Search Results (2,941)

This study investigates the spatiotemporal dynamics of peri-urban expansion and land use transformation in Izmir, Türkiye, over 36 years (1986–2022) using an integrated GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework. Multi-source datasets, including Landsat imagery, CORINE land cover (CLC) data, demographic statistics, and spatial variables (slope, transportation proximity, and distance to the city center), were combined to delineate urban, peri-urban, and rural zones. Results reveal a substantial percentage increase in urban areas from 2.8% in 1986 to 10.48% in 2022, corresponding to an expansion of approximately 7.6% (≈908.56 km²). In contrast, agricultural land declined by 5.8%, while forest areas experienced a more severe reduction of 19.1%, indicating significant environmental degradation. Population dynamics further support this transformation, with peri-urban districts exhibiting growth rates exceeding the metropolitan core average of 1.8% (1986–2010), followed by a relative slowdown to 0.5% after 2010, accompanied by outward migration-driven expansion. Spatial analysis demonstrates that peri-urban growth is strongly influenced by accessibility and topography, with development concentrated within 30–50 km of the city center and along major transportation corridors (500–1000 m buffers). Land Surface Temperature (LST) analysis indicates increasing urban heat island intensity, with surface temperatures ranging from 12 °C to 46 °C, particularly in densely built inner peri-urban zones. The MCDA-based classification identifies distinct inner and outer peri-urban belts, characterized by contrasting density, land use patterns, and environmental pressures. Overall, the findings highlight that Izmir’s peri-urbanization is a heterogeneous and rapidly evolving process driven by demographic, spatial, and policy-related factors. The study provides a replicable methodological framework and emphasizes the urgent need for integrated, sustainability-oriented planning strategies to mitigate ecological loss and uncontrolled urban sprawl. Full article

Regional water systems in rapidly urbanizing hilly basin cities are affected by hydrological variability, population concentration, industrial water demand, and water-use efficiency. This study evaluated the water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) of Jinhua City, southeastern China, from 2011 to 2023 using an integrated 15-indicator system covering water resources support, water-use and population pressure, economic structure and water-use efficiency, and ecological and environmental support. Indicator definitions, units, directions, and data sources were harmonized using official water resources bulletins and statistical records. A combined weighting method integrating the modified Analytic Hierarchy Process and the entropy weight method was coupled with a fuzzy matter-element model and the Hamming closeness measure. WRCC grades were assigned using standard-derived Hamming closeness thresholds based on pooled-reference membership transformation. Obstacle degree, leave-one-indicator-out sensitivity, and redundancy diagnostics were further used for interpretation and robustness assessment. The combined weights were mainly concentrated in water-use and population pressure (35.85%), water resources support (26.77%), and economic structure and water-use efficiency (26.10%). Industrial water use, per capita comprehensive water use, population density, water consumption per 10,000 yuan industrial value added, and water consumption per 10,000 yuan GDP had the highest indicator weights. Annual Hamming closeness ranged from 0.2621 to 0.6391. Jinhua’s WRCC reached Grade II in 2015, 2019, 2020, and 2021, while the remaining years were classified as Grade III. The highest closeness occurred in 2019, whereas 2022 and 2023 declined to Grade III and were close to the II/III threshold. Obstacle diagnosis showed that water-use and population pressure were the dominant subsystem obstacles. Sensitivity analysis showed that the peak year and the lowest year remained unchanged across all leave-one-indicator-out scenarios, whereas the boundary years showed grade sensitivity. The results provide a transparent annual assessment and diagnostic evidence for WRCC management. Full article

Post-conflict reconstruction concentrates institutional fragility, supply-chain disruption, and weak regulatory enforcement at the moment when long-term resilience trajectories are being set. Myanmar’s housing sector, operating under prolonged civil conflict and post-earthquake reconstruction pressure, exemplifies these conditions. This research adapts Singapore’s Buildable Design Appraisal System (BDAS) and Constructability Appraisal System (CAS) to Myanmar’s post-conflict housing context and translates the empirical findings into a Knowledge-Based Decision Support System (KBDSS). An integrated framework combining Value Chain Analysis (VCA), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and Scott’s Institutional Framework (IF) underpins the study. A questionnaire survey (n = 139) of Myanmar building professionals is analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling and Necessary Condition Analysis. The model explains 57.9% of the variance in framework adaptation; competitive advantage, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and the post-conflict/disaster context emerge as both sufficient and necessary conditions, while regulative support dominates among the three institutional pillars. These findings underpin the inference logic of a prototype KBDSS for resilient housing reconstruction. This research contributes empirical evidence on operationalising urban resilience under institutional fragility in the Global South. Full article

The rapidly urbanizing peripheries of the Global South face significant demographic pressures, leading to governance deficits that often neglect the long-term structural safety of new buildings. While regulatory frameworks predominantly emphasize initial construction quality, they frequently overlook the critical “post-occupancy” phase, during which distinct structural risks accumulate. This study introduces a reproducible, open-data risk identification framework designed to trace theoretical “windows of vulnerability” in Çekmeköy, a peripheral district of Istanbul. By triangulating temporal, spatial, and demographic municipal administrative records from 2018 to 2024, we illustrated how low-cost data can serve as proxies for prioritizing structural risk assessments. The findings demonstrate that a 103% population increase between 2008 and 2023, coupled with a 21% reduction in the average household size, has generated urgent housing demand that outpaces supply. We hypothesize that these conditions create high-probability zones for “informality creep,” where demographic pressures induce informal practices, such as unauthorized structural modifications within ostensibly formal high-rise settings. The primary contribution is a transferable algorithmic tool, the Weighted Post-Occupancy Vulnerability Index (POVI). Rather than serving as a deterministic building-level diagnostic, this framework operates much like an epidemiological screening process; it acts as a macroscopic prioritization heuristic that allows resource-constrained municipalities to proactively direct their inspection efforts. By mathematically quantifying the conditions under which post-occupancy risks develop, this framework provides an essential resource for enhancing urban resilience during reactive urbanism planning. Full article

Investigating the spatial correlation characteristics and configurational pathways of ecological space service value (ESSV) is of importance for alleviating urban ecological pressure. This study, focusing on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in China, employs the modified value equivalent method, gravity model, and configurational analysis model to elucidate the spatiotemporal evolution mechanisms of ESSV. The results demonstrate that: (1) The extent of ecological space decreased sharply (328.25 km²), primarily converting to other ecological space. Among these, the grassland ecological space experienced the largest reduction (215.34 km²), whereas the decline in forest ecological space was relatively modest (58.85 km²). (2) ESSV showed a fluctuating but overall increasing trend, with ΔESSV dominated by negative changes. Spatially, the pattern was characterized by higher values in the west, lower values in the east, and a contiguous high-value area in the central region. (3) The network of ESSV exhibited multiple connections and multiple cores, with the strength of network linkages continuously strengthening and showing a trend of expansion from the central region toward the south and north. (4) High ESSV depends on the configurational effects of multidimensional resilience factors. Several configurational modes were identified, including single-core resilience-driven and multi-dimensional resilience synergy-driven modes. Full article

Climate change is intensifying water scarcity in the Mediterranean region, placing the Antalya province of Türkiye at significant risk due to declining water availability, rapid population growth, and intense tourism activities which increase seasonal demand. This study forecasts population and urban water demand until 2050 and evaluates several water loss reduction scenarios for the city’s drinking water distribution network. In developing the forecasted water demand, the analysis incorporates several water loss reduction scenarios. These include a baseline scenario maintaining current water loss levels, a moderate improvement scenario aligned with Türkiye’s national regulatory targets, and an advanced scenario achieving international best practices. Results show that reducing water losses, caused mainly by aging infrastructure, pressure fluctuations, and leaks, can substantially decrease total water demand. Improved network efficiency is therefore essential for maintaining long-term water security and supporting climate change adaptation efforts in Antalya. Full article

This study examines the long- and short-run effects of sustainable development, economic growth, energy consumption, urbanization, investment and trade openness on Carbon Dioxide Emissions (CO₂) in the GCC countries utilizing the PMG-ARDL approach by including the data spanning from 2000 to 2022. In the short -run, the sustainable development index demonstrates a positive and substantial impact while it exhibits adverse long-run impact on CO₂ emission. The study also indicates a U-shaped correlation between economic growth and emissions, contrasting with the conventional Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) where economic growth at lower income levels often leads to a reduction in emissions; however, income increases beyond around USD 29,942 per capita correlate with higher emissions. Besides, energy use is identified as the primary factor influencing emissions, reflecting global patterns that indicate greater energy usage, particularly from fossil fuels directly boosts emissions. Moreover, the urbanization intensifies this problem, resulting in higher energy demand and greater emissions. Additionally, the study finds that gross capital formation and investments in infrastructure contribute to emissions in the short run, though these effects diminish over time. Our results are robust as it similar to the outcomes obtained from dynamic panel-data System GMM. The GCC policymakers must utilize the sustainable development framework to legally mandate national planning towards low-carbon paths while balancing for short-term transition costs with significant long-run emission reductions. This necessitates the implementation of market-oriented carbon pricing to address the post-threshold U-shaped emissions rebound, the systematic elimination of fossil fuel subsidies to promote renewable energy adoption, and the enforcement of sustainable development regulations to mitigate urbanization pressures. Full article

Despite notable improvements in China’s ambient air quality, local implementation outcomes remain uneven, with some cities continuing to show gaps between officially assigned PM2.5 targets and observed annual PM2.5 concentrations. This study examines target-based PM2.5 implementation deviation under China’s air-pollution target responsibility system. Drawing on an Ambiguity–Pressure–Adaptation framework, it analyzes how policy ambiguity, implementation pressure, and local adaptation are statistically associated with target-based PM2.5 implementation deviation, and whether these associations vary across policy stages. Using panel data from 293 prefecture-level cities from 2013 to 2022, this study applies two-way fixed-effects models, sub-dimension models, stage-heterogeneity interaction models, and robustness checks. The results show that policy ambiguity is positively associated with target-based PM2.5 implementation deviation, whereas implementation pressure and implementation adaptation are negatively associated with it. Goal ambiguity, government pressure, and resource adaptation show relatively stronger associations within their respective dimensions. The stage-heterogeneity analysis indicates that ambiguity is more strongly associated with deviation during 2013–2017, pressure shows a stronger negative association during 2018–2020, and adaptation shows a stronger negative association during 2021–2022. These findings provide association-based evidence suggesting that clearer policy design, stable supervision, and stronger local adaptive capacity are linked to smaller implementation gaps and support sustained air-quality improvement. Full article

Rapid urbanization, climate change, and biodiversity loss are intensifying environmental pressures on arid coastal cities through extreme heat, water scarcity, salinity intrusion, and increasing flood risks. Despite substantial investment in urban green spaces across the Gulf region, many public parks provide limited ecological functionality and climate adaptation benefits. This study evaluated the ecological performance of three coastal parks in Muscat, Oman Sarooj Beach Park (23,080 m²), Ghubrah Beach Park (34,818 m²), and Al Athaiba Beach Park (17,370 m²), to identify opportunities for more resilient landscape design. The assessment revealed that although green space occupied 76.8–82% of park areas, tree canopy cover remained low (8–12%), limiting thermal comfort, habitat provision, and ecological performance. Based on these findings, a Functional and Climate-Responsive Planting Strategy (FCRPS) was developed by integrating the 10–20–30 biodiversity guideline with performance-based planting criteria tailored to arid and saline environments. The framework was applied to the proposed Majis Beach Ecological Park in Sohar, Oman, to demonstrate the implementation of ecological urbanism and nature-based solutions in a hyper-arid coastal environment. The resulting design incorporates biodiversity-enhancing planting, blue–green infrastructure, wetland restoration, and climate-responsive spatial planning. The study demonstrates how multifunctional landscapes can enhance biodiversity, improve thermal comfort, strengthen stormwater management, and support community well-being while providing a transferable framework for resilient public park design in arid coastal cities. Full article

Cities are currently facing increasing challenges related to climate change, demographic pressure, and urban expansion. In this context, urban resilience has emerged as a strategic approach to anticipate, withstand, and adapt to environmental and social disturbances. The city of Salamanca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has implemented several green infrastructure strategies and climate adaptation initiatives, including the Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategy (EDUSI Tormes+), the Special Plan for the Protection of Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity (PEPIVB), and the programs SAVIA Red Verde Salamanca and LIFE Vía de la Plata. This study assesses the contribution of these initiatives to urban governance focused on response capacity by examining their level of implementation and the coherence among different municipal planning instruments. The analysis reveals that the municipal green infrastructure framework is explicitly planned and strategically designed with the objective to mitigate the urban heat island effect, regenerate the urban fabric, and establish structural pathways targeted to foster local biodiversity pathways. Overall, the results provide evidence that nature-based territorial management instruments can strengthen the adaptive capacity of heritage cities to climate change, offering a replicable model for other territories with similar characteristics. Full article

Emerging economies face mounting pressure to adopt sustainable and cost-efficient methods for delivering products and services in urban areas. This study examines the Electric Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (EVRPTW) within a pragmatic urban context. We concentrate on the short-haul delivery network in Marrakesh, Morocco, whose operational viability is influenced by climatic, infrastructural, and regulatory limitations. We present a simulated annealing (SA) metaheuristic, augmented with repair heuristics and a penalty-based cost function, to concurrently reduce routing costs and lateness fines, subject to time-window and battery capacity restrictions. The technique undergoes evaluation through extensive computer tests utilizing realistic instance sets that replicate local demand patterns and charging infrastructure. The penalty-calibrated model demonstrates delivery completion rates of up to 100%, significantly reducing route costs and the number of unserved clients relative to baseline setups. We thoroughly analyze the tuning parameters among several runs. This study intends to provide a useful tool for real-world decision support by fusing extensive literature synthesis with local context validation and by integrating a simulation module that evaluates time-window settings and charging patterns under realistic traffic. Full article

Urban water insecurity is an increasingly critical challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions of the Global South, driven by population growth, environmental degradation, infrastructure limitations, and institutional constraints. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, exemplifies these interconnected pressures. This study presents a systematic review of 45 peer-reviewed and selected grey literature sources published between 2000 and 2025, conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were included if they examined drinking water contamination, public health risks, household coping practices, wastewater-related exposure, or governance dynamics in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Findings were synthesized using a narrative thematic approach. The review identifies widespread contamination across municipal supply systems, groundwater, tanker water, traditional water sources, and household-stored water. Microbial contamination, particularly total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Escherichia coli, emerged as the most consistently reported and immediate public health concern. Chemical and physicochemical contaminants, including ammonia, iron, arsenic, nitrate, and turbidity, were also widely reported, especially in shallow and deep groundwater systems. Seasonal dynamics further influenced exposure risks, with increased microbial contamination during monsoon periods and greater dependence on alternative and less regulated water sources during dry seasons. The findings further indicate that unsafe water exposure is associated with a substantial burden of waterborne diseases and emerging risks such as antimicrobial resistance. Although household water treatment practices reduced contamination in some cases, risks often persisted due to recontamination during storage and handling. These burdens disproportionately affected marginalized and peri-urban populations with limited access to safe and reliable water infrastructure. The review also highlights persistent governance challenges, including institutional fragmentation, weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate infrastructure investment, and growing dependence on informal water supply systems. Together, these conditions contribute to a hybrid urban water system in which formal and informal sources coexist without consistent quality control. Overall, the evidence demonstrates that water insecurity in Kathmandu Valley is a systemic condition shaped by the interaction of environmental contamination, unequal exposure, household coping limitations, and fragmented governance. By integrating environmental, public health, and governance evidence, this review advances understanding of urban water insecurity in rapidly urbanizing contexts and highlights the need for integrated, equity-oriented, and governance-informed interventions. These findings have broader relevance for cities across the Global South experiencing similar environmental and infrastructural pressures. Full article

Sewage sludge management is increasingly shifting from a liability-focused “treat-and-dispose” approach toward resource recovery, where digestion residues and their liquid fractions are treated as secondary feedstocks for nutrient, water, and energy recovery. In Europe, the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive strengthens performance and monitoring requirements and reinforces the need for efficient sludge treatment and downstream valorization routes. This review synthesizes evidence on how pretreatment-induced changes in digestate properties translate into membrane performance outcomes and maps practical design implications for selecting pretreatment-membrane trains for nutrient recovery and reclaimed water production. Pressure-driven membrane methods (MF/UF/NF/RO), together with membrane distillation and electrodialysis, are central candidates for producing clarified water streams and concentrating nutrients; however, their performance is governed by digestate rheology, colloidal stability, and the composition of soluble microbial products and inorganic ions, which collectively shape fouling and scaling risks. Pretreatments such as thermal hydrolysis and microwave conditioning can modify floc structure and solubilize organics, with potential benefits for dewaterability and mass transfer, but can also shift particle size distributions toward fines and increase fouling propensity if not coupled with appropriate solid–liquid separation and conservative flux control. Emphasis is placed on mechanisms and operational trade-offs rather than single-point performance claims, highlighting where evidence is robust and where further comparability and full-scale validation remain necessary. Full article

Historic urban districts are increasingly exposed to rapid urban transformation, resulting in the deterioration of heritage fabric, weakening of spatial identity, and disruption of everyday patterns of use. Although participatory approaches are increasingly recognised in heritage-led regeneration, many applications remain limited by the lack of analytical mechanisms capable of connecting community perspectives with spatial and behavioural evidence in a structured and practical manner. This study develops and applies a participatory decision-support approach based on the People–Place–Behaviour (PPB) framework within the historic district of El-Mokhtalat in Mansoura, Egypt. The study combines spatial documentation, behavioural observation, and stakeholder consultation to examine how everyday urban practices, adaptive reuse, informal interventions, and local perceptions collectively influence regeneration priorities within the historic environment. The findings indicate that regeneration priorities emerge through the interaction between spatial conditions, community perceptions, and behavioural patterns rather than through isolated physical conditions alone. Based on stakeholder consultations (n = 30), the analysis identifies a prioritisation gradient in which architectural conservation and environmental enhancement represent the most immediate intervention priorities, while adaptive reuse and public-space improvements remain dependent on contextual compatibility and local acceptance. The study also demonstrates the analytical value of behavioural evidence in revealing recurring spatial pressures, identity-related transformations, and everyday interaction patterns affecting the continuity of the historic urban fabric. By integrating participatory, spatial, and behavioural evidence within a unified evaluation process, the study proposes a context-sensitive analytical approach capable of supporting more informed and locally responsive heritage-led regeneration strategies. Full article

Quasi-Industrial Districts (QIDs) in Japan allow the coexistence of industrial, residential, and commercial functions. However, under pressures such as deindustrialization, demographic decline, and urban restructuring, their functional balance has been increasingly disrupted. This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of QIDs in Kitakyushu and develops a GIS-based framework to quantify changes in land-use structure. Using historical zoning and building floor-area data from 1986 to 2024, ternary diagram analysis is applied to examine relationships among the three functional types and identify transformation trajectories. Results show that while the total QID area expanded by 38.8%, internal structures changed significantly. Industry-dominant districts declined, commerce-oriented districts increased, and residential–industrial mixed types largely disappeared, indicating a shift toward commercial and residential functions. These findings reveal a growing mismatch between zoning designations and actual land use. To address this, the study proposes combining industrial concentration with clearer residential zoning, supported by periodic evaluation based on functional deviation thresholds. The framework provides a quantitative tool for adaptive land-use governance in shrinking industrial cities. Full article