Search Results (100)

Housing sustainability is a cornerstone element of sustainable economic and social development. This is particularly true for China, where high-rise residential buildings are the primary form of housing. In recent years, China has experienced frequent housing-related accidents, resulting in a significant loss of life and property damage. This study aims to identify the key factors influencing housing sustainability and provide a basis for the prevention and control of housing-related safety risks. This study has developed a housing sustainability evaluation indicator system comprising three primary indicators and 16 secondary indicators. This system is based on an analysis of the causes of over 500 typical housing accidents that occurred in China over the past 10 years, employing research methods such as literature reviews and expert consultations, and drawing on the analytical frameworks of risk management theory and system safety theory. Subsequently, the NK-SNA model, which significantly outperforms traditional models in terms of adaptive learning and optimization, as well as the explicit modeling of complex nonlinear relationships, was used to identify the key risk factors affecting housing sustainability. The empirical results indicate that the risk coupling value is correlated with the number of risk coupling factors; the greater the number of risk coupling factors, the larger the coupling value. Human misconduct is prone to forming two-factor risk coupling with housing, and the physical risk factors are prone to coupling with other factors. The environmental factors easily trigger ‘physical–environmental’ two-factor risk coupling. The key factors influencing housing sustainability are poor supervision, building facilities, the main structure, the housing height, foundation settlement, and natural disasters. On this basis, recommendations are made to make full use of modern information technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, and artificial intelligence to strengthen the supervision of housing safety and avoid multi-factor coupling, and to improve upon early warnings of natural disasters and the design of emergency response programs to control the coupling between physical and environmental factors. Full article

This study explores how geographical factors shape El Salvador’s banking sector, particularly focusing on regional disparities, urbanization, and vulnerability to natural disasters affecting access to financial services. By employing a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative data and qualitative interviews, the research analyzes how these geographical challenges impact financial inclusion and banking development. Data from the Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador and financial institutions is examined alongside Geographic Information Systems (GISs) to illustrate the spatial distribution of banking services. Interviews with stakeholders, including bank representatives and clients from urban and rural areas, reveal a significant urban–rural divide, with approximately 75% of bank branches and 80% of ATMs situated in urban centers, particularly in San Salvador. Rural areas face limited access to formal banking due to challenging topography and inadequate infrastructure, leading to increased financial exclusion and reliance on informal systems. Natural disasters further disrupt banking infrastructure and heighten the need for emergency loans. While urbanization has spurred financial growth, it has also resulted in informal settlements with restricted access to formal services. As its main contribution, this study provides one of the first in-depth, geographically grounded analyses of financial exclusion in El Salvador, offering original insights into how spatial inequalities and disaster vulnerability intersect to shape banking access and economic participation. The study calls for a more inclusive banking sector, recommending mobile and digital banking expansion, agent banking in underserved areas, and improved disaster risk management to enhance economic participation across all regions. Full article

This work explores the relationship between water quality and public trust in their water supply, in an arsenic-affected region of Serbia. The results from an online public survey are presented and subjected to Pearson’s correlation, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis. In general, survey respondents in settlements with known arsenic issues had a poor opinion on the quality of their tap water. This poor opinion was underlined by their consumption of bottled water, with more than 43% of responders purchasing at least 5 L of bottled water a week. In addition to the great economic cost, the relatively low plastic recycling rate in Serbia means that this also has a very negative effect on the environment, as most of the plastic bottles are sent to landfill, to degrade slowly into microplastics, whilst leaching a variety of chemical contaminants into the surroundings. In the area studied, the poor public opinion of the water quality is a realistic reflection of water at the tap. Although significant, the additional environmental pollution from bottled water consumption should nonetheless be of secondary consideration in comparison to the health risks associated with chemical contaminants in the study area, with local waterworks requiring significant financial assistance if they are to meaningfully improve tap water quality. Full article

Mining has caused major pollution, especially in poorly regulated areas. The former Ávalos Foundry in Chihuahua, Mexico left toxic contamination after its closure in 1997, affecting the nearby settlements. This study examines the socio-environmental impact on residents adjacent to the site. A total of 5773 dwellings were considered, with 4634 inhabited by 14,187 persons. A survey to 465 residents assessed sociodemographic aspects, environmental perceptions, and disposition to community participation. Tap water samples from 70 homes were analyzed for metals and compared to Mexican, American and European regulatory standards. Water pollutant dispersion was modeled using ArcGIS interpolation. Residents face economic, social, environmental, and health issues from ongoing contamination. Several suffer respiratory and skin diseases linked to excessive dust from the proximity to mining waste and unpaved streets. While the majority consider their lives comfortable or very comfortable, many would not have moved there if aware of the risks before moving. Despite concerns, most residents are reluctant to engage in community efforts to address the pollution. Tap water tests revealed levels above the regulatory standards of arsenic, copper, chromium, iron, manganese, and nickel, posing serious health risks. This study calls for immediate action, including awareness and health campaigns, environmental remediation, and intersectoral collaboration to secure funding for long-term solutions. Full article

Landslides pose a significant threat to the safety and stability of settlements in karst regions worldwide. The long-standing tight balance state of settlement funding and infrastructure makes it difficult to allocate disaster prevention resources effectively against landslide impacts. There is an urgent need to fully leverage the landscape resources of karst settlements and develop landslide risk prevention strategies that balance economic viability with local landscape adaptability. However, limited research has explored the differential resilience characteristics and patterns of landslide disaster risk and settlement landscapes from a spatial coupling perspective. This study, based on landslide disaster and disaster-adaptive landscape data from a typical karst province in China, employs the frequency ratio-random forest model and weighted variance method to construct landslide disaster risk (LDR) and disaster-adaptive landscape (DAL) base maps. The spatial characteristics of urban, urban–rural transition zones, and rural settlements were analyzed, and the resilience differentiation and driving factors of the LDR–DAL coupling relationship were assessed using bivariate spatial autocorrelation and geographical detector models. The key findings are as follows: (1) Urban and peri-urban settlements exhibit a high degree of spatial congruence in the differentiation of LDR and DAL, whereas rural settlements exhibit distinct divergence; (2) the Moran’s I index for LDR and DAL is 0.0818, indicating that urban and peri-urban settlements predominantly cluster in H-L and L-L types, whereas rural settlements primarily exhibit H-H and L-H patterns; (3) slope, soil organic matter, and profile curvature are key determinants of LDR–DAL coupling, with respective influence strengths of 0.568, 0.555, and 0.384; (4) in karst settlement development, augmenting local vegetation in residual mountain areas and parks can help maintain forest ecosystem stability, effectively mitigating landslide risks and enhancing disaster-adaptive capacity by 6.77%. This study helps alleviate the contradiction between high LDR and weak disaster-adaptive resources in the karst region of Southwest China, providing strategic references for global karst settlements to enhance localized landscape adaptation to landslide disasters. Full article

The reclamation of illegal landfills poses a significant threat to the environment. An example of such a case is Łomianki near Warsaw, where an illegal landfill contained alarming levels of arsenic and chromium, posing a potential risk to the health of local residents due to the possibility of these metals contaminating a nearby drinking water source. Initial geochemical tests revealed high concentrations of these metals, with chromium reaching up to 24,660 mg/kg and arsenic up to 10,350 mg/kg, well above international environmental standards. This study presents effective reclamation strategies that can be used in similar situations worldwide. The reclamation allowed this land to be used for the construction of the M1 shopping center while minimizing environmental hazards. The study is based on a case study of the reclamation of this illegal landfill. The methods used in this project included the relocation of approximately 130,000 m³ of hazardous waste to a nearby site previously used for sand mining. Bentonite mats and geotextiles were used to prevent the migration of contaminants into the groundwater. The waste was layered with sand to assist in the structural stabilization of the site. In addition, proper waste segregation and drainage systems were implemented to manage water and prevent contamination. Eight years after the reclamation, post-remediation soil surveys showed significant improvements in soil quality and structural stability. Specifically, the Proctor Compaction Index (I_S) increased from an estimated 0.5–0.7 (for uncontrolled slope) to 0.98, indicating a high degree of compaction and soil stability, while arsenic and chromium levels were reduced by 98.4% and 98.1%, respectively. Reclamation also significantly reduced permeability and settlement rates, further improving the site’s suitability for construction. The cost-benefit analysis showed a cost saving of 37.7% through local waste relocation compared to off-site disposal, highlighting the economic efficiency and environmental benefits. The main conclusions of this study are that land reclamation effectively reduced environmental hazards; innovative solutions, such as bentonite mats, advanced waste sorting, geotextiles, and drainage systems, improved environmental quality; and the Łomianki case serves as a model for sustainable waste management practices. Full article

This article focuses on the health impacts of the gender-based violence (GBV) experienced by migrant and refugee women (MRW) survivors in their migration/settlement journeys in Canada, and their challenges in accessing healthcare. Adopting a feminist and intersectional lens, I draw upon qualitative in-depth interviews with 48 migrant women conducted between 2020 and 2022. GBV is a frequent experience in the migration and (re)settlement journey and has wide-ranging and cross-secting emotional-psychological, socio-economic, physical, as well as sexual and reproductive health consequences which, in turn, impact settlement and integration and may increase vulnerability to further GBV as a result. Drawing upon a “social determinants of health” approach, I aim to understand the workings of barriers to healthcare access and help seeking for MRW survivors of GBV in Canada. The social determinants of health involve structural (e.g., legal, financial, linguistic, knowledge, healthcare access) barriers, mediated by gender, intersecting with various positionalities and identities. GBV unambiguously impacts on the health and well-being of all survivors, but the extent of harm varies significantly depending on the intersections of positions and identities of survivors. The migration context entails unique barriers to MRW help seeking and healthcare access as well as aggravates the impacts of other barriers on MRW. My objective is to show how GBV affects the health status of MRW survivors in Canada in the specific context of healthcare access and help-seeking barriers MRW face, conceptualized as risk factors for reproducing GBV. Full article

Rapid socio-economic development and imbalanced ecosystem conservation have heightened the risk of species extinction, reduced urban climate adaptability, and threatened human health and well-being. Constructing ecological green space networks is an effective strategy for maintaining urban ecological security. However, most studies have primarily addressed biodiversity needs, with limited focus on coordinating street spaces in human settlement planning. This study examines the area within Chengdu’s Third Ring Road, employing the following methodologies: (1) constructing the regional ecological network using Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model, and circuit theory; (2) analyzing the street green view index (GVI) through machine learning semantic segmentation techniques; and (3) identifying key areas for the coordinated development of urban ecological networks and street green spaces using bivariate spatial correlation analysis. The results showed that (1) Chengdu’s Third Ring Road exhibits high ecological landscape fragmentation, with 41 key ecological sources and 94 corridors identified. Ecological pinch points were located near urban rivers and surrounding woodlands, while ecological barrier points were concentrated in areas with dense buildings and complex transportation networks. (2) Higher street GVI values were observed around university campuses, urban parks, and river-adjacent streets, while lower GVI values were found near commercial areas and transportation hubs. (3) To coordinate the construction of ecological networks and street green spaces, the central area of the First Ring Road and the northwestern region of the Second and Third Ring Roads were identified as priority restoration areas, while the northern, western, and southeastern areas of the Second and Third Ring Roads were designated as priority protection areas. This study adopts a multi-scale spatial perspective to identify priority areas for protection and restoration, aiming to coordinate the construction of urban ecological networks and street green spaces and provide new insights for advancing ecological civilization in high-density urban areas. Full article

Climate change and geological shifts were pivotal in the survival and development of ancient human societies, especially in densely populated regions like the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. This study explored the dynamic interactions between ancient human cultures and the region’s natural environment, using field research alongside geological, geomorphological, and archaeological data spanning from the late Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. Our findings showed that prehistoric sites in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin were primarily located in the low hilly areas surrounding the lower basin during the Paleolithic era, a pattern shaped by the region’s geomorphology. Early human settlements were strategically positioned near the Lishui River, offering access to vital resources while minimizing flood risk. These locations provided flat terrain, abundant vegetation, and materials for tool-making, factors that supported a hunting and gathering lifestyle. As the coldest phase of the last glacial period approached, the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic eras marked a period of significant behavioral adaptation. In response to the harsher environment, humans began settling on lower terraces and miniaturizing their stone tools, signaling a shift to more specialized hunting techniques. This adaptability and resilience marked the refinement of hunting economies during this period. With the onset of the Holocene epoch and a warmer climate, conditions for human habitation became more favorable. Societies began migrating from the hills to the fertile lower Lishui River Basin, heralding the Neolithic period. This era saw the emergence of settlements and the onset of early rice cultivation, marking the transition from a hunting–gathering economy to one centered on agriculture. By the Daxi period, these settlements had expanded, extending their influence throughout the region. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical roles of climate change and geological features in shaping human settlement patterns, economic activities, and cultural evolution in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. Our findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary processes of ancient human cultures in the region and provide a foundation to understand future challenges in sustainable development. Full article

The expansion of cities in Sub-Saharan Africa has led to an increase in impervious surfaces, intensifying stormwater management challenges, especially in informal settlements situated in ecologically sensitive areas like wetlands. This urban growth has heightened flood risks and negatively impacted biodiversity, water quality, and socio-economic conditions, particularly during extreme weather events intensified by climate change. Nature-Based Solutions (NbSs), including Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDSs), offer sustainable strategies for managing stormwater and mitigating these adverse effects. However, the success of such solutions relies not only on their technical implementation but also on the social and institutional contexts within urban communities. Community-level governance is crucial in integrating NbSs into urban stormwater management frameworks. This research evaluates how community governance of NbSs, specifically SUDSs, can enhance stormwater management and flood resilience in Kampala, Uganda. Using an assessment framework grounded in the Policy Arrangement Approach (PAA)—which considers discourses, actors, resources, and rules of engagement—this study incorporates structural, social, and political factors that influence SUDS community governance performance. Concentrating on the Sembule zones within the Nalukolongo catchment area, this research investigates the impact of community governance dynamics on SUDS implementation. This study examines key aspects such as community engagement, resource management, and regulatory frameworks to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives, providing valuable insights for advancing nature-based urban stormwater management. Full article

Characterized by long spans, low aspect ratios, and intricate construction sequences, super-large cross-section tunnels present substantial construction risks. Therefore, the selection of the optimal excavation method and construction sequence is crucial for ensuring the safety of tunnel construction and minimizing project costs. This paper takes a super large transverse-section highway tunnel as a case study, employing field monitoring data combined with ABAQUS software to analyze the stress and deformation of surrounding rock and support structures under different excavation methods. The findings reveal that the deformation of surrounding rock and support structures excavated by the Double-Side Drift Method is smaller than those caused by the three-benching seven-step method and the CRD excavation method. Nevertheless, the significant stresses of surrounding rock and support structures are released by the Double-Side Drift Method, leading to potential stress concentrations. Thus, it is necessary to ensure the rapid completion of early support and quick sealing of the tunnel. Furthermore, the sixth process achieves smaller deformation (including arch displacement and surface settlement) of the tunnel, a shorter construction period, and lower economic costs when compared to other construction processes. Consequently, it can obviously be concluded that both the Double-Side Drift Method and the sixth construction process stand out as the most appropriate choices for excavating super large cross-section tunnels. The insights obtained from this study provide theoretical guidance for the design and construction of similar tunnel projects. Full article

In this research, an analysis of the socio-environmental vulnerability in the urban area of the border municipality of Tijuana, Baja California (BC), in Mexico is carried out with data from the year 2020. Currently, this municipality is the most populated in the country, housing a population of just over 1.9 million inhabitants, characterized by being a city in constant urban growth due to its geographical location and various social, cross-border and productive dynamics directed by industrial development. However, Tijuana presents territorial problems related to lack of urban planning, overpopulation, urban marginalization, topographic conditions, urban waste management, air quality and lack of infrastructure and basic services. The proposed methodology develops a socio-environmental vulnerability index (SEVI), based on the evaluation of critical or extreme demographic and urban aspects, including social, economic, environmental and physical variables of the territory with the support of the Geographic Information System (GIS). This index is composed of a total of 19 indicators related to education, health, employment, housing conditions, infrastructure, population settlement, industrial concentration and some factors regarding environmental quality, especially focused on the disposal of urban solid waste (USW) in clandestine sites, garbage collection service coverage and flood risk. This analysis allowed us to determine the groups most vulnerable to socio-environmental risks in 692 Basic Geostatistical Areas (AGEB, the acronym in Spanish) of nine city delegations. The results of the research highlight that 14.78% of the population is between a situation of high and very high socio-environmental vulnerability, representing just over 284,000 inhabitants. It is concluded that the use of GIS in spatial planning allows us to identify risk areas and thereby promote more sustainable measures to ensure the well-being of the population. Full article

The province of Gauteng in South Africa has a rich history of gold mining, which has driven economic growth and urbanization. Gold mining has also created over 270 gold mine tailings (GMT), now surrounded by human settlements due to a housing shortage. These GMT pose a health risk as they harbor elevated uranium, which over time undergoes radioactive decay to produce radon, a known lung carcinogen. This study aimed to investigate the potential correlation between the proximity to gold mine tailings (GMT) and indoor radon concentrations in Gauteng’s residential dwellings. Volume activity of radon (VAR) inside 330 residential dwellings was measured in residential dwellings located proximally (<2 km) and distally (>2 km) to gold mine tailings using AlphaE radon monitors during winter. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized to obtain data on factors that may influence indoor radon activities. Descriptive statistics and bivariate logistic regression analyzed the influence of proximity to gold mine tailings and dwelling characteristics on VAR. Furthermore, VAR was compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) radon reference level of 100 Bq/m³. Residential dwellings near gold mine tailings had significantly higher average indoor radon concentrations (103.30 Bq/m³) compared to the control group (65.19 Bq/m³). Residential dwellings proximal to gold mine tailings were three times more likely to have VAR beyond the WHO reference level of 100 Bq/m³. Furthermore, they had estimated annual effective doses of 2.60 mSv/y compared to 1.64 mSv/y for the control group. This study highlighted a concerning association between proximity to gold mine tailings and elevated indoor radon levels. Public health interventions prioritizing residential dwellings near gold mine tailings are crucial. Educational campaigns and financial assistance for radon mitigation systems in high-risk dwellings are recommended. Residents near gold mine tailings are encouraged to ensure continuous natural ventilation through frequent opening of windows and doors. Full article

Various factors influence wildfire probability, including land use/land cover (LULC), fuel types, and their moisture content, meteorological conditions, and terrain characteristics. The Adriatic Sea coastal area in Croatia has a long record of devastating wildfires that have caused severe ecological and economic damages as well as the loss of human lives. Assessing the conditions favorable for wildfires and the possible damages are crucial in fire risk management. Adriatic settlements and ecosystems are highly vulnerable, especially during summer, when the pressure from tourist migration is the highest. However, available fire risk models designed to fit the macro-scale level of assessment cannot provide information detailed enough to meet the decision-making conditions at the local level. This paper describes a model designed to assess wildfire risks at the meso-scale, focusing on environmental and anthropogenic descriptors derived from moderate- to high-resolution remote sensing data (Sentinel-2), Copernicus Land Monitoring Service datasets, and other open sources. Risk indices were integrated using the multi-criteria decision analysis method, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), in a GIS environment. The model was tested in three coastal catchments, each having recently experienced severe fire events. The approach successfully identified zones at risk and the level of risk, depending on the various environmental and anthropogenic conditions. Full article

The precise identification of railway subgrade defects remains a significant challenge for the railway industry globally. Due to the limitations of individual monitoring techniques, comprehensive information on subgrade defects cannot be obtained. In fact, the presence of subgrade defects can significantly increase the risk of traffic accidents during high-speed train operations, which may affect the safety of train operations and economic development. The monitoring of subgrade health status is used as a pre-disaster planning method that is urgently required to avoid accidents and guide the maintenance strategy. Therefore, a novel “integrated” holistic monitoring approach for subgrade structures is presented based on satellite remote sensing, a comprehensive inspection vehicle, and a ground-based testing technique. Additionally, the monitoring content is more clearly defined during the service life of the subgrade. The method is used to investigate the location, development trend, and the cause of subgrade defects on the Shanghai–Nanjing high-speed railway. Some new viewpoints are put forward: First, the monitoring content for assessing the health status of the subgrade should encompass the foundation settlement, the track geometry status, and the monitoring of deformation and defects within the subgrade. Second, the mileage points K235 and K299 of the subgrade, as well as K236 and K237 of the bridge–subgrade transition sections, are estimated to be locations with potential defects based on the differential InSAR and track quality index. Third, the result of settlement monitoring and ground-penetrating radar analysis illustrates that sections K235 +540 to +680 and K299 +680 to +750 are diagnosed as defect positions triggered by the rapid drop of water level and engineering activity, respectively. Fourth, the “integrated” holistic monitoring technique for subgrade service status might be expected to be a promising method that can be useful in developing maintenance plans and implementing fault recovery for railway infrastructure. Full article