Search Results (79)

On-demand public transport systems are increasingly adopted to improve service flexibility, reduce operating costs, and meet emerging mobility needs. Evaluating their performance under realistic demand and operational conditions, however, remains a complex challenge. This study presents a hybrid simulation framework that integrates deep learning-based demand forecasting, behavioural survey data, and agent-based simulation to assess system performance. A BiLSTM neural network trained on real-world smartcard data forecasts short-term passenger demand, which is embedded into an agent-based model simulating vehicle dispatch, routing, and passenger interactions. The framework is applied to a case study in Melbourne, Australia, comparing a baseline fixed-route service with two on-demand scenarios. Results show that the most flexible scenario reduces the average passenger trip time by 32%, decreases the average wait time by 34%, increases vehicle occupancy from 12.1 to 18.6 passengers per vehicle, lowers emissions per passenger trip by 72%, and cuts the service cost per trip from AUD 6.82 to AUD 4.73. These findings demonstrate the potential of hybrid on-demand services to improve operational efficiency, passenger experience, and environmental outcomes. The study presents a novel, integrated methodology for scenario-based evaluation of on-demand public transportation using real-world transportation data. Full article

With the growing focus on sustainable development, light rail transit (LRT) systems are increasingly viewed as key drivers of low-carbon mobility and spatial equity. However, as urban spatial structures become more stable, it remains unclear whether LRT systems can still enhance quality of life, property values and contribute to inclusive urban regeneration. This study explores Manchester, Sheffield, and Nottingham, three UK cities with recent LRT development experience, as case studies. Using LRT constructed or expanded between 1995 and 2019 as a quasi-natural experiment, a difference-in-differences (DID) model is applied to estimate the causal impact of LRT expansion on property prices. The results indicate that LRT construction can lead to a 4.44% to 8.29% increase in nearby property values, with a lagged effect observed after implementation. The impact is more pronounced in areas with well-developed bus networks and in lower-income areas. Further mechanism analysis suggests that the effect is indirectly driven by improved accessibility and enhanced convenience of access to local amenities. Full article

The global transition toward sustainable mobility and renewable energy integration demands intelligent energy management frameworks capable of coupling electric mobility, distributed generation, and energy storage. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of the SIMA Project (Sistema Inteligente Multimodal da Amazônia), an innovative mobility pilot implemented at the Federal University of Pará, Brazil. The SIMA consists of the monitoring building, photovoltaic systems, lithium-based energy storage systems, and electric transportation modes (including urban and intercity buses, as well as a solar-powered catamaran), all interconnected within a microgrid. Field monitoring, data processing, and simulation analyses were conducted to assess energy performance, consumption patterns, and the operational feasibility of these electric systems under Amazonian conditions. The results indicate that the PV systems supply most of the SIMA’s demand, with the laboratory building accounting for 70% of total consumption and electric vehicles for 30%. Simulated full operation scenarios reveal the potential for near net-zero energy balance when energy management strategies are applied to generation, storage and charging. The findings demonstrate the technical viability of integrated mobility–energy systems in tropical contexts and provide practical insights for future low-carbon transport infrastructures in isolated or city-scale networks. Full article

The electrification of public transport with battery electric buses (BEBs) poses technical, regulatory, and environmental challenges. This paper analyzes the impact of BEB charging on a Brazilian urban medium-voltage (MV) feeder using a novel methodology to convert utility GIS data into OpenDSS simulation models. The study utilizes Geographic Database of the Distribution Company (BDGD) data from the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) and OpenDSS simulations. Motivated by Cuiabá’s proposal to electrify its public bus fleet, four realistic scenarios were simulated, incorporating distributed photovoltaic (PV) generation and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) operation. Results show that up to 118 BEBs can be charged simultaneously without voltage violations. However, thermal overload occurs beyond 56 units, requiring conductor upgrades or load redistribution. PV systems can supply up to 64% of the daily energy demand but introduce reverse power flows and overvoltages, indicating the need for dynamic control. V2G operation enables peak shaving but also leads to overvoltages when more than 33 buses inject power concurrently. The findings suggest that while the current infrastructure partially supports fleet electrification, future scalability depends on integrating smart grid features and reinforcing the system. Although focused on Cuiabá, the methodology offers a replicable approach for low-carbon urban mobility planning in similar developing regions. Full article

Transport is among the fastest-growing contributors to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, where rapid urbanization, population growth, and high mobility demand continue to shape energy use. This study aims to quantify the extent to which economic growth and urbanization drive transport-related CO₂ emissions across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates between 2012 and 2022. Using sector-specific data from the International Energy Agency and World Bank, we apply panel and country-level log–log regression models to estimate long-run and short-run elasticities of transport CO₂ emissions with respect to GDP and urban population. The analysis also includes robustness checks excluding the COVID-19 pandemic year to isolate structural effects from temporary shocks. Results show that transport emissions remain strongly correlated with GDP in most countries, indicating emissions-intensive growth, while the influence of urbanization varies: positive in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where expansion is car-dependent, and negative in Oman and Qatar, where compact urban forms and transit investments mitigate emissions. The findings highlight the importance of differentiated policy responses—fuel-pricing reform, vehicle efficiency standards, electrification, and transit-oriented planning—to advance low-carbon mobility. By integrating elasticity-based diagnostics with decoupling analysis, this study provides the first harmonized empirical framework for the GCC to assess progress toward transport-sector decarbonization. Full article

Transportation is one of the major carbon dioxide (CO₂)-emitting industries, facing substantial reduction pressure under low-carbon sustainable development. Cities are key to reducing transportation CO₂ emissions, and the Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy (LCCPP) is essential to advance the development of low-carbon cities and achieve peak-carbon and carbon-neutral targets. In this paper, we analyse the effect of the LCCP on transportation CO₂ emissions using a multiperiod difference-in-differences (DID) method with data from 284 Chinese cities between 2006 and 2020. The results indicate a substantial reduction in urban transportation CO₂ emissions through the LCCP, and that the enhancement of urban public transportation levels and residents’ green mobility are effective ways to accomplish this. This conclusion is upheld after conducting various robustness tests. Examination of the heterogeneity of the results and spatial analysis revealed that the LCCPP significantly reduced transportation CO₂ emissions in eastern, western, and low-economy cities in China, but not in central and high-economy cities, that the reduction effect was better for southern, non-resource-based cities than for northern, resource-producing cities, and that it exerted notable spillover effects in surrounding cities. The results of this paper offer valid policy insights and practical guidance to maximise the CO₂ reduction effects of the LCCP in the transportation sector. Full article

While existing literature has explored the effects of financial technology on CO₂ emissions, there has been limited research examining how variations in financial technology itself influence its impact on emissions. To supplement the shortness of existing literature, this paper empirically investigates the dynamic effects of economic growth, urbanization, and four dimensions of financial technology—mobile cellular technology, financial development, market development, and institutional development on CO₂ emissions in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The study utilizes annual time series data covering 24 years, from 2000 to 2023. To achieve the research objectives, a robust Auto-regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method was employed. The findings reveal a bidirectional causal relationship between CO₂ emissions and economic growth, as well as between CO₂ emissions and urbanization. Conversely, a one-way causal relationship was identified between financial development and financial institutions, and CO₂ emissions. Based on these results, the study recommends that GCC countries promote renewable energy sources and low-carbon industries while gradually reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, this study suggested that policymakers focus on developing financial technology within their governments to facilitate the growth of a green economy and guide it towards an ecologically sustainable trajectory. Full article

As global urbanization accelerates and the challenges of an aging population and climate change intensify, the need for sustainable and inclusive urban design has never been more pressing. This study examines the intersection of low-carbon strategies and age-friendly walking environments, focusing on how collaborative approaches can optimize community spaces for elderly mobility while meeting sustainability goals. A comprehensive literature review, systematically conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, examines the role of walking networks, green spaces, and public facilities in creating low-carbon, accessible, and health-enhancing environments. The research reveals a gap in integrating low-carbon goals with elderly mobility needs, stressing the importance of collaborative governance in urban planning. This collaborative synergy—combining community input, urban policy, and low-carbon design solutions—can create environments that not only reduce emissions but also enhance elderly well-being. By exploring the synergies between these elements, the study proposes a framework for collaborative urban planning that ensures both environmental sustainability and the well-being of elderly populations. The results suggest that integrating low-carbon principles with age-friendly design can simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life for elderly residents. Future research should focus on refining this framework and addressing the barriers to effective collaboration in urban planning. Full article

Past studies on low-carbon public transport implementation challenges primarily focused on a specific transport mode to find its viability within broader sustainable urban mobility frameworks. A notable gap still exists in analyzing implementation challenges of low-emission urban public transport policies in the Global South. In particular, research about cities in developing countries, including Mongolia, remains limited. Thus, this study attempts to fill this gap by identifying implementation challenges for low-emission public transport policies in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia’s capital. We collected and systematically examined the most relevant legal and policy documents from 2008 to 2023, including those from transport agencies and research institutions. The low-emission public transport policies were identified using the principles of the Avoid-Shift-Improve approach. The implementation challenges of identified policies were analyzed using the policy implementation analysis framework developed by Sabatier and Mazmanian. We found that low-emission public transport initiatives that were approved by international organizations and the national government were canceled or significantly delayed due to political instability, financial limitations, and poor inter-agency coordination. This paper also shows that, contrary to some past studies that mainly emphasized financial and administrative capacity limitations, Ulaanbaatar’s low-emission public transport policy implementation met more varied challenges due partly to its unique political, social, and institutional factors as well as unpredictable incidents like the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

To address the global challenge of sustainable energy transition in cities, there is a growing demand for innovative solutions to provide flexible, low-carbon, and socio-economically profitable energy systems. In this context, there is a need for holistic evaluation frameworks for the prioritization and economic optimization of interventions. This paper provides a literature review on sustainable planning and economic impact assessment of innovative urban areas, such as Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), to analyze research trends in terms of evaluation methods, impacts, system boundaries, and identify conceptual and methodological gaps. A dedicated search was conducted in the Scopus database using several query strings to conduct a systematic review. At the end, 57 documents were collected and categorized by analysis approach, indicators, project interventions, and other factors. The review shows that the Cost–Benefit Analysis (CBA) is the most frequently adopted method, while Life Cycle Costing and Multi-Criteria Analysis result in a more limited application. Only in a few cases is the reduction in GHG emissions and disposal costs a part of the economic model. Furthermore, cost assessments usually do not consider the integration of the district into the wider energy network, such as the interaction with energy markets. From a more holistic perspective, additional costs and benefits should be included in the analysis and monetized, such as the co-impact on the social and environmental dimensions (e.g., social well-being, thermal comfort improvement, and biodiversity preservation) and other operational benefits (e.g., increase in property value, revenues from Demand Response, and Peer-To-Peer schemes) and disposal costs, considering specific discount rates. By adopting this multi-criteria thinking, future research should also deepen the synergies between urban sectors by focusing more attention on mobility, urban waste and green management, and the integration of district heating networks. According to this vision, investments in PEDs can generate a better social return and favour the development of shared interdisciplinary solutions. Full article

As cities strive for human-centered and fine-tuned development, Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) has emerged as a powerful tool for simulating pedestrian behavior and optimizing walkable neighborhood design. This study presents a comparative bibliometric analysis of ABM applications in block-scale walkability research from 2015 to 2024, drawing on both Chinese- and English-language literature. Using visualization tools such as VOSviewer, the analysis reveals divergences in national trajectories, methodological approaches, and institutional logics. Chinese research demonstrates a policy-driven growth pattern, particularly following the introduction of the “15-Minute Community Life Circle” initiative, with an emphasis on neighborhood renewal, age-friendly design, and transit-oriented planning. In contrast, international studies show a steady output driven by technological innovation, integrating methods such as deep learning, semantic segmentation, and behavioral simulation to address climate resilience, equity, and mobility complexity. The study also classifies ABM applications into five key application domains, highlighting how Chinese and international studies differ in focus, data inputs, and implementation strategies. Despite these differences, both research streams recognize the value of ABM in transport planning, public health, and low-carbon urbanism. Key challenges identified include data scarcity, algorithmic limitations, and ethical concerns. The study concludes with future research directions, including multimodal data fusion, integration with extended reality, and the development of privacy-aware, cross-cultural modeling standards. These findings reinforce ABM’s potential as a smart urban simulation tool for advancing adaptive, human-centered, and sustainable neighborhood planning. Full article

Decarbonisation of urban energy and transportation systems has become a priority for cities worldwide, with policies primarily aiming to promote rooftop solar electricity generation and a shift to private electric vehicles (EVs). However, these policies may also increase inequalities in access to affordable, low-carbon mobility and the associated benefits. While academic literature shows increasing awareness of these equity impacts and risks, the extent to which this applies to policy practice remains unclear. We therefore conducted a case study of seven Dutch cities, analysing local policy documents and conducting interviews with policymakers. The study provided insight into the current policy landscape and revealed a general sensitivity among interviewed policymakers to possible equity impacts of the current decarbonisation policies. Only a few measures to address these impacts are currently in place, but policymakers have proposed a range of novel and more inclusive measures, which can be tested for their impacts and scaling potential in real-life experiments. Another priority for future research is exploring the potential of shared electric mobility to provide equitable access to low-carbon transportation. Full article

The rapid expansion of fashion e-commerce has raised concerns over the environmental cost of last-mile deliveries, especially in pure-player models. This preliminary study examines the estimated carbon footprint of TENDAM’s omnichannel model—based on in-store pickup and returns—compared to pure-player home delivery, using a customer-level approach across 11 Spanish cities of varying sizes. A total of 3106 face-to-face surveys were conducted in TENDAM stores, capturing data on mobility behavior, transport modes, trip chaining, and service types. Emission factors were applied using a Python-based analytical model, and results were contrasted with Monte Carlo simulations from existing literature on pure players. Our findings indicate that the average per-service footprint of the omnichannel model is around 400 g ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_2-\mathrm{e}\mathrm{q}$, significantly lower than the 1500–3000 g ${\mathrm{C}\mathrm{O}}_2-\mathrm{e}\mathrm{q}$ range for pure players. Emissions were especially low in large cities and in street-level stores, largely due to the high rate of walking and multipurpose trips among customers. The study also includes geospatial analysis through interactive influence maps. These results suggest that dense store networks embedded in walkable urban areas can substantially reduce last-mile GHG emissions. While preliminary, the study highlights the potential for omnichannel retail to support urban decarbonization goals and sustainability when integrated with sustainable mobility patterns. Full article

Achieving global carbon neutrality by 2050 requires active decarbonization efforts from both developed and developing countries, with the latter being responsible for most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This study examines the potential of low-carbon mobility transitions, focusing on the electrification of light commercial vehicles (LCVs)—a rapidly expanding segment with high emissions in urban freight. While Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analyses show electric powertrains to be cost-effective in developed markets, there is limited empirical evidence for developing economies. To address this gap in the research, this paper compares the TCO for electric LCVs (eLCVs) in Italy and Pakistan, representing contrasting stages of electric mobility adoption. Using a bottom-up model for Pakistan and robust datasets for Italy, this study assesses how macroeconomic conditions, tax structures, and policy frameworks shape lifecycle costs. The TCO assessment underscores a stark geographic divergence: in Italy, eLCVs (0.359 EUR/km) are currently 19.7% more expensive than their diesel counterparts (0.300 EUR/km). In contrast, Pakistan demonstrates favorable competitiveness for eLCVs, with a TCO of 0.119 EUR/km compared to 0.136 EUR/km for diesel equivalents. The analysis reveals stark contextual differences in cost components, infrastructure, annual distance travelled, and policy effects, highlighting the need for context-specific strategies. The findings offer practical guidance for policymakers and fleet operators, supporting more equitable and effective decarbonization strategies globally. Full article

Public transport is essential for achieving net-zero emissions and sustainable urban growth. Yet, the health implications of indoor air quality (IAQ) in these vehicles are often overlooked, especially as passengers may spend hours in these enclosed spaces each day. We assessed IAQ in air-conditioned buses and trains in the metropolitan region of San Jose, Costa Rica. The tropical climate of San Jose means that high temperatures and humidity drive energy-intensive cooling on buses and trains, which rely on fossil fuels. To conserve energy, vehicle windows remain sealed, and air is mostly recirculated, undermining ventilation requirements. Our measurements revealed CO₂ concentrations reaching up to 5000 ppm during a 45 min bus ride. This far exceeds recommended thresholds and highlights significant ventilation deficits. These elevated CO₂ levels are indicative of potential health risks, particularly during prolonged travel. Our findings emphasize the urgent need to redesign air circulation strategies in urban public transport, especially in air-conditioned vehicles, to safeguard public health without undermining sustainability goals. Future research should focus on innovative ventilation solutions that reconcile energy efficiency with occupant well-being, supporting the transition to truly sustainable, net-zero urban mobility. Full article