Search Results (96)

The climate crisis, housing precarity, and the loss of everyday architectural heritage are converging challenges in Mediterranean cities. This article investigates the adaptive reuse of early twentieth-century adobe refugee dwellings in Nea Ionia and Kaisariani, neighborhoods of Attica, Greece, as an integrated social, environmental, and cultural strategy. Historical documentation, urban-morphological analysis, field observations, building survey data, material assessment, and design-based microclimatic analysis were combined to evaluate compatible restoration and bioclimatic upgrades as alternatives to demolition and conventional energy retrofit practices, with the main aim of preserving an important part of Greek history and architecture. The study develops a replicable qualitative assessment framework that identifies how existing adobe envelopes, compact layouts, courtyards, thresholds, vegetated pergolas, and low-water evaporative cooling may support low-carbon housing reuse. The results clarify the current preservation conditions and reuse potential of the selected case-study fragments, showing that adobe dwellings can preserve embodied material value, retain thermal mass and hygroscopic regulation, and support social housing when repaired with compatible, low-impact techniques. The article argues that the reuse of adobe refugee dwellings can function as a distributed urban strategy for housing provision, heritage continuity, and microclimatic adaptation. Its main contribution is a transferable analytical framework for assessing overlooked earthen housing stocks in dense Mediterranean contexts. The study argues that adaptive reuse can serve simultaneously as a means of social housing, a mechanism for optimizing the microclimate, and a means of preserving the tangible and intangible heritage of Greek adobe buildings that have been standing for over 100 years. This position extends circular construction debates by prioritizing non-demolition and direct reuse while preserving an important period of history. Full article

Urbanisation has led to dramatic alterations in pre-existing natural environments, resulting in several subsequent phenomena, such as the disappearance of habitats suitable for many plant and animal species and the concurrent arrival of generalist and non-native species, contributing to environmental homogenisation. Towns and cities serve as crossroads for transport, people, and animals, making them susceptible to colonisation by many types of plant species, dispersed either intentionally or unintentionally by these biotic vectors. Abiotic vectors, such as wind and water, also influence the composition of vegetation assemblages. Urban spontaneous vegetation occurs in (1) undisturbed areas, including brownfield sites, commons, and marginal lots, and (2) disturbed sites, such as green areas, parks, lawns (not subject to weeding), ancient monuments and walls, peripheral and industrial areas, and railways. When disturbance occurs, vegetation remains at early successional stages. Within this framework, with the aim of comparing existing contradictions and identifying knowledge gaps, we reviewed the literature on the characteristics of spontaneous plants and vegetation in urban areas, the different habitats in which they grow, the ecosystem services they provide, and management strategies, considering human perception. Our results highlight that studies on spontaneous plants are well-developed in terms of botany and ecology; however, some gaps remain, particularly regarding their integration into urban design and maintenance practices. Concerning public perception and acceptance, cultural and geographical differences emerged that deserve further investigation. In conclusion, spontaneous plants can represent a valuable heritage for cities, helping to address the challenges posed by the climate crisis. Full article

Water utilities are increasingly expected to combine technical reliability with social inclusion, risk communication, and service continuity. This empirical paper reports a cross-sectional mixed-mode household survey conducted in Rzeszów, Poland, based on 384 complete questionnaire records. For a city of approximately 200,000 inhabitants, this sample size matched the conventional planning benchmark associated with a 95% confidence level and a 5% maximum error under simple-random-sampling assumptions; however, because recruitment was mixed-mode and non-probabilistic, the results are interpreted as evidence from the realized sample rather than as formally weighted population estimates. The questionnaire covered routine service evaluation, interruption experience, preparedness, communication preferences, vulnerability-related burden, and willingness to support reliability enhancement. The analytical workflow combined descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Bartlett’s test of sphericity, the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure, principal component analysis, Mann–Whitney U tests, Kruskal–Wallis tests, chi-square tests, Spearman correlation, binary logistic regression, correspondence analysis, and CHAID-type segmentation. The highest ratings were recorded for continuity of supply (mean = 4.18) and pressure stability (mean = 4.15), whereas price fairness received the lowest mean score (3.17). Interruptions were reported by 40.1% of respondents and were associated with lower overall satisfaction. Logistic regression showed that continuity rating (OR = 4.029) and water quality rating (OR = 2.305) increased the odds of high satisfaction, whereas longer interruptions reduced them (OR = 0.354). Additional analyses showed that interruptions lasting 12 h or more markedly increased the odds of high nuisance among affected households (OR = 5.914), while respondents aged 51 years or more had lower odds of declaring emergency-information awareness (OR = 0.468). Internal bootstrap validation indicated only mild optimism (optimism-corrected AUC = 0.825). The findings indicate that customer satisfaction in urban water services is shaped primarily by continuity, perceived water quality, and disruption burden, while communication and preparedness needs remain socially differentiated. Full article

Microplastic (MP) pollution has emerged as a significant environmental crisis across the Arabian Gulf, driven by rapid urbanization, industrialization, and infrastructure challenges in waste management. Studies indicate that MPs are ubiquitous in nature and are present in different environmental compartments, including coastal waters, sediments, marine biota, and the atmosphere. The region is characterized by high salinity, high UV index, and frequent dust storms that can affect the physical and chemical behavior of plastic debris. A consistent finding across regional studies highlights the fibrous polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) polymer types as dominant microplastic particles. This prevalence of fibrous MPs highlights the role of secondary microplastics that are derived from the fragmentation of larger plastic items and textile-derived materials as a major contaminant source. Ecological impacts are increasingly observed, with studies reporting MP ingestion in commercially important fish species and the potential for biomagnification into the human food web. However, there exist key knowledge gaps regarding the long-term toxicological impacts on human health. This review synthesizes existing data to improve the understanding of microplastic distribution in Qatar and the Arabian Gulf while highlighting the need for standardized monitoring approaches and appropriate waste management strategies. Full article

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) is a critical indicator of freshwater ecosystem health, reflecting phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity. This study investigates the long-term dynamics of Chl-a concentrations in Chao Lake, China, over three decades (1993–2023), employing an integrated approach combining remote sensing, causality, and comprehensive land use and climate data analysis. Our findings reveal a dramatic 175% increase in Chl-a levels, from 37.26 km² (1.71%) in 1993 to 102.41 km² (4.71%) in 2023, highlighting the ongoing eutrophication crisis. Significant correlations were established between land cover changes and Chl-a dynamics, with built-up areas exhibiting a positive correlation of 0.763 with Chl-a. In contrast, vegetation cover showed an inverse correlation of −0.766. Rising land surface temperatures (LST) increased by 1.8 °C from 1993 to 2023, significantly affecting nutrient cycling and algal bloom proliferation. Precipitation trends indicate a decline of approximately 10% over the study period, further exacerbating hydrological stress and nutrient concentrations. Employing Convergent and Geographic Convergent cross-mapping, we established robust causal relationships, confirming that urbanization and climate variability are primary drivers of Chl-a fluctuations. These findings stress the urgent need for targeted management strategies to mitigate nutrient loading and improve water quality in Chao Lake. Full article

The global water crisis and the urgent need to transition toward regenerative economic models position the circular water economy as a strategic pathway for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6. While technical feasibility and engineering performance of water reuse technologies have been extensively documented, the socio-organisational and institutional factors conditioning their adoption by industrial and urban entities remain poorly understood. This study addresses this knowledge gap by examining how organisational resources, institutional frameworks, and psychosocial factors are associated with implementation outcomes of circular water economy practices. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEMs) on survey data from 150 organisational decision-makers across three Peruvian regions (Lima, Trujillo, and Cajamarca), we tested a multidimensional theoretical model integrating resource-based view, theory of planned behaviour, and institutional theory. Results reveal that external regulatory pressure (β = 0.345, p < 0.001), institutional framework quality (β = 0.287, p < 0.001), organisational resource availability (β = 0.273, p = 0.001), and pro-environmental organisational culture (β = 0.255, p = 0.013) show significant positive associations with technology implementation. Counterintuitively, individual attitudes exhibited a negative association (β = −0.350, p < 0.001), suggesting that favourable perceptions disconnected from organisational capacity may generate resistance rather than facilitate adoption. Implementation fully mediates all relationships with performance outcomes (R² = 82.3%), confirming its role as a critical bottleneck in the adoption process. These findings provide empirical evidence for prioritising institutional reforms and organisational capacity-building over awareness campaigns in water reuse promotion strategies, particularly in emerging economy contexts characterised by regulatory fragmentation and limited technical capabilities. Full article

This study reinterprets Ottoman water philosophy through a “Hierarchical Adaptation Framework” to bridge the gap between historical heritage and contemporary biophilic design. While existing literature discusses Ottoman architecture and modern sustainability separately, a theoretical integration connecting these domains remains underexplored. Focusing on Bursa’s historical water network—specifically the Waqf-managed systems—this research utilizes a qualitative methodology to synthesize heritage-based water logics into a transferable design model. The proposed framework is structured around three interconnected layers: (1) Ecological (Resilience), prioritizing resource availability and passive cooling; (2) Sensory (Psychological Restoration), leveraging acoustic and thermal properties for user well-being; and (3) Symbolic (Identity), re-coding cultural rituals for modern civic memory. By mapping these layers against Browning’s 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, the study identifies Ottoman water architecture as a “Proto-Biophilic” precedent. The findings argue that contemporary interventions must follow a strict prioritization—ecological viability first, followed by sensory optimization and symbolic resonance—to avoid “greenwashing.” The study concludes by proposing a “Technological Biomimicry” strategy to resolve conflicts between historical abundance and modern water scarcity, offering a resilient roadmap for water-centric urbanism in the age of climate crisis. Full article

Under the new water control philosophy, reclaimed water utilization is an important strategic measure to increase water supply and reduce water environmental pollution. This has important implications for addressing the water crisis in urban development. The scientific and reasonable price of reclaimed water has a positive effect on promoting the utilization of reclaimed water and improving the utilization rate of urban reclaimed water. Therefore, this study extracted the influencing factors of reclaimed water price through grounded theory and used the ISM method to elucidate the logical hierarchy and investigate their influencing mechanisms. The results indicate that the structural system of factors affecting the price of reclaimed water was composed of 16 factors, which could be divided into four hierarchical levels. Among them, the external value of reclaimed water utilization, the technical level of reclaimed water processes, the regional economic development level, and the quality differences between reclaimed water and conventional water were the deep-rooted factors that affect the price of reclaimed water. In the end, the policy implications regarding the management of reclaimed water prices were proposed from the perspectives of surface-level direct factors, middle-level indirect factors, and deep-rooted factors. Full article

The sustainable supply of freshwater resources is facing serious challenges due to the rapid industrial development, massive expansion of urbanization, and increasing environmental pollution. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation desalination (SIED) is considered one of the most promising candidates to tackle water scarcity and energy crisis, owing to its sustainable solar energy, abundant water sources, and pollution-free characteristic. MXene has attracted considerable attention in the domain of purified water production, owing to its remarkable properties, including tunable hydrophilicity, ease of processing, resistance to fouling, mechanical strength, and photothermal conversion capabilities. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the research progress of hydrogels/aerogels in the SIED field. Firstly, the synthesis strategy and the significantly distinctive features of MXene and its nanocomposites are outlined. Secondly, based on the photothermal conversion capacity and ease of modulation of MXene, various fabrication processes of MXene aerogels are analyzed, and the varying wettability levels of the MXene aerogel-based evaporators are discussed and summarized. Thirdly, the properties of MXene hydrogel-based evaporators are discussed from four perspectives: photothermal conversion capacity, water transport capacity, evaporation enthalpy regulation, and salt resistance. Finally, the challenges and issues related to the development of MXene hydrogels/aerogels in SIED are further discussed. Full article

Urban ecosystems are increasingly shaped by multiple environmental stressors, which may threaten both biodiversity and human well-being. We summarised the current knowledge on the ecological and social consequences of seven major urban pressures: air pollution, freshwater degradation, biological invasions, noise pollution, habitat fragmentation, soil pollution and climate crisis. Air and soil pollution, largely driven by traffic and industrial activities, compromises vegetation functions, reduces ecosystem services, and affects human health. Urban freshwater systems face contamination from stormwater runoff, wastewater, and microplastics, leading to biodiversity loss, altered ecosystem processes, and reduced water availability. Biological invasions, facilitated by human activities and habitat disturbances, reshape ecological communities, outcompete native species, and impose socio-economic costs, while management requires integrated monitoring and citizen engagement. Noise pollution disrupts animal communication, alters species distributions, and poses significant risks to human physical and mental health. Simultaneously, habitat fragmentation and loss reduce ecological connectivity, impair pollination and dispersal processes, and heighten extinction risks for both plants and animals. Collectively, these stressors interact synergistically, amplifying ecological degradation and exacerbating health and social inequalities in urban populations. The cumulative impacts highlight the need for systemic and adaptive approaches to urban planning that integrate biodiversity conservation, public health, and social equity. Nature-based solutions, ecological restoration, technological innovation, and participatory governance emerge as promising strategies to enhance urban resilience. Furthermore, fostering citizen science initiatives can strengthen monitoring capacity and create community ownership of sustainable urban environments. Addressing the combined pressures of urban environmental stressors is thus pivotal for building cities that are ecologically robust, socially inclusive, and capable of coping with the challenges of the climate crisis and global urbanization. Full article

Climate change affects both the quantity and quality of water resources, amplifying the water crisis, slowing progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and contributing to the needs of future generations. To address these challenges, this study presents an interdisciplinary synthesis of the literature on the subject, highlighting the impact of climate change on water resources (surface water and groundwater). The escalating global demand for water, driven by factors such as population growth, urbanization, and industrial development, is placing significant pressure on water resources. This situation needs sustainable management solutions to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with increased water consumption and climate change. The methodology included bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer version 1.6.19, a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks, and systematic analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. 155 records were used in this review from a total number of 1344 documents searched in Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar databases. The results indicate that research on the consequences of climate change on water quality remains in its infancy. This study highlights the effects of climate change on water quality indicators, including physicochemical, microbiological, and micropollutants, as well as the implications for human health and water supply infrastructure. Climatic factors, such as rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns, are particularly important because they control processes fundamental to sustaining life on the planet. The main conclusions are that climate change accelerates the degradation of drinking water quality and amplifies public health risks. These findings highlight the need for rigorous assessments and the development of integrated adaptation strategies involving collaboration among water operators, decision-makers, the scientific community, and climate change specialists. Full article

The growth of the human population, combined with climate change, has made the provisioning of water resources to human populations one of the greatest challenges of recent decades. One commonly adopted solution has been the construction of small dams and reservoirs close to urban settlements. However, concerns have arisen that, despite their small size, small dams may have environmental impacts similar to those known for large dams. The severe water crisis observed between 2014 and 2015 led to the multiplication of small dams in southeastern Brazil, such as the one built on the Fetá stream at the Capivari River basin in the municipality of Louveira. This study aimed to contribute to the assessment of the impacts of small dam construction on water quality by monitoring basic parameters and nutrients during the filling and stabilization period of the Fetá reservoir. As expected, the interruption of water flow and the increase in water residence time led to increases in temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and concentrations of dissolved carbon and nitrogen, as well as a reduction in turbidity. Consistent with the shallow depth of the water column, neither thermal nor chemical stratification was observed. Nevertheless, the water quality of surface and bottom layers was markedly different. Over time, water volume and water quality tended to stabilize. This research clearly demonstrates that small dams and reservoirs cause qualitatively similar environmental impacts to those of large-scale dams and reservoirs worldwide. Full article

Warsaw’s Oligocene Groundwater Intakes (OGIs) represent a unique but overlooked component of the city’s Urban Water System (UWS), originally developed to supplement municipal supply. This study investigates whether the existing OGI network can still contribute to Urban Water Resilience (UWR) under contemporary conditions. A mixed-methods approach was applied, combining archival research, geospatial analysis of 89 public intakes, and on-site assessments of selected facilities in the Praga Północ and Praga Południe districts. The results show that while OGIs form a decentralized and technically functional system with high resilience potential, their spatial coverage is uneven, their public use has sharply declined, and management is fragmented across multiple entities. Despite this marginalization, OGIs retain strategic value as an emergency safeguard and could be revitalized as part of Warsaw’s resilience strategy. Full article

The escalating global water crisis, coupled with the unsustainable accumulation of industrial and urban waste, demands innovative solutions that align with circular economy principles. This review explores the transformative potential of waste-derived ceramic membranes as a sustainable strategy for water purification, simultaneously addressing waste valorization and clean water scarcity. Ceramic membranes, traditionally fabricated from high-purity inorganic materials, are renowned for their superior chemical resistance, thermal stability, and durability. Recent advances demonstrate that industrial byproducts, such as red mud, coal fly ash, blast furnace slag, coal gangue, and kiln roller waste, can be effectively repurposed into cost-effective, high-performance filtration materials. This paper critically examines fabrication techniques, material properties, and performance metrics of waste-derived ceramic membranes. By transforming industrial waste into functional filtration materials, this approach not only mitigates environmental pollution but also contributes to sustainable water security. Full article

Background/Objectives: Obesity has become a global public health crisis, with China now ranking among the countries with the highest number of obese adults. Urban China faces a growing burden of obesity, but little is known about how obesity prevalence differs by occupation. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 2022 among urban adults in northern and southern China, and to examine disparities across occupational groups. Methods: This study utilized cross-sectional data from 2022 health examinations to calculate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in different occupations in cities of southern and northern China. A logistic regression model was applied to analyze association between occupational categories and obesity, controlling for confounding factors like age, gender and region. Results: A total of 1,427,978 participants in 2022 were included. The aggregate prevalence of overweight and obesity was 30.78% and 7.90%, respectively. After being adjusted by logistic regression, the study showed that the highest adjusted odds ratio of overweight was observed in the Real Estate Industry sector with AOR 1.17 (1.15, 1.19), while the lowest odds ratio occurred in the Mining Industry sector, which was 0.90 (0.80, 1.01). The highest adjusted odds ratio of the prevalence of obesity was associated with the Production and Supply of Electricity, Heat, Gas, and Water sector (AOR: 1.92 (1.78, 2.07)), whereas the lowest odds ratio was observed in the Scientific Research and Technical Services sector. After categorizing occupations into four broad groups, the Blue-Collar group had the highest adjusted odds ratio of the prevalence of overweight (AOR: 1.07 (1.06, 1.08)), whereas the Sales/Office group exhibited the highest odds ratio of the prevalence of obesity (AOR: 1.37 (1.35, 1.39)). Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight and obesity differed substantially across occupational groups especially for obesity. More detailed and occupation-specific BMI management policies should be released to reduce obesity-related health inequalities in urban China. Full article