Search Results (2,286)

Rapid urbanisation in coastal megacities intensifies coupled climate and water-related challenges, including heat stress, ventilation deficits, and increasing sensitivity to hydro-climatic extremes. Urban morphology plays a critical role in regulating these climate–water interactions by shaping airflow, surface heat exchange, and the spatial organisation of green–blue infrastructures. This study develops a Local Climate Zone (LCZ)-conditioned generative modelling framework based on a Conditional Pix2Pix Generative Adversarial Network, using paired LCZ classification maps and urban morphology data derived from six representative cities in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Macao, Zhuhai, and Dongguan. By integrating remote sensing–derived LCZ classifications with urban morphology data, the proposed framework learns spatial patterns associated with key morphology-related predictors, including building density and compactness, height-related structural intensity, open-space distribution, and the continuity of green–blue and ventilation corridors. The model demonstrates robust performance (SSIM = 0.74, R² = 0.81, PSNR = 15.3 dB) and strong cross-city transferability, accurately reproducing density transitions, ventilation corridors, and green–blue spatial structures relevant to coastal climate and water adaptation. The results highlight the potential of LCZ-informed generative modelling as a scalable decision-support tool for climate–water adaptive urban planning, enabling rapid exploration of morphology configurations that support heat mitigation, ventilation enhancement, and resilient coastal transformation. Full article

Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) are emerging as a new paradigm in smart city strategies, enabling real-time interaction with urban environments and supporting data-driven decision-making. By expanding beyond traditional smart functions, UDTs facilitate the analysis and simulation of urban resilience and sustainability indicators within a virtual city ecosystem, addressing both immediate urban challenges and long-term planning goals. This paper introduces TwinCity, a city-scale Urban Digital Twin framework developed and validated through a case study of the Green City of Benguerir, Morocco. The framework incorporates a technical architecture based on semantic 3D city models, data integration, and simulation scenarios to analyse the solar energy potential of the rooftop, the energy consumption of the building and the morphological indicators. A user-friendly web interface was developed to visualise and interact with the UDT, ensuring its accessibility. By bridging the gap between technical challenges (such as data scarcity) and practical applications, this work offers a replicable model for cities in the Global South. Full article

With accelerating urbanization and climate change, outdoor thermal comfort (OTC) in high-intensity urban blocks presents a critical challenge. While existing studies have established the general correlation between morphology and microclimate, most remain descriptive and lack a systematic framework to quantitatively integrate the non-linear coupled effects between multi-dimensional morphological variables and green infrastructure. To address this, this study proposes an automated performance-based design (PBD) framework for urban morphology optimization in Shenzhen. Unlike traditional simulation-based analysis, this framework serves as a generative tool for urban renewal planning. It integrates a multi-dimensional design element system with a genetic algorithm (GA) workflow. Analysis across four urban typologies demonstrated that the Full Enclosure layout is the most effective strategy for mitigating thermal stress, achieving a final optimized UTCI of 37.15 °C. Crucially, this study reveals a non-linear synergistic mechanism: the high street aspect ratios (H/W) of enclosed forms act as a “radiation shelter”, which amplifies the cooling efficiency of green infrastructure (contributing an additional 1.79 °C reduction). This research establishes a significant, strong negative correlation between UTCI and the combined factors of building density and green shading coverage. The results provide quantifiable guidelines for retrofitting existing high-density districts, suggesting that maximizing structural shading is prioritized over ventilation in ultra-high-density, low-wind climates. Full article

This study presents a robust framework for optimizing the site selection of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) in Qatar by integrating a Geographic Information System (GIS) with a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model. The core innovation lies in the enhancement of the conventional Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with a Removal Sensitivity Analysis (RSA). This unique integration moves beyond traditional, subjective expert-based weighting by introducing a transparent, data-driven methodology to quantify the influence of each criterion and generate objective weights. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to evaluate fourteen criteria related to accessibility, economic and environmental factors that influence EVCS site suitability. To enhance robustness and minimize subjectivity, a Removal Sensitivity Analysis (RSA) was applied to quantify the influence of each criterion and generate objective, data-driven weights. The results reveal that accessibility factors, particularly proximity to road networks and parking areas exert the highest influence, while environmental variables such as slope, CO concentration, and green areas have moderate but spatially significant impacts. The integration of AHP and RSA produced a more balanced and environmentally credible suitability map, reducing overestimation of urban sites and promoting sustainable spatial planning. Environmentally, the proposed framework supports Qatar’s transition toward low-carbon mobility by encouraging the expansion of clean electric transport infrastructure, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving urban air quality. The findings contribute to achieving the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030 and align with global efforts to mitigate climate change through sustainable transportation development. Full article

Green space equity is increasingly recognized as a critical environmental condition for healthy aging, yet existing research often overlooks how different green space attributes—accessibility and diversity—are associated with distinct dimensions of older adults’ health. Limited attention has been paid to their nonlinear threshold effects or to the social pathways through which green spaces influence health outcomes. Using the United States county-level panel data from 2020 to 2023, this study integrates fixed-effects models, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and mediation analysis to examine the associations between green accessibility measured by the Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method, and green diversity measured by the Shannon Index, on the general, physical, and mental health of older adults. Findings indicate that (1) higher green accessibility is associated with better general health, whereas green diversity shows a stronger association with physical health, reflecting its link to more heterogeneous ecosystem service environments. (2) Green accessibility demonstrates the threshold effect, in which the strength of association with health becomes steeper once accessibility approaches higher levels. (3) Green space equity is linked to health partly through social structures. Education clustering and marital stability mediate the associations with general health, while mental health appears to depend more on the social interaction opportunities embedded within green environments than on their physical attributes alone. The study proposes an integrated “physical environment–social structure–health outcome” framework and a threshold-oriented spatial intervention strategy, highlighting the need to prioritize improvements in green accessibility in underserved areas and prioritizing green diversity and age-friendly social functions where accessibility is already high. These findings offer evidence for designing inclusive, health-oriented urban environments for aging populations. Full article

Urban heat islands are among the most intense and unequal climate impacts in Mediterranean cities, with direct effects on health, thermal comfort, and habitability. This reality calls for the incorporation of binding and verifiable climate criteria into spatial planning and urban planning law. This article examines the extent to which the Spanish legal framework—at national, regional, and municipal levels—incorporates measurable standards to mitigate urban heat islands and how it might evolve towards operational climate-responsive urbanism. A legal–analytical and comparative methodology is applied, based on multilevel normative content analysis and a comparison of four autonomous communities, four Spanish cities, and four international reference cases with consolidated metrics. The results show that, despite progress in recognising adaptation, territorial asymmetries persist, enforceable parameters remain scarce, and there is a prevailing reliance on strategic or voluntary instruments. In response to these gaps, the study proposes a coherent set of urban climate standards (urban vegetation, functional soil permeability, roof albedo/cool roofs, green roofs and façades, plot-scale performance indices, urban ventilation, and thermal diagnostics) and a multilevel integration model aimed at guiding legislative reforms and strengthening cities’ adaptive capacity and thermal equity. Full article

With the continuous expansion of high-density urban forms, residents’ opportunities for daily contact with natural environments have been increasingly reduced, making the equity of urban green space allocation a critical challenge for sustainable urban development. Existing studies have largely focused on green space quantity or accessibility at single time points, lacking systematic investigations into the spatiotemporal evolution of green space exposure (GSE) and its equity from the perspective of residents’ actual environmental experiences. GSE refers to the integrated level of residents’ contact with urban green spaces during daily activities across multiple dimensions, including visual exposure, physical accessibility, and spatial distribution, emphasizing the relationship between green space provision and lived environmental experience. Based on this framework, this study takes the central urban area of Hangzhou as the study area and integrates multi-temporal remote sensing imagery with large-scale street view data. A deep learning–based approach is developed to identify green space exposure, combined with spatial statistical methods and equity measurement models to systematically analyze the spatiotemporal patterns and evolution of GSE and its equity from 2013 to 2023. The results show that (1) GSE in Hangzhou increased significantly over the study period, with accessibility exhibiting the most pronounced improvement. However, these improvements were mainly concentrated in peripheral areas, while changes in the urban core remained relatively limited, revealing clear spatial heterogeneity. (2) Although overall GSE equity showed a gradual improvement, pronounced mismatches between low exposure and high demand persisted in densely populated areas, particularly in older urban districts and parts of newly developed residential areas. (3) The spatial patterns and evolutionary trajectories of equity varied significantly across different GSE dimensions. Composite inequity characterized by “low visibility–low accessibility” formed stable clusters within the urban core. This study further explores the mechanisms underlying green space exposure inequity from the perspectives of urban renewal patterns, land-use intensity, and population concentration. By constructing a multi-dimensional and temporally explicit analytical framework for assessing GSE equity, this research provides empirical evidence and decision-making references for refined green space management and inclusive, sustainable urban planning in high-density cities. Full article

This study investigates the determinants of green energy penetration in the Next Eleven (N-11) economies over the period 2000–2022, with a particular focus on the roles of foreign direct investment (FDI), green transition, governance quality, industrial growth, and urbanization. The primary objective of the study is to assess how investment flows, structural transformation, and institutional capacity jointly shape the adoption of renewable energy in fast-growing emerging economies. To achieve this goal, the study employs a second-generation panel econometric and machine-learning framework that accounts for cross-sectional dependence, slope heterogeneity, and long-run equilibrium relationships. Specifically, cross-sectional dependence and slope homogeneity tests are conducted, followed by CADF and CIPS unit root tests and the Westerlund cointegration approach. Long-run effects are then estimated using Partialing-Out LASSO and Cross-Fit machine-learning estimators, complemented by SHAP analysis to interpret nonlinear and heterogeneous effects. The results indicate that green transition, governance quality, and urbanization significantly promote green energy penetration. In contrast, FDI and industrial growth exert adverse effects, reflecting carbon-intensive investment and production structures. The findings highlight the importance of coordinated investment strategies, institutional strengthening, and urban planning in accelerating renewable energy transitions in emerging economies. These results provide policy-relevant insights for achieving sustainable energy development while supporting long-term economic growth in the N-11 countries. Full article

The territorial development of the city of Brno during the 19th–21st centuries meant not only the growth of built-up areas (residential, industrial, commercial), but also the absorbing of segments of the ancient rural agricultural landscape. Within the current borders of the city of Brno, a number of green areas have been preserved, which have spontaneously developed from the original agricultural landscape, without being the result of urban planning. In half of the cases (17 out of a total of 34), they have still preserved the traditional small-scale division of land. Among the 10 medium-sized Moravian cities (between 30,000 and 400,000 inhabitants) in the historical region of Moravia in the east of the Czech Republic, the presence of 34 remnants of the ancient rural landscape in the city of Brno is quite exceptional (in Ostrava only 1; in other cities 0). The subject of the research is the inventory of such segments within the city borders and an attempt to explain their location in the city, state, focusing on the role of natural factors, land ownership and personal and recreational interests of residents. Segments of the ancient rural cultural landscape were identified by comparing the current landscape on aerial photographs with the landscape image on cadastral maps from the 1820s–1830s. Additional data on their natural and cultural properties were obtained through archival and field research. The segments were classified according to their degree of preservation and forms of threat. The results show that the remains of the ancient rural cultural landscape in the city of Brno have generally been preserved in locations that, due to the slope of the slopes, unsuitable building subsoil and poor soil, but locally on warm southern slopes, were not suitable for construction for the time being. Urban gardening contributes to their preservation and these areas are part of the city’s greenery. However, urban gardening also contributes to the destruction of these remnants. In 17 cases, the land was completely re-divided, built up with recreational facilities and overgrown with trees due to poor care. Another 17 locations are threatened by this process due to ignorance of their historical value, although this is essentially a positive development in terms of benefits for the city’s residents—land users. Although the Master Plan of the city of Brno foresees the existence of garden colonies in the future, it does not address the importance of the best-preserved segments as historical heritage. Community agriculture can play a positive role in maintaining segments of rural heritage within the city. Full article

The integration of electric vehicles into urban life is currently being implemented rapidly. However, the excessive integration of electric cars into urban environments creates several risks that impede their sustainable development. In this regard, it is relevant to systematize the integration processes of electric cars supported by smart city tools. This study proposes a methodology for the sustainable development ecosystem of smart cities, enabling the measurement of both positive and negative results from the integration of electric cars, which can inform rational managerial decisions. This study utilized scientific abstraction approaches to establish a management framework for integrating electric vehicles into the smart city ecosystem. Comparative analyses of the impact of counterbalancing factors were conducted, and based on this, methodological approaches for determining the boundaries of the use of electric vehicles in smart cities were proposed. Full article

Rapid urbanization and climate change have intensified flood risk and ecological degradation along urban riverfronts. Recent literature suggests that combining green and grey infrastructure can enhance resilience while delivering ecological and social co-benefits. This study analyzes and compares five riverfront projects in China and Spain, assessing how their tactic mixes operationalize three urban flood-resilience strategies—Resist, Delay, and Store/reuse—and how these mixes translate into ecological, social, and urban impacts. A six-phase framework was applied: (1) literature review; (2) case selection; (3) categorization of resilience strategies; (4) systematization and typification of tactics into green vs. grey infrastructure; (5) percentage analysis and qualitative matrices; and (6) comparative synthesis supported by an alluvial diagram. Across cases, Delay emerges as the structural backbone—via wetlands, terraces, vegetated buffers, and floodable spaces—while Resist is used selectively where exposure and erodibility require it. Store/reuse appears in targeted settings where operational capacity and water-quality standards enable circular use. The comparison highlights hybrid, safe-to-fail configurations that integrate public space, ecological restoration, and hydraulic performance. Effective urban riverfront resilience does not replace grey infrastructure but hybridizes it with nature-based solutions. Planning should prioritize Delay with green systems, add Resist where necessary, and enable Store/reuse when governance, operation and maintenance, and water quality permit, using iterative monitoring to adapt the green–grey mix over time. Full article

Green cities can contribute to greater mental and physical well-being. In addition, many people enjoy being active outdoors (green exercise). As yet, no questionnaire jointly emphasises mental health, willingness to pay for sustainability, and the incentive of a green environment for physical exercise in cities. Therefore, I developed the new Green Cities Questionnaire (GCQ), comprising 18 items, and used it to survey the perceptions of 249 participants (130 female, 119 male, 0 diverse; aged 18 to 84). Then, I applied exploratory factor analyses where the three factors of mental health (MH; nine items), willingness-to-pay (WTP; five items), and green exercise (GE; four items) were extracted. Additional statistical analyses revealed that women reported higher values on the MH and GE factors than men. In particular, women and men reported a beneficial effect of green cities on mental health (higher ratings on MH than on GE and on WTP). However, there was no gender effect on WTP. From an urban-planning perspective, the two strongest implications are as follows: First, the GCQ facilitates measurement of the three key latent factors: MH, WTP, and GE. However, future validation studies with larger sample sizes and applications of the GCQ alongside additional similar and different recognised scales are necessary to establish convergent and discriminant validity. Second, mental health is reported to be much more important than WTP and GE. Hence, green initiatives, educational programs, and green city workshops should not only focus on expanding urban green spaces but also on providing appropriate relaxation areas to promote and foster psychological well-being and quality of life in green cities. Full article

China’s dual carbon goals and rural revitalization strategy necessitate innovative models that integrate energy transition with ecological conservation. However, a critical disconnect persists between photovoltaic (PV) promotion and forest carbon sink projects, limiting their collective potential for coordinated urban–rural emission reduction and common prosperity. To bridge this gap, this study pioneers an integrated “cooperation-mutual assistance” framework that synergizes PV and carbon sinks. A system dynamics model encompassing economic, energy, and environmental subsystems is developed to simulate the long-term evolution (2025–2050) of this synergy under multiple policy scenarios. The simulation results demonstrate that this integrated model can achieve substantial co-benefits: It enables a cumulative carbon emission reduction of 17.5 Gt (gigatons of CO₂ equivalent) from 2025 to 2050, boosts regional GDP by 4.8% by 2050 compared to the baseline scenario, and narrows the urban–rural income gap by prioritizing rural resident income growth. The main contribution of this study is the novel integration of PV and carbon sinks into a unified analytical framework, quantitatively verifying its win–win potential. These findings provide a critical scientific basis for crafting integrated policies that combine carbon markets, green finance, and smart grid planning. Full article

Urban heat and hardscapes increase cooling electricity demand, stressing power grids and disproportionately burdening deprived neighborhoods. While previous studies have documented the cooling benefits of urban tree canopy, most analyses remain at coarse spatial scales and do not isolate the canopy’s marginal effect from built surfaces, limiting their utility for equitable neighborhood-level planning. We introduce a novel neighborhood-scale (census block-group, CBG) model to estimate cooling-season energy demand across Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland. We quantify demand drivers and actionable tree-canopy targets while controlling for built surfaces. Correlation analysis shows demand increases with developed fraction and imperviousness, and decreases with tree canopy and other vegetated or water cover. Using an explainable monotone gradient-boosted tree model (SHAP) with controls for imperviousness and development, we isolate the canopy’s marginal effect. Demand reductions begin once the canopy exceeds ~11% in Baltimore City and ~23% in Baltimore County, with diminishing returns beyond ~18% (City) and ~24% (County). This flattening is strongest in highly impervious CBGs, while low-impervious county areas show renewed reductions at very high canopy (>55–60%), consistent with forest-dominated microclimates. Spatial hotspots cluster in Baltimore City and southern Baltimore County, where low canopy and high hardscapes coincide with elevated demand; 61% of City CBGs fall below the 18% threshold. We translate these findings into priority intervention tiers combining demand, hardscapes, jurisdiction-specific canopy thresholds, and an equity overlay, identifying 21% of City and 1.2% of County CBGs as high-priority targets for greening and energy-relief interventions. Full article

This article examines the role of coworking and flexible workspaces in promoting sustainable spatial development in the non-metropolitan areas of Bulgaria. A mixed-method approach was applied, combining inventory enumeration, spatial classification, SDG-based sustainability assessment, and qualitative coding (open, axial, selective). A total of 74 coworking and flexible workspaces were identified across the six national planning regions, evaluated according to six analytical criteria (accessibility, seasonality, specialization, municipal administrative district, urban planning zone, building function) and assessed against five SDG-aligned dimensions (SDG 8, 9, 11, 12, 13). The results reveal uneven territorial distribution, strong concentration in major cities outside the capital, and emerging sustainable models in peripheral areas. Comparative SDG scoring and typological interpretation demonstrate three recurring models—Sustainable Reuse, Nature-Oriented, and Innovative/Experimental—each associated with distinct spatial and environmental characteristics. A metropolitan benchmarking exercise further contextualizes the strongest sustainability profiles. Based on these findings, a conceptual sustainable coworking model is developed for a nationally significant spa and climatic resort, illustrating how coworking can address regional disparities, support green transition policies, and reinforce territorial cohesion. The article concludes by outlining research directions related to digitalization, circular construction, environmental performance indicators, and feasibility assessments for non-metropolitan coworking development. Full article