Search Results (95)

While the explosive growth in e-commerce stresses urban logistics systems, city planners lack of fine-grained data in order to anticipate and manage the resulting freight flows. Using a three-stage analytical approach combining descriptive zonal statistics, hotspot analysis and different regression modeling from univariate to geographically weighted regression, this study integrates one year of parcel deliveries from a leading courier with open spatial layers of land-use zoning, census population, mobile-signal activity and household income to model last-mile demand across different land use types. A baseline linear regression shows that residential population alone accounts for roughly 30% of the variance in annual parcel volumes (2.5–3.0 deliveries per resident) while adding daytime workforce and income increases the prediction accuracy to 39%. In a similar approach where coefficients vary geographically with Geographically Weighted Regression to capture the local heterogeneity achieves a significant raise of the overall R² to 0.54 and surpassing 0.70 in residential and institutional districts. Hot-spot analysis reveals a highly fragmented pattern where fewer than 5% of blocks generate more than 8.5% of all deliveries with no apparent correlation to the broaden land-use classes. Commercial and administrative areas exhibit the greatest intensity (1149 deliveries per ha) yet remain the hardest to explain (global R² = 0.21) underscoring the importance of additional variables such as retail mix, street-network design and tourism flows. Through this approach, the calibrated models can be used to predict city-wide last-mile demand using only public inputs and offers a transferable, privacy-preserving template for evidence-based freight planning. By pinpointing the location and the land uses where demand concentrates, it supports targeted interventions such as micro-depots, locker allocation and dynamic curb-space management towards more sustainable and resilient urban-logistics networks. Full article

China’s rapid urbanization has given rise to the phenomenon of “urban villages”, which are often regarded as chaotic fringe areas in traditional studies. With the rise of the concept of resilient cities, the value of urban villages as potential carriers of sustainable development has been re-examined. This study adopted research methods such as field investigations, in-depth interviews, and conceptual sampling. By analyzing the interlinked governance relationship between Xiamen City and the urban villages in the Bay Area, aspects such as rural housing improvement, environmental governance, residents’ feedback, geographical pattern, and spatial production were evaluated. A field investigation was conducted in six urban villages within the four bays of Xiamen. A total of 45 people in the urban villages were interviewed, and the spatial status of the urban villages was recorded. This research found that following: (1) Different types of urban villages have formed significantly differentiated role positionings under the framework of regional governance. Residential community types XA and WL provide long-term and stable living spaces for migrant workers in Xiamen; tourism development types DS, HX, BZ, and HT allow the undertaking of short-term stay tourists and provide tourism services. (2) These urban villages achieve the construction of their resilience through resisting risks, absorbing policy resources, catering to the expansion of urban needs, and co-construction in coordination with planning. The multi-cultural inclusiveness of urban villages and their transformation led by cultural shifts have become the driving force for their sustainable development. Through the above mechanisms, urban villages have become the source of resilience and sustainability of healthy cities and provide a model reference for high-density urban construction. Full article

This study, in response to the optimization needs of fall risks for the elderly in the context of cultural and tourism integration in Hebei Province, China, established a quantitative correlation system between ten gait parameters and ten types of spatial risk factors. By collecting gait data (Qualisys infrared motion capture system, sampling rate 200 Hz) and spatial parameters from 30 elderly subjects (with mild, moderate, and severe functional impairments), a multi-level regression model was established. This study revealed that step frequency, step width, and step length were nonlinearly associated with corridor length, door opening width, and step depth (R² = 0.53–0.68). Step speed, ankle dorsiflexion, and foot pressure were key predictive factors (OR = 0.04–8.58, p < 0.001), driving the optimization of core spatial factors such as threshold height, handrail density, and friction coefficient. Step length, cycle, knee angle, and lumbar moment, respectively, affected bed height (45–60 cm), switch height (1.2–1.4 m), stair riser height (≤35 mm), and sink height adjustment range (0.7–0.9 m). The prediction accuracy of the ten optimized values reached 86.7% (95% CI: 82.1–90.3%), with Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit x² = 7.32 (p = 0.412) and ROC curve AUC = 0.912. Empirical evidence shows that the graded optimization scheme reduced the fall risk by 42–85%, and the estimated fall incidence rate decreased by 67% after the renovation. The study of the “abnormal gait—spatial threshold—graded optimization” quantitative residential layout optimization provides a systematic solution for the data-quantified model of elderly-friendly residential renovations. Full article

In the context of rapid urbanization, traditional villages in the Weibei Loess Plateau gully region are facing compounded pressures from social structure disruption and physical space reconstruction. It is urgent to deeply analyze the influence mechanism of social relations on spatial adaptability. This study attempts to construct an analytical framework that couples social relationships with village spatial development. With Tangjia Village in the gully region of the Weibei Loess Plateau as an example, the study integrated various data sources such as satellite imagery, interviews, and policy documents. Through social network analysis and an improved cascade failure model, the spatial adaptation processes and characteristics based on changes in kinship, occupational ties, and geographical networks were explored. The findings indicate that (1) before 2001, kinship networks led to the formation of a monocentric settlement structure. From 2001 to 2011, occupational ties fostered the differentiation of industrial and residential zones. After 2011, geographical networks drove the multifunctional integration of space. (2) Clan-based settlement zones (consisting of 80 kinship nodes) and core cultural tourism facilities are key units in maintaining spatial adaptability. The research reveals the impact mechanism of social network fission on spatial function reorganization and proposes adaptive planning strategies, aiming to provide theoretical and practical value for the coordinated governance of society and space in traditional villages. Full article

In the Taihang Mountain Tourism Development Plan (2020–2035), the Taihang Mountain Expressway is included in the construction of the National Tourism Scenic Road around Taihang Mountain to promote the integrated development of regional transportation and tourism. The Lai-Qu Expressway is part of the Baoding section of the Taihang Mountain Expressway. Based on the data of traffic flow on the Lai-Qu Expressway, data of regional tourism resources, and data of regional economic and social development, this paper studies the interaction between the traffic and tourism space of the Lai-Qu Expressway by using spatial interaction, geographically weighted regression (GWR), and other geospatial analysis theories and methods. The results show that the traffic flow of the Baishishan Tollgate is directly correlated with the passenger flow of the Baishishan scenic spot. The spatial pattern of two tourism resource cluster centers and one sub-center, and one residential cluster center and one sub-center is expected to be formed along the Lai-Qu Expressway. The newly built traffic routes extend the influence of the traffic space and overlaps with the regional tourism space, not only providing new opportunities and possibilities for the development of regional tourism, but also promoting the change in the regional tourism spatial pattern and the cluster form of tourism resources. The research on the interaction between the traffic–tourism space in this paper can help to enrich the theoretical connotation of the research on the integration of transport and tourism, and can also be used to evaluate the tourism impact of newly built transport routes and serve the regional tourism development. Full article

Assessing the size and situation of the population exposed to natural hazards is a fundamental step in addressing natural hazard management and emergency planning. Although much progress has been made in recent years in population geolocation by competent public bodies, gathering historical data beyond the present century to learn about the sequential evolution the affected population has experienced remains a difficult task. The recent publication of a historical population grid with adequate resolution allows progress to be made in resolving this problem. This paper is based on these data together with a map of landslide susceptibility in the study area and on the abundant resources provided by the Spanish Cadastre on dates of construction, surface area, and location of built plots. The size of the residential area built in the risk zone and its affected population was calculated since the early 1900s and with a decennial sequence. The risk to the population has been found to be stable or decreasing slightly over the entire historical series in the study area. However, the intensive tourism in some coastal municipalities in the north of Alicante has led to the construction of holiday homes in unsuitable locations in mountainous areas and with it an appreciable increase in risk. Full article

High-density cities have obvious characteristics of compact urban spatial form and intensive land use in terms of spatial environment, and have always been a topic of academic focus. As a typical coastal historical district, the Macau Peninsula pier district (mainly the Macau Inner Harbour) has a high building density and a low average street width, forming a vertical coastline development model that directly converses with the ocean. This area is adjacent to Macau’s World Heritage Site and directly related to the Marine trade functions. The distribution pattern of cultural heritage linked by the ocean has strengthened Macau’s unique positioning as a node city on the Maritime Silk Road. This text is based on the theory of urban development, integrates spatial syntax and POI analysis techniques, and combines the theories of waterfront regeneration, high-density urban form and post-industrial urbanism to integrate and deepen the theoretical framework, and conduct a systematic study on the urban spatial characteristics of the coastal area of the Macau Peninsula. This study found that (1) Catering and shopping facilities present a dual agglomeration mechanism of “tourism-driven + commercial core”, with Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro as the main axis and radiating to the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Praça de Ponte e Horta, respectively. Historical blocks and tourist hotspots clearly guide the spatial center of gravity. (2) Residential and life service facilities are highly coupled, reflecting the spatial logic of “work-residence integration-service coordination”. The distribution of life service facilities basically overlaps with the high-density residential area, forming an obvious “living circle + community unit” structure with clear spatial boundaries. (3) Commercial and transportation facilities form a “functional axis belt” organizational structure along the main road, with the Rua das Lorchas—Rua do Almirante Sérgio axis as the skeleton, constructing a “functional transmission chain”. (4) The spatial system of the Macau Peninsula pier district has transformed from a single center to a multi-node, network-linked structure. Its internal spatial differentiation is not only constrained by traditional land use functions but is also driven by complex factors such as tourism economy, residential migration, historical protection, and infrastructure accessibility. (5) Through the analysis of space syntax, it is found that the core integration of the Macau Peninsula pier district is concentrated near Pier 16 and the northern area. The two main roads have good accessibility for motor vehicle travel, and the northern area of the Macau Peninsula pier district has good accessibility for long and short-distance walking. Full article

Public spaces in historical and cultural cities not only provide places for social interaction in people’s daily lives but also help visitors engage with local history and culture. Although extensive research has been conducted on the use of public spaces, little has been conducted on cities in developing countries, such as cities in Xinjiang, China. Therefore, this research selected a public space in a traditional Uyghur residential area in Yining, which is located in the northwest of Xinjiang, to investigate the current usage of public space in the context of the growing tourism industry. We employed behaviour mapping as the primary method for data collection and analysed it using ArcGIS. A total of 3052 data points were collected over a five-day observation period. We found that while a wide range of activities were observed at the study site, only a few took place with high frequency. The influence of the facilities at the study site on users’ behaviour is significant. In terms of spatial distribution, the number and diversity of activities also show a concentrated distribution in a certain sub-area. Therefore, the conclusions suggest that it is important to conduct post-use evaluations to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of local residents. Full article

With the rapid development of urban motorized transportation, the narrow and aging streets in historical and cultural districts can no longer meet modern traffic demands. The development of pedestrian systems and the improvement in street walkability have become important issues in the preservation and renewal of these districts. Although walkability research has established a relatively systematic theoretical framework and technical methods, current studies predominantly focus on modern urban roads due to limited attention to the unique characteristics of streets within historical and cultural districts. As a mixed-use area integrating residential, commercial, and tourism functions, the former Russian concession in Hankou features diverse street types and a rich spatial texture, making it a representative case for walkability research in historical districts. This study aimed to construct a walkability evaluation framework suited to the characteristics of such districts. First, relevant literature was reviewed and combined with the actual conditions of streets in the study area to select evaluation indicators and reconstruct the framework. Second, based on multi-source data, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted using spatial syntax, semantic segmentation, and GIS spatial analysis. The results show that streets with high walkability scores are mainly concentrated in the core tourism area and are strongly associated with the distribution of historical buildings. Finally, based on the evaluation results, three groups of representative streets were compared to analyze differences in pedestrian environments. Key issues such as low spatial quality and functional disorder were identified, and targeted optimization strategies are proposed. The findings provide useful references for the future preservation and sustainable renewal of historical and cultural districts. Full article

(1) Background: Rapid urban growth in China has extended rail systems to neighboring cities to meet intercity travel needs, making it important to understand intercity travel patterns. (2) Methods: Taking the Changsha–Zhuzhou–Xiangtan Intercity Metro Xihuan Line as an example, intercity ridership patterns are analyzed. A Gaussian mixture model is applied to cluster ridership into groups based on travel time and stay time, respectively, and their travel patterns are examined. (3) Results: Weekdays display distinct commuting patterns with morning and evening peaks. On weekends, peak travel times are quite different. Based on travel time, intercity ridership is divided into two groups. The short-travel-time group primarily travels for residential demand, while the long-travel-time group is mainly for leisure. No significant differences were found in weekday and weekend patterns. Based on stay time, ridership is categorized into two groups. Most trips are round trips on the same day, but overnight ridership is higher on weekends. On weekends, the intercity ridership groups with tourism as their travel purpose on weekends have different stay modes, but their main travel destinations are similar. On weekdays, there are large differences in the distribution of main travel destinations between the short-stay-time group and the long-stay-time group, and their travel purposes are more diverse. Full article

Assessing water demand is essential for urban planning, aligning with socio-economic and climatic needs. The territorial water footprint identifies water requirements across sectors and detects sources of consumption. This aids in mitigating impacts and evaluating alternative water sources like reclaimed water. In Gavà, water impacts were assessed for residential, commercial, municipal, tourism, industrial, agricultural, and livestock sectors. The total water footprint is 6,458,118 m³, comprising 3,293,589 m³ from blue water, 2,250,849 m³ from green water, and 913,680 m³ from grey water. Agriculture (54.2%), residential (30.9%), and industrial activities (5.8%) are the main water footprint contributors. A key methodological advancement of this study is the refinement of grey water footprint calculations for livestock facilities within the RWF framework, allowing for a more precise assessment of their environmental impact. Integrating geographic information systems with land use mapping helps localize impacts, detect hotspots, and identify infrastructure improvement opportunities. Full article

This study addresses the vast amount of information held by the banking sector, especially regarding opportunities in tourism development, production, and large residential projects. With advancements in information technology and databases, data mining has become essential for banks to optimally utilize available data. From January 2023 to July 2024, data from the Egyptian Arab Land Bank (EALB) were analyzed using data mining techniques, including rough set theory and the Weka version 3.0 program. The aim was to identify potential units for targeted marketing, improve customer satisfaction, and contribute to sustainable development goals. By integrating sustainability principles into financing approaches, this research promotes green banking, encouraging environmentally friendly and socially responsible investments. A survey of EALB customers assessed their interest in purchasing homes under the real estate financing program. The results were analyzed with GraphPad Prism version 9.0, with 95% confidence intervals and an R-squared value close to 1, and we identified 13 units (43% of the total units) as having the highest marketing potential. This study highlights data mining’s role in enhancing marketing for the EALB’s residential projects. Combining sustainable financing with data insights promotes green banking, aligning with customer preferences and boosting satisfaction and profitability. Full article

Ivo Radić (Split, 1930–Split, 2006) is a prominent Croatian architect who contributed mostly to the field of residential architecture and tourism facilities. The most important buildings that he designed were realised in Split, a city in the Mediterranean part of Croatia. Buildings that he designed have many features of the International style. Nevertheless, in their design, the architect also successfully introduced the elements of regional Mediterranean vocabulary, using contemporary materials and technology. This paper is focused on three formative projects of architect Ivo Radić, analysing them by their urban context, architectural design and technical innovation of their architectural elements, trying to outline the architect’s discourse. The aim of the research is to emphasise the importance of Ivo Radić’s work in the context of the modernist urban and architectural heritage of Split and Croatia and to underline the need to define an appropriate approach in the evaluation and protection of the heritage of modernist residential architecture and urbanism. Full article

The Ayla Oasis in Aqaba, Jordan, is a major tourism and residential development project in Aqaba, Jordan, containing three artificial lagoons. This study explores the ecological sustainable development of Ayla Lagoons, focusing on the seawater and bottom sediment quality, and the bottom habitat, in addition to coral conservation and restoration initiatives. The flushing time, averaging 3.7 days for the Upper Lagoon and 2.4 days for the Middle Lagoon, plays a crucial role in maintaining water quality. These measures secure the well-being of all visitors and residents, while also preserving the marine biodiversity. The Upper, Middle, and Tidal Lagoons exhibit physiochemical properties in alignment with seawater characteristics of the Gulf of Aqaba. Sediment quality analysis shows organic carbon levels and grain size distribution vary among lagoons, indicating expected different energy conditions and a healthy environment. The lagoons support a diverse range of species, with a total of 2343 fish individuals belonging to 22 species across 17 families recorded. The comprehensive analysis of the Ayla Oasis lagoons’ seawater and sediment quality revealed a dynamic and resilient ecosystem. Ayla’s coral conservation and restoration initiative within its lagoons feature 166 reef balls, 5 coral nurseries, and 2 metal structures, all designed to foster marine biodiversity. The project demonstrates the effectiveness of Ayla Oasis’ environmental resilience and monitoring strategies, showcasing a commitment to sustainable management and environmental stewardship. These efforts reflect Ayla’s ongoing dedication to protecting and preserving the marine ecosystem, ensuring the long-term health of its coral reefs and surrounding marine life. Full article

The relationship between tourism and the environment is often studied through tourism’s impact on destinations, with limited focus on how eco-degradation affects tourism, including residential tourism, which remains the most loyal to specific destinations. This study examines whether a destination’s eco-degradation impacts the residential tourists’ satisfaction and their intention to revisit. Two studies were conducted on the Mar Menor destination (Spain) using two online questionnaires administered through social media. Study 1 (from October 2020 to December 2021, n = 822) explored tourists’ perceptions of the destination’s ecological situation. Study 2 (November 2022 and March 2023, n = 453) examined how the destination’s eco-degradation influences residential tourists’ intention to revisit, considering the mediating role of destination attachment and perceived value. We found that residential tourists’ perceptions and revisit intentions vary with accommodation type. Eco-degradation impacts holiday satisfaction but not revisit intentions. Second-home ownership compels visits despite dissatisfaction or a preference for alternative destinations. This research contributes to the scarce literature on residential tourism by showing that place attachment and the perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioural intentions can explain revisit intention even in contexts of eco-degradation of the destination. Full article