitrate levels in water is critical to protect public health and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of four analytical techniques—test strips, ion-selective electrodes (ISE), colorimetric methods, and titration—to assess nitrate levels in a variety of water sources, including standard solutions, rainwater, bottled water, and groundwater from both shallow and deep wells located in semi-urban regions of Saudi Arabia. Each method was assessed for sensitivity, accuracy, detection limits, reproducibility, and operational practicality. Test strips offer rapid, low-cost screening but consistently underestimate nitrate concentrations, particularly at low levels. The ISE demonstrated broad applicability and reliable performance across a wide concentration range when properly calibrated, making it suitable for both field and laboratory applications. Colorimetric methods provide excellent sensitivity for trace-level detection, whereas titration delivers the highest accuracy for high-nitrate samples despite its time-intensive nature. By calibrating and validating the methods against certified standards, we quantitatively demonstrated their reliability through statistical measures such as precision and accuracy rates. Moreover, the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques in spatial analysis has revealed significant differences in the distribution of nitrates. Notably, shallow wells located in the northern regions surpass the 50 mg/L limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO), thereby indicating the presence of localized contamination hotspots. This study is among the first to systematically compare nitrate detection methods across a wide range of water types in a semi-urban area of Saudi Arabia. Building on a detailed analysis of each method, we underline the crucial need for the strategic selection of nitrate analysis techniques. This selection should be tailored to specific operational contexts, accuracy requirements, and concentration ranges to guide stakeholders towards more informed decision-making. These findings provide actionable guidance for public health officials and water managers to prioritize monitoring, safeguard drinking-water sources, and mitigate nitrate-related health risks in semi-urban communities. Full article

The transition to sustainable urban mobility requires innovative solutions optimising electric vehicle (EV) ecosystems while integrating seamlessly with smart urban grids. This paper proposes a decentralised framework leveraging adaptive algorithms, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, and renewable energy prioritisation to enhance urban sustainability without requiring new infrastructure. By integrating federated learning (FL) for privacy-preserving coordination, multi-objective optimisation for load balancing, and predictive models for renewable energy integration, our approach addresses energy demand, grid stability, and environmental impact in urban areas. Validated through simulations on an IEEE 39-bus urban feeder and real-world urban mobility case studies, the framework achieves a 40% reduction in carbon emissions, improves grid reliability by 20%, and enhances renewable utilisation by 25% compared to an uncoordinated charging baseline. These outcomes support urban planning by informing smart grid design, reducing urban heat island effects, and promoting equitable mobility access. This work provides actionable strategies for policymakers, urban planners, and energy providers to advance more sustainable, electrified urban ecosystems. Full article

Areas with well-developed networks of equestrian routes attract riders, contributing to tourism development and boosting the economy. As the most critical elements of equestrian routes are road, railway, and watercourse crossings, the construction of bridges and underpasses that meet equestrian needs is crucial. Due to the lack of clear, standardised guidance for the design of equestrian bridges and underpasses, a systematic literature review was conducted to identify and select manuals deal with equestrian bridge and/or underpass design. The selection criterion required that the manual be currently valid, written in English, and published online with open access, ensuring easy accessibility for engineers and policymakers. This paper summarises, compares, and comments on the design parameters of equestrian bridges and underpasses listed in the analysed manuals, which must be considered to achieve optimal solutions for both horse and rider. It also provides an overview of general recommendations and best practices for specific design parameters. In the absence of a manual offering comprehensive, standardised guidelines for the design of equestrian bridges and underpasses, this paper may assist policymakers, developers, and designers in creating a trail network suitable for equestrians. Full article

Sport events generate economic, social, and environmental impacts that shape residents’ perceptions and levels of support. In the context of sustainable urban development, understanding how residents evaluate these impacts provides valuable knowledge about community responses to tourism and event-led growth. Drawing on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), Social Exchange Theory (SET), and Social Representations Theory (SRT), this study examines residents’ evaluations of the Rally Sierra Morena (RSM), a large-scale international motorsport event recently incorporated into the European Rally Championship (ERC). Data were collected shortly before the event using a self-administered questionnaire (n = 1529). An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) identified a multidimensional structure of perception, and a non-hierarchical k-means cluster analysis identified three clusters: Skeptics, who perceived stronger negative than positive impacts in economic and environmental dimensions; Pragmatists, who emphasized positive economic benefits while acknowledging environmental costs; and Enthusiasts, who consistently rated positive impacts higher across all dimensions and expressed the strongest support for the event. By integrating perceptual and sustainability-based approaches, this study connects residents’ evaluations of a motorsport event with broader discussions on urban resilience and sustainable community development. Full article

Balconies are widely recognized for enhancing urban livability, making them attractive elements to incorporate in building renovation projects. However, their impact on energy performance remains insufficiently studied, particularly in temperate climates, like the Mediterranean, where both heating and cooling demands must be considered. This article evaluates the energy impacts of integrating open balconies into housing retrofits on the space conditioning demand of dwellings through spatialized analysis at the urban block scale. Focusing on Barcelona’s Eixample district, a parametric Urban Building Energy Modeling (UBEM) was employed to assess how balcony design interacts with urban morphology (orientation, obstructions), building features (window-to-wall ratio, WWR), and balcony length. Results reveal a seasonal trade-off at the block scale: balconies increase heating demand (0.1–1.6 kWh/m²·yr) by reducing winter solar gain but decrease cooling demand (0.1–3.8 kWh/m²·yr) through summer shading. Net effects vary by unit position, with south-facing and moderately glazed dwellings benefiting the most. Deeper balconies (1.5–2 m) amplify both effects, while optimal depth depends on the window-to-wall ratio. Under future climates, retrofits combining insulation and balconies mitigate rising cooling demands more effectively than insulation alone, reducing block-level demand by up to 16%. Although balconies alone show modest energy savings at the block scale, they enhance localized thermal resilience. The study highlights the need for integrated retrofit strategies that balance thermal insulation with solar protection to address both current and future energy challenges while enhancing occupant well-being. Full article

The growth of e-commerce has imposed new challenges on urban supply chains, especially in the middle mile, which still lacks structured, sustainable and scalable logistics solutions. This study investigates the feasibility of using the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, widely present in cities of emerging economies, as an urban logistics platform for the transport of light and traceable goods. This research adopts a qualitative approach, with analysis of international experiences and development of a methodological framework based on three main components: technical, economic and governance. The results reveal that the use of idle operating windows, load compatibility and institutional articulation are key factors for the implementation of the system. The proposal represents a logistical innovation aligned with the new paradigms of urban resilience and the multifunctionality of public infrastructure. This study suggests that BRT could serve as a potential logistics platform for the middle mile, under specific operational and governance conditions. Full article

Understanding how environmental design and institutional trust shape perceived security in nightlife settings is essential for enhancing customer experiences and business sustainability. This study examines how surveillance, access control, territoriality, maintenance, and trust in police influence customers’ perceptions of security in nightlife establishments in Colombia, and how these perceptions affect satisfaction and revisit intentions. A survey was conducted involving 400 customers in nightlife venues in Guadalajara de Buga, using Likert scales to evaluate the constructs. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling; Results indicate that maintenance (β = 0.304), surveillance (β = 0.264), trust in police (β = 0.203), and territoriality (β = 0.184) significantly influence perceived security, while access control does not. Perceived security strongly impacts satisfaction (β = 0.662) and revisit intention (β = 0.641). The model explains 47% of the variance in perceived security, 43% in satisfaction, and 41% in revisit intention. These findings highlight the value of integrating environmental design and institutional trust within service marketing and crime prevention, showing that investments in design and maintenance can yield commercial benefits. The study offers guidance for owners seeking to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty through targeted strategies. Full article