Search Results (441)

In this paper, we present the concept of “sequencing economics”, consisting of (A) segmentation, (B) construction sequencing, and (C) functions. An agglomeration is organized into segments, and sequencing economics examines the sequential process of efficiently building such segments. The functions (C) of the segments act as a master switch, an accelerator, a brake, etc. in the implementation of agglomeration policy. In this paper, we identify a master switch and an accelerator in scientific city agglomeration policy and draw two conclusions. First, in agglomeration policy, the construction of the master switch lowers “transport costs”, as derived from the monocentric city model of spatial economics by Fujita and Krugman. Second, the accelerator segment represents the activities of the service sector that have the highest forward-linkage effect in an input–output relationship. Regarding science city agglomeration policy, it can be concluded that the master switch is high-speed rail and the accelerator is research and education activities. In this paper, the new scientific urban agglomeration that emerges from monocentric cities is referred to as railroad-driven agglomeration (RDA), which is a type of transit-oriented development (TOD). This paper demonstrates that the Tsukuba Express, as a case study of RDA, caused the agglomeration of Tsukuba Science City. This paper establishes the concept of sequencing economics, a policy implementation rule that differs from Tinbergen’s rule. The latter is based on the concept of simultaneous equations, whereas the rule of sequencing economics is based on sequential equations. RDA enables middle-income countries to surpass their middle-income status. Full article

Understanding the dynamic behavior of the grazing land footprint (GLF) is critical for sustainable land management. This study examines the GLF in 92 countries to determine if the series is stationary, a statistical property indicating that shocks have transitory effects, or non-stationary, which implies that shocks have permanent, cumulative impacts (a phenomenon known as persistence). We employ a novel machine learning framework that uses an XGBoost algorithm to synthesize information from multiple conventional tests and time-series characteristics, enhancing analytical robustness. The results reveal significant cross-country heterogeneity. The GLF exhibits stationary behavior in a subset of nations, including China, India, and Norway, suggesting that their ecosystems can absorb shocks. However, for most countries, the GLF is non-stationary, indicating that ecological disruptions have lasting and cumulative impacts. These findings underscore that a one-size-fits-all policy approach is inadequate. Nations with a stationary GLF may find short-term interventions effective, whereas those with non-stationary series require profound structural reforms to mitigate long-term degradation. This highlights the critical role of advanced methodologies in shaping evidence-based environmental policy. Full article

Urban transportation systems face increasing pressure to reduce car dependency and greenhouse gas emissions while supporting sustainable growth. This study addresses the lack of integrated modeling approaches that capture both spatial and temporal dynamics in transport planning. It develops a novel framework combining System Dynamics (SD) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to assess the sustainability of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategies and parking policies in two brownfield redevelopment sites in Montreal. The framework embeds spatial metrics, such as proximity to transit, parking availability, and active transportation infrastructure into dynamic feedback loops. Using scenario analysis, the study compares a baseline reflecting current norms with an intervention scenario emphasizing higher density near transit, reduced parking ratios, and improved walkability and bike infrastructure. The results suggest that aligning TOD principles with targeted parking limits and investments in active mobility can substantially reduce car ownership and emissions. While primarily conceptual, the model provides a foundation for location-sensitive, feedback-driven planning tools that support sustainable urban mobility. Full article

As a pivotal node in urban spatial restructuring, the evolution of three-dimensional (3D) compactness in high-speed rail station areas is crucial for sustainable development. However, the existing research predominantly focuses on two-dimensional forms and lacks dynamic analysis and models that are adaptable to complex terrains. This study develops an enhanced 3D gravitational model that integrates satellite imagery and Gaode building data to quantify the spatiotemporal heterogeneity and carry out multidimensional classification of the compactness across 16 stations in the Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration (2015–2025), with driving factors being identified through correlation and regression analyses. The key findings reveal the following: (1) The mean compactness increased by 22.41%, exhibiting nonlinear heterogeneity characterized by high initial values with low growth rates versus low initial values with high growth rates. Spatially, the southern line evolved from a dual-core pattern at the terminals to multigradient development, while the northern line maintained stable growth despite gradient discontinuities. These spatial differentiations resulted from synergistic effects of urban sizes (station hierarchy), terrain features, administrative divisions, and the line affiliation. (2) The built-up land area (under equal study conditions) and vertical development emerged as key drivers, with the building height diversity demonstrating dual spatial effects (enhancing both compactness and aesthetic richness). Complex terrain characteristics were found to promote clustered urban land use and compact efficiency during initial development phases. This study proposes a planning framework that integrates morphology-adaptive zoning control, ecology-responsive compactness principles, and urban–rural integrated settlement patterns, providing quantitative tools for mountainous station development. These findings offer theoretical and practical support for achieving urban sustainability goals and meeting the 3D compactness and transit-oriented development requirements in territorial spatial planning. Full article

High-speed rail (HSR) station areas play a vital role in shaping urban form, stimulating economic activity, and enhancing spatial vitality. Understanding the factors that influence this vitality is key to supporting sustainable urban development and transit-oriented planning. This study investigates 66 HSR station areas in 35 Chinese cities by integrating multi-source data—Sina Weibo check-in records, urban support indicators, station attributes, and built environment variables—within a city–node–place analytical framework. Using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) models, we identify key drivers of spatial vitality, while SHAP analysis reveals nonlinear and interaction effects. The results show that city population size, urbanization level, commercial land use, transit accessibility, and parking facilities significantly enhance station area vitality. However, diminishing returns are observed when commercial land and bus stop densities exceed certain thresholds. The station location index shows a negative correlation with spatial vitality. The analysis of interaction effects highlights strong synergies between urban development and functional configuration, as well as between accessibility and service infrastructure. Different station types exhibit varied spatial patterns and require differentiated strategies. This study offers empirical insights for aligning transport infrastructure and land use planning, supporting the development of vibrant, accessible, and sustainable HSR station areas. Full article

Against the backdrop of rapid rail transit development, this study takes Urumqi Metro Line 1 as a case, using geographic information system (GIS) spatial analysis and space syntax Pearson correlation coefficient methods. Focusing on an 800 m radius around station areas, the research investigates the distribution characteristics of commercial facilities and the impact of metro development on commercial patterns through the quantitative analysis and distribution trends of points of interest (POI) data across different historical periods. The study reveals that following the opening of Urumqi Metro Line 1, commercial facilities have predominantly clustered around stations including Erdaoqiao, Nanmen, Beimen, Nanhu Square, Nanhu Beilu, Daxigou, and Sports Center, with kernel density values surging by 28–39%, indicating significantly enhanced commercial agglomeration. Metro construction has promoted commercial POI quantity growth and commercial sector enrichment. Surrounding commercial areas have developed rapidly after metro construction, with the most significant impacts observed in the catering, shopping, and residential-oriented living commercial sectors. After the construction of the subway, the distribution pattern of commercial facilities presents two kinds of aggregation patterns: one is the original centripetal aggregation layout before construction and further strengthened after construction; the other is the centripetal aggregation layout before construction and further weakened after construction, tending to the site level of face-like aggregation. The clustering characteristics of different business types vary. Factors such as subway accessibility, population density, and living infrastructure all impact the distribution of businesses around the subway. The impact of subway accessibility on commercial facilities varies by station infrastructure and urban area. The findings demonstrate how transit infrastructure development can catalyze sustainable urban form evolution by optimizing spatial resource allocation and fostering transportation–commerce synergy. It provides empirical support for applying the theory of transit-oriented development (TOD) in the urban planning of western developing regions. The research not only fills a research gap concerning the commercial space differentiation law of metro systems in megacities in arid areas but also provides a scientific decision-making basis for optimizing the spatial resource allocation of stations and realizing the synergistic development of transportation and commerce in the node cities along the “Belt and Road”. Full article

Under the backdrop of urban renewal, harmonizing transit-oriented development (TOD) with urban renewal to maximize rail value has emerged as a critical focus in contemporary planning. Based on this, this paper proposes the node–place–revenue (NPR) model, which constructs evaluation indexes from the three dimensions of the node, place, and revenue. It determines the weights of each index by using expert scoring and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Taking Shenyang Metro Line 1 as an example, the study first used the model to measure the node value, place value, and revenue value of each sample TOD station area. Secondly, K-means clustering analysis was used to form a spatial classification of five station areas. Finally, this paper proposes one differentiated urban renewal strategy for each type of station area. It is found that (1) the NPR model classifies stations into five categories: stress and high revenue, balanced, unbalanced node, unbalanced place, and dependence and low revenue and (2) the differentiated urban renewal strategies for each type of station area can be explored in terms of precise decongestion, node upgrading, function expansion, endogenous optimization, and infill quality improvement. This paper examines the economic driving effect of Shenyang Metro Line 1 stations on the renewal of the surrounding areas from the perspective of the economic balance of payments, providing a new reference for Shenyang-rail-transit-guided urban renewal work. Full article

A Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategy aims to reshape the spatial structure of high-density cities by encouraging the development of functional compounding and centralizing development goals. As a primary planning model, TOD station areas are based on zones’ structure. Studies have confirmed, however, that the current land structure between zones displays a high degree of homogeneity. There are several issues shown here, such as blurred station boundaries, spatial confusion, and a deviation of the TOD center. Based on the corridor effect theory, differentiated distribution characteristics of land structural elements are determined between zones. To clarify the difference between station zones, this study uses the floor area ratio attenuation rate as its primary method. As well as measuring their changes, it also measures their trends. The purpose of this study is to investigate the interactive relationship between multiple elements in the station zoning planning process. Also, it aims to explore the endogenous relationship of the station area with its existing spatial characteristics. Accordingly, a zoning planning model of 200–400–700 m is proposed, which lays the foundation for future research on standards for boundary delineation and center migration trajectory rules for station area zones. Full article

Urban form optimization is crucial for controlling carbon emissions. Taking Shenzhen as a case study with 2022 data, this research constructs a multidimensional indicator system covering land use, functional mix, transportation structure, and spatial layout. It incorporates both static (inventory-based) and dynamic (transit-based) carbon efficiency metrics to capture complementary urban emission patterns. We employed OLS, GWR, and quantile regression methods to identify key influencing factors, spatial variations, and their impact on carbon emission efficiency. Results show that (1) compact road infrastructure and dense transit systems in the southwestern core contribute to higher efficiency, whereas extensive green coverage in eastern areas facilitates carbon sequestration; (2) elevated population and building densities in central zones are linked with lower efficiency, implying the necessity for balanced spatial redistribution and peripheral infrastructure enhancement; (3) despite comprehensive transit electrification, further improvements in network density and accessibility are essential to enhance urban low-carbon outcomes. These results establish a basis for optimizing urban spatial layout and reducing carbon emissions. Full article

Air pollution not only affects urban production and residents’ lives but also threatens human health, and the construction of the subway is considered an important measure to improve urban traffic congestion and air quality. To test whether the construction and opening of subways with high operating costs can effectively improve urban air quality, this paper takes the opening of subways as a quasi-natural experiment. Based on panel data from 282 cities in China from 2014 to 2021, the difference-in-differences method is used to estimate the impact of subway openings on urban air pollution. It is found that (1) the subway opening significantly reduces urban air pollution, and this conclusion remains valid after a series of robustness tests. (2) Mechanism analysis indicates that subway openings mostly mitigate urban air pollution through the traffic substitution effect, which is generated through the substitution of private car travel. (3) Heterogeneity analyses show that the abatement effect of subway openings on air pollution is more significant when the city is a non-Yangtze River Economic Belt city, or when the city’s economic level is lower, or when the city is a non-resource-based city. Therefore, this paper puts forward targeted policy recommendations, such as optimising the subway layout, promoting the transit-oriented development mode based on the subway system, and implementing differentiated development strategies, with a view to providing certain references for promoting sustainable urban development. Full article

Modern cities are facing increasing challenges such as traffic congestion, high energy consumption, and poor air quality, making rail transit systems, known for their high capacity and low emissions, essential components of sustainable urban infrastructure. While numerous studies have examined how the built environment impacts transit ridership, the complex interactions among these factors warrant further investigation. Recent advancements in the reasoning capabilities of large language models (LLMs) offer a robust methodological foundation for analyzing the complex joint influence of multiple built environment factors. LLMs not only can comprehend the physical meaning of variables but also exhibit strong non-linear modeling and logical reasoning capabilities. This study introduces an LLM-based framework to examine how built environment factors and station characteristics shape the transit ridership dynamics by utilizing DeepSeek-R1. We develop a 4D + N variable system for a more nuanced description of the built environment of the station area which includes density, diversity, design, destination accessibility, and station characteristics, leveraging multi-source data such as points of interest (POIs), road network data, housing prices, and population data. Then, the proposed approach is validated using data from Qingdao, China, examining both single-factor and multi-factor effects on transit peak-hour ridership at the macro level (across all stations) and the meso level (specific station types). First, the variables that have a substantial effect on peak-hour transit ridership at both the macro and meso levels are discussed. Second, key and latent factor combinations are identified. Notably, some factors may appear to have limited importance at the macro level, yet they can substantially influence the peak-hour ridership when interacting with other factors. Our findings enable policymakers to formulate a balanced mix of soft and hard policies, such as integrating a flexitime policy with enhancements in active travel infrastructure to increase the attractiveness of public transit. The proposed analytical framework is adaptable across regions and applicable to various transportation modes. These insights can guide transportation managers and policymakers while optimizing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) strategies to enhance the sustainability of the entire transportation system. Full article

With the growing demand for mobility fueled by global population expansion and rapid urbanization, the intricate interplay between public transport and land use, along with their economic, environmental, and social externalities, has emerged as a critical concern for policymakers and the public alike. This study assembles publicly available academic literature, including papers, reports, books, and news articles, to construct a comprehensive database. Using CiteSpace 5.8.R3 software, this study conducts a visualized analysis of 10,470 scholarly works on public transport and land use published since 1932, identifying and synthesizing the researcher, research stages, research theories, research models, and research hotspots. Findings reveal that since Mitchell and Rapkin first introduced the transport–land use relationship in 1954, research in this field has steadily gained traction, particularly after the 1973 oil embargo crisis. The Journal of Transport and Land Use and institutions such as the University of Minnesota’s Transportation Research Center have played pivotal roles, particularly with the establishment of the World Society for Transport and Land Use Research (WSTLUR). In recent years, China’s high-speed rail expansion has further revitalized interest in this field. Prominent scholars in this domain include Robert Cervero, Reid Ewing, Michael Duncan, and Peter Calthorpe. Major theoretical frameworks encompass utility theory, urban economic theory, and the human–land system theory. Key modeling approaches include the spatial interaction model, the stochastic utility model, and urban economic models. Current research hotspots center on safety and public health, equity and valuation, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, as well as transit-oriented development (TOD) and accessibility. This systematic literature review offers valuable insights to inform land use planning, enhance spatial structure, guide transportation project decision making, and optimize transport infrastructure and service provision. Full article

Rapid urbanization and car dependency have transformed Riyadh into a sprawling metropolis, straining mobility, sustainability, and land use efficiency. Investments in metro and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems present an opportunity to shift toward transit-oriented development (TOD), making strategic urban planning essential. This study assesses Riyadh’s TOD potential by analyzing its urban structure, transport accessibility, and regulatory framework while drawing lessons from successful global models. This study applies GIS-based spatial analysis, policy review, and AI-driven clustering techniques (e.g., DBSCAN, K-Means) to evaluate TOD readiness and inform actionable strategies for Riyadh. The findings indicate that transit investments alone are insufficient due to gaps in zoning policies, pedestrian connectivity, and urban density. Enhancing compact, mixed-use developments, improving first- and last-mile accessibility, and leveraging AI-driven planning can reshape the city’s mobility ecosystem and foster sustainable urban growth. Vision 2030 provides a pivotal opportunity to align infrastructure investments with urban planning policies, ensuring Riyadh evolves into a modern, efficient, and transit-friendly city. Full article

An urban central metro station area is a core hub within the high-quality Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model. This study explores users’ perceptions of built environments around urban central metro stations to investigate the critical determinants of user satisfaction and proposes strategies to enhance the quality of these environments. First, a comprehensive perception system, including location situation, field environment, and urban aesthetics, was developed through literature reviews and expert consultation. Secondly, three typical central metro station areas in Chengdu were selected as study cases, and 425 questionnaires were collected from August to October 2024. The data were analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM) to reveal the impact of built environment perception on overall satisfaction. The results indicate that the field environment has the strongest direct influence on satisfaction. Urban aesthetics impacts satisfaction both directly and indirectly, making its overall effect the most significant. While the location situation does not directly affect satisfaction, it indirectly influences satisfaction through its impact on the field environment and urban aesthetics. Subsequently, based on the satisfaction performance and SEM outcomes, an importance–performance analysis (IPA) was conducted to identify specific areas needing enhancement. Finally, we integrated environmental assessments with the above findings and put forth strategic recommendations to enhance the quality of the built environment. Full article

Subsidized, decent, and durable housing is a persistent issue for South Africa’s urban areas. Social housing is one of the most important instruments for addressing the situation, yet structural barriers such as land prices, bureaucracy, and governance pose a challenge to forward momentum. This study provides a qualitative examination of social housing in Durban, Cape Town, and Johannesburg on the basis of three dimensions: effectiveness of governance, land accessibility, and practice of sustainability. It is evident that land acquisition is still a great hindrance due to private stakeholder opposition, complex rezoning processes, and speculative ownership of land. Institutional systems within the three cities are characterized by poor intergovernmental coordination, a lack of transparency in land disposition, and lengthy project approval. Johannesburg has seen extensive transit-oriented development, while Cape Town is more advanced in sustainability initiatives, albeit with a resource constraint, and Durban’s human-scale housing types suffer from finance and technical capacity challenges. This study underscores the need for interlinked policy changes to bridge the inefficiencies in governance, facilitate land accessibility, and enhance the incentives of sustainability. An across-the-board data-driven process involving government authorities, private builders, and civil society stakeholders is indispensable in advocating effective and sustainable urban housing strategies for South Africa. Full article