Search Results (48)

Smart surveillance cameras are increasingly employed for automated tasks such as event and anomaly detection within smart city infrastructures. However, the heterogeneity of deployment environments, ranging from densely populated urban intersections to quiet residential neighborhoods, renders the use of a single, universal model suboptimal. To address this, we propose the construction of a model zoo comprising models trained for diverse environmental contexts. We introduce an automated transferability assessment framework that identifies the most suitable model for a new deployment site. This task is particularly challenging in smart surveillance settings, where both source data and labeled target data are typically unavailable. Existing approaches often depend on pretrained embeddings or assumptions about model uncertainty, which may not hold reliably in real-world scenarios. In contrast, our method leverages embeddings generated by randomly initialized neural networks (RINNs) to construct task-agnostic reference embeddings without relying on pretraining. By comparing feature representations of the target data extracted using both pretrained models and RINNs, this method eliminates the need for labeled data. Structural similarity between embeddings is quantified using minibatch-Centered Kernel Alignment (CKA), enabling efficient and scalable model ranking. We evaluate our method on realistic surveillance datasets across multiple downstream tasks, including object tagging, anomaly detection, and event classification. Our embedding-level score achieves high correlations with ground-truth model rankings (relative to fine-tuned baselines), attaining Kendall’s $\tau$ values of 0.95, 0.94, and 0.89 on these tasks, respectively. These results demonstrate that our framework consistently selects the most transferable model, even when the specific downstream task or objective is unknown. This confirms the practicality of our approach as a robust, low-cost precursor to model adaptation or retraining. Full article

Urban regions represent complex acoustic environments with few respites from noise other than small or remote patches of green infrastructure (GI). Recent noise action planning in the German Ruhr region indicates that urban expansion is fueling encroachment upon GI and subsequently the loss of quiet areas. A systematic exploration of this loss in Germany is needed. An explorative systematic review on Scopus with snowballing supports the synthesis of a conceptual framework linking acoustically relevant ecosystem services with GI. Our review identifies natural quietness, abatement, connection to nature, positive soundscape perception, fidelity, and bird sound presence as sound-related ecosystem functions or services. Empirical case studies justify the need to better understand the link between GI, ecosystem services, and the acoustic environment. Guidance for quiet area assessments in the EU to address this research gap in noise action planning is an emerging topic and needs further study. To address the knowledge gap and provide quiet area assessment guidance, we present a stratified habitat-based acoustic study design for a multi-community area in the middle of the German Ruhr region. A multi-tier sample of 120 locations across eleven habitat and land use strata in the Ruhr is presented, pointing out the scarcity of protected biotopes and large biotope complexes in the study area. This work is a contribution towards a conceptual and methodological basis for quiet area assessment, especially in German and EU noise action planning. Full article

(1) Woody plant species selection for urban forests is one of the key factors in reducing traffic noise in urban areas, and the ability of sound wave attenuation by leaves is one of the foundations for species selection. However, less references regarding the relationships between leaf morphological traits and noise reduction have been reported, especially the relationships between leaf texture (LT), leaf surface roughness (LSR), and noise reduction. (2) Eighteen arbors and shrubs were selected based on leaf texture and surface roughness characteristics, and noise reduction was measured using white noise sources in a self-designed device in a quiet laboratory at night. Then, the changes in noise reduction with LT and LSR were analyzed. (3) The noise reduction was significantly affected by LT, LSR, and their interaction (p < 0.05). The coriaceous leaf was usually more efficient in noise reduction than the chartaceous leaf, and LSR had an auxiliary effect on noise reduction. The effects of noise reduction were mainly influenced by leaf texture through physical blocking and by leaf surface roughness through interference. (4) The findings demonstrate that leaf texture and leaf surface roughness are the suitable predictors for selecting highly efficient woody plants for establishing and improving noise-reduction-oriented forests. Full article

Technological innovation toward electrification and digitalization is revolutionizing aviation, paving the way for new aeronautical paradigms and novel modes to transport goods and people in urban and regional environments. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) leverages vertical and digital mobility, driven by safe, quiet, sustainable, and cost-effective electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft. A key enabler of this transformation is the development of vertiports—dedicated infrastructure designed for VTOL operations. Vertiports are pivotal in integrating AAM into multimodal transport networks, ensuring seamless connectivity with existing urban and regional transportation systems. Their design, placement, and operational framework are central to the success of AAM, influencing urban accessibility, safety, and public acceptance. These facilities should accommodate passenger and cargo operations, incorporating charging stations, takeoff and landing areas, and optimized traffic management systems. Public and private sectors are investing in vertiports, shaping the regulatory and technological landscape for widespread adoption. As cities prepare for the future of aerial mobility, vertiports will be the cornerstone of sustainable, efficient, and scalable air transportation. Full article

Urban environments have incorporated sustainable development into their planning by designing more green spaces. Access to urban green space is the key to the progress of urban sustainability, not only environmentally and ecologically but also socially. Research on social sustainability in parks can be achieved through the inclusive design of park settings that encourage diverse social activities. However, previous research rarely considers how park settings can foster social sustainability for young people. Within this context, this paper employs a qualitative research approach to explore young people’s preferences and engagement with parks through art-based and visual methods to understand how they interact with parks in the context of social sustainability. The visual survey, comprising 32 park scene photos, was administered to 192 youth (ages 9–17) in the Moreton Bay Region, Queensland, Australia. These photos captured four park features: play areas and playgrounds; informal and open areas; formal spaces and pathways; and sports spaces. The findings show that young people like park environments with a balance of physical activity, socialisation, and connection to natural areas. Playgrounds were selected for their active play areas, and open spaces were selected for their social and leisure possibilities. Formal pathways, particularly those connected to natural areas, were selected for their quiet and socialising potential, and sports areas, especially those with equipment, were less preferred due to their solitary nature. The findings highlight the importance of designing parks that promote social sustainability through fostering inclusivity and social cohesion. Such insights inform urban planning policies for making public spaces to meet diverse social needs and support social interactions. Full article

Suzhou classical gardens, as a unique form of urban green space in China, not only embody rich historical and cultural heritage but also showcase distinctive natural landscapes, exerting a profound impact on modern mental health. This study employs text mining and content analysis methods to qualitatively explore online comments about Suzhou Gardens, which were collected using the Octopus Collector program to mine public reviews from the travel review platform Ctrip. These online reviews were further combined with questionnaire survey data to quantitatively analyze public preferences among different gardens and their restorative experience characteristics. We utilized the ROST CM6 software for high-frequency word extraction, semantic network analysis, and sentiment analysis to reveal the emotional perceptions of the public towards these gardens. The sentiment analysis results indicate that a majority of online comments express positive emotions, frequently mentioning words such as “tranquil”, “quiet”, and “serene”, highlighting the significant psychological comfort these spaces provide. Additionally, through one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation analysis, we found significant differences in emotional and cognitive dimensions among different gardens, which are closely related to specific spatial factors such as landscape element diversity, visual scale, and types of greenery. These findings suggest that the spatial characteristics of Suzhou Gardens play a crucial role in shaping visitors’ emotional responses. Based on these insights, we proposed a series of design recommendations aimed at enhancing the overall image and healing functions of Suzhou Gardens. The findings of this study not only enrich the theoretical framework of healing landscape design but also provide valuable insights for the practical application of these principles in modern urban green space design. The research underscores the importance of combining functionality with aesthetic elements to meet the psychological needs of contemporary society. Full article

The urban soundscape contributes significantly to defining human perception and experience. Several standard assessment methods for data collection refer to in situ evaluations to determine how people perceive urban acoustic qualities. These methods, which generally involve soundwalks accompanied by questionnaires, are valuable but need to be validated in different cultural contexts. To address this need, international efforts such as the Soundscape Attribute Translation Project (SATP) are underway to ensure the effectiveness of a data collection standard in non-English-speaking regions. As a part of the SATP project, this study explores potential variations in how people experience urban soundscapes in North Africa. A standardized listening experiment was used to compare how Arabic speakers and French speakers rate the perceived affective qualities (PAQ) of urban soundscapes. Using data collected in public urban spaces in London, participants from both language groups rated 27 recorded urban soundscapes using a PAQ questionnaire. Findings from the Kruskal–Wallis H-test suggest that the perception of pleasant, chaotic, and vibrant are significant, while the dimensions of eventful, monotonous, and quiet show no significant distinctions between the two PAQ groups. Furthermore, opposing Pearson correlations were observed for the attributes of pleasantness and eventfulness, along with contradictions for vibrant, monotonous, and calm. The two-dimensional circumplex models visually map the differences in perceptual responses between the two PAQ groups, displaying distinct circular distortions along the monotone-vibrant axis for Arabic PAQs and the chaotic-calm axis for the French PAQs. The findings of this study suggest that further investigations are needed to understand whether the differences in the urban soundscape perception between these two PAQs are due to linguistic factors or other factors. Full article

The environment in which people live is a complex system influenced by multiple factors interacting with each other, and therefore, it is crucial to deeply explore the influences of various factors on environmental perception. Among the numerous factors affecting the experience of urban forests visits, the thermal–acoustic environment stands out prominently. This study focuses on urban forests located in subtropical regions, with specific research conducted in the Xihu Park in Fuzhou, China. The study explores the thermal–acoustic interaction in urban forest environments. A total of 150 participants evaluated the perception of sound, thermal sensation, and overall perception through laboratory experiments, with 36 of them having their objective physiological indicators monitored. Different levels of sound and temperature were selected for the experiments, with three levels for each type of sound. Our results show that increasing temperature enhanced the perceived loudness of sound, especially when the environment was quiet. Sound type and loudness had a significant impact on thermal sensation, but no interaction was observed with temperature. Moreover, we found that certain sounds could improve overall comfort, and the effect was most evident at moderate loudness. Temperature had a significant influence on both comfort and annoyance, with increasing temperature leading to higher annoyance. These findings provide important insights into how the interplay between sound and heat affects human perception and emotional state, providing scientific guidance for the design of more human-centered environments. Full article

The 2020 Environmental Noise in Europe report shows that a vast majority of European countries have legal definitions of quiet areas and criteria for their designation. As much as 60% of them have designated at least one quiet area in their territory and have taken measures to protect the acoustic climate in these areas. In Poland, although the instrument was introduced in the national environmental legislation, guidelines for delimitation have not been defined yet in the form of a binding legal act. The objective of this article is to propose the method for identifying quiet areas through spatial analysis and present it on the example of two cities—Radom and Lublin. These cities represent different approaches to the designation of quiet areas. This work is a continuation of the survey conducted and published by the authors in 2023. At the outset, the legislation and literature on the subject were analysed. Based on that, the conditions that potential quiet areas must meet were determined. Spatial analyses were then conducted for the quiet areas proposed earlier in the survey and in the environmental noise programme to see if the criteria selected by the authors were actually met in these areas: acoustic, functional, related to land cover, size, as well as temporal, spatial and transport accessibility, and location, including distances from areas with the highest noise emissions and adequate population density. Quiet areas are forest areas, public green areas, and surface water areas with recreational functions. The criteria for the elimination of the selected quiet areas were mainly location related (distance from main roads and population density). The accessibility of the quiet areas is also important. A method devised by the authors enables the delimitation of quiet areas in cities. Furthermore, this method is primarily based on publicly available data, which makes it applicable to other cities as well. Full article

Informal learning spaces (ILS) offer unique opportunities for students to interact and develop skills in a more social, resilient, and sustainable environment. However, there is a lack of a definitive typology for ILS and related design factors and outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the typology of ILS in academic education, including relevant design factors and positive outcomes from architectural and urban planning perspectives. A systematic literature review was conducted on articles published between 2004 and 2024 from four databases: Scopus, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insights, and IEEE Xplore. The included articles are in English and based on empirical data published in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on informal learning and its settings. A total of 37 full-text articles were included in the descriptive review, from which two categories and six types were identified: private indoor quiet space, semi-private/semi-public indoor space, public indoor space, public sustainable space, public outdoor space, and comprehensive space. The results also revealed seven categories of factors affecting these types of ILS: personal aspects, spatial design, physical settings, resources, social aspects, natural environment, and perceived environment. Furthermore, these ILS significantly contributed to five categories of positive outcomes: learning efficacy, socialisation, refreshment and relaxation, health outcomes, and sustainable development. Therefore, this SLR significantly contributed to the definition and typology of ILS in sustainable higher education. Full article

German noise action plans aim to reduce negative health outcomes from noise exposure and identify quiet areas free of noise pollution. Quiet area identification in German noise action plans is based primarily on noise mapping and spatial analysis and not empirical or qualitative data about acoustic environments, thus leaving a gap in the understanding of the quality of formally recognized quiet areas in noise action plans. This work presents a comparative empirical case study in Dortmund, Germany, with the aim to describe the diurnal dB(A) and biophonic properties of quiet areas versus noise ‘hot spots’. Sound observations (n = 282,764) were collected in five different natural or recreational land use patch types larger than four acres within 33 proposed quiet areas in Dortmund (n = 70) and 23 noise hot spots between 27 April 2022 and 2 March 2023. We found that quiet areas are on average more than 20 dB(A) quieter than noise hot spots almost every hour of the day. Forests, managed tree stands, cemeteries, and agriculture diel patterns are dominated by dawn dusk chorus in spring and summer, whereas sports and recreation as well as noise hot spots are dominated by traffic and human noise. A novel composite biophony mapping procedure is presented that finds distinct temporal distribution of biophony in forested and agriculture peri-urban locations positively associated with patch size, distance away from LDEN > 55, proximity to water, and the number of vegetation layers in the plant community. Anthrophony distribution dominates urban land uses in all hours of the day but expands during the day and evening and contracts at night and in dusk hours. The procedures presented here illustrate how qualitative information regarding quiet areas can be integrated into German noise action planning. Full article

Urban green and blue space (UGBS) contribute to a variety of nature-based values and human health benefits. As such, they play a critical role for the quality of life and sustainability in cities. Here, we use the metropolitan area of Geneva, Switzerland, as a case study to illustrate that UGBS are heterogeneous in spatial characteristics, such as surface area, naturality, or noise levels, which are associated with key cultural ecosystems services. For each characteristic, we defined a threshold with the realization of an associated cultural ecosystem service, including a novel noise threshold (LAeq < 45 dB) compatible with the notion of “quiet”. We then used geospatial information to generate place-based and people-based indicators that collectively describe the variation in key dimensions of UGBS. We found that, in Geneva, the typical (median) resident has access to 4.7 ha of UGBS, and 89% of residents live within 300 m of the nearest UGBS. Accessible surfaces of UGBS per capita, however, were highly variable by type of UGBS and across neighbourhoods. For example, residents from precarious neighbourhoods are less likely to live within 300 m of quiet UGBS than residents of privileged neighbourhoods, and when they do, these UGBS tend to be smaller. The proposed methodology categorizes UGBS in a manner that both captures their distinct social roles and highlights potential social injustice issues. Full article

The relationship between urban greenspaces and the benefits to psychological, social, and physical aspects of human wellbeing are important to study, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas and underrepresented communities. This interaction was theorized, analyzed, and measured in this paper through the transactional paradigm and operationalized through the use of a volunteer geographic information questionnaire, SoftGIS, which activated the urban greenspace–human wellbeing interaction through its map-based data collection. Over 450 unique place-based relationships were statistically analyzed within the Greater Glasgow Urban Region of Paisley, Scotland, a vulnerable community. This study revealed that multiple components of human wellbeing are supported through interactions with urban greenspaces. The Paisley region’s respondents visited greenspaces, generally, and most often to receive psychological benefits such as reduction of stress and mental relaxation through interactions which included sitting and relaxing in quiet spaces, enjoying natural surroundings, and viewing nature and wildlife. The physical and social wellbeing benefits were not as frequent in these urban greenspace interactions but were distinctly present. The results imply pathways towards management and multifunctional greenspace design responses in urbanizing regions and indicate strategies for public policy, human health, and urban planning, which deliver wellbeing benefits to communities. Full article

In recent decades, rapid urbanization has been linked to negative impacts on people’s mental health. However, the healing potential of urban parks as central features of cityscapes has not been fully explored from the perspective of audio-visual integration. This gap limits designers’ ability to leverage parks’ healing systems to their full potential. To address this gap, this study used the Mindwave monitoring and recovery component scale to evaluate the healing function of urban parks in Chengdu, specifically focusing on audio-visual integration. Based on audio-visual scene combination samples collected through shooting and recording, we found that: (1) The visual and audio qualities of birdsong (the sky above the blue space and the green space) can significantly differ. (2) Birdsong and conversation seem to provide healing effects from seemingly contradictory dimensions of “quiet” and “social”, with gender differences as the primary influencing factor. (3) Visible children laughing at low levels (30% and 50%) has a more negative impact than invisible traffic noise at the same sound pressure level. (4) Audio-visual interaction does not always have a positive effect, with the visibility of the sound source as the primary influencing factor. (5) An increase in audio proportion did not necessarily correspond to a linear increase in the healing effect. Through exploring the influence of audio-visual combination scenes on healing effects in urban parks, this study provides an empirical basis for park design and planning that considers audio-visual healing effects. It offers insights into designing healing systems for parks and urban areas as well. Full article

Large wind turbines of the horizontal axis are commonly used to gather wind energy; however, their performance is found to be constrained in conditions of erratic and low-speed wind flow. In contrast, low wind conditions—which are typically present in dense urban areas—are found to favour vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT). These turbines have a simple design, are inexpensive and quiet, and are discovered to be better in low wind situations. In this research, we have chosen wind tree applications to absorb the most available wind energy. The new Aeroleaf Savonius Wind Turbine was developed numerically and a computational fluid dynamics simulation was performed on this new type of Savonius tree to predict its performance. The results indicated that the system could accept wind from any direction and could start rotating as soon as the site had a cut in wind speed of 3.3 m/s. The rotor speed increased by 10.4% from 5.5 to 6.3 m/s wind speed at 0.45 tip speed ratio. The tip speed ratio is 0.52 at the site’s high wind speed, and under these circumstances, the maximum Cp is 12.9%. The turbine was able to produce superior performance coefficients, according to the results. Full article