Search Results (163)

Rapid urbanization has intensified global settlement density, significantly increasing the importance of urban street environmental quality, which profoundly affects residents’ physical and psychological well-being. Traditional methods for evaluating urban environmental quality have largely overlooked dynamic perceptual changes occurring throughout the day, resulting in incomplete assessments. To bridge this methodological gap, this study presents an innovative approach combining advanced deep learning techniques with time-series street view imagery (SVI) analysis to systematically quantify spatio-temporal variations in the perceived environmental quality of pedestrian-oriented streets. It further addresses two central questions: how perceived environmental quality varies spatially across sections of a pedestrian-oriented street and how these perceptions fluctuate temporally throughout the day. Utilizing Golden Street, a representative living street in Shanghai’s Changning District, as the empirical setting, street view images were manually collected at 96 sampling points across multiple time intervals within a single day. The collected images underwent semantic segmentation using the DeepLabv3+ model, and emotional scores were quantified through the validated MIT Place Pulse 2.0 dataset across six subjective indicators: “Safe,” “Lively,” “Wealthy,” “Beautiful,” “Depressing,” and “Boring.” Spatial and temporal patterns of these indicators were subsequently analyzed to elucidate their relationships with environmental attributes. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating deep learning models with time-series SVI for assessing urban environmental perceptions, providing robust empirical insights for urban planners and policymakers. The results emphasize the necessity of context-sensitive, temporally adaptive urban design strategies to enhance urban livability and psychological well-being, ultimately contributing to more vibrant, secure, and sustainable pedestrian-oriented urban environments. Full article

Indoor radon constitutes a public health issue in various regions across the United States as the second leading cause of lung cancer following tobacco smoke. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises radon mitigation interventions for residential buildings with indoor radon concentrations exceeding the threshold level of 4 pCi/L. Despite considerable research assessing the technical effectiveness of radon mitigation systems, there remains a gap in understanding their broader influence on occupant behavior and preferences in residential design. This study aims to investigate the impact of residing in radon-mitigated homes within the Commonwealth of Kentucky—an area known for elevated radon concentrations—on occupants’ preferences regarding healthy home design attributes. The objectives of this research are twofold: firstly to determine if living in radon-mitigated homes enhances occupant awareness and consequently influences their preferences toward health-related home attributes and secondly to quantitatively evaluate and compare the relative significance homeowners assign to health-related attributes such as indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and water quality relative to conventional attributes including home size, architectural style, and neighborhood quality. The overarching purpose is to explore the potential role radon mitigation initiatives may play in motivating occupants towards healthier home construction and renovation practices. Using choice-based conjoint (CBC) analysis, this paper compares preferences reported by homeowners from radon-mitigated homes against those from non-mitigated homes. While the findings suggest a relationship between radon mitigation and increased preference for indoor air quality, the cross-sectional design limits causal interpretation, and the possibility of reverse causation—where health-conscious individuals are more likely to seek mitigation—must be considered. The results provide novel insights into how radon mitigation efforts might effectively influence occupant priorities towards integrating healthier design elements in residential environments. Full article

Background/Objectives: Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence is associated with a lower risk of developing several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, cancer, and mental health diseases. University students are vulnerable to mental disorders that considerably affect their well-being and quality of life, which may be ascribed to the stressful environment during their academic studies. This cross-sectional survey designed to explore the relationship between MD compliance and perceived stress levels as well as sleep quality in a representative sample of university students from Greece. Methods: This survey assigned 5433 university students from 10 Greek regions. We used qualified questionnaires to examine the socio-demographics of the assigned students. Anthropometrics were determined by qualified methods. Validated questionnaires were used to determine diverse lifestyle factors like physical activity, perceived stress, sleep quality and MD adherence. Results: Concerning the primary objectives of this study, greater MD compliance was independently and significantly related to lower incidence of perceived stress and poor sleep quality in university students. As far as the secondary objectives of this study concern, greater MD compliance was independently and significantly related to female gender, rural type of residence, living with family, smoking, biomedicine studies, being normal weight, and having enhanced physical activity. Conclusions: This study reinforces the idea that healthy dietary patterns like MD could be a significant modifiable factor against perceived stress and poor sleep quality of university students. Based on this evidence, longitudinal studies should be performed to confirm whether MD can exert a causal effect on perceived stress and sleep quality. Full article

The Urban Green Space Index (UGSI) is an indicator that measures the quantity, quality, accessibility, and distribution of green spaces in urban environments. This study focused on analyzing the UGSI in Ecuadorian cities through a multiple linear regression model, analyzing the UGSI from both territorial and public management perspectives. Ecuador was selected as a case study due to the limited availability of research on urban green spaces in the country, despite its high ecological diversity and increasing urbanization. The model was used to explore relationships among various factors influencing urban green spaces. Government variables and key factors, such as budget allocations, were analyzed. The model revealed an inverse relationship between urban population size and per capita green space availability. In cities with 50,000 inhabitants, the average is 60 m² per person, which decreases significantly to just 5 m² per person in cities with 300,000 residents. This trend highlights the pressure of urbanization on green spaces and emphasizes the need for evidence-based urban planning to ensure equitable access and to improve quality of life. However, challenges such as the lack of updated data and opportunities for improvement in territorial planning were also identified. Full article

Urban thermal environment challenges in China have made outdoor thermal comfort a key factor in evaluating spatial quality and livability. Building layout not only affects internal performance but also shapes the microclimate of surrounding outdoor spaces. The climatic characteristics of temperate monsoon climate regions significantly impact residents’ outdoor activities. Most existing studies focus solely on either the external thermal environment or the buildings themselves in isolation. This study focuses on Beijing, a representative city in the temperate monsoon climate zone, and explores block-scale spatial optimization using computational typology. The objective is to balance architectural performance with outdoor thermal comfort in both winter and summer. Optimization targets include the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), winter sunshine duration, and summer solar radiation. Results show winter UTCI can be optimized to −6.13 °C to −1.18 °C and summer UTCI to 28.19 °C to 29.17 °C, with greater optimization potential in winter (23.5% higher). Synergistic relationships are observed between winter comfort and sunshine duration (coefficient: 0.777) and between summer comfort and solar radiation (coefficient: 0.947). However, trade-offs exist between seasonal comfort indicators, with strong conflicts between winter and summer objectives. Two distinct form types—“low-south-high-north enclosed” for winter and “high-rise point-type low-density” for summer—are identified as effective for seasonal adaptation. The study proposes an integrated method combining data-driven generation, multi-objective optimization, and clustering-based decision-making. This approach moves beyond traditional empirical design, offering a quantitative and adaptable strategy for climate-responsive urban block planning and supporting low-carbon urban transformation. Full article

The renovation of old communities is a major measure taken to promote urban development and transformation and can improve the quality of urban space and the living environment of residents, as well as promote economic development and bring new economic growth to the city. Decision-making regarding the updating of old communities is the starting point of the whole renovation process, and can be classified into two aspects: resilience assessment and renewal-potential evaluation. In order to standardize the retrofit evaluation index system, enhance the guidance of renovation decision plans for community renewal practices, and consider the randomness of evaluation indicators and the visualization of evaluation results, this paper proposes a method for evaluating the potential of old-urban-community renovation from the perspective of resilience. Based on an analysis of the relationship of the PSR (pressure–state–response) model and community resilience, as well as literature statistics, an evaluation index for the potential of old-community renovation according to the PSR model is established. Furthermore, vague set theory is applied to reduce the initial evaluation index system; then, entropy weight and the g1 method are used to determine objective and subjective weights, respectively, before determining the combination weight value. And the cloud model comprehensive evaluation method is applied to determine the membership degrees of resilience levels for the indicator, sub-criteria, criteria, and target layer in sequence. Finally, taking Nanjing Yinlun Garden Community as an example, the proposed method is adopted to identify the community’s resilience and renovation priorities, verifying the applicability of the method. Full article

Current research on aged housing prioritizes community planning and environmental enhancement over older adults’ needs, creating a retrofit mismatch amid population aging. To investigate the relationship between indoor environmental quality and residential satisfaction among elderly occupants, this study examines 72 households in aged residential buildings, analyzing four environmental indicators (thermal, lighting, acoustic environments, and air quality). The environmental measurements reveal that 81.9% of thermal environment parameters fall below the ASHRAE-55 comfort range, with winter average temperatures reaching only 13.94 °C. Insufficient illumination exists in kitchen and bedroom areas. Lifestyle patterns including infrequent air conditioning use (87%) and window ventilation substituting range hoods (32%) may deteriorate thermal comfort and air quality. An ordered logistic regression analysis demonstrates significant correlations between all four environmental indicators and elderly satisfaction levels. Thermal comfort emerges as the priority focus for aging-adapted retrofitting. Air quality improvement shows particularly significant potential for enhancing residential satisfaction. Although prolonged window opening (73%) exacerbates low-temperature/high-humidity conditions and noise exposure, it still contributes positively to overall satisfaction. This research provides crucial insights for aligning aged residential retrofitting with home-based elderly care requirements, promoting housing development that better accommodates the lifestyle patterns of older populations, thereby improving quality of life for aging-in-place residents. Full article

The rapid urbanization of the world has brought significant environmental, social, and economic challenges to human society. To build a sustainable county, there are many limiting factors, such as the environment, financial resources, and population. Based on this, the purpose of this study is to investigate how countries can empower their development through a sustainable design path for parks with the participation of all. The core of public participation in co-construction lies in the interactive relationship between the government, society, citizens, and many other groups. That is, “co-construction, co-governance, and sharing” is the basic content of the new pattern of social governance from the perspective of the park city; at its core is joint participation, division of labor, and cooperation. Using qualitative research methods, Kaiyuan, a county in Yunnan Province, was selected as a case study, focusing on the Phoenix Ecological Park and Happiness Lawn; citizens and managers were interviewed to explore paths for sustainable design in the counties. The contribution of this study is a research model of sustainable design for county parks with the participation of all the people. The study found that public participation should consider multiple co-constructions and formulate a sound sustainable design path from three dimensions: counties, managers, and citizens. Combined with the local characteristics of counties, the government has called on enterprises, organizations, and citizens to participate together in improving the quality of life and happiness of county residents. The results can be further verified in other counties. Full article

In southern Hunan province, a vital element of China’s architectural cultural legacy, the quality of the indoor lighting environment influences physical performance and the transmission of spatial culture. The province encounters minor environmental disparities and diminishing liveability attributed to evolving construction practices and cultural standards. The three varieties of traditional residences in Shanggantang Village are employed to assess the daylight factor (DF), illumination uniformity (U0), daylight autonomy (DA), and useful daylight illumination (UDI). We subsequently integrate field measurements with static and dynamic numerical simulations to create a multi-dimensional analytical framework termed “measured-static-dynamic”. This method enables the examination of the influence of floor plan layout on light, as well as the relationship between window size, building configuration, and natural illumination. The lighting factor (DF) of the core area of the central patio-type residence reaches 27.7% and the illumination uniformity (U0) is 0.62, but the DF of the transition area plummets to 1.6%; the composite patio type enhances the DF of the transition area to 1.2% through the alleyway-assisted lighting, which is a 24-fold improvement over the offset patio type. Parameter optimization showed that the percentage of all-natural daylighting time (DA) in the edge zone of the central patio type increased from 21.4% to 58.3% when the window height was adjusted to 90%. The results of the study provide a quantitative basis for the optimization of the light environment and low-carbon renewal of traditional residential buildings. Full article

As urbanization accelerates, the increasing density of urban buildings and the prevalence of multi-unit high-rise residential areas have emerged as significant factors affecting residents’ comfort. Effective green space planning within residential areas can mitigate residents’ thermal discomfort. This study utilizes methods including the construction of two-dimensional and three-dimensional landscape indices and meteorological data simulation to examine the relationship between residents’ comfort levels at various heights in residential buildings and the 3D landscape patterns of residential areas, based on semantic three-dimensional grid data from a residential complex in Wuhan. The results indicate that (1) The characteristics of 3D landscape patterns vary across different regions within multi-unit high-rise residential areas. The landscape patches in the central and southern regions are more balanced compared to other areas, while there is minimal height variation in residential buildings in the northeastern region. (2) There are notable differences in comfort levels at varying heights across different areas of the residential district. In summer, residents expressing satisfaction with environmental comfort are primarily located in high-rise buildings in the central-southern region, whereas in winter, satisfaction is concentrated among residents in lower and mid-rise buildings in both the northern center and southern areas. (3) The degree of landscape fragmentation, the dominance of certain patches, and the distribution of buildings and vegetation at different heights significantly influence residents’ comfort. Achieving a balanced distribution of green spaces, reducing building density, and ensuring a uniform arrangement of trees of varied heights can effectively enhance the living environment for residents on lower floors, providing practical strategies for the planning of green spaces and built environments that improve overall resident quality of life. This research provides a theoretical foundation and reference for evaluating thermal comfort in high-rise residential areas and optimizing green space configurations. Full article

Since the reform and opening-up policy, the accelerated urbanization rate has triggered extensive construction of new towns, leading to architectural homogenization and environmental quality degradation. As urban development transitions toward a “quality improvement” paradigm, there is an urgent need to synergistically enhance the health performance of human settlements through the optimization of public space environments. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the built environment of urban streets on residents’ perceptions. In particular, in the context of rapid urbanization, how to improve the mental health and quality of life of residents by improving the street environment. Changbai Island Street in the Heping District of Shenyang City was selected for the study. Baidu Street View images combined with machine learning were employed to quantify physical characterizations like street plants and buildings. The ‘Place Pulse 2.0’ dataset was utilized to obtain data on residents’ perceptions of streets as beautiful, safe, boring, and lively. Correlation and regression analyses were used to reveal the relationship between physical characteristics such as green visual index, openness, and pedestrians. It was discovered that the green visual index had a positive effect on perceptions of it being beautiful and safe, while openness and building enclosure factors influenced perceptions of it being lively or boring. This study provides empirical data support for urban planning, emphasizing the need to focus on integrating environmental greenery, a sense of spatial enclosure, and traffic mobility in street design. Optimization strategies such as increasing green coverage, controlling building density, optimizing pedestrian space, and enhancing the sense of street enclosure were proposed. The results of the study not only help to understand the relationship between the built environment of streets and residents’ perceptions but also provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for urban space design. Full article

Residential green space (RGS), as a frequently visited green space by residents, is the main space for daily activities and interactions, and its quality directly affects residents’ physical and mental health. Although many studies have revealed the impact of green space characteristics on health, research on the relationship between its environmental elements and health is still insufficient. This study selected five types of residential area in the central urban area of Beijing for investigation, collecting people’s green space perception, usage, and self-rated health information, and, using stepwise regression analysis, exploring the impact of RGS environmental factors on residents’ self-rated health under different vegetation cover rates. The results suggest the following: (1) Residents’ perception and usage of RGS characteristics are closely related to their self-rated health status, but the impact of environmental factors varies depending on vegetation coverage. (2) Maximizing natural features and cultural symbols is crucial for residential areas with high greenery. In residential areas with moderate vegetation, priority should be given to enhancing path elements, maintenance and shelter. For residential areas with low greenery cover, efforts should focus on strengthening fitness facilities and improving shelter to promote people’s health. (3) The impact of activity duration on usage behavior is most significant. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the significance of RGS quality in urban residential areas. They also provide a reference for the optimization and management of the living environment and support the sustainable development of community environments. Full article

Human actions have significantly modified the global environment, leading to adverse effects on public health. Pregnant women, being particularly vulnerable, face increasing risks as climate change continues to raise concerns about its influence on maternal and birth outcomes. As climate change persists, exploration of its effects on maternal birth outcomes is of increasing importance. This study investigates two particularly salient factors (temperature and ozone pollution) and their impact on birth outcomes in Phoenix, Arizona. With its unique mountainous terrain, semi-arid climate, and high temperatures, Phoenix creates conditions that expose residents to elevated levels of pollutants and extreme heat. This paper uses a retrospective cohort study of pregnant mothers who delivered during October 2018–December 2020 at St. Joseph’s Hospital and monthly temperature data during the last trimester of each patient’s pregnancy. These data were gathered from the National Weather Service and Ozone Air Quality Index data from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Our analyses revealed that the highest levels of ozone and elevated temperature exposure were both independently associated with lower birth weights. Furthermore, we found that ozone mediated the effect of temperature on birth weight outcomes (controlling for participants’ sociodemographics), demonstrating that the relationship between temperature and birth weight was explained through increases in ozone pollution. Full article

With the rapid expansion of Chinese cities, traditional siheyuan in some old urban areas and historic districts have gradually transformed into overcrowded courtyard tenements inhabited primarily by rural migrants. Multiple families reside together in one siheyuan, creating a housing model akin to “shared housing”. Due to the complex relationship between property rights holders and users, coupled with the absence of a unified management and supervision system, siheyuan residents are confronted with the predicament of aging buildings, backward infrastructure, and poor living conditions. Finding a means of improving living conditions while maintaining the existing settlement style and population structure is an issue that demands urgent resolution. This study focuses on Mizhi, an ancient city in Shaanxi Province, China. Through the investigation and mapping of 31 typical siheyuan and in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 160 families, it reveals the property rights division, current spatial usage, and future demands of the residents of traditional settlements dominated by siheyuan and proposes suggestions for their renewal. This study finds that siheyuan can be categorized into three types based on property rights, that the primary motivation for migration is to access quality educational resources, and that the insufficiency of per capita facilities is the primary source of inconvenience in residents’ lives. Future siheyuan renewal efforts should adopt a multi-stakeholder framework that integrates the government, urban planners, and residents. Improving the residential environment requires a dual strategy: optimizing spatial design and strengthening policy management. This research provides fundamental data for the protection and renewal of siheyuan and has practical reference value for formulating future settlement development strategies. Full article

With the development of modern cities, people’s living environment requirements are constantly improving. Urban villages in the Qingdao area, as a key area for urban renewal, are affected by the sea breeze and have a warm and humid climate in summer, which, together with their problems of irrational layout and the poor ventilation of outdoor public space, seriously reduce the quality of public space. In order to improve the outdoor comfort and living quality of urban village residents, this study uses CFD numerical simulation and SPSS25 software analysis to investigate the coupled relationship between outdoor public space morphology and the summer wind environment in urban villages, and derives a range of values for public space morphology indexes to meet the needs of human comfort. The study found the following conclusions: a. The average wind speed ratio is negatively correlated with household profile density and enclosure and positively correlated with dispersion, and the degree of influence is in the order of enclosure > dispersion > household profile density. b. When household profile density is less than 0.5328, enclosure is less than 0.8228, and dispersion is less than 17.21, the percentage of comfort zone area in the urban villages increases significantly. The renewal and transformation of urban villages should be based on the interaction mechanism between public space morphology and wind environment in the urban villages, which provides a reference basis for improving the spatial quality of urban villages. Full article