Search Results (555)

To solve the present housing crisis, the Support for Access to Housing Program, in the context of PRR, mainly focuses on social housing to be built or on housing of social interest to be regenerated. To approach this problem, a research question was raised: “What is the significance of the existing cooperative housing in solving the current housing crisis?” To analyze this issue, a multiple case study was adopted, comparing a collective dwelling of cooperative promotion at controlled costs in Caselas (1980s–1990s) with Expo Urbe (2000–2007) in Parque das Nações, a symbol of the new sustainable cooperative housing, which targets a population with a higher standard of living and thus is excluded from the PRR plan. These cases revealed the discrepancy created by the Cooperative Code of 1998 and its consequences for the urban regeneration of this heritage. They show that Caselas, built in a residential urban neighborhood, is strongly attached to a community, provides good social inclusion for vulnerable groups at more affordable prices, and it is eligible for urban regeneration and reuse (for renting or buying). However, the reuse of Caselcoop’s edifices cannot compromise their cultural and residential values or threaten the individual integrity. Full article

In 1961, Los Angeles experienced the disastrous Bel Air fire, which swept through an affluent neighborhood situated in a hilly, WUI (wildland–urban interface) location. In January 2025, the city was devastated again by a nearly-simultaneous series of wildfires, the most severe of which took place close to the 1961 fire location. Disastrous WUI fires are, unfortunately, an anticipatable occurrence in many U.S. cities. A number of issues identified earlier remained the same. Some were largely solved, while other new ones have emerged. The paper examines the Palisades Fire of January, 2025 in this context. In the intervening decades, the population of the city grew substantially. But firefighting resources did not keep pace. Very likely, the single-most-important factor in causing the 2025 disasters is that the Los Angeles Fire Department operational vehicle count shrank to 1/5 of what it was in 1961 (per capita). This is likely why critical delays were experienced in the initial attack on the Palisades Fire, leading to a runaway conflagration. Two other crucial issues were the management of vegetation and the adequacy of water supplies. On both these issues, the Palisades Fire revealed serious problems. A problem which arose after 1961 involves the unintended consequences of environmental legislation. Communities will continue to be devastated by wildfires unless adequate vegetation management is accomplished. Yet, environmental regulations are focused on maintaining the status quo, often making vegetation management difficult or ineffective. House survival during a wildfire is strongly affected by whether good vegetation management practices and good building practices (“ignition-resistant” construction features) have been implemented. The latter have not been mandatory for housing built prior to 2008, and the vast majority of houses in the area predated such building code requirements. California has also suffered from a highly counterproductive stance on insurance regulation. This has resulted in some residents not having property insurance, due to the inhospitable operating conditions for insurance firms in the state. Because of the historical precedent, the details in this paper focus on the Palisades Fire; however, many of the lessons learned apply to managing fires in all WUI areas. Policy recommendations are offered, which could help to reduce the potential for future conflagrations. Full article

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are becoming increasingly important for sustainable rural development through the smart village concept. This study aims to model ICT’s potential for public services management in European rural areas. It identifies ICT applications across rural service domains, analyzes how these technologies address specific rural challenges, and evaluates their benefits, implementation barriers, and future prospects for sustainable rural development. A qualitative content analysis method was applied using purposive sampling to analyze 79 peer-reviewed articles from EBSCO and Elsevier databases (2000–2024). A deductive approach employed predefined categories to systematically classify ICT applications across rural public service domains, with data coded according to technology scope, problems addressed, and implementation challenges. The analysis identified 15 ICT application domains (agriculture, healthcare, education, governance, energy, transport, etc.) and 42 key technology categories (Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, digital platforms, mobile applications, etc.). These technologies address four fundamental rural challenges: limited service accessibility, inefficient resource management, demographic pressures, and social exclusion. This study provides the first comprehensive systematic categorization of ICT applications in smart villages, establishing a theoretical framework connecting technology deployment with sustainable development dimensions. Findings demonstrate that successful ICT implementation requires integrated urban–rural cooperation, community-centered approaches, and balanced attention to economic, social, and environmental sustainability. The research identifies persistent challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, limited digital competencies, and high implementation costs, providing actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners developing ICT-enabled rural development strategies. Full article

The education sector in Tanzania faces significant challenges, especially in public primary schools. Unmanageably large classes and critical teacher–pupil ratios hinder the provision of tailored tutoring, impeding pupils’ educational growth. However, artificial intelligence (AI) could provide a way forward. Advances in generative AI can be leveraged to create interactive and effective intelligent tutoring systems, which have recently been built into embodied systems such as social robots. Motivated by the pivotal influence of teachers’ attitudes on the adoption of educational technologies, this study undertakes a qualitative investigation of Tanzanian primary school mathematics teachers’ perceptions of contextualised intelligent social robots. Thirteen teachers from six schools in both rural and urban settings observed pupils learning with a social robot. They reported their views during qualitative interviews. The results, analysed thematically, reveal a generally positive attitude towards using social robots in schools. While commended for their effective teaching and suitability for one-to-one tutoring, concerns were raised about incorrect and inconsistent feedback, language code-switching, response latency, and the lack of support infrastructure. We suggest actionable steps towards adopting tutoring systems and social robots in schools in Tanzania and similar low-resource countries, paving the way for their adoption to redress teachers’ workloads and improve educational outcomes. Full article

Indoor soundscape is a relatively new and developing field compared to urban soundscape in practice. To address this gap, this study aims to identify the key influencing factors as a first step of the indoor soundscape intervention approach. The study employed a two-phase methodology. Phase one involved a Systematic Review (SR) of the literature, conducted through the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, to collate data on the influencing factors and intervention criteria of the indoor soundscape approach. Searching was conducted using two databases, Web of Science and Scopus. As a result of the search, a total of 29 studies were included in the review. The review included studies addressing the soundscape influencing factors and theoretical frameworks. Studies that did not address these criteria were excluded. Phase two comprised the application of the Grounded Theory (GT) coding process to organize, categorize, and merge the data collected in phase one. As a result of the coding process, three levels of categories were achieved; L1: key concept, L2: overarching category, L3: core category. Four core categories were identified as ‘Sound’, ‘People’, ‘Building’, and ‘Environment’ by proposing the Indoor Soundscape Intervention (ISI) criteria. The repeatable and updatable nature of the proposed method allows it to be adapted to further studies and different contexts/cases. Full article

Henri Lefebvre’s “right to the city” has rarely been examined through an intersectional feminist lens, leaving unnoticed the uneven burdens that urban design and policy place on women. This article bridges that gap by combining constitutional analysis, survey data (n = 736), in-depth interviews, and participatory observation to assess how Quito’s public spaces affect women’s safety and mobility. Quantitative results show that 81% of respondents endured sexual or offensive remarks, 69.8% endured obscene gestures, and 38% endured severe harassment in the month before the survey; 43% of these incidents occurred only days or weeks beforehand, underscoring their routine nature. Qualitative narratives reveal behavioral adaptations—altered routes, self-policing dress codes, and distrust of authorities—and identify poorly lit corridors and weak institutional presence as spatial amplifiers of violence. Analysis of Quito’s “Safe City” program exposes a gulf between its ambitious rhetoric and its narrow, transport-centered implementation. We conclude that constitutional guarantees of participation, appropriation, and urban life will remain aspirational until urban planning mainstreams gender-sensitive design, secures intersectoral resources, and embeds women’s substantive participation throughout policy cycles. A feminist reimagining of Quito’s public realm is therefore indispensable to transform the right to the city from legal principle into lived reality. Full article

Form-based design codes have emerged as a planning tool aimed at shaping the physical form of neighborhoods to reinforce local character and enhance sense of place (SoP). However, their effectiveness in delivering these outcomes remains underexplored. This study investigates the extent to which Buffalo’s Green Code—a form-based zoning ordinance—enhances SoP in residential environments, using Elmwood Village as a case study. A multi-scalar analytical framework assesses SoP at the building, street, and neighborhood levels. Empirical data were gathered through an online survey, while the neighborhood was systematically mapped into street segment blocks categorized by Green Code zoning. The study consolidates six Green Code classifications into three overarching categories: mixed-use, residential, and single-family. SoP satisfaction is analyzed through a two-step process: first, comparative assessments are conducted across the three zoning groups; second, k-means clustering is applied to spatially map satisfaction levels and evaluate SoP at different scales. Findings indicate that mixed-use areas are most closely associated with place identity, while residential and single-family zones (as defined by the Buffalo Green Code) yield higher satisfaction overall—though satisfaction varies significantly across spatial scales. These results suggest that while form-based codes can strengthen SoP, their impact is uneven, and more scale-sensitive zoning strategies may be needed to optimize their effectiveness in diverse urban contexts. This research overall offers an empirically grounded, multi-scalar assessment of zoning impacts on lived experience—addressing a notable gap in the planning literature regarding how form-based codes perform in established, rather than newly developed, neighborhoods. Full article

Peri-urban areas in the Global South are rapidly transforming due to urban expansion, land commodification, and institutional change. Although diverse theoretical perspectives address these dynamics, existing scholarship remains fragmented. This study systematically reviews how various theoretical frameworks deepen our understanding of peri-urban land transformation, focusing on conceptual and institutional dimensions. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic review was conducted on 120 studies published between 1996 and 2024, sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and additional unindexed repositories. Eligible studies explicitly addressed peri-urban land issues in the Global South and applied theoretical approaches. Data extraction involved detailed coding of study characteristics, theoretical orientations, and thematic insights. Using open and selective coding, 19 thematic codes were identified. Three overarching themes emerged: (1) conceptualizing peri-urban spaces through territorial, functional, and transitional lenses; (2) institutionalization of place; and (3) theoretical interpretations of land transformation grounded in neoclassical, modernization, neo-Marxist, dependency, structuration, institutionalist, and urban political ecology frameworks. Studies were appraised for theoretical rigor, relevance, and potential conceptual bias. Limitations include the exclusion of non-English studies. Findings highlight the need for pluralistic, context-sensitive frameworks, with political ecology offering a particularly integrative analytical lens to examine global–local power dynamics and socio-natural transformations. This review was funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Georg Forster Fellowship, grant no. 1233452). Full article

This article presents a comparison of two qualitative case studies. The first case study is a partnership group involving two urban secondary school teachers working with one engineer and one education faculty member where they implemented several science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lessons over the course of an academic year. The second case study is a partnership group involving undergraduate college students working together to build a data collection device attached to a high-altitude balloon to answer a scientific question or solve an engineering problem and translate the project into engaging lessons for a K-12/secondary student audience. The studies employed a socio-cultural theoretical framework as the lens to examine the individuals’ perspectives, experiences, and engineering meaning-making processes, and to consider what these meant to the partnership itself. The methods included interviews, focus groups, field notes, and artifacts. The analysis involved multi-level coding. The findings indicated that the strength of the partnership (pre, little p, or big P) among participants influenced the strength of the secondary engineering lessons. The partnership growth implications in terms of K-12/secondary and collegiate engineering education included the engineering lesson strength, partnership, and engineering project sustainability The participant partnership meanings revolved around lesson creation, incorporating engineering ideas into the classroom, increasing communication, and increasing secondary students’ learning, while tensions arose from navigating (not quite negotiating) roles as a team. A call for attention to school–university partnerships and the voices heard in engineering partnership building are included since professional skills are becoming even more important due to advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies. Full article

As climate change concerns, urban congestion, and environmental degradation intensify, cities prioritise cycling as a sustainable transport option to reduce CO₂ emissions and improve quality of life. However, rampant bicycle theft and poor security infrastructure often deter daily commuters and tourists from cycling. This study explores how advanced security measures can bolster sustainable urban mobility and tourism by addressing these challenges. A mixed-methods approach is utilised, incorporating primary survey data from Slovenia and secondary data on bicycle sales, imports and thefts from 2015 to 2024. Findings indicate that access to secure parking substantially enhances users’ sense of safety when commuting by bike. Regression analysis shows that for every 1000 additional bicycles sold, approximately 280 more thefts occur—equivalent to a 0.28 rise in reported thefts—highlighting a systemic vulnerability associated with sustainability-oriented behaviour. To bridge this gap, the study advocates for an innovative security framework that combines blockchain technology and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) with encrypted Quick Response (QR) codes. Each bicycle would receive a tamper-proof QR code connected to a blockchain-verified NFT documenting ownership and usage data. This system facilitates real-time authentication, enhances traceability, deters theft, and builds trust in cycling as a dependable transport alternative. The proposed solution merges sustainable transport, digital identity, and urban security, presenting a scalable model for individual users and shared mobility systems. Full article

Unbalanced population growth, especially in developing countries, has exacerbated the waste problem. This issue is alleviated by waste pickers who play a vital role in recycling, the city’s circular economy, and sustainability strategies. The article aims to create an alternative form of communication by analyzing the daily lives and work patterns of waste pickers through various instruments, contributing to urban sustainability policies. Most studies on waste pickers have focused on broader trends and have not explored the lives of waste pickers in-depth. As a result, effective communication has not been established, and practical solutions have not been developed. This study directly addresses this gap and examines the daily lives and work practices of waste pickers in the metropolis of Istanbul, using ethnographic and grounded theory methodologies. It analyzes these findings with the MAXQDA program and proposes alternative solutions. The methodology generated verbal and spatial data from waste pickers, which were organized using an extensive coding system and, as a result, categorized under four selective codes. Through diagrams created from the theoretical codes used in the coding process, the narratives of waste pickers and their spatial production and usage were correlated, enabling a thorough analysis of waste pickers. This code model presents a challenging reevaluation of the traditional approach to urban sustainability in local systems by recognizing waste pickers as often overlooked yet essential actors and agents of sustainability in the city. Full article

The construction of child-friendly cities is important for social and economic development. Based on the two-dimensional analysis framework of “Policy Tools–Policy Elements”, this study uses NVIVO 15 qualitative analysis software to code and quantitatively analyze China’s current child-friendly city construction policies. This study examines the formulation strategies and operational characteristics of policy texts on building child-friendly cities in China. The research shows that there are structural imbalances in current policies on child-friendly city construction in China, with too many supply-oriented policy tools and insufficient application of environmental policy and demand-oriented policy tools. The mix of policy instruments is poorly structured, with insufficient attention to children’s rights and social policies and a lack of monitoring and evaluation of policy performance. In the future, China’s children’s urban construction policy should strengthen the balance between the design of policy structures, optimize the structure of policy tools, strengthen the design and protection of laws and policies of children’s rights, and establish a monitoring and evaluation system of policy performance. Full article

Housing informality in Morocco has taken root within Rabat’s formal neighborhoods, quietly reshaping façades, extending plot lines, and redrawing the texture of entire blocks. This ongoing transformation runs up against the rigidity of official planning frameworks, producing tension between state enforcement and tacit tolerance, as residents navigate persistent legal and economic ambiguities. Prior Moroccan studies are neighborhood-specific or socio-economic; the field lacks a city-wide, multi-class analysis linking everyday tactics to long-term governance dilemmas and policy design. The paper, therefore, asks how and why residents and architects across affordable, middle-class, and affluent districts craft unapproved modifications, and what urban order emerges from their cumulative effects. A mixed qualitative design triangulates (i) five resident focus groups and two architect focus groups, (ii) 50 short, structured interviews, and (iii) 500 geo-referenced façade photographs and observational field notes, thematically coded and compared across housing types. In addition to deciphering informality methods and impacts, the results reveal that informal modifications are shaped by both reactive needs—such as accommodating family growth and enhancing security—and proactive drivers, including esthetic expression and real estate value. Despite their legal ambiguity, these modifications are socially normalized and often viewed by residents as value-adding improvements rather than infractions. Full article

Mangrove forests support coastal resilience, biodiversity, and significant carbon sequestration, yet they face escalating threats from climate change, urban expansion, and land-use change. Traditional remote sensing workflows often struggle with large data volumes, complex preprocessing, and limited computational resources. Google Earth Engine (GEE) addresses these challenges through scalable, cloud-based computation, extensive, preprocessed imagery catalogs, built-in algorithms for rapid feature engineering, and collaborative script sharing that improves reproducibility. To evaluate how the potential of GEE has been harnessed for mangrove research, we systematically reviewed peer-reviewed articles published between 2017 and 2022. We examined the spectrum of GEE-based tasks, the extent to which studies incorporated mangrove-specific preprocessing, and the challenges encountered. Our analysis reveals a noteworthy yearly increase in GEE-driven mangrove studies but also identifies geographic imbalances, with several high-mangrove-density countries remaining underrepresented. Although most studies leveraged streamlined preprocessing and basic classification workflows, relatively few employed advanced automated methods. Persistent barriers include limited coding expertise, platform quotas, and sparse high-resolution data in certain regions. We outline a generalized workflow that includes automated tidal filtering, dynamic image composite generation, and advanced classification pipelines to address these gaps. By synthesizing achievements and ongoing limitations, this review offers guidance for future GEE-based mangrove studies and conservation efforts and aims to improve methodological rigor and maximize the potential of GEE. Full article

Background: Facial trauma is one of the few surgical conditions that is routinely managed by three distinct disciplines, including Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (PRS), and Otolaryngology (ENT). This study aims to evaluate mandibular trauma management strategies and clinical outcomes among three operating services. Methods: An IRB-approved, retrospective chart review was performed over a ten-year period (2007–2016) at a major, urban, Level I trauma center for all patients treated for an isolated mandibular injury determined by ICD-9 codes. Of the 2299 patients evaluated for traumatic facial injuries, 191 met the inclusion criteria and 137 had longitudinal data. Patient, fracture, and management characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared among three surgical services. Results: Most patients were male (95.3%), and assaults were the most common etiology of injury (79.1%). The angle/ramus was the most common single location (31.4%), and 47.6% of patients had multiple fractures. There was a statistically significant difference between specialties when assessing the use of operative versus non-operative approaches to fracture management (p < 0.001), and within operative management, for the use of open reduction-internal fixation (ORIF) alone versus ORIF with maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the overall complications between specialties (p = 0.227). Conclusions: Services differ in their decision to pursue operative versus non-operative management, as well as the decision for postoperative MMF, though these differences in decision-making were not associated with a significant difference in the overall complications. Full article