Search Results (225)

Social and economic satisfaction gaps are theoretical differences between a resident’s socially or monetarily most preferred affordable home attributes and the actual attributes of their current home. In this study, the satisfaction gaps of two samples of respondents are predicted with their social utility data for preferred attributes in 1987 and 2020, in conjunction with the asking or sale prices and comparable attributes of single detached or similar homes merged with small-area census data for periods up to those dates. Average social and economic gaps of less than 20% affirm respondents’ overall satisfaction with their current homes, most of whom were recent movers. However, wider social satisfaction gaps among the minority of residents may reflect dissatisfaction with new suburban locations in one sample and older inner city housing in the other. Four practical and theoretical contributions of the utility modelling of residential satisfaction gaps in objective and subjective home attributes, as opposed to direct surveying of residential satisfaction, are concluded. Full article

This study introduces a multi-source spatial methodology that moves beyond the traditional urban/rural dichotomy to classify the American landscape into detailed, temporally defined settlement types. By combining historical housing unit and population estimates (HHUUD10 and LTDB) standardized to 2010 census tract boundaries with high-resolution, grid-level data on the built environment (HISDAC-US), this research establishes a settlement typology based on the development history of detailed geographic units. This framework classifies areas (from Prewar Cores and 21st-Century Suburbs to exurban fringes, outlying towns and rural areas) based on their era of development and proximity to urban centers. Applying this typology reveals profound spatial and demographic decentralization spanning eighty years of metropolitan expansion. The findings demonstrate a stark geographic sorting: expanding greenfield edges and exurbs have become magnets for high-income, highly educated, and predominantly White populations. However, longitudinal tracking reveals a distinct morphological “life-course” within suburban rings. As older suburbs age and their housing stock depreciates, they open to wider demographic integration, transforming into destinations for Black and foreign-born residents. Furthermore, the data highlight a contemporary polarization of human capital, concentrated in both the newest suburban peripheries and the resurgent urban cores, contrasting with persistent economic decline in outlying towns and rural areas. Ultimately, this methodology provides a flexible, longitudinal framework for understanding the long-term morphological and demographic evolution of American settlement. Full article

Fragmented transit governance across multiple agencies makes measuring service inequality in large metropolitan regions notoriously difficult. This paper maps schedule-aware transit service intensity—an origin-side, supply-focused component of accessibility—across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) by integrating General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data from six providers within an H3 hierarchical hexagonal grid. The measure does not capture destination access, travel time, transfers, fares, reliability, or crowding, and is therefore framed throughout as a service-intensity indicator rather than a full accessibility evaluation. We operationalize the indicator as the number of cumulative scheduled departures per hour reachable within an 800 m walking catchment for three distinct time windows: weekday peak, weekday midday, and Saturday midday. Across 9635 hexagons and 23,026 stops, our results reveal a sharply hierarchical regional network. When weighted by population, 16.4% of GTA residents have no scheduled service within walking distance during the weekday morning peak; the corresponding area-weighted share, reflecting the extensive greenbelt and agricultural fringe, is 70.6%. Only 22.6% of hexagons reach at least 12 departures per hour, while 75.5% of residents meet that threshold. Median service intensity drops from 234.25 departures per hour in the Urban Core to zero beyond the Inner Suburban Ring, and service thins out on weekends, with retention in the outer rings dropping to roughly 75% of weekday levels. Spearman correlations show that service intensity is concentrated in denser, more diverse, and lower-income census-tract contexts, with population density emerging as the strongest hex-level correlate ($\rho =0.69$); after Clifford–Richardson correction for spatial autocorrelation (effective $n\approx 745$), the principal CT-level correlations remain statistically significant ($p<{10}^{-15}$), and partial correlations controlling for density indicate that socioeconomic composition retains an independent, if attenuated, association. Under one-tract-one-observation aggregation ($n=1144$ unique tracts), the income gradient strengthens to $\rho =-0.74$ and becomes co-equal in magnitude with population density ($\rho =0.74$), confirming that the hex-level coefficients are not artifacts of pseudo-replication. A population-weighted Gini coefficient of 0.60 confirms substantial distributional inequality. Sensitivity analyses confirm that the Inner-to-Outer Suburban break is robust to alternative ring thresholds (10/25/40 and 20/35/50 km), to exclusion of the four Halton municipalities affected by incomplete local-feed coverage, to H3 resolution at the municipal level, and—in a representative shortest-path network sub-analysis for Pickering (not a full GTA-wide network-distance test)—to use of network rather than Euclidean walking distance. These patterns suggest that a substantial gap exists between where suburban residential growth has occurred and where frequent transit service is available, a pattern with historical roots in the 1996–2006 service–need alignment, though the 2006–2023 trajectory is not directly measured here. The results suggest that the transition zone between the inner and outer suburbs may warrant further investigation as a planning focus, and that cross-agency weekend service coordination merits further analysis as a potential equity dimension. This multi-agency H3 framework establishes a reproducible baseline for monitoring schedule-aware service intensity in polycentric metropolitan areas. Full article

Material practices of cultural rituals continue to be performed by the diaspora, initiating relational connections in places they have settled. The ritual of Kolam is a drawing on the ground undertaken by Tamil women in South India and Sri Lanka to mark the threshold. Groups of women from the diaspora in Australia and Singapore carry out the traditional Kolam in public spaces during auspicious days. Observations of performative acts of place making served to develop the methodology for a contemporary practice. As a member of the Tamil diaspora, the author (re)imagines the performance of the traditional ritual to activate connections relevant for the wider communities living in the inner suburbs of Melbourne. The paper describes how tacit knowledge, materials, and processes are adapted to include the broader society. The ethics of the traditional practice and the agencies harnessed upon performing become integrated into contemporary creative methods of participatory activity. Passersby using common paths and residents in a social housing complex created a series of visual drawings on bark using clay and natural materials. Ground installations of the assembled drawings conveyed stories through material dialogue. The less visible spaces and communities were revealed as part of the pulse of the suburban rhythms of movement. The paper demonstrates the potential significance of performing the cultural practices of the diaspora through collective acts of place making that strengthens social bonds not only for the diasporic group but also for society at large. Full article

Two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (2SLGBTQ+) youth disproportionately experience homelessness compared to cisgender and heterosexual youth; however, there is a distinct lack of population-based housing programs designed to meet their specific needs, particularly in suburban contexts. This study applies the socio-ecological model to examine the multi-level factors shaping the experiences, needs, and housing trajectories of 2SLGBTQ+ youth residing at the Blue Door INNclusion program—one of the first population-based housing programs for 2SLGBTQ+ youth in a suburban region of Ontario, Canada. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and survey data with residents of the Blue Door INNclusion program, we explore youths’ pathways into homelessness, their experiences during program participation, and their transitions toward independent living. Analysis focuses on how intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and structural factors shape youths’ experiences of safety, belonging, and access to supports, as well as changes in mental health, social connections, employment, and education over time. Findings indicate that pre-entry experiences, including family rejection and housing instability, shaped youths’ needs and engagement within the program. Across socio-ecological levels, affirming relationships, inclusive organizational practices, and access to tailored supports were central to fostering safety and belonging. Over time, youth described improvements in mental health and social connectedness, alongside increased engagement in education and employment, while structural challenges such as financial precarity continued to influence their transitions toward independence. By situating youths’ experiences within a socio-ecological framework, this study offers theoretically grounded insights into the multi-level conditions that support housing stability and well-being among 2SLGBTQ+ youth in suburban transitional housing contests. Full article

Rural settlements serve as the core spatial carriers of rural living space, and their spatial evolution and functional transformation reflect the dynamic restructuring of human–land relationships. In karst mountainous areas, complex topography, fragmented land resources, and uneven distribution of public facilities significantly influence settlement patterns and residents’ living spaces. This study aims to quantify the relationship between settlement clustering characteristics and living-space demand and to construct a spatially explicit framework for rural settlement restructuring from a living-space perspective. Taking the Qixingguan District of Bijie City, Guizhou Province—a representative karst mountainous area in Southwest China—as a case study, we develop an integrated analytical framework encompassing spatial identification, demand measurement, and zoning optimization. Settlement clusters were identified using the Nearest Neighbor Index and Kernel Density Analysis, while accessibility to essential services—including education, healthcare, and shopping—was quantified via a Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area method. Living-space demand was further assessed by integrating accessibility gradients with residential conditions, and restructuring types were classified based on the Living Space Index and the distance from settlements to town centers. The results indicate that (1) rural settlements in Qixingguan District exhibit significant clustering, with high-density zones concentrated around urban peripheries and along transportation corridors; (2) accessibility to living services follows a distance-decay pattern modulated by transportation networks, forming hotspots in suburban and town-center areas and cold spots in peripheral karst mountainous areas; and (3) based on the comprehensive assessment, settlements are categorized into four types—urbanizing villages, central villages, preserved villages, and relocation villages—with corresponding targeted spatial restructuring strategies proposed. This study advances the geographical understanding of rural settlement restructuring in karst mountainous areas and provides empirical evidence for optimizing human–land relationships and promoting more equitable and sustainable spatial development in mountainous regions. Full article

This article examines Bahçeşehir as an originally planned satellite town whose spatial and social fabric has been reshaped through incremental transformations rather than formal urban renewal. While urban change in Türkiye is predominantly discussed through state-led regeneration and large-scale interventions, comparatively little attention has been paid to how gradual, everyday modifications within planned residential environments accumulate over time and affect residents’ lived experience. Addressing this gap, the study investigates how incremental changes in residential open spaces reshape everyday practices and residents’ perceptions of urban quality of life. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork, including in-depth interviews, field observations, and visual–spatial documentation, the analysis employs a systematic thematic coding process using MAXQDA to trace the evolving relationships between planning ideals, governance arrangements, and everyday spatial practices. The findings reveal three interrelated dynamics. First, the gradual fragmentation and partial privatization of open spaces undermined their collective functions. Second, incremental densification and infrastructural pressures reshaped mobility patterns and everyday accessibility. Third, governance ambiguities weakened residents’ sense of ownership, institutional trust, and neighbourhood cohesion. By conceptualizing governance-driven incremental transformation, the study demonstrates how the erosion of planning principles unfolds not through abrupt interventions but through cumulative spatial, institutional, and social shifts. The case of Bahçeşehir contributes to debates on suburban development, open space governance, and urban quality of life by highlighting how governance restructuring operates as a critical yet often overlooked driver of long-term urban transformation in planned residential environments. Full article

Community public sport facilities are core carriers of the national fitness public service system, with their supply–demand alignment directly linked to megacity governance efficiency and residents’ well-being. To address structural issues, such as “human–land imbalance” in facility layout, this study uses the 2010–2024 panel data from Shanghai’s 16 districts, applies supply–demand equilibrium theory, and integrates quantitative methods to analyze spatio-temporal supply–demand coupling and identify key influencing factors. The study yields four key findings: (1) The spatial distribution of facilities and population demonstrates a differentiated evolutionary trajectory marked by “central dispersion and suburban stability”. (2) Supply–demand alignment has continuously improved, as evidenced by the increase in coordinated administrative districts from six to thirteen. Nonetheless, the distance between sports facilities and population centers widened, suggesting that spatial adaptation remains incomplete. (3) Urban population growth exerts a significant positive impact on facility supply. Elasticity coefficients are generally high in suburban areas, while negative elasticity is detected in some central urban areas due to population outflow. (4) Facility construction intensity and residential activity intensity are core driving factors, with economic conditions, transportation infrastructure, and housing prices acting as key supporting factors. This study overcomes traditional aggregate-quantity research limitations, reveals megacity facility supply–demand “spatial mismatch” dynamics, and provides a scientific basis for targeted public sports facility layout and refined governance. Full article

Background: Population aging has increased attention on the quality of life and successful aging of older adults. Objective: To examine urban–rural differences in subjective quality of life and self-rated successful aging, explore associations with psychosocial factors, and identify predictors of successful aging, including potential moderating effects of place of residence and chronic illness. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 403 adults aged ≥ 60 years in Eastern Croatia. Measures included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Self-assessment of Successful Aging Scale (SSAS), and the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). Data were analyzed using nonparametric tests (Mann–Whitney U, Spearman’s correlation), linear regression, and moderation analyses. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained (Class: 602-01/24-12/02; IRB: 2158/97-97-10-24-36). Results: Rural participants reported lower PWI scores (p = 0.005) and self-rated successful aging (p < 0.001) than urban participants. Active community involvement was positively associated with quality of life (Rho = 0.46; p < 0.001), whereas regret about missed opportunities and past actions was negatively associated (Rho = −0.20; p < 0.01). Regression analyses explained 48.3% of the variance in SSAS, with higher PWI scores being strongly associated with higher SSAS scores, and rural residence and chronic illness being associated with lower SSAS scores. Moderation analyses indicated that the association between PWI and SSAS was consistent across different environmental contexts and in the presence of illness. Conclusions: Older adults living in rural areas reported lower quality of life and self-rated successful aging compared with those in urban and suburban areas, with subjective wellbeing emerging as a key predictor. Promoting social engagement and addressing psychosocial barriers may enhance successful aging, particularly in rural populations. Findings suggest that social engagement and psychosocial support are associated with higher level of perceived successful aging, indicating potential areas for future community-based or healthcare interventions. Full article

Excess commuting reflects the inefficiency of urban land resource allocation, generating additional greenhouse gas emissions and social costs, and has therefore become a central concern in the pursuit of sustainable cities. While exogenous shocks inevitably alter the efficiency of land resource allocation, it remains unclear how such shocks affect overall urban efficiency. To address this gap, this paper proposes a generalized framework for measuring excess commuting that accounts for imbalances between the numbers of jobs and residences. Drawing on mobile signaling big data, we trace the daily commuting patterns of more than 900,000 residents in Beijing, comparing the pre-pandemic period (March–October 2019) with the pandemic period (March–October 2020). The results show that: (1) Excess commuting increased significantly after the outbreak of COVID-19, with the observed average commuting distance (Tact) of the full sample rising from 6267 m to 10,058 m (an increase of 59%), indicating a decline in urban land resource allocation efficiency; (2) A more pronounced center-periphery pattern emerged at the metropolitan scale: the average Jobs–Housing Ratio (JHR) increased from 1.08 to 1.11, and its standard deviation rose from 0.54 to 0.70, with the JHR of central urban areas decreasing by 3% and that of suburban areas increasing by 20%—suggesting a marked increase in commuting distances; (3) Heterogeneous impacts were observed across age groups: the Difference-in-Differences (DID) regression confirmed a significant negative interaction term (Group × COVID-19 = −0.2991 **, p < 0.05), indicating that older adults experienced a greater increase in commuting inefficiency than younger adults. These findings reveal the dynamic mechanisms linking exogenous shocks, jobs–housing mismatch, and urban land resource allocation efficiency and provide policy implications for improving spatial resource allocation in the post-pandemic era. Full article

Spatial equity of healthcare services is a critical concern in social equity and spatial justice research. Despite the availability of various methods to measure this equity, few studies have integrated the supply–demand coupling perspective with the analysis of impacts of residents’ travel behaviors’ on equity. This study develops and applies a Travel Behavior-based Coupling Coordination Degree (TB-CCD) method to assess the spatial equity of healthcare services in the Xi’an region. The results show the following: (1) Traditional single-mode models may fail to accurately assess this equity, whereas the TB-CCD model provides a more realistic evaluation. (2) Public transportation and driving provide a more equitable distribution of healthcare services compared to walking and cycling modes. The spatial equity of healthcare services exhibits a distinct core–periphery pattern, where accessibility and equity levels are significantly higher in city centers than in suburban areas. (3) The distribution of inequity ‘deserts’ and ‘oases’ in healthcare services is found to be travel-mode dependent, with the walking and public transportation modes exhibiting the highest incidence of these classifications. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers to formulate strategies and spatial plans aimed at enhancing equity in healthcare services. Full article

Japan’s ongoing socio-spatial transformation has led to the decline of rural cultures and traditional rural landscapes (TRLs), necessitating alternative approaches to revitalize rural communities. Reinforcing inter-regional urban–rural connections could offer a path to rural revitalization and sustainable regional resilience. This study investigated such perspectives through a large-scale survey (n = 1704) and statistically analyzed the perceptual differences of residents across residential contexts regarding their cultural knowledge, daily practices, consumption preferences, and landscape recognition, represented by traditional tea culture in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Results demonstrated significant residential-context-based differences. Although rural residents showed the deepest understanding and recognition of tea culture and landscapes, they failed to express such perceptual knowledge with confidence. By contrast, suburban residents presented moderate familiarity without deep understanding. Urban residents relied greatly on symbolic representations of rural culture and landscapes, but without distinct recognition. Although all groups showed high levels of interest in tea culture, they generally presented a lack of deep understanding regarding Zairai tea fields, a representative TRL in the region, indicating both its physical decline due to agricultural modernization and its diminishing cultural visibility. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the differentiated perceptions shaped by different residential contexts. By clarifying both perceptual commonalities and divergences that exist among these residential groups, this study provides a new perspective on reconstructing culturally rooted urban–rural connections to contribute to the revitalization of rural communities, culture, and the conservation of TRLs in the region. Full article

E-bikes are emerging as a competitive alternative to private cars in both urban and suburban contexts, enhancing accessibility to daily amenities and aligning with the proximity-oriented principles of X-minute city development. However, empirical knowledge remains limited regarding e-bike adopter profiles, trip purposes, influencing factors, and modal substitution patterns, particularly in urban Global South contexts. This exploratory pilot study employs correlation analysis and exploratory factor analysis to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of e-bike users in Surabaya, identify trip behavior patterns, and uncover potential determinants associated with e-bike usage within the X-minute city framework. Based on a sample of 71 e-bike users, the preliminary findings reveal notable socioeconomic patterns in e-bike adoption, with lower-income inner-city residents, particularly women in informal employment, emerging as early adopters. Additionally, two potential influence dimensions are identified: utilitarian trip chaining and active mobility infrastructure. While these findings require validation through larger-scale studies, they suggest potential for e-bikes to expand feasible X-minute city catchments and support low-carbon mobility transitions in similar Global South contexts. Full article

Blue–green spaces are essential for mitigating urban heat islands. The matching between their supply and demand affects the fairness and effectiveness of urban cooling facilities. This study focuses on the third ring area of Urumqi, Xinjiang, China. Cooling supply indicators and cooling demand indicators for blue–green spaces are established. Using coupling coordination and bivariate spatial autocorrelation models, it evaluates the cooling supply-demand relationship during 2010–2020. Results show that: (1) There is a “suburban cold sources dominated, urban supply turned positive” pattern in the cooling supply of Urumqi’s blue–green spaces. (2) Cooling demand has a significant “dual-core spatial separation”. The physical demands are concentrated in the high-temperature patches around the city, while the social demands are mainly distributed in the core area of the urban district. (3) There is a severe supply–demand spatial mismatch, with extremely low coupling coordination. The core issue is that high-supply cropland cold sources are far from the high-social-demand urban area. This study provides an important scientific basis for formulating effective cooling strategies for oasis cities through the analysis of the supply and demand matching of blue and green space. It uniquely helps safeguard ecological security and residents’ health in arid-zone cities. Full article

Gas flaring from upstream oil and gas production remains a significant source of air pollution and toxic emissions, with major implications for human health and climate. However, the number of people living near flaring has not been quantified globally. This study presents the first worldwide, settlement-scale assessment of populations living within 1 km and 3 km of active upstream flare sites between 2016 and 2023, with projections to 2030. Using the VIIRS Nightfire satellite product, which provides global detections of high-temperature combustion sources, and the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) population and settlement data, we developed a transparent and reproducible geospatial workflow to compute proximity-based exposure indicators by buffering flare locations and intersecting them with population rasters The analysis provides consistent estimates across five settlement categories: rural, peri-urban/suburban, semi-dense urban, dense urban, and urban centres. The VIIRS-based flaring time series combined with GHSL projections allows us to estimate how many people are likely to live near upstream flares under current flaring patterns by 2030. Results show that exposure is concentrated in a few oil-producing countries. Nigeria remains the most affected, with over 100,000 urban residents exposed in 2023. India and Pakistan dominate peri-urban and semi-urban exposures, while Indonesia and Iraq persist as multi-settlement hotspots. Although moderate declines are observed in China and Iran, little progress is evident in Nigeria, Mexico, and Indonesia. Projections for 2030 suggest exposure will increase substantially, driven by population growth and urban expansion, with about 2.7 million people living within 1 km and 14.8 million within 3 km of flaring sites. The findings establish the first globally consistent baseline for population exposure to gas flaring, supporting the monitoring and mitigation objectives of the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative. Full article