Search Results (177)

Previous reviews have examined specific facets of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in transportation planning, such as transit-focused applications and open source geospatial tools. However, this study offers the first systematic, PRISMA-guided longitudinal evaluation of GIS integration in transportation planning, spanning thematic domains, data models, methodologies, and outcomes from 2004 to 2024. This study addresses this gap through a longitudinal analysis of GIS-based transportation research from 2004 to 2024, adhering to PRISMA guidelines. By conducting a mixed-methods analysis of 241 peer-reviewed articles, this study delineates major trends, such as increased emphasis on sustainability, equity, stakeholder involvement, and the incorporation of advanced technologies. Prominent domains include land use–transportation coordination, accessibility, artificial intelligence, real-time monitoring, and policy evaluation. Expanded data sources, such as real-time sensor feeds and 3D models, alongside sophisticated modeling techniques, enable evidence-based, multifaceted decision-making. However, challenges like data limitations, ethical concerns, and the need for specialized expertise persist, particularly in developing regions. Future geospatial innovations should prioritize the responsible adoption of emerging technologies, inclusive capacity building, and environmental justice to foster equitable and efficient transportation systems. This review highlights GIS’s evolution from a supplementary tool to a cornerstone of data-driven, sustainable urban mobility planning, offering insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to advance transportation strategies that align with equity and sustainability goals. Full article

Background: Since the election of Hamas in 2006, Gaza has endured eight major military conflicts, culminating in the ongoing 2023–2025 war, now surpassing 520 days. This protracted violence, compounded by a 17-year blockade, has resulted in the near-total collapse of Gaza’s health system. Over 49,000 deaths, widespread displacement, and the destruction of more than 60% of health infrastructure have overwhelmed both local capacity and international humanitarian response. Objectives: This narrative review aims to examine and synthesize the current literature (October 2023–April 2025) on the health crisis in Gaza, with a specific focus on identifying key themes and knowledge gaps relevant to rebuilding a sustainable health system. The review also seeks to outline strategic pathways for recovery in the context of ongoing conflict and systemic deprivation. Methods: Given the urgency and limitations of empirical data from conflict zones, a narrative review approach was adopted. Fifty-two sources—including peer-reviewed articles, editorials, reports, and correspondence—were selected through targeted searches using Medline and Google Scholar. The analysis was framed within a public health and political economy perspective, also taking health system building blocks into consideration. Results: The reviewed literature emphasizes emergency needs: trauma care, infectious disease control, and supply chain restoration. Innovations such as mobile clinics and telemedicine offer interim solutions. Gaps include limited attention to mental health (including that of health workers), local governance, and sustainable planning frameworks. Conclusions: Sustainable reconstruction requires a durable ceasefire; international stewardship aligned with local ownership; and a phased, equity-driven strategy emphasizing primary care, mental health, trauma management, and community engagement. Full article

Blended and virtual learning have become an integral part in international higher education, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the European Union’s Digital Education Action Plan. These modalities have enabled more inclusive, flexible, and sustainable forms of international collaboration, such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Blended Intensive Programs (BIPs), reshaping the landscape of global academic mobility. This paper introduces the INVITE Learning Design Framework (LDF), developed to support higher education instructors in designing high-quality, internationalized blended and virtual learning experiences. The framework addresses the growing need for structured, theory-informed approaches to course design that foster student engagement, intercultural competence, and motivation in non-face-to-face settings. The INVITE LDF was developed through a rigorous scoping review of existing models and frameworks, complemented by needs-identification analysis and desk research. It integrates Self-Determination Theory, Active Learning principles, and the ADDIE instructional design model to provide a comprehensive, adaptable structure for course development. The framework was successfully implemented in a large-scale online training module for over 1000 educators across Europe. Results indicate that the INVITE LDF enhances educators’ ability to create engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically sound international learning environments. Its application supports institutional goals of internationalization by making global learning experiences more accessible and scalable. The findings suggest that the INVITE LDF can serve as a valuable tool for higher education institutions worldwide, offering a replicable model for fostering intercultural collaboration and innovation in digital education. This contributes to the broader transformation of international higher education, promoting equity, sustainability, and global citizenship through digital pedagogies. Full article

Society’s adaptation to shared mobility services is a growing topic that requires detailed understanding of the local circumstances of potential and current users. This paper focuses on analyzing barriers to the adoption of urban bike-sharing systems in post-industrial cities, using a case study of the Silesian agglomeration in Poland. Methodologically, the article integrates quantitative survey methods with multivariate statistical analysis to analyze the demographic, socioeconomic, and motivational factors that underline the adoption of shared micromobility. The study highlights a detailed segmentation of users by income, age, professional status, and gender, as well as the observation of profound disparities in access and perceived usefulness. Of note is the study’s identification of a highly concentrated segment of young, low-income users (mostly students), which largely accounts for the general perception of economic and infrastructural barriers. These include the use of factor analysis and regression to plot the interaction patterns between individual user characteristics and certain system-level constraints, such as cost, infrastructure coverage, weather, and health. The study’s findings prioritize problem-specific interventions in urban mobility planning: bridging equity gaps between user groups. This research contributes to the current literature by providing detailed insights into the heterogeneity of user mobility behavior, offering evidence-based recommendations for inclusive and adaptive options for shared transportation infrastructure in a changing urban context. Full article

This study explores the spatial and social implications of urban food systems in Quito, Ecuador, focusing on how food access inequalities reflect and reinforce broader urban disparities. The research addresses a critical problem in contemporary urbanization: the disconnection between food provisioning and spatial equity in rapidly growing cities. The objective is to assess and map disparities in food accessibility using a mixed-methods approach that includes field observation, participatory mapping, value chain analysis, and statistical modeling. Five traditional and emerging food markets were studied in diverse districts across the city. A synthetic accessibility function F(x) was constructed to model food access levels, integrating variables such as income, infrastructure, transport availability, and travel time. These variables were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering to generate three typologies of territorial vulnerability. The results reveal that peripheral areas exhibit lower F(x) values and weaker integration with the formal food system, leading to higher consumer costs and limited fresh food options. In contrast, central districts benefit from multimodal infrastructure and greater diversity of supply. This study concludes that food systems should be treated as critical urban infrastructure. Integrating food equity into land use and mobility planning is essential to promote inclusive, sustainable, and resilient urban development. Full article

This study employs system theory and dynamic modeling to investigate how rural homestead rights confirmation influences multidimensional urban–rural integration. Through constructing a system dynamics model incorporating environmental, economic, and social sustainability indicators, an analysis of the structural relationships between land tenure security, resource mobility, and balanced regional development is conducted. The findings reveal that formalized property rights act as a systemic intervention triggering three synergistic effects: (1) enhanced rural resource utilization efficiency, (2) accelerated elements market integration, and (3) improved social equity in development opportunities. Scenario simulations project that, under current policy trajectories, urban–rural integration could achieve intermediate coordination by 2035 through sustainable land management practices. A comparative scenario analysis demonstrates that urban-priority models exacerbate spatial inequality, while rural-optimized and coordinated development pathways accelerate convergence toward comprehensive integration through ecological–economic–social multi-dimensional synergy. This research contributes to sustainability science by quantifying the systemic linkages between institutional innovation and spatial justice, providing evidence-based insights for developing countries pursuing integrated rural revitalization and sustainable urbanization strategies. The methodological framework offers replicable tools for assessing institutional reforms’ long-term impacts on territorial sustainability. Full article

This study examines Poland’s agricultural land market between 2009 and 2023 through fixed effects and spatial econometric models, highlighting economic and spatial determinants of land prices. Key results show that GDP per capita strongly increases land values (β = +0.699, p < 0.001), while agricultural gross value added (–2.698, p = 0.009), soil quality (–6.241, p < 0.001), and land turnover (–0.395, p < 0.001) are associated with lower prices. Spatial dependence is confirmed (λ = 0.74), revealing strong regional spillovers. The volume of state-owned WRSP land sales declined from 37.4 thousand hectares in 2015 to 3.1 thousand hectares in 2023, while non-market transfers, such as donations, exceeded 49,000 annually. Although these trends support farmland protection and family farms, they also reduce market mobility and hinder generational renewal. The findings call for more flexible, sustainability-oriented land governance that combines ecological performance, regional equity, and improved access for young farmers. Full article

Urban mobility resilience plays a central role in sustainable urban planning discussions, especially considering the challenges of extreme events, climate change, and the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels. This study evaluates urban mobility resilience in Petrópolis (RJ), incorporating socio-spatial heterogeneity and energy vulnerability. This research fills methodological gaps in the literature by proposing a composite resilience index that integrates technical, socioeconomic, and fossil fuel dependency variables within a robust multicriteria framework. We selected eleven variables relevant to urban mobility and organized them into inference blocks. We normalized the variables using Gaussian functions, respecting their maximization or minimization characteristics. We applied the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assign weights to the criteria and then aggregated and ranked the results using multicriteria analysis. The final index represents the adaptive capacity of urban territories facing the energy crisis, and we applied it spatially to the neighborhoods of Petrópolis. The analysis identified a significant concentration of neighborhoods with low resilience, particularly in quadrants, combining deficiencies in public transportation, high dependence on fossil fuels, and socioeconomic constraints. Factors such as limited pedestrian access, insufficient motorized public transport coverage, and a high proportion of elderly residents emerged as significant constraints on urban resilience. Intervention strategies that promote active mobility, improve accessibility, and diversify transportation modes proved essential for strengthening local resilience. The results emphasize the urgent need for public policies to reduce energy vulnerability, foster active mobility, and promote equity in access to transportation infrastructure. Full article

In this work, we examine the correlation between financial inclusion and the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors of sustainable development with the assistance of an exhaustive panel dataset of 103 emerging and developing economies spanning 2011 to 2022. The “Account Age” variable, standing for financial inclusion, is the share of adults owning accounts with formal financial institutions or with the providers of mobile money services, inclusive of both conventional and digital entry points. Methodologically, the article follows an econometric approach with panel data regressions, supplemented by Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) with instrumental variables in order to control endogeneity biases. ESG-specific instruments like climate resilience indicators and digital penetration measures are utilized for the purpose of robustness. As a companion approach, the paper follows machine learning techniques, applying a set of algorithms either for regression or for clustering for the purpose of detecting non-linearities and discerning ESG-inclusion typologies for the sample of countries. Results reflect that financial inclusion is, in the Environmental pillar, significantly associated with contemporary sustainability activity such as consumption of green energy, extent of protected area, and value added by agriculture, while reliance on traditional agriculture, measured by land use and value added by agriculture, decreases inclusion. For the Social pillar, expenditure on education, internet, sanitation, and gender equity are prominent inclusion facilitators, while engagement with the informal labor market exhibits a suppressing function. For the Governance pillar, anti-corruption activity and patent filing activity are inclusive, while diminishing regulatory quality, possibly by way of digital governance gaps, has a negative correlation. Policy implications are substantial: the research suggests that development dividends from a multi-dimensional approach can be had through enhancing financial inclusion. Policies that intersect financial access with upgrading the environment, social expenditure, and institutional reconstitution can simultaneously support sustainability targets. These are the most applicable lessons for the policy-makers and development professionals concerned with the attainment of the SDGs, specifically over the regions of the Global South, where the trinity of climate resilience, social fairness, and institutional renovation most significantly manifests. Full article

The equitable allocation of healthcare resources reflects social equity. Previous studies of healthcare accessibility have overlooked the impact of inter-city patient mobility on local residents’ and local residents’ multi-mode travel choices, distorting accessibility calculation outcomes. Taking the area within Beijing’s Sixth Ring Road as an example, this study established a Multi-Mode Accessibility Model for Local Residents (MMALR) to tertiary hospitals, using the proportion of non-local patients to adjust hospital supply capacity and considering the various travel mode shares from residential communities to hospitals to calculate the number of potential patients. We compared the changes in geospatial accessibility under different travel modes and employed the Gini coefficient to evaluate the geospatial equity of accessibility for different regions when using different accessibility methods. The results indicate that the spatial distribution of healthcare accessibility via different methods is similar, and it gradually decreases along subway lines from the urban center to the periphery. We found that the equities in access to high-level healthcare for Dongcheng District, Xicheng District, the area between the Third and Fourth Ring Road, and the area between the Fourth and Fifth Ring Road, display different ranking results across different methods, revealing that an unreasonable analysis framework could mislead the placement decisions for new hospitals or the allocation of medical resources. These findings emphasize the impact of inter-city patient mobility and the diversity of travel mode choices on accessibility. Our model can assist stakeholders in more accurately evaluating the accessibility and equity of local residents in terms of tertiary hospitals, which is crucial for cities with abundant medical resources and superior conditions. Our analytical findings provide a scientific basis for the location decisions of tertiary hospitals. Full article

This study evaluates the potential of IoT-enabled adaptive traffic management systems for mitigating urban congestion, enhancing mobility, and reducing environmental impacts in densely populated cities. Using London as a case study, the research develops a multiagent simulation framework to assess the effectiveness of advanced traffic management strategies—including adaptive signal control and dynamic rerouting—under varied traffic scenarios. Unlike conventional models that rely on static or reactive approaches, this framework integrates real-time data from IoT-enabled sensors with predictive analytics to enable proactive adjustments to traffic flows. Distinctively, the study couples this integration with a multiagent simulation environment that models the traffic actors—private vehicles, buses, cyclists, and emergency services—as autonomous, behaviourally dynamic agents responding to real-time conditions. This enables a more nuanced, realistic, and scalable evaluation of urban mobility strategies. The simulation results indicate substantial performance gains, including a 30% reduction in average travel times, a 50% decrease in congestion at major intersections, and a 28% decline in CO₂ emissions. These findings underscore the transformative potential of sensor-driven adaptive systems for advancing sustainable urban mobility. The study addresses critical gaps in the existing literature by focusing on scalability, equity, and multimodal inclusivity, particularly through the prioritisation of high-occupancy and essential traffic. Furthermore, it highlights the pivotal role of IoT sensor networks in real-time traffic monitoring, control, and optimisation. By demonstrating a novel and practical application of sensor technologies to traffic systems, the proposed framework makes a significant and timely contribution to the field and offers actionable insights for smart city planning and transportation policy. Full article

In the context of rapid urbanization, urban streets have become critical spatial environments for children’s daily activities, directly influencing their mobility safety, behavioral development, and the spatial equity of cities. However, conventional assessment methods largely rely on subjective surveys and qualitative analyses, lacking objectivity and scalability. To address these limitations, this study takes urban streets in Shanghai as a case study and integrates deep learning technologies to propose a generalizable methodology for developing a child-friendliness evaluation and enhancement system that incorporates multi-source data and perceptual indicators for urban streets. The system extracts spatial features of streets based on urban street environmental information, and incorporates evaluation inputs from intergenerational user groups, including children and their caregivers. A neural network model is trained to enable automated, multidimensional assessment of child-friendliness and to generate context-sensitive and adaptable strategies. The findings reveal significant perceptual differences between user groups: children place greater emphasis on playfulness and interactivity, while caregivers prioritize safety and comfort. This validates the necessity and effectiveness of adopting an intergenerational collaborative perspective for comprehensive child-friendliness evaluation. By overcoming the limitations of traditional approaches in terms of accuracy and efficiency, this research expands the methodological repertoire of child-friendly urban studies and provides data-driven support for the intelligent design and inclusive governance of urban streets. Full article

Mobility is a fundamental catalyst for urban transformation, particularly in smaller urban centres, where enhanced transport can significantly influence socio-economic dynamics. This study investigates the socio-economic and spatial developments associated with the fixed-link transport corridor connecting the Zealand and Funen islands in Denmark. Despite its importance, a gap remains in understanding how this transport corridor has reshaped inter-regional connectivity over three decades and affected urban development in the surrounding areas. To address this gap, the study analyses the socio-economic effects of improved connectivity, focusing on residential relocation trends, commuting patterns, housing market dynamics, and employment in smaller communities. Adopting a mixed-methods approach that integrates surveys with spatial modelling, the analysis examines changes in commuting habits, economic opportunities, and land use from 1990 to 2018 within a 45 min travel radius of the corridor. The findings reveal that enhanced accessibility has widened commuting ranges, stimulated urban growth, and transformed housing and labour markets. However, these advantages are not evenly distributed, highlighting emerging spatial disparities. By merging empirical data with predictive models, this study enriches the discourse on sustainable urban mobility and spatial equity, providing valuable insights for policymakers and planners as they contemplate future fixed-link transport connectivity aimed at fostering inclusive regional development. Full article

This study critically reflects on Myanmar’s readiness and potential to transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) amidst escalating climate pressures, energy insecurity, and regional technological shifts. It aims to advocate a systemic and inclusive EV strategy rooted in environmental, economic, and governance imperatives. Drawing on an extensive review of scholarly literature, policy documents, and regional best practices, this study synthesizes evidence to frame a normative argument for accelerating the adoption of EVs in Myanmar. It combines the environmental, infrastructural, and political–economic perspectives to support its position. Myanmar’s EV transition is not merely a technological leap, but a structural transformation intertwined with energy equity, public health, and geopolitical positioning. While significant barriers, such as grid unreliability, policy inconsistency, and socioeconomic disparities, persist, coordinated national efforts and regional cooperation can unlock transformative opportunities. Policy clarity, grid modernization, public engagement, and international partnerships are essential enablers. This study offers a timely and region-specific perspective on the EV debate, highlighting Myanmar’s unique vulnerabilities and latent advantages. It presents a value-based call for inclusive, future-oriented policymaking that aligns Myanmar’s mobility system with its sustainability and development goals. Full article

Urban park vitality, a key indicator of public space performance, has garnered significant research attention. However, existing studies often neglect the temporal variability in vitality patterns, thus failing to accurately reflect actual park performance and limiting their relevance for strategic urban planning and sustainable resource allocation. This study constructs a “temporal behavior–spatial attributes–park typology” framework using high-precision (50 m) mobile signaling data to capture hourly vitality fluctuations in 59 parks of Hangzhou’s Gongshu District. Using dynamic time-warping-optimized K-means clustering, we identify three vitality types—Morning-Exercise-Dominated, All-Day-Balanced, and Evening-Aggregation-Dominated—revealing distinct weekday/weekend usage rhythms linked to park typology (e.g., community vs. comprehensive parks). Geographical Detector analysis shows that vitality correlates with spatial attributes in time-specific ways; weekend morning vitality is driven by park size and surrounding POI density, while weekday evening vitality depends on interactions between facility density and residential population. These findings highlight how transportation accessibility and commercial amenities shape temporal vitality, informing time-sensitive strategies such as extended evening hours for suburban parks and targeted facility upgrades in residential areas. By bridging vitality patterns with strategic planning demands, the study advances the understanding of how sustainable park management can optimize resource efficiency and enhance public space equity, offering insights for urban green infrastructure planning in other regions. Full article