Search Results (179)

This study proposes the Urban Landscape Emotion Analysis Framework (ULEAF) based on images of urban parks shared on social media. This framework integrates an emotion recognition module driven by a convolutional neural network (ConvNeXt Tiny) with a semantic extraction module supported by multimodal semantic matching models (CLIP and DeepSentiBank ANP lexicon). It constructs a systematic analysis pathway from semantic understanding to emotional perception, effectively overcoming the limitations of traditional research methods. Results indicate that positive emotion images predominantly correlate with nature, health, and openness, while negative emotion images are closely associated with the characteristics of decay, abandonment, and oppression, as well as loneliness and calmness, estrangement and disharmony, and gloom and bleakness. Findings reveal trends consistent with prior research, further validating the stable association between urban landscape visual features and emotional perception. The analytical framework developed in this study facilitates the systematic revelation of semantic characteristics and affective perception mechanisms in large-scale urban park imagery, providing scientific reference for optimizing urban park landscapes and implementing emotion-oriented design. Full article

Understanding the spatiotemporal characteristics of residents’ leisure travel distances (hereafter referred to as “RLTD”) and their underlying influencing factors is pivotal to reducing leisure travel costs and enhancing travel experiences. However, scholars have yet to identify leisure travel behavior and quantify RLTD accurately, and the nonlinear effects of the built environment on such distances remain underexplored. Therefore, this study, selecting Guangzhou as the case, employed multi-source data to measure RLTD and utilized a random forest model to explore the nonlinear relationship between the built environment and RLTD. Our findings are as follows. (1) Leisure activities among Guangzhou residents are dominated by short- and medium-distance travel (<10 km). Furthermore, RLTD exhibits significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity: on weekdays, it follows a zonal pattern where distances increase from the urban core to the periphery; conversely, on weekends, low-RLTD areas show a multi-center agglomeration pattern. (2) Proximity to central business districts (CBD) and large commercial centers, as well as optimal parking facility provision, emerge as the strongest predictors of RLTD on both weekdays and weekends. (3) All built environment variables exert nonlinear effects on RLTD, with distinct thresholds between weekdays and weekends. Additionally, a noticeable interaction effect is observed between the “distance to CBD” variable and other covariates. This study implies that when designing targeted interventions to promote residents’ leisure travel experience, policymakers should account for the temporal variations in how the built environment complexly influences RLTD. Full article

Large Language Models (LLMs) demonstrate potential in code generation capabilities, yet their applicability in autonomous vehicle control has not been sufficiently explored. This study verifies whether LLMs can generate executable MATLAB code for software-defined vehicle scenarios, comparing five models: GPT-4, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Claude Sonnet 4.0, CodeLlama-13B-Instruct, and StarCoder2. Thirteen standardised prompts were applied across three types of scenarios: programming-based driving scenarios, inertial sensor-based simulations, and vehicle parking scenarios. Multiple automated evaluation metrics—BLEU, ROUGE-L, ChrF, Spec-Compliance, and Runtime-Sanity—were used to assess code executability, accuracy, and completeness. The results showed GPT-4 achieved the highest score 0.54 in the parking scenario with an overall average score of 0.27, followed by Gemini 2.5 Pro as 0.26. Commercial models demonstrated over 60% execution success rates across all scenarios, whereas open-source models like CodeLlama and StarCoder2 were limited to under 20%. Furthermore, the parking scenario yielded the lowest average score of 0.19, confirming that complex tasks involving sensor synchronisation and trajectory control represent a common limitation across all models. This study presents a new benchmark for quantitatively evaluating the quality of SDV control code generated by LLMs, empirically demonstrating that prompt design and task complexity critically influence model reliability and real-world applicability. Full article

Small urban parks are the dominant form of green spaces in most Japanese cities and hold great potential for heat stress mitigation. However, most research has focused on large urban parks, leaving a knowledge gap in how small parks can be designed to mitigate heat. Given that small parks are primarily used for rest, we focused on resting areas and assessed their thermal conditions in three typical small parks in Kyoto, Japan. We then examined how the spatial arrangements of park elements influenced thermal conditions. Results revealed that nearly half of the resting areas were uncomfortable, underscoring the urgent need for spatial design improvements. Linear mixed-effects models showed that while shade elements, such as tree canopies and roofs, most effectively enhanced thermal perception, their effectiveness was distance- and orientation-dependent. We also found a critical mismatch between green ground and shade elements that adversely affected thermal conditions. Our findings highlight that strategic spatial design, particularly the thoughtful placement of shade elements and resting areas, is the key to providing thermal comfort in small urban parks. This study provides evidence that small parks can act as urban heat spots if poorly designed, but with appropriate design they can become cool refuges. Full article

The transition to sustainable energy systems increasingly relies on advanced optimization methods to address the challenges of designing and operating them efficiently. Seasonal storage systems play a pivotal role in aligning renewable energy generation with fluctuating energy demand, with ice storage emerging as a promising solution for seasonal energy storage. This paper presents a novel optimization framework for the operation of seasonal ice-storage systems, leveraging Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) with time-series aggregation (TSA) techniques. The proposed model accurately captures the physical behavior of ice storage, incorporating both latent and sensible heat storage phases, discrete temperature levels, and charging/discharging efficiency curves. A key feature of this framework is its ability to address computational challenges in large-scale optimization, while maintaining high detail. Using a business park in Germany as a case study, the results demonstrate a significant reduction in computational time of up to 80% for 110 typical periods, with only a 2.5% deviation in the objective value and 9% in the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), although this efficiency gain depends on the number of typical periods used. This work addresses key gaps in seasonal ice-storage optimization models and provides a robust tool for designing and optimizing sustainable energy systems. Full article

This paper presents the theoretical and methodological foundations of Living a Life of Meaning and Purpose-C (LAMP-C), a novel quantitative instrument designed to assess meaning-making capacity among emerging adults to be used as part of a battery of assessments for religiosity. Drawing on Constructive-Developmental Theory (CDT) as articulated by Robert Kegan, Sharon Daloz Parks, and Marcia Baxter Magolda, LAMP-C operationalizes complex developmental constructs such as cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal growth. LAMP-C integrates CDT with the Rasch/Guttman Scenario (RGS) methodology, which systematically structures items to reflect incremental developmental complexity. An instrument for assessing meaning-making contributes to the comprehensive interpretation of assessments of religiosity among emerging adults. By framing meaning-making through four facets—ideation, relational awareness, conflict resolution, and sense of responsibility—this paper provides a comprehensive conceptual foundation for measuring growth in meaning-making. The RGS methodology further enhances construct validity by enabling precise, context-specific, and developmentally sensitive assessments across three contexts. LAMP-C bridges the gap between qualitative depth and quantitative breadth in assessing developmental constructs, offering a tool that supports both large-scale applications and nuanced theoretical alignment. LAMP-C establishes a framework for assessing meaning-making while setting the stage for future empirical research (e.g., longitudinal studies) to evaluate religiosity in emerging adults. Full article

Rapid urban expansion and increasing population density intensify the loss of open spaces, exacerbate flooding frequency and runoff pollution, increase the urban heat island effect, and deteriorate ecological resilience and human well-being. This study presents Gazelle Valley Park (GVP) in Jerusalem (Israel), a unique large-scale ecohydrological infrastructure within a dense Mediterranean city. GVP was established in 2015 following a public-led campaign and comprises a multifunctional nature-based solution designed to collect and circulate stormwater through a series of vegetated ponds, enhancing filtration, aeration, and pollutant removal, while sustaining a wetland ecosystem. Its design follows international ecological standards and embodies the principle “from nuisance to resource”, transforming urban runoff into an asset that supports rich biodiversity while offering recreational, cultural, and educational activities. During the dry summer, reclaimed wastewater is introduced in order to support a perennial aquatic habitat, which introduces various challenges due to increased salinity, oxygen demand, and contaminants. Hydrometric and geochemical monitoring demonstrates strong correlations between rainfall and runoff and point at the role of sedimentation and vegetation in reducing pollutant loads. The park benefits from its holistic operation, where hydrology, ecology, education, and public engagement are integrated, thus making the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Full article

Climate change has intensified torrential rainfall and floods, causing frequent floodplain inundation with erosion and deposition. Large-scale waterfront facilities such as park golf courses are highly vulnerable, requiring systematic hydraulic safety evaluation. We simulated a recent flood in the Musim Stream using a two-dimensional FaSTMECH model to assess floodplain safety. The model showed excellent reproducibility (RMSE = 0.0176 m, NSE = 0.95 for depth; RMSE = 0.016 m/s, NSE = 0.87 for velocity). Flood risk indices—flood intensity (FI) and flood hazard rating (FHR)—and erosion–deposition indices—transient erosion and deposition index (TEDI) and steady erosion and deposition index (SEDI)—were applied. FI values were in the range of 0.3–6.4 (median 2.8) and FHR was in the range 0.7–10.2 (median 3.0), indicating that most floodplain areas exceeded the “high” to “extreme” risk range. TEDI was in the range of 0.004–4.15 (mean = 0.60), while SEDI was in the range of 0.001–5.59 (mean = 2.12). High TEDI values (0.6–0.9) occurred in curved and contracted sections, corresponding to observed erosion zones, whereas high SEDI values (0.8–1.0) were concentrated in the main channel. These results demonstrate that the indices effectively quantify and visualize floodplain risk, providing a practical basis for the design, placement, and maintenance of floodplain facilities. Full article

The vitality of areas around tourist attractions plays a crucial role in promoting the sustainable development of both tourism and the regional economy. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on the methods for mining vitality around attraction perimeters, and existing approaches are often inadequate to meet the evolving needs of contemporary tourism development. To address this gap, we proposed a method for inferring vitality around attractions based on a knowledge graph. Our approach began by analyzing the functional and morphological characteristics of the areas surrounding the attractions, followed by the design of a vitality calculation model for these regions. Next, we developed a knowledge graph structure tailored for vitality reasoning around the attractions and established reasoning rules based on this graph. Finally, we conducted experiments to apply the vitality inference method to the main urban area of Kaifeng City as a case study. The results indicated that our method could effectively reason about vitality around the attractions. Notably, the vitality levels around the attractions in Kaifeng’s main urban area exhibited clear spatial differentiation. Attractions such as the Yang Family’s Tianbo Mansion, the Millennium City Park, and Lord Bao’s Memorial Temple showed higher vitality values, largely due to their advantageous functional integration and synergistic morphological characteristics. Full article

The Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) in northern Alberta, Canada, is one of the world’s largest inland freshwater deltas and is largely located within the Wood Buffalo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Owing to its ecological and socioeconomic significance, the PAD has been designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance. A paucity of large-scale Peace River ice jam flooding and concurrent drying trend during the past five decades has motivated various studies on relevant processes and on possible remedial action. In turn, many of these studies are informed by a flood record that was compiled in 1995, based on Historical information and Traditional Knowledge (H-TK flood record). Later work has expressed occasional reservations regarding the accuracy of this record, while much more is now known about the physical and hydroclimatic controls of PAD ice jams. This paper examines the 20th century portion of the H-TK record in the light of recent scientific advances made since the 1990s and of a wealth of hydrometric and climatic indicators, along with eyewitness corroborations, that extend back to the early 1900s. Systematic observational data and monitoring reports that have become available since the 1990s have also provided valuable documentation of PAD flooding. It is concluded that the record of major ice-jam floods is reliable, while the possibility of “missed” events cannot be precluded. The record of minor ice jam floods, which is largely inferred from reversed tributary flows entering Lake Athabasca, may not be reliable because more than half of the reported events might not have occurred at all. The value of the H-TK record is primarily in the major events, which generate overland inundation and can amply recharge various ponds, lakes, and wetlands of the PAD. Implications of the results for pre- and post-regulation flood frequencies and for future park management are discussed. Full article

The building sector plays a key role in the transition toward climate neutrality, with national regulations across the EU requiring the construction of nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs). However, while energy performance has been extensively studied, less attention has been given to the problem of ensuring user comfort—both indoors and in the surrounding outdoor areas—under nZEB design constraints. This gap raises two key research objectives: (1) to evaluate whether a well-designed nZEB with extensive glazing maintains acceptable indoor thermal comfort and (2) to assess whether residents experience greater outdoor thermal comfort and satisfaction in small, sun-exposed private gardens or in larger, shaded communal green spaces. To address these objectives, a newly built residential estate near Kraków (Poland) was analyzed. The investigation included simulation-based assessments during the design phase and in situ measurements during building operation, complemented by a user survey on spatial preferences. Indoor comfort was evaluated for rooms with large glazed façades, as well as rooms with standard-sized windows, while outdoor comfort was assessed in both private gardens and a shared green courtyard. Results show that shading the southwest-oriented glazed façade with an overhanging terrace provided slightly lower temperatures in ground-floor rooms compared to rooms with standard unshaded windows. Outdoors, users experienced lower thermal comfort in small, unshaded gardens than in the larger, vegetated communal area (pocket park), which demonstrated greater capacity for temperature moderation and thermal stress reduction. Survey responses further indicate that potential future residents prefer the inclusion of a shared green–blue infrastructure area, even at the expense of building some housing units in semi-detached form, instead of maximizing the number of detached units with unshaded individual gardens. These findings emphasize the importance of addressing both indoor and outdoor comfort in residential nZEB design, showing that technological efficiency must be complemented by user-centered design strategies. This integrated approach can improve the well-being of residents while supporting climate change adaptation in the built environment. Full article

Public green spaces are vital to urban life, offering recreational opportunities, enhancing mental and physical well-being, and supporting environmental sustainability. This study presents a structured evaluation of ten public parks in Riyadh, categorized as neighborhood, local, and large parks, and compares their performance to two internationally recognized benchmark parks—Hyde Park and Regent’s Park in London. A partly original evaluation framework was developed to assess the design-related and environmental (nature-based) qualities of these parks. The framework integrates 50 criteria grouped into nine categories, combining quantitative scoring on a five-point scale with qualitative on-site observations. This method enables a comprehensive assessment of design quality, accessibility, and sustainability features. A city-wide map with a color-coded legend illustrates the distribution of the evaluated parks, while field observations and photographic documentation supported the data collection. Findings reveal notable variations in design quality, accessibility, and sustainability across the parks. The results highlight both strengths and gaps compared to international benchmarks, providing valuable insights for improving park design and management. This study contributes to ongoing efforts to enhance park usability and align with Riyadh’s Vision 2030 objectives, offering a practical decision-support tool for planners, managers, and policymakers seeking resilient and inclusive public green spaces. Full article

The aim of conversion is to reveal the potential of non-functioning buildings for transformation—i.e., to design a new life for them. A large number of original and presently non-functioning industrial production buildings are connected to mining activity. The subject of this study and area of investigation are selected mining networks from the second half of the 20th century in the Rudňany settlement, which is located in the Spiš region. The aim of the research is to form a process algorithm for the reuse of areas and objects of mining activity and to highlight the cultural values, constructional substance, and preconditions for their further development. Part of the investigation comprises proposals for a new functional usage of the structures that will encompass the complex historical ground-points of the locality and include its historical roots and trends in the region’s social development and community. The quantitative and qualitative research is based on an analysis of the values of such structures based on traditional mining activity, accompanied by landscape research of the specific locality. The results are presented in the form of case studies oriented towards the identification and evaluation of the attributes of change for novel exploitation of the mining sites. The conclusion of the research is composed of an evaluation and interpretation feasibility study pointing out suitable solutions and preconditions for the sustainability of the converted mining structures as parts of open concepts for mining theme parks. Full article

The acquisition of plant ecological indicators, such as leaf area index and leaf area density values, typically relies on labor-intensive field sampling and measurements, which are often time-consuming and hinder large-scale application. As different plant ecological indicators are closely related to plants’ geometric characteristics, the development of dynamic correlation and prediction methods for relevant indicators has become an important research topic. However, existing 3D plant models are mainly used for visualization purposes, which cannot accurately reflect the plant’s growth process or geometric characteristics. This study presents a workflow for parametric 3D plant modeling and ecological indicator analysis, integrating dynamic plant modeling, indicator calculation, and microclimate simulation. With the established plant model, a method for calculating and analyzing ecological indicators, including the leaf area index, leaf area density, aboveground biomass, and aboveground carbon storage, was then proposed. A method for exporting the model-generated data into ENVI-met v.5.0 to simulate the microclimate environment was also established. Then, by taking Daijia Lake Park as an example, this study utilized site planting construction drawings and field survey data to perform parametric modeling of 21,685 on-site trees from 65 species at three different growth stages using Blender v.4.0 and The Grove plugin v.10. The generated plant model’s accuracy was then verified using the 3D IoU ratio between the models and on-site scanned point cloud data. Plant ecological indicators at various stages were then extracted and exported to ENVI-met for microclimate analysis. The workflow integrates the simulation of plant growth dynamics and their interactions with environmental factors. It can also be used for scenario-based predictions in planting design and serves as a basis for urban green space monitoring and management. Full article

The rapid industrialization and urbanization of the modern era caused widespread deforestation and ecological degradation, raising global concerns about sustainable planning, urban green space, and environmental governance. Around the turn of the 20th century, Guangdong Province in China suffered severe environmental decline due to extensive deforestation, threatening public health, ecological resilience, and urban livability. In response, returning Chinese intellectuals and foreign forestry experts introduced advanced Western forestry theories and practices to address these crises and promote green urban development. This study examines how these transnational forestry ideas were ideologically embraced, locally adapted, and institutionally embedded in modern Guangdong’s afforestation and urban greening efforts. Drawing on a systematic review of historical literature, forestry journals, and government archives, it identifies three key developments. (1) In ideology, figures such as Yat-sen Sun and German forester Fenzel played vital roles in raising public awareness of afforestation. (2) In practice, Guangdong developed a diversified greening model integrating commemorative, ecological, and aesthetic functions. This included transforming Arbor Day into a civic ritual honoring Yat-sen Sun, establishing nurseries and forest farms for large-scale afforestation, systematically planting street trees in urban centers, and creating forest parks that combined conservation, recreation, and historical commemoration. (3) In regulation, Guangdong formulated forestry laws inspired by Western models. By this way, Guangdong effectively addressed the management challenges in urban greening practices. It should also be emphasized that these modern-era practices have persisted in Guangdong, and their historical experience provides a valuable reference for present-day urban greening. Additionally, Fenzel’s methods for planning nurseries and forest farms can be seen as early prototypes of “evidence-based planning”. By highlighting a historically grounded yet under-explored case, this research offers new insights into the long-term evolution of urban greening strategies and provides lessons for current global efforts in sustainable land use and resilient urban design. Full article