Search Results (279)

This review examines the effect of geometric properties and the spacing of road humps on vehicle speed and noise, with a particular emphasis on South Asian contexts, especially Malaysia. Road humps are widely used traffic-calming devices designed to reduce vehicle speed and enhance road safety. The effectiveness of these measures is strongly influenced by parameters such as height, width, profile, and placement intervals. While the geometric optimization of humps generally improves speed-reduction outcomes, several studies indicate that braking and acceleration at humps can lead to increased traffic noise, particularly in residential and high-density areas. This review also explores design strategies and material choices (e.g., asphalt use, sinusoidal profiles) that may help mitigate noise impacts. Overall, a balance between speed control and noise management is necessary to ensure both safety and community acceptance. Full article

This article presents an analysis on natural gas heating in residential areas, focusing on two primary systems: (1) local heating, where piped gas is delivered directly to individual dwellings equipped with autonomous gas boilers, and (2) district heating, where gas or an alternative fuel powers a central heating plant, and the generated heat is distributed to buildings via a thermal network. The choice between these systems should first consider safety and environmental factors, followed by the urban characteristics of the settlement. In particular, building typology—such as size, function, and spatial configuration—and urban topology, referring to the relative positioning of buildings, play a crucial role. For example, very tall buildings often exclude the use of piped gas due to safety concerns, whereas in other cases, economic efficiency becomes the determining factor. To support decision-making, a comparative cost analysis is conducted, assessing the required infrastructure for both systems, including pipelines, boilers, and associated components. The study identifies representative residential building types in selected urban areas of Serbia and Czechia that are suitable for either heating approach. Additionally, the article examines the broader energy context in both countries, with emphasis on recent developments in the natural gas sector and their implications for urban heating strategies. Full article

This study empirically delves into whether residential heating methods significantly affect apartment prices in Uiwang City, a suburban city near the Seoul Metropolitan area, South Korea. Using data from 1256 apartment sales, where both district heating systems (DHSs) and individual heating systems (IHSs) coexist, a hedonic price equation was estimated to analyze the impact of the heating method choices on housing values. Various housing attributes, including physical, locational, and environmental factors, were controlled, and multiple regression models were compared to identify the best-performing specification. The results show that apartments equipped with a DHS are priced, on average, KRW 92 million (USD 72 thousand) higher than those with an IHS. The price difference corresponds to KRW 849 thousand (USD 665) per m² and possesses the statistical significance at the 5% level. Moreover, it is quite meaningful, representing roughly 11.2% of the price of an average apartment. These findings suggest that the use of DHS has a positive effect on apartment prices that reflect consumers’ preferences, beyond its advantages in stable heat supply and energy cost savings. This article provides empirical evidence that DHS can serve as an important urban infrastructure contributing to asset value enhancement. Although this study is based on a specific geographic area and caution must be exercised in generalizing its findings, it reports the interesting finding that residential heating method significantly affects housing prices. 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 and Objectives: Orthodontic treatment, whether fixed or removable, offers several benefits, including improved aesthetics, enhanced oral function, and increased self-confidence. However, it may also cause discomfort and pain, particularly following adjustment visits. This study aimed to assess pain characteristics (latency and continuity), food impairment, weight loss, and analgesic use in relation to treatment duration and appliance type. Methods: This observational study included 160 orthodontic patients who completed a structured questionnaire comprising 13 single-choice items. The questionnaire assessed age, gender, residential environment, educational status, type and duration of orthodontic treatment, pain characteristics (duration, latency, continuity), food impairment, and analgesic use. Inclusion criteria specified patients with moderate anterior crowding undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment or treatment with clear aligners on both arches, for at least one month. All fixed appliance cases involved 0.022-inch-slot Roth prescription brackets. Results: Patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment reported a higher frequency of pain (91.4%), greater need for analgesics (95.2%), and more food impairment compared to those with clear aligners. Patients treated for less than 6 months more frequently reported pain lasting 1 week (57.1%), while those treated for 1–2 years more commonly reported pain lasting several days (43.8%). Conclusions: Fixed orthodontic appliances are associated with greater discomfort, longer pain latency, more frequent analgesic use, and higher dietary impact compared to clear aligners. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized patient counseling and proactive pain management to improve compliance, enhance quality of life, and support informed decision-making in orthodontic care. Full article

In the context of increasing digitization, integrating ICT technologies, artificial intelligence, and remote working is altering residential mobility patterns and housing preferences. This study examines the housing market’s impact, focusing on how residential affordability affects residential choices, using a case study of the Metropolitan City of Florence. The analysis employs a methodology centered on the Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI), which cross-references real estate market values (source: Agenzia delle Entrate and leading real estate portals) with household income brackets to identify affordable areas. The results reveal a clear divide: households with incomes below EUR 26,000 per year (representing about 69% of the population) are excluded from the central urban property market. This evidence confirms regional and national trends, emphasizing a growing mismatch between housing costs and disposable incomes. The study concludes that affordability is a technical–financial parameter and a valuable tool for supporting inclusive urban planning. Its application facilitates the orientation of effective public policies and the identification of socially sustainable housing solutions. 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

Environmental consciousness has become increasingly important in the professional sports industry as it often hosts large-scale events that have significant environmental impacts. While the economic benefits of locating stadiums in city centers have been discussed, especially in terms of neighborhood revitalization, there has been limited empirical research on whether stadium relocation affects the transportation choices of spectators and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. Through a case study of a Japanese professional football club that relocated its home stadium from the suburb to the city center, this study quantitatively elucidated the change in spectators’ transportation choices and resulting reductions in carbon emissions achieved by the stadium relocation. Analysis indicated variations in behavioral changes among groups based on their loyalty levels to the club. It also highlighted the varying influence of the different residential areas within the metropolitan area on the modal choice. This study demonstrates the potential contribution of stadium relocation to sustainable urban planning by providing empirical evidence of these behavioral changes and policy implications for restructuring the urban public transportation network. Full article

The design and construction of adaptive façades have garnered increasing attention as a means to enhance the energy performance and sustainability of high-rise residential buildings. Adaptive façades can dynamically respond to environmental conditions, reducing reliance on energy-intensive systems and improving occupant comfort. Despite their potential, research on adaptive façade systems in the context of high-rise residential buildings, particularly in Australia, remains limited. This study aims to bridge this gap by identifying the key design parameters, challenges, and optimisation methods for adaptive façades. Through a combination of a comprehensive literature review and 15 semi-structured interviews with industry experts, this research provides insights into the design and performance of adaptive façades. The key findings reveal that the successful implementation of adaptive façades depends on a range of factors, including material choices, shading system typologies, and advanced simulation tools for energy performance analysis. A significant outcome of the study is the development of a conceptual framework that incorporates these design elements with environmental factors and building energy simulation, offering a structured approach to optimise adaptive façade performance. The framework assists architects and engineers in creating energy-efficient, sustainable high-rise residential buildings tailored to the Australian context. Additionally, the study highlights critical challenges, such as financial barriers, regulatory gaps, and the need for improved maintenance strategies, which must be addressed to facilitate the broader adoption of adaptive façades in the residential sector. Full article

Urban landscapes are capable of responsive urban development that optimises the quality of Urban Green Space (UGS) for advanced function as a matter of efficient and convenient knowledge management. As a theory for positive outcomes for urban landscapes substantiated by refined wilding, functional urban biodiversity can optimise the use of cross-disciplinary knowledge sets, leading to more efficient design and policy for UGS that accommodates human health and the natural-environment in urban landscapes. This optimisation is complementary to the smart cities concept, offering convenience, efficiency, and quality of life, and can ensure that sustainable urban development advances with smart cities. The smart cities concept has, over the last decades, developed to integrate sustainability and UGS. This article suggests and finds that refined wilding could provide conceptual guidance for smart cities, as a concept, component model, and planning process, and for smart city devices and technologies, with functional biodiversity as an aim and positive outcome for different UGS types, including residential gardens, which are at an individual level of initiative, responsibility, and choice, and public UGSs which are more likely to be top–down-designed and -implemented. Using a literature review and conceptually framed analysis, functional biodiversity in UGS is found to positively contribute to the smart cities concept by encouraging the efficient use of advanced knowledge sets from various disciplines for the topic of UGS. This article finds that refined wilding supports and furthers ideas like the importance of the quality of UGS as compared to the quantity, the advantages of high-quality and advanced-function UGS as compared to the disadvantages of less functional UGS, and how wild-refined UGS furthers or complements and supports more advanced ideas for UGS. The recommendations for future directions give further examples of advances in refined wilding for sustainable smart cities. The focus on the quality of UGS and advanced function brings refined wilding for functional biodiversity to smart cities with efficiency and convenience in urban development and sustainability terms. Full article

There are considerable debates about the impact of rural residential land consolidation (RRLC) on villagers. Rather than engaging in the ongoing debates of either/or choices again, this article intends to analyze the mechanisms by which RRLC benefits villagers in a specific time and location. Using L town as an example, this article demonstrates that the mechanisms by which RRLC works are dependent on the adaptive property rights functions of rural residential land (RRL), which emerged from the spontaneous and endogenous interactions among actors. Functional adjustment and substitution reconfigure the property rights functions to balance the interests of various actors. The supportive partnerships between actors make the reconfiguration process implementable, as well as ensuring that the pre-existing property rights functions and the desired functions of the various actors can be considered. The findings may provide a new perspective on evaluating RRLC and the reform of property rights, as well as valuable insights on improving the performance of government interventions. Full article

Considering the rapid integration of digital services into daily life, it is crucial to analyze the impacts of the substitutability of physical services with digital alternatives. Limited studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between service substitution and social networks and assess their impact on urban structure. Therefore, this study fills the gap by investigating how digital service substitution and social networks influence residential location choices and urban structure, aiming to support future sustainable urban modeling and planning tools. The study, through a comprehensive analysis incorporating cluster analysis, factor analysis, and binomial logistic regression on a web-based questionnaire survey (n = 6210), finds that socio-demographic factors significantly influence digital alternatives, and that digital service substitution and social networks impact sustainable urban structure. Younger individuals showed significantly higher adoption of digital alternatives, with age negatively associated with relocation likelihood. In urban areas, each additional year of age reduces the likelihood of relocation by approximately 4.4%, and individuals with high shopping substitution are 3.12 times more likely to consider relocation. These findings suggest that urban planners and policymakers to balancing physical and digital service provision to maintain a higher quality of life aligned with the SDGs and ensure sustainable urban development. Full article

This study used randomised controlled trials to test the effectiveness of three behavioural interventions, i.e., focalism, social norm, and visualisation, in changing people’s housing and commuting preferences. The experiment was conducted online via Credamo, one of the largest online panel data providers in China. It included only renters who needed to commute in the city of Xi’an, China, as participants in the study. The results show that behavioural interventions significantly increased respondents’ willingness to adopt more sustainable commute modes, such as walking or cycling, and reduced the tendency to use private cars. Among the three behavioural interventions, the social norm intervention had the largest and most significant impact. The findings shed light on the potential of applying behavioural interventions in sustainable urban transport management. More importantly, the results demonstrate the possibility of using behavioural interventions to incorporate sustainable urban development goals into housing decisions. Full article

This paper investigates the competition between two types of bike-sharing services, particularly at bus stops, subway stations, and residential areas. Two types of shared bicycle travel choice models are constructed. A shared bicycle operator attracts users by implementing discount incentives, and the comfort levels of riding the two types of shared bicycles are different. The equilibrium fares, potential user demand, and operator profits under joint profit maximization, price competition, and potential user demand competition scenarios are derived, and the competitive results under the three scenarios are compared. The results show that, in the potential user demand competition, the difference in potential demand between the two operators is largest; in the joint profit maximization scenario involving shared bicycle operators, the difference in potential user demand is smallest. In all competitive scenarios, higher operating costs and costs in lowering comfort loss for the shared bicycle operators will increase fares; the substitution level between the two types of shared bicycles has a positive impact on potential user demand, and the higher the substitution level, the better the effect of discounts in attracting users. Full article

Residential mobility within cities reflects the spatio-temporal patterns of individual or household relocation behaviors and serves as an effective tool for interpreting urban socio-spatial differentiation from a micro-level perspective. Newly employed college graduates (NECGs) have become the second-largest migrating population in China. This study selects Guangzhou, a megacity, as the study area and utilizes data from the “Guangzhou New Citizens’ Residential Mobility Survey” conducted in 2023. It applies spatio-temporal systems and the spatio-temporal path method based on time geography to explore the residential mobility trajectories of NECGs in Guangzhou. In addition, the study uses a logistic regression model to explore the influencing factors. The findings indicate that NECGs frequently move across districts, showing no significant patterns of concentration or dispersion. However, residential location choices vary considerably across educational levels and household registration natures (Hukou), and as the duration of residence in Guangzhou increases, the probability of residential mobility among NECGs across all educational levels shows a declining trend. Specifically, marital status (life course attributes), housing prices and medical facilities (housing attributes), and job type (socioeconomic attributes) emerge as critical factors influencing residential mobility. By providing a foundation for urban planning policies, this study aims to support the settlement and well-being of NECGs while promoting high-quality urban development in Guangzhou. Full article