Search Results (459)

As an integral component of humanity’s cultural heritage, traditional villages universally confront challenges such as population loss and cultural discontinuity amid rapid urbanization. Cluster-based protection models have increasingly become the international consensus for addressing the survival crisis of such settlements. This study selects the Central Yunnan region of Southwest China—characterized by its complex geography and multi-ethnic habitation—as the research area. Employing ArcGIS spatial analysis techniques alongside clustering algorithms, we examine the spatial distribution characteristics and clustering patterns of 251 traditional villages within this region. The findings are as follows. In terms of spatial distribution, traditional villages in Central Yunnan are unevenly dispersed, predominantly aggregating on mid-elevation gentle slopes; their locations are chiefly influenced by rivers and historical courier routes, albeit with only indirect dependence on waterways. Regarding single-cluster attributes, the spatial and geomorphological features exhibit a composite “band-and-group” pattern shaped by river valleys; culturally, two dominant modes emerge—“ancient-route-dependent” and “ethnic-symbiosis”—reflecting an economy-driven cultural mechanism alongside latent marginalization risks. Concerning construction characteristics, the “Qionglong-Ganlan” and Han-style “One-seal” residential features stand out, illustrating both adaptation to mountainous environments and the cumulative effects of historical culture. Based on these insights, we propose a three-tiered clustering classification framework—“comprehensive-element coordination”, “feature-led”, and “potential-cultivation”—to inform the development of contiguous and typological protection strategies for traditional villages in highland, multi-ethnic regions. Full article

Cities are the growth engines responsible for shaping the global economy, major contributors to climate change, and are significantly affected by it. However, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to make these cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Yet, the rapid and unplanned urban expansion exacerbates various environmental challenges and reduces green cover in urban areas. To address these issues and meet the SDGs, stakeholders need to emphasise and optimise urban spaces. This study investigates the borough-level analysis of green spaces and human exposure to green spaces across London using satellite-derived datasets on vegetation and socio-economic factors to examine the variations in urban vegetation cover and urban population exposure to vegetation cover between 2017 and 2024. This study highlights the spatial disparity in green space coverage and exposure to green space between the inner and outer boroughs of London. The methodology used here suggests an average loss of approximately 11 and 9 percent in green space coverage and green space exposure to population, respectively, between 2017 and 2024 across London boroughs. Full article

This study investigates rural settlement patterns and land suitability in Rwanda’s Western Highlands, a mountainous region highly vulnerable to geohazards like landslides and flooding. Its primary aim is to inform sustainable, climate-resilient development planning in this fragile landscape. We employed high-resolution satellite imagery, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and comprehensive geospatial datasets to analyze settlement distribution, using Thiessen polygons for influence zones and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) for spatial clustering. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was integrated with the GeoDetector model to objectively weight criteria and analyze settlement pattern drivers, using population density as a proxy for human pressure. The analysis revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in settlement distribution, with both clustered and dispersed forms exhibiting distinct exposure levels to environmental hazards. Natural factors, particularly slope gradient and proximity to rivers, emerged as dominant determinants. Furthermore, significant synergistic interactions were observed between environmental attributes and infrastructure accessibility (roads and urban centers), collectively shaping settlement resilience. This integrative geospatial approach enhances understanding of complex rural settlement dynamics in ecologically sensitive mountainous regions. The empirically grounded insights offer a robust decision-support framework for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, contributing to more resilient rural planning strategies in Rwanda and similar Central African highland regions. Full article

As the global urbanization process accelerates, rural settlements in China are facing the challenges of rural hollowing and widening urban–rural disparities. The establishment of the national scenic area system has made scenic settlements a primary direction for tourism development. However, industrial transformation has led to significant restructuring of the human–land relationship and the spatial functions of these settlements, resulting in issues such as over-tourism, ecological degradation, and cultural loss. This paper focuses on the Mosuo settlements around Lugu Lake, selecting nine villages, including Gesha Village, Wuzhiluo Village, and Daluoshui Village, to explore the formation and expression of Mosuo spatial concepts. Through spatial measurement, area statistics, and the analysis of development paths, the core of the research is to propose that “there is consistency between conceptual order and spatial form,” revealing the multi-dimensional evolutionary mechanism of Mosuo settlement spatial morphology under the intertwining of traditional concepts, market logic, and institutional policies, providing a replicable Chinese reference for global cultural heritage rural areas. Full article

High-quality growth of the construction industry and an improved human settlements environment are essential to sustainable urbanization. Existing studies have paid limited systematic attention to the spatial and temporal dynamics of the coordinated development between the construction industry and human settlements, as well as the underlying factors driving regional disparities. This gap restricts the formulation of precise, differentiated sustainable policies tailored to regions at different development stages and with varying resource endowments. Southern China, characterized by pronounced spatial heterogeneity and unique development trends, offers a natural laboratory for examining the spatio-temporal interaction between these two dimensions. Using panel data for 15 southern provinces (2013–2022), we applied the entropy method, coupling coordination model, Dagum Gini coefficient, spatial trend surface analysis, gravity model, and grey forecasting to evaluate current conditions and predict future trends. The main findings are as follows. (1) The coupling coordination degree rose steadily, forming a stepped spatial pattern from the southwest through the center to the southeast. (2) The coupling coordination degree appears obvious polarization effect, presenting a spatial linkage pattern with Jiangsu-Shanghai-Zhejiang, Hubei-Hunan-Jiangxi, and Sichuan-Chongqing as the core of the three major clusters. (3) The overall Dagum Gini coefficient declined, but intra-regional disparities persisted: values were highest in the southeast, moderate in the center, and lowest in the southwest; inter-regional differences dominated the total inequality. (4) Forecasts for 2023–2027 suggest further improvement in the coupling coordination degree, yet spatial divergence will widen, creating a configuration of “eastern leadership, central catch-up acceleration, and differentiated southwestern development.” This study provides an evidence base for policies that foster high-quality construction sector growth and enhance the living environment. The findings of this study indicate that policymaking should prioritize promoting synergistic regional development, enhancing the radiating and driving role of core regions, and establishing a multi-level coordinated governance mechanism to bridge regional disparities and foster more balanced and sustainable development. Full article

In the vernacular architectural history of the Arabian Gulf region (the Gulf), the courtyard house is a common domestic typology. Islamic and sociological precepts regulate the design and the function of vernacular courtyard dwellings, resulting in homogeneity and harmony in the entire urban fabric of historic settlements. In this research endeavor, the aim is to investigate the degree to which the shaping of the spatial form in a sample of vernacular courtyard houses in the Gulf inscribes socio-cultural factors. It sheds light on visibility graph analysis, human behavior, and the system of activities in the domestic space. As a hypothesis, visibility and connectivity analysis could prove the existence of common spatial patterns among courtyards in the vernacular courtyard houses of the Gulf, attributing it to the similar socio-cultural context, the climatic effect, and the architectural and construction knowledge of the region. This study utilizes a collection of courtyard houses from the Gulf as a pilot study to investigate the emerging patterns in the spatial analysis and room layout, or in the distribution of activities or functions in the domestic space. It, therefore, offers a visual analysis (VGA) of six regional courtyard houses from each Gulf country that were built during the period 1850–1950. This study anticipates an affirmation of a direct inscription of socio-cultural factors in the spatial form of the courtyard house in the Gulf. Conclusively, a sustainable, organic linkage between architecture and society exists where the three criteria of housing spatial form, socio-cultural factors, and system of activities interact. Full article

The spatiotemporal evolution of coastal rural settlements varies significantly across different geomorphic environments, yet this variation is underexplored in current research. Guided by Coupled Human and Natural Systems, this study examines the adaptation mechanisms between coastal rural settlements and landforms using an integrated framework that combines various bay types, spatiotemporal characteristics, and dynamic drivers. Four representative bay types along Guangdong’s coast were analyzed: Hilly Ria Coast, Platform Ria Coast, Barrier-Lagoon Coast, and Estuarine Delta Coast. Using multi-source remote sensing data and optimized Geodetector modeling (1972 vs. 2022), we identified the patterns of spatiotemporal evolution and their driving forces. The results reveal distinct adaptation pathways: Hilly Ria Coast settlements expanded in a constrained manner, supported by tunnel–bridge infrastructure; Platform Ria Coasts developed multi-nucleated, port-oriented clusters through harbor-linked road networks; Barrier-Lagoon Coasts achieved balanced growth through integrated land–river–sea governance; and Estuarine Delta Coasts experienced urban–rural restructuring accompanied by water network degradation. This study proposes governance strategies tailored to specific landforms to support sustainable coastal planning. Full article

The Roma population is one of Europe’s largest ethnic minorities, often living in inadequate living conditions, worse than those of the majority population. They frequently lack access to essential services, even in high-income countries. This lack of basic services—particularly in combination with proximity to (stray) animals and human and solid waste—significantly increases environmental health risks, and leads to a higher rate of endoparasitic infections. Our study sheds light on the living conditions and health situation in Roma communities in Slovakia, focusing on the prevalence of intestinal endoparasitic infections across various settlement localisations. It highlights disparities and challenges in access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and other potentially disease-exposing factors among these marginalised populations. This study combines a comprehensive review of living conditions as per national data provided through the Atlas of Roma communities with an analysis of empirical data on parasitological infection rates in humans, animals, and the environment in settlements, applying descriptive statistical methods. It is the first study in Europe to provide detailed insights into how living conditions vary and cause health risks across Roma settlements, ranging from those integrated within villages (inside, urban), to those isolated on the outskirts (edge, sub-urban) or outside villages (natural/rural). Our study shows clear disparities in access to services, and in health outcomes, based on where people live. Our findings underscore the fact that (i) place—geographical centrality in particular—in an already challenged population group plays a major role in health inequalities and disease exposure, as well as (ii) the urgent need for more current and comprehensive data. Our study highlights persistent disparities in living conditions within high-income countries and stresses the need for greater attention and more sensitive targeted health-promoting approaches with marginalised communities in Europe that take into consideration any and all of the humans, ecology, and animals affected (=One Health). Full article

Exploring the spatiotemporal evolution of urban and rural settlements in African countries could provide critical insights into the patterns of urbanization, regional disparities, and sustainable development in the context of rapid socio-economic and demographic changes. Using global human settlement data alongside multi-source socio-economic and environmental datasets, this study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of human settlements in Tanzania from 1975 to 2020. A combination of methods, including hotspot analysis, standard deviation ellipse analysis, and geographic detectors, is employed to examine the characteristics of settlement evolution and the underlying factors contributing to regional differentiation. The findings reveal that over the past 45 years, the expansion of urban centers and urban clusters in Tanzania has significantly accelerated, while rural areas have experienced a corresponding decline, reflecting a shift from low-density to high-density settlements and a transformation from rural to urban landscapes. Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha have consistently been hotspots for urban center growth, while Kagera has emerged as a primary hotspot for urban clusters. The distribution of rural hotspots and coldspots generally mirrors that of urban clusters. The spatial distribution of urban centers, urban clusters, and rural areas follows a northwest–southeast orientation, with the spatial distribution of urban centers gradually stabilizing. However, the development gap between urban clusters in the northwest and rural areas in the southeast is widening and narrowing, respectively. Socio-economic factors exert a stronger influence on the development of settlements than natural environmental factors. Population density, GDP density, and road network density are significant drivers of settlement patterns, with their influence intensifying over time. Full article

Rapid urbanization has transformed cityscapes worldwide, yet vertical urban growth (VUG) receives less attention than horizontal expansion. This study mapped and analyzed VUG patterns in Wuhan, China, from 2012 to 2020 based on a Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR) dataset derived from a long time series of 375 COSMO-SkyMed SAR images. The methodology involved full-stack processing (analyzing all 375 images for a stable reference), sub-stack processing (independently processing sequential image subsets to track temporal changes), and post-processing to extract persistent scatterer (PS) candidates, estimate building heights, and analyze temporal changes. Validation was conducted through drone surveys and ground measurements in the Hanyang district. Results revealed substantial vertical expansion in central districts, with Hanyang experiencing a 66-fold increase in areas with buildings exceeding 90 m in height, while Hongshan district saw a 34-fold increase. Peripheral districts instead displayed more modest growth. Time series analysis and 3D visualization captured VUG temporal dynamics, identifying specific rapidly transforming urban sectors within Hanyang. Although the study is focused on one city with accuracy assessed on a spatially confined sample of more than 500 buildings, the findings suggest that PSInSAR height estimates from high-resolution SAR imagery can complement global settlement datasets (e.g., Global Human Settlement Layer, GHSL) in order to achieve better accuracy for individual building heights. Validation generally confirmed the accuracy of PSInSAR-derived height estimates, though challenges remain with noise and the distribution of PS. The location of PS along the building instead of the building rooftops can affect height estimation precision. Full article

While extensive research has examined the contribution of urban parks to well-being, empirical evidence on the role of cultural attributes in historical urban parks and their impact on visitors’ well-being remains limited. This study explores the impact of physical characteristics of historical urban parks on well-being from the perspective of human settlement environment. Quantitative data were collected from 11 urban parks in Wuhan, China, combining online crowdsourcing for physical characteristic assessments and questionnaire surveys for psychological evaluations. Machine learning techniques, spatial analysis, and statistical methods including multistep regression and Bootstrap sampling were employed to test our hypotheses. Our results demonstrate that objective physical features—including park area, green coverage rate, green space shape index, and the proportion of heritage landmarks—positively influence well-being, whereas road density exhibits a negative association. Cultural perception and place attachment serve as significant mediators between physical characteristics and well-being outcomes, with the proportion of heritage landmarks influencing well-being through a dual mediation path. Additionally, we found interaction effects between physical and psychological factors, with education level moderating the relationship between cultural perception and well-being. These findings advance environmental psychology theory by elucidating how historical elements foster unique pathways to well-being, distinct from those offered by conventional green spaces. Our research provides evidence-based guidance for historical urban park design and renovation in the context of urban renewal, where balancing preservation and modernization presents significant challenges. Full article

Wildfires pose increasing risks to human settlements, particularly in the Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI). This study examines the relationship between land cover (LC) characteristics and housing destruction during the 2023 wildfires in Chile’s Bío-Bío region. Using high-resolution remote sensing data and GIS-based multi-buffer spatial analysis (30 m and 100 m), we assessed LC patterns around affected and unaffected rural houses. Results indicate that the proximity of forest plantations significantly increased housing loss, with a notably higher presence of plantations within 30 m of destroyed houses. In contrast, agricultural and pasture mosaics demonstrated a protective function by reducing fire spread. Shrublands also showed moderate protection, albeit with statistical uncertainty. The findings highlight the critical role of immediate LC in determining wildfire impact, emphasizing the need for integrating LC considerations into wildfire risk management, land-use planning, and policy interventions. Strategies such as creating defensible spaces, enforcing zoning regulations, and promoting fire-resistant landscapes can help mitigate future wildfire damage. This research provides spatially explicit insights that contribute to wildfire risk reduction theory and inform targeted prevention and resilience-building strategies in Chile and other fire-prone regions. Full article

Urbanisation has significantly transformed human settlements, presenting sustainability challenges, particularly in hot-dry and humid climates. The urban heat island effect and increased energy consumption exacerbate reliance on mechanical cooling and fossil fuels. As climate change escalates, developing sustainable architectural solutions that improve thermal performance and energy efficiency becomes crucial. This study examines the effects of various multilevel courtyard designs on building performance in Abuja, Nigeria, highlighting gaps in applying traditional principles to these models. A mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative techniques, assesses user perceptions, thermal performance, energy efficiency, and daylighting in multilevel courtyards. Findings indicate that optimised multilevel courtyard configurations yield a 2.15 °C reduction in temperature, enhancing indoor thermal comfort and improving natural ventilation. Users favour multilevel courtyard housing; however, challenges include inadequate daylighting on lower levels and the need for shading solutions. Compressed earth blocks exhibit better thermal performance, reducing peak temperatures by 1.19 °C compared to hollow concrete blocks. Guidelines for architects and urban planners are provided, as well as recommendations for future research on policy incentives to promote multilevel courtyard models. Full article

The architectural artefacts, materials, and techniques used for constructing shelters may share some common properties derived from the architectural culture that has evolved within the human species. This article examines the material features and settlement organisations employed in the nest-building activities of early human species and the shelter forms of indigenous peoples residing in sub-Saharan Africa. It questions whether early modern human notions of architectural heritage, which lack substantiation, might have influenced nest construction, typological differentiation, material utilisation, and the transmission of practices to subsequent generations and habitats. The focus is on home-based spatial organisation and the construction of structures. We recognise the need to clarify some fundamental misunderstandings regarding the nature of cultural and archaeological taxonomies, as well as the misuse of analogical reasoning when comparing contemporary hunter–gatherer populations with certain hominin groups. The paper aims to explore whether the early ‘Homo architecture’ in Africa bears any resemblance to that of modern Africans. The central inquiry of this study is whether indigenous architectural artefacts, materials, and techniques have been passed down throughout the evolution of architectural culture. The discussion suggests that the architectural products found in the settlement remains of early Homo species may exhibit characteristics similar to the huts of the indigenous people, who live as hunter–gatherers in sub-Saharan Africa. Discussing the architectural activities of different human species proves fruitful, as early architectural understanding and principles can be adapted to contemporary placemaking scenarios, urban design approaches, and housing models. We believe that, with further evidence, this foundational idea has the potential to be developed further. Full article

Since the reform and opening-up policy, the accelerated urbanization rate has triggered extensive construction of new towns, leading to architectural homogenization and environmental quality degradation. As urban development transitions toward a “quality improvement” paradigm, there is an urgent need to synergistically enhance the health performance of human settlements through the optimization of public space environments. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the built environment of urban streets on residents’ perceptions. In particular, in the context of rapid urbanization, how to improve the mental health and quality of life of residents by improving the street environment. Changbai Island Street in the Heping District of Shenyang City was selected for the study. Baidu Street View images combined with machine learning were employed to quantify physical characterizations like street plants and buildings. The ‘Place Pulse 2.0’ dataset was utilized to obtain data on residents’ perceptions of streets as beautiful, safe, boring, and lively. Correlation and regression analyses were used to reveal the relationship between physical characteristics such as green visual index, openness, and pedestrians. It was discovered that the green visual index had a positive effect on perceptions of it being beautiful and safe, while openness and building enclosure factors influenced perceptions of it being lively or boring. This study provides empirical data support for urban planning, emphasizing the need to focus on integrating environmental greenery, a sense of spatial enclosure, and traffic mobility in street design. Optimization strategies such as increasing green coverage, controlling building density, optimizing pedestrian space, and enhancing the sense of street enclosure were proposed. The results of the study not only help to understand the relationship between the built environment of streets and residents’ perceptions but also provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for urban space design. Full article