Search Results (478)

To address the challenges of significant vehicle parking constraints, limited UAV endurance, and insufficient multi-task coordination efficiency in distribution network inspection, this paper proposes a vehicle–UAV synchronous cooperative inspection task scheduling method based on multi-objective twin delayed deep deterministic policy gradient and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (MOTD3-NSGA-II). First, a vehicle–UAV synchronous cooperative inspection model is established by considering staged vehicle repositioning, same-site UAV launch, landing, and retrieval, as well as state-of-charge constraints. On this basis, a multi-objective optimization model is formulated with task coverage, mission completion time, minimum residual state of charge, and load balance as objectives. Then, a bi-level closed-loop solution framework is developed, in which NSGA-II is employed to optimize cooperative parameters and objective preference weights, while the inner-layer MOTD3 learns UAV scheduling policies in a continuous action space. Finally, the proposed method is validated in four simulation scenarios with different task scales and spatial distribution characteristics. The results show that 100% task coverage is achieved in all four scenarios, with mission completion times of 11,109 s, 9693 s, 10,538 s, and 10,721 s, respectively, while the minimum residual state of charge is maintained within 0.28–0.36. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can balance inspection completeness, execution efficiency, energy safety, and cooperative stability, providing a useful reference for intelligent task scheduling in vehicle–UAV cooperative distribution network inspection. Full article

Urban regeneration is critical for addressing contemporary urban challenges, yet its complexity arises from the dynamic interactions among different participants’ preference and strategic behavior factors, making it a multi-agent system driven by strategic behaviors. This study, based on a Chinese urban regeneration case, develops a dynamic evolutionary game model for industrial park renewal to explore the strategic interactions among three key stakeholders: government, social capital, and property owners. The findings reveal three insights: Firstly, the probabilities of social capital participation and property owner cooperation exhibit opposing trends, highlighting conflicting incentives. Secondly, social capital participation follows an inverted U-shaped trajectory with investment ratios, reflecting a strategic trade-off between risk and control; further robustness checks incorporating time delays and phased investments confirm that the curvature of this trajectory is highly sensitive to the project’s development cycle. Thirdly, lower land repayment costs, higher rental income, greater project returns, and a higher profit-sharing ratio promote cooperative strategies among property owners, though this effect remains marginal. The study further demonstrates that non-cooperative behavior among property owners results in a single evolutionary stable strategy (1, 1, 0) where the government repurchases land property rights, and social capital acquires these rights for redevelopment. The findings suggest that this conclusion applies specifically to industrial park renewal in urban centers held by property owners in cities, where it is government-led facilitation, with property owners exiting and social capital entering simultaneously, thereby ensuring alignment of multi-agent strategic behavior in China. Full article

Parking reservation systems (PRS) are promoted as smart urban parking tools, yet their continued use remains limited because users face both technological uncertainty and schedule-related uncertainty. This study develops a behavioral analysis framework that combines structural equation modeling (SEM), a stated-preference binary logit model, and Random Forest learning. SEM examines how perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, social influence, and behavioral attitude shape intention to reuse. The binary logit model examines whether users retain their reserved lot under 10 reservation mechanisms and three arrival scenarios. Random Forest is then used to test nonlinear prediction and interaction effects, with intention to reuse measured as the average of the two reuse-intention items and model performance evaluated by the conventional coefficient of determination (R²), mean squared error, and mean absolute error. The results show that perceived risk suppresses perceived usefulness and behavioral attitude, early and especially late arrival sharply reduce reservation retention, and discount intensity is the strongest positive operational lever. Random Forest additionally shows that the effect of perceived risk depends on perceived ease of use: a more intuitive interface buffers the negative effect of risk on predicted reuse intention. These findings indicate that behavioral uncertainty in PRS is simultaneously perceptual, situational, and interactive. PRS design should therefore combine flexible time management, transparent real-time information, and low-friction user interfaces. Full article

Drawing on 964 field observations from typical community parks in Changsha, this study utilizes the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) alongside Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) to quantitatively dissect the intrinsic associations between older adults’ outdoor activity patterns and micro-spatial characteristics. The findings reveal a pronounced demographic differentiation in spatial utilization. Specifically, female-dominated collective activities, such as square dancing, exhibit a profound reliance on central plazas with unobstructed sightlines to cultivate a sense of social security. Conversely, male users demonstrate a distinct preference for static social interactions, including playing chess or cards, within semi-enclosed and shaded spaces beneath a tree canopy. Beyond gender distinctions, age-related spatial anchoring is also evident. Intergenerational caregiving activities among the younger old cohort (aged 55 to 74) are exclusively concentrated around children’s playgrounds, whereas older old individuals and those with impaired mobility rely heavily on densely distributed micro-scale resting amenities. Driven by these empirical insights, this research contends that age-friendly park design must transcend generic accessibility standards, advocating instead for a “categorized spatial provision” strategy. By meticulously balancing open exhibition plazas, semi-private shaded units, and composite caregiving zones within a single park ecosystem, this approach can effectively accommodate the multifaceted health and social requirements of various older adult subgroups. Full article

This study, conducted in the Cheile Nerei–Beușnița National Park (southwestern Romania), tested the hypothesis that the life-form structure of woody plants reflects the main ecological gradients of moisture, temperature, and soil reaction in a temperate protected ecosystem characterised by sub-Mediterranean influences and a predominantly calcareous substrate. The analysis focused on the woody flora of the area, comprising 64 species belonging to 22 families, and included the assessment of life-form structure, phytogeographical spectrum, and ecological preferences based on Ellenberg indicator values. Life forms were classified according to Raunkiaer’s system, identifying megaphanerophytes, mesophanerophytes, and nanophanerophytes. The woody flora was dominated by nanophanerophytes, followed by megaphanerophytes and mesophanerophytes, indicating a complex vertical structure. The phytogeographical spectrum showed a predominance of European elements, alongside Eurasian and sub-Mediterranean components. Ecological analysis revealed a dominance of mesophilous and mesothermal species, consistent with mesic and temperate environmental conditions. Soil reaction preferences were mainly basiphilous and neutrophilous, reflecting the calcareous substrate, with vertical differentiation of ecological niches between tree and shrub layers. The high proportion of native species (>90%) and the limited presence of alien taxa indicate a high level of ecological integrity and resistance to biological invasions. Overall, the results demonstrate that the structure of woody plant life forms and their ecological preferences accurately reflect the main ecological gradients of the ecosystem. The combined use of life-form spectra and ecological indicator values provides a useful framework for assessing ecosystem structure, stability, and conservation status in temperate protected areas. Full article

This study examines how users’ preferences for spatial elements in neighborhood parks influence satisfaction and assesses the moderating role of urban density in this relationship. An online survey was conducted with 283 residents in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, and the study area was classified into high-, medium-, and low-density urban contexts. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to derive key spatial elements, and multiple regression and moderation analyses were conducted to empirically verify the relationship between the respondents’ spatial preferences and satisfaction. The study finds that the spatial elements of neighborhood parks have significantly varying effects on user satisfaction based on urban density. Specifically, natural and community spaces were identified as core elements that consistently influenced satisfaction across all urban density levels. In contrast, multifunctional cultural spaces were the only significant predictors of the relationship between spatial preferences and satisfaction in high-density spaces and urban-landscape spaces only had a significant influence in medium-density areas. The findings suggest that the spatial elements of neighborhood parks do not operate universally; rather, their effects on user satisfaction are context-dependent and shaped by urban density. Full article

Recent work demonstrated that Cicindelidia hemorrhagica (LeConte) inhabiting geothermal springs in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) possess morphological traits that reduce internal heat load when exposed to bottom-up thermal stress. To investigate whether this pattern extends to other tiger beetle species occupying diverse environments, we quantified the internal abdominal temperatures of six species differing in habitat preference and putative thermal adaptation. Using a water-bath system that simulated surface heating, we compared the temperature differential (ΔT) between beetle-loaded and bare thermocouples across multiple temperatures. Linear mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the influence of location and species on internal temperature. Across all experimental temperatures, C. hemorrhagica exhibited the greatest ΔT values, indicating the lowest internal temperatures relative to the thermal environment, regardless of whether individuals originated from YNP or non-thermal Idaho habitats. In contrast, the warm-resilient Cicindela repanda (Dejean) and non-warm-adapted C. longilabris (Say) showed the smallest ΔT values and therefore the highest internal temperatures. Ventral abdominal coloration—ranging from bright red (C. sedecimpunctata (Klug)) to dark blue-green (C. oregona (Dejean))—did not correlate with internal temperatures, suggesting that it is a poor predictor of heat absorbance or reflectance under bottom-up heat exposure. These results indicate that C. hemorrhagica is uniquely effective at limiting internal heat gain from surface heating, and that it may possess a preadaptive morphological mechanism facilitating thermal resistance in geothermal habitats. Full article

The ongoing rise in temperatures due to climate change is one of the most critical considerations in the design of outdoor recreational spaces. Thermal conditions can affect people’s visitation patterns, satisfaction, health and well-being. In many developing countries, including Jordan, rapid urbanisation often occurs without sufficient planning for public outdoor spaces, thereby diminishing their quality. This study is the first to investigate the effects of temperature on visitor patterns and user satisfaction in Jordanian urban parks. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining continuous measurements of outdoor temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (Rh) with a survey assessing users’ thermal sensation, satisfaction, and preferences across six urban parks in Amman, Jordan. Data were collected from 718 respondents in summer 2025. Visitation records for the surveyed parks were also obtained from local authorities for the monitored period. The results show that the mean Ta exceeded 30 °C in all surveyed parks during the monitoring period, with peak readings exceeding 41 °C. This resulted in a warm-to-hot thermal sensation among participants, with many preferring cooler conditions. A significant inverse relationship between temperature and park visitation rates (R² = 0.67, p = 0.001) was observed, with a 1 °C increase in outdoor temperature associated with approximately a 2.03 visitor decrease. Participants’ satisfaction was higher in parks with adequate amenities, such as shading, disability access, and green zones, than in parks with fewer amenities (p = 0.01, d = 0.63). The most reported areas for improvement included facilities, shaded seating areas, and perceived safety. The findings highlight the importance of considering outdoor thermal conditions when designing urban parks, as they shape public outdoor activity patterns, particularly in hot climates. Full article

The Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA) attracts roughly five million visitors annually, creating immense pressure on the waste stream managed in the park. To reduce environmental impacts, the National Park Service, collaborating organizations and concessionaires are in the process of implementing large-scale reusable foodware systems, replacing single-use plastics. This pilot study aimed to engage visitors in the design process to inform preferences and attitudes to further support management decision-making regarding the design and implementation of reusable foodware systems in the park. During September 2025, park visitors were intercepted at key concessionaire food vending locations and asked to complete a brief survey. The survey contained attitudinal questions, persuasive phrases, and potential logos and graphic designs that could be used with program implementation, which were evaluated via Likert scales by n = 164 respondents. Results suggest that respondents have overwhelmingly positive attitudes and norms towards reusing foodware at the park. Results highlight phrases and graphic designs that will be most effective as the program launches and can be used to inform future research. Full article

This study addressed how business administration training influenced perceptions of sustainable development goals (SDGs) within park management, situating the research at the intersection of sustainability education and applied management practice. A controlled experiment was conducted in Chongqing Central Park, where 100 undergraduate students were randomly assigned to either an integrated business administration training program or a conventional park management program for two months, followed by standardized questionnaire surveys and statistical analyses, including analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression. A pretest verified randomization equivalence. The results demonstrated that participants who received integrated training reported higher perceptions of SDGs related to quality education, climate action, and life on land, alongside improvements in entrepreneurial mindset, social and economic value preferences, multitasking awareness, decision-related attributes, and interest in nature education. Regression analyses revealed that SDG perception was primarily strengthened by social value orientation and entrepreneurial mindset factors, whereas certain employee attributes and elements of nature education satisfaction exerted negative or weaker effects, particularly among trained participants. In contrast, the control group showed limited and mostly insignificant relationships, with SDG perception relying largely on baseline attitudes. Overall, the findings indicate that embedding business administration concepts into park management training enhances multidimensional sustainability awareness and provides evidence that socially oriented entrepreneurship and structured management thinking contribute meaningfully to SDG perception formation without overstating causal claims. Full article

Parking management in mid-sized Latin American cities is often limited by weak enforcement, scarce off-street supply, and widespread irregular parking. This study uses a stated preference experiment to analyze parking choices among 227 drivers in Loja, Ecuador. Six choice tasks evaluated four alternatives—regulated on-street, private off-street, irregular parking, and leaving the vehicle at home—based on cost, walking distance, search time, availability, expected fines, and security. Multinomial logit (MNL) and mixed logit (ML) models were estimated, including income- and gender-based segmentations. Results show that cost (β = −0.332, p < 0.01) and walking distance (β = −0.0026, p < 0.001) are the primary determinants of formal parking choice. The willingness to pay to avoid 100 m of walking is USD 0.77 per 2-h period. Low-income users are 4.8 times more sensitive to cost. Mixed logit results reveal significant heterogeneity in preferences for cost, search time, and enforcement sensitivity. Policy simulations indicate that increasing enforcement (70% probability, USD 250 fine) reduces illegal parking demand by 93%, while lowering regulated tariffs to USD 0.50 raises its share by 4.2 percentage points. These findings support sustainable mobility policies by promoting efficient parking management, reducing illegal parking, and improving equitable access to urban space. Full article

Technological advances such as Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) have the potential to support renewable energy integration and grid stability, but large-scale deployment depends on users’ willingness to participate, particularly in public charging environments. While prior research has examined V2G from technical feasibility and system-level perspectives, everyday public settings remain unexplored. This study investigates electric vehicle (EV) users’ willingness to engage in V2G services in public spaces, with a focus on incentives, expectations, and how participation aligns with existing routines and parking conditions. A mixed-method approach was applied, combining a survey of 544 car users with two waves of user-centered interviews. The survey data were analyzed using factor analysis and linear regression models, while the interview data were thematically analyzed. The results show that users’ evaluations of V2G are shaped by sustainability expectations, perceived efficiency, and uncertainties, and preferences for public V2G participation are strongly influenced by convenience, clarity of the offer, and perceived control. Home charging practices emerged as a key reference point shaping expectations of public V2G services. Across both methods, simple and transparent incentives, such as reduced charging or parking costs, were consistently preferred over more complex reward models, including point-based systems or dynamic energy trading. Concerns related to control over trips, battery degradation, trust in service providers, and added complexity remain important barriers to participation. The findings highlight the need for user-centered and socio-technical design of public V2G services that align with users’ everyday routines, parking conditions, and expectations to support broader adoption beyond the home context. Full article

Protected area management plays a crucial role in conserving biodiversity, especially in areas where increasing demand for natural resources is associated with fast-growing human populations, such as West Africa. Investigating the perceptions of people with first-hand knowledge of protected area management provides important insights about biodiversity conservation, wildlife law enforcement, and human activities to inform adaptive management. Using 442 semi-structured interviews, we assessed the perceptions of park rangers and local residents in and around Fazao-Malfakassa National Park in Togo, West Africa, which was managed by the non-profit Franz Weber Foundation from 1990 to 2015, and since 2015 has been managed by the government of Togo. Both rangers and residents reported significant economic concerns following the park’s transfer from private to state management, with salary declines negatively affecting rangers and declines in community development projects and income-generating activities negatively affecting residents. Law enforcement capacity and resources also declined under state management, severely undermining the ability of rangers to curb illegal activities in the park, especially poaching and the destruction of trees to harvest wild honey and produce commercial charcoal. All rangers and most residents who had experience with both private and state park management preferred private management. There is an urgent need to increase surveillance and law enforcement capacity in the park to combat poaching and other illegal activities, and to engage local communities in the park’s long-term protection. To this end, rangers and residents are calling for change, and specifically recommend returning the park to competent private management to safeguard Togo’s last large refuge for nature and wildlife. Full article

The cultural services of urban cultural landscape ecosystems are easily perceived by visitors, and their quantitative assessment and exploration of influencing factors can provide a scientific basis for the optimization of urban cultural landscapes. Existing studies rarely reveal the spatial distribution of the social values of urban cultural landscape ecosystem cultural services and the influencing factors of this spatial distribution from the visitors’ perspective. To reveal the spatial distribution pattern of the social values of urban cultural landscape ecosystem cultural services from the visitors’ perspective, explore its influencing factors, and verify the applicability of the SolVES model in urban cultural landscapes, this study obtained the overall perception and preferences of visitors towards Cangzhou Garden Expo Park through a questionnaire survey. Combining the questionnaire survey data with geographical data, the SolVES 3.0 model was employed to conduct quantitative assessments and spatial distribution analyses of six social values of the ecosystem: esthetic, biodiversity, historical, recreation, learning, and life-sustaining values. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) The maximum value index of recreation value and esthetic value were highest, and showed significant spatial concentrated characteristics, with hotspots concentrated at the northeast side of the park. (2) Biodiversity value and historical value were prominent near areas rich in plant resources and industrial heritage sites. (3) The distance to roads and slope significantly influenced the assessment of social values; social values showed a significant negative correlation with distance to roads. (4) The Garden Expo Park had strong advantages in ecological restoration and social value supply, but there were still problems such as inconvenient transportation and uneven value distribution. Based on the above results, this study proposed suggestions for enhancing the social values of the ecosystem services in Cangzhou Garden Expo Park, and further provided targeted optimization suggestions for the construction and management of urban cultural landscapes. The SolVES model showed good performance in assessing the social values of the ecosystem services of an urban cultural landscape, with high reliability and promising application prospects. Full article

Understanding the forage resources that sustain endangered herbivores under strong seasonal constraints is essential for effective habitat restoration. Przewalski’s gazelle (Procapra przewalskii), an endemic ungulate restricted to the Qinghai Lake Basin on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, persists in fragmented subpopulations facing pronounced seasonal bottlenecks in forage availability. Here, we investigated seasonal dietary strategies and forage selectivity across nine geographically isolated subpopulations by integrating fecal microhistological diet analysis with vegetation surveys and availability-corrected Jacobs’ electivity indices. Gazelle diets were compressed in early spring, dominated by graminoids (Poaceae and Cyperaceae), but expanded substantially during summer, with increased contributions from Fabaceae and Rosaceae and significantly higher richness and niche breadth. Electivity analyses revealed a hierarchical spectrum of preferences structured around core foundation taxa consistently selected across seasons, complemented by season-specific priority resources during spring bottlenecks and summer abundance. Basin-wide pairwise ranking further identified seasonal priority forage taxa with varying spatial consistency across subpopulations. These findings provide a seasonally explicit framework for identifying key forage targets and guiding evidence-based restoration and zoned management within Qinghai Lake National Park, offering transferable insights for conserving endangered plateau herbivores under fragmentation and strong seasonal resource limitation. Full article