Search Results (30)

Under rapid urbanization and watershed-scale spatial restructuring, urban green-space systems are often treated as residual indicators after construction land has been allocated, which limits the capacity of blue–green networks to act as leading frameworks for spatial structure and development sequencing. Taking the Sanjiangkou New Town Master Plan in Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China, as a case, this study develops the concepts of landscape-flow transformation and locality in urban green-space networks and examines their generative, planning, and participatory mechanisms through planning-document interpretation, visual evidence-chain analysis, sequential scenario construction, and an exploratory public-participation questionnaire survey. The paper proposes an integrated Perception–Cognition–Interaction (PCI) and Ecology–Construction–Program (ECP) framework. The ECP framework clarifies how locality-based landscape ecology constrains network formation, how frontloaded green networks shape urban zoning and mobility structures, and how long-term construction, use, and feedback refine master-planning schemes. The PCI framework explains how the public enters planning communication through embodied locality perception, structural understanding, and interactive feedback. Based on 400 valid questionnaires, the results reveal significant differences between local and non-local respondents in locality perception and planning understanding. The PCI pathway provides exploratory evidence that perception, cognition, and interaction are closely associated in scenario-based planning communication. The study argues that green-space networks should be introduced as an ecological substrate, structural constraint, and dynamic feedback system rather than as post hoc environmental land-use allocation. Its contribution is to reposition locality from a visual character label to a mechanism of pattern generation, phasing, and participatory negotiation. Full article

Frequent extreme climate events pose severe threats to human health. Existing studies mainly focused on summer thermal environments, while few compared summer and winter extreme climate risks from the perspective of urban functional zones (UFZs). This study classified more precise UFZs using the machine-learning method and constructed heat and cold exposure indicators. GeoDetector was adopted to analyze driving factors and interactions of both types of exposure across UFZs. The results showed that UFZ classification achieved an overall accuracy of 81.8% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.75. High heat exposure concentrated in core public, residential, and commercial zones, while high cold exposure occurred in peripheral industrial and greenspace zones. Dual high exposure zones lay between the 3rd and 5th Ring Roads. Industrial zones positively contributed to both exposures, while commercial, public, and residential zones showed positive heat but negative cold exposure contributions, and greenspace zones presented opposite effects. Vulnerable population ratios had a strong explanatory power. Heat exposure interactions were dominated by vulnerable populations, building morphology, and landscape patterns, while cold exposure was also affected by the degree of facility agglomeration and human activities with varied mechanisms across UFZs. This study advanced single-season thermal research to multi-season exposure and zoned governance for climate-adaptive renewal. Full article

Rapid urbanization reshapes urban land systems and intensifies surface thermal heterogeneity, yet nonlinear day–night land surface temperature (LST) responses to grey–green spatial organization and building morphology remain insufficiently understood, particularly in thermally stressed areas across the urban–rural gradient. Using Xi’an, China, as a case study, this study develops a priority-area-based land–climate interaction framework. Priority areas were defined as grid cells where elevated LST coincided with relatively strong local explanatory relationships between LST and land-cover or morphological variables. Multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR), gradient boosting decision trees (GBDTs), SHAP-based interpretation, and threshold sensitivity analysis were combined to identify dominant drivers, nonlinear response patterns, and interaction structures of daytime and nighttime LST. The results show pronounced day–night differentiation: daytime hotspots were concentrated in the built-up core, whereas nighttime hotspots extended toward the urban–rural fringe. Daytime LST was mainly associated with building coverage and grey-space organization, while nighttime LST was more strongly related to mean building height and the cooling contribution of green-space coverage. The analysis further identified localized empirical response ranges for built-up intensity, grey-space connectivity, building height, and green-space coverage within the priority areas. These findings clarify how land-cover configuration and building morphology jointly shape day–night surface thermal responses and provide context-specific evidence for land-use planning and targeted urban heat mitigation. Full article

Many cemeteries include large amounts of greenspace and so have substantial potential to support urban plant and wildlife communities. However, the physical structure and design of these human-focused greenspaces may ultimately determine which species successfully inhabit these areas. Here, I studied the relationship between grave markers, a unique and ubiquitous feature of cemeteries that vary widely in shape and structure within and between burial areas, and the behavior of cemetery avian communities. I hypothesized that areas with greater structural heterogeneity of markers would be used by a larger diversity of species and that species would alter their behavior and interactions with markers based on marker structure. I assessed avian abundance and species richness in areas with varied upright and homogenously flat grave markers and observed behaviors exhibited by four common species in relation to grave markers and other structural features. While I found no relationship between grave marker heterogeneity and avian species richness or abundance, there is evidence for species-specific behavior and interactions with grave markers, suggesting that marker design is an important and relevant landscape feature for birds. These results have practical applications for cemetery design at a time when there is both increased public interest in environmentally friendly burials and growing competition for land in increasingly heavily developed urban areas. Full article

Urban planners are progressively recognizing the significant effects of the built environment and land use on PM_2.5 levels. However, in analyzing the drivers of PM_2.5 levels, researchers’ reliance on annual mean and seasonal means may overlook the monthly variations in PM_2.5 levels, potentially impeding accurate predictions during periods of high pollution. This study focuses on the area within the Sixth Ring Road of Beijing, China. It utilizes gridded monthly and annual mean PM_2.5 data from 2019 as the dependent variable. The research selects 33 independent variables from the perspectives of the built environment and land use. The Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) method is employed to reveal the driving impacts of the built environment and land use on PM_2.5 levels. To enhance the model accuracy and address the randomness in the division of training and testing sets, we conducted twenty comparisons for each month. We employed Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) and Partial Dependence Plots (PDP) to interpret the models’ results and analyze the interactions between the explanatory variables. The results indicate that models incorporating both the built environment and land use outperformed those that considered only a single aspect. Notably, in the test set for April, the R² value reached up to 0.78. Specifically, the fitting accuracy for high pollution months in February, April, and November is higher than the annual mean, while July shows the opposite trend. The coefficient of variation for the importance rankings of the seven key explanatory variables exceeds 30% for both monthly and annual means. Among these variables, building density exhibited the highest coefficient of variation, at 123%. Building density and parking lots density demonstrate strong explanatory power for most months and exhibit significant interactions with other variables. Land use factors such as wetlands fraction, croplands fraction, park and greenspace fraction, and forests fraction have significant driving effects during the summer and autumn seasons months. The research on time scales aims to more effectively reduce PM_2.5 levels, which is essential for developing refined urban planning strategies that foster healthier urban environments. Full article

Urban green spaces face increasing pressure to reconcile ecological conservation with rising public demand as urbanization accelerates. Yet the spatial coupling of human needs and natural provisioning in the urban–rural fringe remains insufficiently understood. Focusing on the country park cluster in Beijing’s Huitian region, this study develops an integrated assessment framework—combining ecological importance, ecological connectivity potential, construction suitability, and recreational demand—to evaluate nature suitability and pinpoint spatial mismatches in human–nature interactions. Ecological importance is quantified through ecological sensitivity analysis and InVEST-based habitat-quality modeling, while ecological connectivity potential is estimated via normalized least-cost corridor analysis. Construction suitability is derived from the proportion of artificial surfaces and road network density, and recreational demand is measured by population concentration, facility density, and transport accessibility. These metrics are synthesized to map nature-suitability patterns and reveal divergences between human demand and ecological provisioning. The results show a pronounced north–south gradient in ecological importance, with Dongxiaokou Ditch and Dongxiaokou Forest Park emerging as ecological hotspots. Nineteen ecological source patches are identified, with the strongest connectivity in the southern sector of Dongxiaokou Forest Park. Areas of high construction suitability coincide with well-developed infrastructure, whereas recreational demand clusters around Tiantongyuan and Beiqing Road. Natural and artificial elements intertwine to form an ecological core of 870.74 hm², yet 13.29% of the study area exhibits mismatches—particularly residential zones lacking green-space access. Over-development within Dongxiaokou Urban Recreation Park likewise falls short of ecological expectations. The study offers targeted recommendations—ecological protection, facility optimization, green-space enhancement, and the integration of multifunctional green infrastructure—and provides a transferable framework for coordinating human and natural systems in other urban–rural fringe contexts. Full article

Urban greenspaces, including residential parks and conservation areas, provide ecological and recreational benefits. This study reports mosquito surveillance and blood meal analysis data from greenspaces in Vero Beach, Florida. It also compares mosquito assemblages and host associations across residential and conservation greenspaces to assess how greenspace type impacts mosquito abundance and host interactions. Using CO₂-baited traps and large-diameter aspirators, mosquitoes were collected over 26 sampling weeks (February–December 2023) yielding over 19,000 female mosquitoes from 32 species. Although mosquito species richness and community composition were similar across greenspace types, relative abundance of some key vector and nuisance species differed significantly. For example, Aedes taeniorhynchus was more common in preserved coastal wetland greenspaces, while Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus were more common in residential greenspaces. Generalized linear models revealed the impacts of climatic variables on the abundance of many key mosquito species. Blood meal analyses showed that host associations did not vary significantly by greenspace type, suggesting stable mosquito–host interactions across the landscape. These results highlight that greenspaces are not uniform in their mosquito species composition. Further studies on the effects of different greenspace types on mosquito communities can help to identify urban landscape features that minimize mosquito-borne disease risk. Full article

Urbanization produces spatially variable landscapes where climatic, environmental, and social systems interact in complex ways that affect public health. Environmental exposure along with the associated health risks are unevenly distributed and communities of color are often disproportionately affected by poor health outcomes. Acute pediatric asthma is the most common chronic condition of childhood in developed nations and is especially prevalent in minority and low-income children. In this study, we analyze the spatial variability of neighborhood-level acute pediatric asthma emergency department (ED) visits across the Kansas City Metro Area. Using Bayesian negative binomial regression, we describe the relationships and interactions between race, low income, fractional vegetation, and PM_2.5. We find significant disparities in acute pediatric asthma incidence in census tracts with different levels of poverty and percentages of non-White populations, even after accounting for neighborhood economic position. We also find that higher PM_2.5 concentrations are associated with increased asthma ED visits and that a high percentage of vegetative cover reduces this effect in high-pollution neighborhoods. The magnitude of this protective effect is stronger in neighborhoods with a high proportion of non-White residents. These results suggest that investing in greenspace infrastructure may reduce the deleterious effects of PM_2.5 and provide health benefits, especially in neighborhoods of color. Full article

This study aims to investigate how urban residents interact with Urban Green Spaces (UGSs) in Nagpur, India, specifically focusing on the patterns of visitation and engagement. Data were collected via a face-to-face questionnaire survey using the Survey 123 app. The analysis included interaction (types of UGSs, visitation frequency, and UGS availability); engagement (activities); demographics (age, gender, and work status); and nature connection (self-reported) aspects. Using data from 2002 participants, the study employs statistical analyses using R software (4.3.2) to explore the correlations between these variables. The results revealed key factors influencing UGS usage, highlighting the interplay between environmental and social aspects. Neighborhood UGSs, proximity, and accessibility were found to be pivotal in promoting frequent visitation, while physical activity emerged as the most common activity among daily visitors. Older adults visited UGSs less frequently, suggesting potential barriers, while employed individuals visited more often. A strong association between nature connection and UGS interaction was highlighted, emphasizing the psychological and emotional aspects of UGS usage. For example, individuals who felt more connected to nature reported using UGSs for physical activities, mental relaxation, and socializing. These findings underscore the need for integrating UGSs within broader urban social-ecological systems, which means recognizing these spaces as vital components contributing to overall health and resilience and catering to the population’s diverse needs, ensuring that these spaces are accessible and enjoyable for all community members, including those from different cultural, age, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Additionally, fostering nature connectedness through education and exposure to natural environments is recommended to enhance UGS usage, supporting broader urban planning strategies to create sustainable and healthy urban environments. Full article

Although urban greenspace enhances ecological functioning and human well-being through ecosystem services (ES), it is oftentimes inequitably distributed. Environmental justice (EJ) encompasses aspects of distributive, procedural, and interactive justice related to accessibility and allocation of environmental benefits. Vacant land in shrinking cities has the potential to address greenspace inequalities and provide ES. This study investigated the perceptions of residents regarding urban ES and EJ in their communities in St. Louis (MO, USA)—a shrinking city that was undergoing green development, through semi-structured interviews. Altogether, 27 residents were selected from socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods characterized by high levels of vacancy due to legacies of redlining and systemic racism. Interview analysis revealed four themes: green benefits (including recreation opportunities), green costs (e.g., concerns for increased crime and nuisance animals), injustice issues (e.g., access to community greenspaces), and changes in the community (e.g., higher property taxes). Results revealed that residents perceived ES as closely connected with EJ when it comes to urban greening projects in their city. This study helps inform the process of urban greening projects, particularly in shrinking cities at risk of inequities. Full article

Children’s sleep is essential for healthy development, yet over a third of children in the United States experience inadequate sleep. Environmental factors can influence sleep: greenspace exposure can promote better sleep, while heat exposure can disrupt sleep. As global climate change raises nighttime and daytime temperatures, greenspace may mitigate the negative effects of heat stress on sleep. We examined the direct effects of neighborhood greenspace and extreme heat exposure on sleep and the statistical interaction between greenspace and heat exposure on sleep outcomes among a nationally representative, four-year longitudinal sample of 8580 U.S. children ages 9–10 years at baseline. Hierarchical linear models incorporated a neighborhood greenspace measure: percent open park space within individual child census tracts, a measure of extreme neighborhood heat exposure during the summer months, and extensive individual and neighborhood-level covariates to test main and interaction effects on child sleep quality. Neighborhood open park space was related to better sleep quality, after controlling for covariates. Additionally, neighborhood extreme heat exposure was associated with worse sleep quality. A two-way interaction was found between neighborhood open park space and neighborhood heat exposure on sleep quality, suggesting open park space mitigated the negative effects of heat on sleep. The results indicate the potential contribution of open greenspace to improve child sleep and enhance resilience to extreme heat, which is an adverse outcome of climate change. Full article

This study investigates levels of green place image and their association with different types of greenspace by examining residents’ perceptions of urban greenspaces. Place image refers to an individual’s comprehensive perception of a location, formed through various interactions, and it encompasses two distinct aspects: attraction and retention. The former can be established without extensive interaction, while the latter requires deeper physical and psychological connections, such as a sense of place (SOP) and place identity (PI). Although much research on urban greenspaces has concentrated on the retention aspect, focusing on residents’ psychological, physical, social, and environmental engagements, the attraction dimension, including place brand (PB), visual image (VI), and place reputation (PR), has been less explored. This study collected data from 536 on-site surveys across four types of urban greenspaces in Taipei city: small-size greenspaces, neighborhood parks, multipurpose parks, and green corridors, and they were analyzed through factor analysis (FA) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) using R software (R-4.3.3). The FA identifies two factors and their significant sub-attributes aligning with theoretical findings, i.e., attraction and retention. Further analysis using MANOVA determines that the multipurpose park is the most influential type of greenspace, significantly affecting urban residents’ development of positive green place images. These findings highlight the importance of perceiving urban greenspaces as critical areas for multi-dimensional stakeholders, suggesting a balanced approach to development and management that emphasizes both attraction and retention strategies as well as nature and built facilities. Full article

It is now well established that everyday interaction with nature has a restorative potential on the elderly population’s health and well-being. However, empirical evidence on the restorative effects of neighborhood greenspace is still lacking, and scant attention has been given to the cross-effect of the visual–audio experience. The present study examined the restorative effects of audio–visual interactions on older adults in typical residential public spaces in Chinese cities. A pretest–post-test design was used to measure changes in participants’ physiological responses, mood states, and mental restoration. Participants (mean age = 68.88 years) were asked to experience six simulated audio–visual conditions (3 scenes × 2 sounds) of residential public space. The results showed that: (1) A green scene combined with nature sounds showed the most restorative effect on the elderly participants’ psycho-physiological health. (2) Viewing green scenes facilitated the most psycho-physiological recovery for the elderly, followed by viewing the activity scene. (3) Compared to the traffic noise, adding nature sounds could promote many more benefits in HR recovery, positive mood promotion, and perceived restorative effects, and the advantage of nature sounds over traffic noise was mainly demonstrated in the green scene. (4) Visual scenes demonstrated a greater impact on the elderly participants’ psycho-physiological recovery than the sounds. Our findings suggested the necessity of providing residential nature and activity spaces, encompassing both sound and vision, to promote healthy aging in Chinese residential contexts. Full article

The relationship between urban greenspaces and the benefits to psychological, social, and physical aspects of human wellbeing are important to study, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas and underrepresented communities. This interaction was theorized, analyzed, and measured in this paper through the transactional paradigm and operationalized through the use of a volunteer geographic information questionnaire, SoftGIS, which activated the urban greenspace–human wellbeing interaction through its map-based data collection. Over 450 unique place-based relationships were statistically analyzed within the Greater Glasgow Urban Region of Paisley, Scotland, a vulnerable community. This study revealed that multiple components of human wellbeing are supported through interactions with urban greenspaces. The Paisley region’s respondents visited greenspaces, generally, and most often to receive psychological benefits such as reduction of stress and mental relaxation through interactions which included sitting and relaxing in quiet spaces, enjoying natural surroundings, and viewing nature and wildlife. The physical and social wellbeing benefits were not as frequent in these urban greenspace interactions but were distinctly present. The results imply pathways towards management and multifunctional greenspace design responses in urbanizing regions and indicate strategies for public policy, human health, and urban planning, which deliver wellbeing benefits to communities. Full article

A growing body of evidence is suggestive for the beneficial role of contact with greenspace (e.g., use of greenspace, visual access to greenspace, etc.) on mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, etc.). In addition, several studies have pointed out the benefits of social support and social interaction on psychological wellbeing. Even if evidence on the association between contact with greenspace and perceived social support were mixed, it was supposed that the use of greenspace could enhance social interactions and perceived social support, especially among older adults. The present study aims to explore the effect of use of greenspace on geriatric depression in a sample of South-Italian older adults and the mediating role of perceived social support in this association. A structural equation model was tested in a sample of 454 older adults (60–90 years old) residing in the Metropolitan Area of Bari, Apulia. The fit indices revealed the goodness of fit of the model (CFI = 0.934; TLI = 0.900; IFI = 0.911; NFI = 0.935; RMSEA = 0.074; SRMR = 0.056). Results showed that the use of greenspace was inversely associated with geriatric depression through perceived social support. These findings underlined the relevance of perceived social support on the pathway linking use of greenspace and geriatric depressive symptoms. This evidence may be useful to policymakers to plan interventions for promoting physical access to greenspace and social participation in an age-friendly city framework. Full article