Search Results (131)

This study investigates public perceptions of sustainable mobility within university environments, which are important trip generation hubs with the potential to influence and disseminate sustainable mobility behaviors. Using sentiment analysis on 120,236 tweets from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Lisbon, and Porto, tweets were classified into positive, neutral, and negative sentiments to assess perceptions across transport modes. It was hypothesized that universities would exhibit more positive sentiment toward active and public transport modes compared to perceptions of these modes within the broader city environment. Results show that active modes and public transport consistently receive higher positive sentiment rates than individual motorized modes, and, considering the analyzed contexts, universities demonstrate either similar (São Paulo) or more positive perceptions compared to the overall sentiment observed in the city (Rio de Janeiro, Lisbon, and Porto). Chi-square tests confirmed significant associations between transport mode and sentiment distribution. An exploratory analysis using topic modeling revealed that perceptions around bicycle use are linked to themes of safety, cycling infrastructure, and bike sharing. The findings highlight opportunities to promote sustainable mobility in universities by leveraging user sentiment while acknowledging limitations such as demographic bias in social media data and potential misclassification. This study advances data-driven methods to support targeted strategies for increasing active and public transport in university settings. Full article

The use of renewable energy sources on university campuses is crucial for sustainable development, environmental protection by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy security, and public education. This study addresses technical and economic aspects of the newly designed photovoltaic system on the campus of the Bialystok University of Technology. The first part of the article presents the results of 9 years of research on an experimental photovoltaic system that is part of a hybrid wind and PV small system. The article proposes five variants of the arrangement of photovoltaic panels on the pergola. A new method was used to determine the energy efficiency of individual options selected for analysis. This method combines energy simulations using DesignBuilder software and regression analysis. The basic economic indicators NPV and IRR were applied to select the most appropriate arrangement of PV panels. In the recommended solution, the panels are arranged in three rows, oriented vertically, and tilted at 37°. The photovoltaic system, consisting of 438 modules, has a peak power of 210 kWp and is able to produce 166,392 kWh of electricity annually. The NPV is 679,506 EUR, and the IRR is over 38% within 30 years of operation. Full article

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly integrated into urban mobility, the load on electrical grids increases, prompting innovative energy management strategies. This paper investigates the deployment of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, leveraging high-resolution floating car data (FCD) to forecast and schedule energy transfers from EVs to the grid. The methodology follows a four-step process: (1) vehicle trip detection, (2) the spatial identification of V2G in the campus, (3) a real-time scheduling algorithm for V2G services, which accommodates EV user mobility requirements and adheres to charging infrastructure constraints, and finally, (4) the predictive modelling of transferred energy using ARIMA and LSTM models. The results demonstrate that substantial energy can be fed back to the campus grid during peak hours, with predictive models, particularly LSTM, offering high accuracy in anticipating transfer volumes. The system aligns energy discharge with campus load profiles while preserving user mobility requirements. The proposed approach shows how campuses can function as microgrids, transforming idle EV capacity into dynamic, decentralised energy storage. This framework offers a scalable model for urban energy optimisation, supporting broader goals of grid resilience and sustainable development. Full article

Inclusive campus design is increasingly being recognised as a key component of sustainable and equitable higher education environments. However, limited research has been carried out on this topic, particularly examining university campuses in Australia. Hence, this paper examines how principles of inclusion are embedded in the spatial planning and architectural design of Australian university campuses. Focusing on a comparative analysis of six Melbourne-based institutions, Victoria University, the University of Melbourne, Deakin University, RMIT University, La Trobe University, and Monash University, this study explores how each campus addresses accessibility, cultural diversity, social equity, and environmental comfort to achieve inclusivity. Drawing on site observations, planning documents, and design frameworks, this paper assesses the extent to which these universities operationalise inclusive design within their built environments. The analysis is guided by a theoretical framework combining universal design, spatial justice, and climate-responsive planning. The findings reveal diverse approaches across institutions, with some campuses demonstrating holistic and integrated strategies, while others exhibit more fragmented or symbolic applications. This paper concludes by outlining best practices and key design enablers that can inform more inclusive and sustainable campus development in Australia and beyond. Full article

University campuses face significant challenges in balancing energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and sustainable transportation while meeting budgetary constraints and sustainability goals. While existing optimization approaches typically address these as separate problems, this study presents an innovative multi-objective optimization framework that integrates building efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicle charging, and sustainability scoring criteria into a unified model. The approach formulates a mixed-integer non-linear programming model with three competing objectives: minimizing primary energy consumption, minimizing investment cost, and maximizing sustainability metrics, addressing the critical need for comprehensive campus energy management tools. The optimization model was applied to the R&D Park Building of Erciyes University, utilizing actual building parameters, time-variable electricity pricing, and commercially available renewable energy technologies. Our analysis of the Pareto-optimal solutions reveals distinct trade-offs between the objectives, with primary energy consumption ranging from 1,317,860 to 4,642,770 GJ/year, investment costs between $25,735 and $485,674, and sustainability scores between 366 and 1034. Most significant for practical implementation is the balanced performance solution ($127,064), which achieves minimum energy consumption (1,367,010 GJ/year) while securing a substantial sustainability score of 538 points. The results demonstrate that while inherent trade-offs exist between competing objectives, significant sustainability improvements are achievable at intermediate investment levels, making meaningful environmental progress accessible to a broad spectrum of higher education institutions. This comprehensive optimization framework provides campus administrators with a practical decision-support tool for aligning energy systems with institutional priorities, budgetary constraints, and sustainability commitments. Full article

Urbanization and climate change present increasing challenges to outdoor human thermal comfort, particularly in university campuses where academic, social, and recreational activities converge. This study assesses microclimatic risk factors along the main avenue of the NOVA FCT campus by analyzing outdoor human thermal comfort using the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) and modified PET (mPET) indices. Field measurements of air temperature, humidity, wind velocity, and radiation were conducted at multiple Points Of Interest (POIs) to evaluate thermal stress levels and identify critical zones of discomfort. Results indicate significant spatial and temporal variations in thermal stress, with sun-exposed areas (G2) experiencing PET values exceeding 50 °C, during peak summer hours, while shaded locations (G1) showed substantial thermal relief (PET reductions up to 27 °C between G1 and G2 POIs). Wind velocity and urban morphology played crucial roles in modulating microclimatic conditions. Wind velocity above 2.0 m/s was associated with perceptible thermal relief (3–8 °C PET/mPET reduction), especially in narrow, shaded passages. Significant spatial variability was observed, linked to differences in urban morphology, surface materials, and vegetation coverage. This research provides actionable insights for urban planners and campus administrators, contributing to the development of more sustainable and thermally comfortable outdoor environments in educational settings. Full article

Universities and other institutes of higher education could be considered as key actors in the implementation of sustainability pillars, such as the adoption of sustainable practices in wastewater management. However, the adoption of such practices is still an emerging issue. This paper discusses the design and operation of the first combined Oxylag and high rate algal pond (COHRAP) constructed at the university campus in Tunisia for irrigation. Performance was evaluated based on the removal efficiencies of nutrients, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), heavy metals, coliforms, and biomass productivity. The potential reuse of sludge and algal biomass is discussed based on the Tunisian national standard regulation for sludge reuse in agriculture (NT 106.20) and the European regulation (EC, 2019/1009) for fertilizer products. Effluent phytotoxicity is tested on the germination and growth on Zea mays L. The results indicate that the COHRAP performance was globally satisfactory; however, biomass productivity (1.4 g m⁻²d⁻¹) was low, indicating the need for adjustments in the operational parameters. Despite the effluent limitations for TSS and Hg, no phytotoxic effect was observed. Regarding the heavy metal content in sludge and algal biomass, the results obtained were in compliance with NT 106.20 and EC, 2019/1009), respectively. The energy consumption of COHRAP is 1.05 kWh/m³ resulting in operational costs of 0.29 euros/m³. This study revealed that COHRAP could be a sustainable option to treat wastewater from university campuses with resource recovery. Such a choice can be improved by the implementation of an algae recovery step. Full article

University campuses play a crucial role in sustainable development; however, the current green campus evaluation systems tend to focus primarily on the physical environment and building technology, often overlooking user perception and the impact of these factors on the execution of green campus strategies. Starting with an examination of the connotation and evolution of green campuses, we derived relevant indicators of campus subjective perceptions from both domestic and international green campus evaluation systems. We collected user feedback through satisfaction questionnaires and text data on the green campuses of nine representative Chinese universities. Factor analysis was used to establish the correlations between campus planning and subjective perceptions across six key areas. This research applied importance–performance analysis (IPA) to assess the prioritization of each green campus indicator, integrating it with textual semantic analysis to better understand the perceptions and attitudes of campus users toward green campus development. The findings suggest that the objectives of a green campus cannot be fully achieved using only technical or physical evaluation criteria. Instead, combining subjective feedback with quantitative indicators forms the foundation for effective strategy development. This study also found that users were more concerned about the design of details related to learning, living, entertainment, and recreation than the broader green campus planning decisions made by planners and decision-makers. Focusing on user perception and balancing scientific planning with public participation can help achieve the ultimate goal of green campus planning and design, adhering to a human-centered approach. Full article

Background: The sustainability of ecosystems and human flourishing depends on the well-being of younger generations who are most at risk. Increasing youth climate distress is an important public and mental health issue. Training in resilience skills and climate advocacy may reduce climate distress and may be accomplished in educational settings, and we aimed to test the efficacy of such training in a university setting. Methods: We developed and implemented a 10-week climate resilience (CR) course for students on eight university campuses that included lectures by experts on varying aspects of the climate crisis, discussion, guided resilience practices, and group climate projects. We administered surveys at baseline, immediately and 5 months post course completion to assess primary outcomes (mental health symptoms, climate distress, and climate self-efficacy). Results from qualitative interviews with a subsample of participants are provided to compliment the quantitative results. Results: From baseline to immediately post course completion in 150 of 190 (79%) assessment responders, students showed significantly reduced climate distress, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, and enhanced climate self-efficacy. Course-related reductions in climate distress were associated with (a) lower depressive symptoms and (b) greater coping with climate emotions. Secondary outcomes showed increases in actions taken to combat climate change, community belonging, altruism for climate causes, and decreases in climate-related loneliness. At 5 months post course, improvements were sustained for primary outcomes (climate distress, depression, anxiety, stress, and three of four facets of climate efficacy). Conclusions: Our CR course yielded improvements in mental health and confidence to collectively contribute to climate change solutions with evidence of longer-term maintenance. The next challenge is to replicate the findings and disseminate the CR course effectively across educational settings. This will help to promote the engagement of the youth in climate solutions and help to promote the sustainability of ecosystems, importantly, while nurturing personal and collective resilience. Full article

This study explores how university students’ engagement in sustainability-themed extracurricular activities influences their awareness of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Given the critical role of higher education in advancing sustainability, this research assesses initiatives such as environmental action clubs, sustainability research, eco-innovations, green campuses, and training workshops for fostering awareness, engagement, and leadership. A cross-sectional quantitative design targeted 400 university students in Greece involved in sustainability-related extracurricular activities. Structured online questionnaires were used, and multiple regression analysis examined the relationship between extracurricular activities and SDG engagement. The findings highlighted that all five activity types significantly enhance students’ sustainability awareness. Environmental action clubs improve knowledge of climate change and waste reduction, while research projects strengthen engagement with renewable energy and climate resilience. Eco-innovation challenges foster problem solving and interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in urban and industrial sustainability. Green campus initiatives promote practical sustainable strategies, and capacity-building programs develop leadership and teamwork skills. Extracurricular activities serve as transformative tools that bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world sustainability applications, equipping students with the mindset and skills to address global challenges. Universities and policymakers should enhance funding, digital integration, and collaborations to expand the reach of these programs. Future research should assess the long-term impact of student participation on sustainable behavior and broader societal well-being. Full article

This paper supports the idea of agroecology playing an integral role in development ‘smart cities’ and its application in different settlement contexts in South Africa. As alluded to in the People-Centered Smart Cities framework, the application of the smart cities approach can be extended to various settlement contexts. This paper promotes ‘the smart city’ concept in different contexts, including rural and small settlement environments, incorporating agroecology, a paradigm which guides us towards building sustainable and equitable urban environments. This approach can significantly contribute to the improved and more resilient design and development of human settlements. The Preferred Reporting Items for Reviews and Meta-analysis were employed to analyze primary and secondary data sources, thereby formulating descriptive and analytical themes around agroecology and smart cities. This paper utilized 54 articles, offering a robust foundation for the paper’s analysis and discussions. Additionally, the paper underscores the adherence to policy and legislative spaces for smart city strategy-led budgeting. It advocates for robust financial policies and long-term development financial strategies aligned with several the Sustainable Development Goals, but especially SGD 11, which is to create inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and habitats. The construction of smart campuses, smart rural settlements, and smart school programs is demonstrated by the Centre for Ecological Intelligence at the University of Johannesburg’s food systems hub, the Phumulani rural agrivillage, and the Eastern Cape and Tshwane food security school programs. These showcase projects act as compelling models illustrating how the principles of smart cities can be applied to diverse settlement contexts. Full article

Despite the fact that university campuses have great potential to contribute significantly to urban sustainability, to date, no strategic sustainability plans in this context have been part of any urban agenda, even though these can constitute an adequate framework for such plans. The aim of this paper is to define a procedure for adapting the strategic framework of a national urban agenda, in this case, the Spanish one, to the context of a university, and to discuss the possible limitations and opportunities of this approach. For this purpose, both the strategic framework of the Spanish Urban Agenda (i.e., the strategic and specific objectives and their lines of action) and its sets of indicators (i.e., indicators for the evaluation and monitoring of the objectives and descriptive data) are transferred to the academic context. This procedure makes it possible to obtain a “university urban agenda” with a simplified strategic framework and indicators that are appropriate to the context of universities and that facilitate the collaboration and participation of different agents of the university community to achieve campus management in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions had significant impacts on the well-being and academic functioning of students worldwide. When universities closed campuses and moved teaching and learning online, students faced numerous challenges. The researchers conducted a study to establish which factors most affected South African students’ academic competence during the initial months of lockdown and the shift to online learning. Using an online survey that focused on students’ wellness, perceived academic competence and coping behaviour, data were collected from 3239 university students. Multiple linear regression showed that students’ subjective sense of intellectual wellness, coping behaviour, satisfaction with support from the university, and mental health were strong predictors of academic competence. Other factors that influenced students’ academic competence were emotional and spiritual wellness, perceptions of safety and security, and hopefulness. Females, undergraduates, and Faculty of Law students reported higher perceptions of academic competence. These findings have practical implications for universities as they identify factors that contribute to students’ academic competence, especially during times of crisis and online learning. Academic and support services staff at universities may find the findings valuable when developing policies to provide appropriate resources and services to promote and sustain students’ academic functioning. Full article

Urban flooding disasters are increasingly prevalent because of global climate change and urbanization. University campuses, as independent functional zones, exhibit complex rainfall–runoff dynamics. This study focuses on the China University of Geosciences, using data from two extremely heavy rainfall events and on-site waterlogging investigations in Wuhan in 2020 and 2021. A stormwater management model was employed to simulate campus catchment runoff and pipe network performance under rainstorm scenarios of various return periods, illustrating the spatial and temporal evolution of waterlogging on the campus. The simulation results indicate that the discharge at the main outlets aligned with rainfall patterns but exhibited a delayed response. During an overload period exceeding one hour, the ratios of overflow nodes and overloaded conduits reached 72.22% and 57.94%, respectively. Ponding was concentrated mainly in the southwest region of the campus, with the maximum ponding depth reaching 0.5 m. Future flood mitigation measures, such as enhancing permeable surfaces, upgrading pipeline infrastructure, and promoting rainwater reuse, could support the development of a “sponge campus” layout to alleviate flood pressure and enhance campus sustainability and resilience. Full article

Cognitive navigation, crucial in architectural and urban planning, involves the mental processes individuals use for navigation within spatial environments. This study investigates the relationship between a path network design and cognitive navigation experiences surrounding closed-access university campuses, focusing on design optimization’s impact on user experience and its alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research encompasses site visits, quantitative surveys of 120 randomly selected cases, and qualitative surveys of 60 cases from universities in Egypt. Findings reveal significant factors influencing path choices, such as directness and clear signage, with 77% of participants encountering navigation obstacles. Public universities prioritize clear pathways, while private institutions emphasize scenic views and landmarks. The study highlights the moderate integration of cultural and contextual elements and identifies key challenges, including traffic congestion and signage difficulties. Conclusions underscore the importance of user-centered design, infrastructure improvements, cultural sensitivity, and dynamic campus environments in optimizing path networks. This research aligns with SDGs by promoting good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), climate action (SDG 13), and life on land (SDG 15), providing valuable insights for enhancing navigable, sustainable, and intuitive educational spaces. Full article