Urban Sci., Volume 8, Issue 3 (September 2024) – 77 articles

The aim of this paper was to propose a model for the evaluation of the flow of goods delivered to urban centers based on a systematic approach, generating possible scenarios of delivery activities and selecting those criteria for evaluation that contributed to the development of delivery activities and their evaluation by individual stakeholders. The number of users of delivery services is increasing, which leads to an increase in the volume of goods in the city center, creating additional traffic congestion—so-called bottlenecks—which results in an increased noise level and the emission of harmful exhaust gases, increasing dissatisfaction with the quality of life of the city population. It is, therefore, necessary for decision-makers to make a decision that achieves the best consensus among stakeholders. A test was carried out in the city of Rijeka. Based on a review of the literature and the spatial planning of the city of Rijeka, this paper proposed the following possible scenarios for the delivery of goods within the city center: status quo, delivery from one consolidation center, delivery from two consolidation centers, delivery by environmentally friendly vehicles from one consolidation center and livability. The criteria were evaluated by relevant stakeholders to determine the weight of each criterion for the development of goods deliveries in the city center. This paper used a multi-actor multi-criteria analysis (MAMCA) based on the optimization and ranking of scenarios in accordance with the given objective, the research problem, the defined criteria and the interests of the stakeholders. The solution of the MAMCA analysis evaluated the scenario with two consolidation centers best in accordance with the specified optimization objective. Full article

This study examines the interplay between Airbnb and gentrification in Thessaloniki and Greece, focusing on their economic and social impacts on urban neighborhoods. Utilizing data from 110 online publications and qualitative insights from ten semi-structured interviews with real estate agents, Airbnb stakeholders, residents, and experts, the research provides a nuanced view of these dynamics. The findings suggest that Airbnb influences housing markets by driving up rental and home prices, potentially exacerbating housing scarcity and displacing vulnerable populations in gentrifying areas. While this aligns with the existing literature, the results remain tentative due to the complexities involved. The trend toward corporate-hosted short-term rentals appears to shift Airbnb away from its original community-focused model, though this shift is still evolving. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced changes, such as a move from short-term to long-term rentals and the conversion of commercial spaces to residential use, impacting neighborhood dynamics. However, these effects may be temporary and do not fully address broader housing issues. While an oversupply of Airbnb accommodations might stabilize rental prices to some extent, its impact on the overall housing crisis remains uncertain. Future research should investigate the long-term effects on housing affordability and social equity, considering the limitations of current findings. Full article

Previous research has found higher temperature trends at urban observatories. This study examines in depth the features of the urban environment, the thermal behaviour of land use and land cover, and the changes that have taken place in five urban areas of the Spanish Mediterranean. The CORINE Land Cover database was used to delimit the primary land use land cover (LULC) and its changes between 1990 and 2018. Once this had been established, land surface temperatures (LSTs) between 1985 and 2023 were retrieved from the Landsat database available on the Climate Engine website. There has been a significant advance in artificial land uses, which have become the main uses in the urban areas in Valencia and Alicante. An analysis of the primary land cover showed the greatest thermal increase in artificial surfaces, especially in the industrial, commercial, and transport units that are common on their outskirts, without exception in any urban area. The results are less clear for urban fabrics and agricultural areas due to their diversity and complexity. The density of vegetation is a key factor in the magnitude of the UHI, which is higher in the urban areas with more vegetated agriculture areas, therefore showing lower LST than both industrial units and urban fabrics. Another important conclusion is the role of breezes in limiting or eliminating the strength of the UHI. Sea breezes help to explain the monthly variation of UHIs. Both bodies of water and areas of dense tree vegetation provided the lowest LST, a fact of special interest for mitigating the effects of heat waves in increasingly large urban areas. This study also concludes the different effect of each LULC on the temperatures recorded by urban observatories and enables better decision-making when setting up weather stations for a more detailed time study of the urban heat island (UHI). Full article

Over the last several decades, cities have seen concentrated development and population increase. It is a global process, still unfinished, that has simultaneously generated strong territorial imbalances because of socioeconomic backwardness and depopulation of rural areas. The alternative proposed by all institutions is a polycentric urban system, so that cities contribute to decentralizing this development towards their respective areas of influence, thus stabilizing the populations in them. Extremadura is a paradigmatic example, since it has a polycentric system of small cities that have been able to retain half of the population in rural areas. The objective of this article, first, is to define the urban structure and, based on this, typify the range, the hierarchy of the system and its territorial distribution, for which a multivariate analysis is applied. Secondly, a series of isochrones and displacement ranges are defined to analyze urban accessibility, which is key to determining the degree of decentralization of development and population stability. However, a wide peripheral and remote strip remains in the region, for which a concrete proposal is finally made for discussion. Full article

India is the most populous country in the world, having a population of 1.42 billion in 2022. It is urbanizing rapidly, with the present urbanization level at about 35%, which is expected to reach about 40% by 2030. There was an estimated demand of 11.22 million homes in urban India in 2017, of which 95% was in the affordable housing sector. This demand is expected to increase with the current urbanization trends. The Indian government is promoting the construction of millions of affordable houses under its ambitious Prime Minister’s Housing Program. These houses are planned, designed, and constructed using local materials and techniques, considering local climatic, geological, hazard, and socio-economic conditions. We examined the 30 most commonly applied housing typologies to determine which typologies and materials have minimum embodied energy and construction costs. The results indicate that load-bearing housing construction of up to three stories, with a plinth–carpet area ratio of 1.31, constructed with any of the blocks-based masonry techniques, has the lowest embodied energy and construction cost, and houses with a plinth–carpet area ratio of 1.51 have the highest. Further, houses constructed with Hollow CC block masonry have the lowest embodied energy, and HF Fly Ash block-based masonry has the lowest construction cost. Full article

In this study, nine different types of essential facilities in the state of Iowa (such as hospitals, fire stations, schools, etc.) were analyzed on a county level in terms of flood depth, functionality and restoration time after flooding, and damage sustained during flooding. These essential facilities were also analyzed on the state level in terms of their location relative to the 100 y and 500 y flood zones. Results show that the number of essential facilities within the flood extent reached up to 39%, and during the 100 y flood scenario all but one of the six chosen counties lost functionality of 100% of their facilities. Most essential facilities were found to have a flood depth of 1 to 4 ft deep and a restoration time of 480 days. The purpose of this study is to bring awareness to decisionmakers regarding the risk that flooding events pose to essential facilities and to highlight the increasing dangers of flooding on a broader scale. This study will be beneficial to improve mitigation strategies, emergency response plans, and ensuring that emergency services and facilities are available in the event of future floods for the affected areas. Full article

Neighborhood planning models are crucial for ensuring a balanced distribution of urban services. Though the 15-min city model is the most updated neighborhood model, some gaps in the literature on schools and walkability exist. This paper addresses these gaps, especially in developing countries where servicing is challenging. This study focuses on evaluating school services through the lens of the 15-min city model to investigate the socio-spatial distribution of school locations. This research employs a multi-phase approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative methods to develop a methodological framework that was applied to the case study of Nablus. As a result, this study marks the gaps between implementing local schools and measures of the 15-min model in terms of physical, functional, and socioeconomic urban characteristics, including density, diversity, and proximity. It reveals the impact of local neighborhood planning on schools’ efficiency in social sustainability, urban design quality, spatial coherence of schools, and coordination among schools and other services. Potential reforms in planning are provided. Full article

Climate change originating from anthropogenic activities is a key challenge of our time, with unsustainable mobility patterns representing one of the main contributors to polluting emissions in the atmosphere. The situation is particularly critical in urban areas, where traditional mobility paradigms based on private mobility and endothermic vehicles lead to road congestion, environmental degradation, health issues, and economic loss. Many policies are being implemented worldwide to support the envisaged transition to cleaner mobility paradigms, like the EU Fit for 55 Package, which is bound to ban sales of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles by 2035. In this context, electrification emerges as the most promising alternative, although battery electric vehicles represent a growing yet small niche, and the market is still expressing many concerns. Through a case study of Italy, a country with a strong automotive tradition and severe air pollution in urban centers, this research investigates consumer attitudes and barriers to electric vehicle adoption, providing crucial insights for future policy and market strategies. This study consists of a survey-based empirical investigation (N = 1533). The findings suggest that skepticism is still strong and requires a joint effort (carmakers, government, media) to frame sound communicational strategies and policies addressing market apprehensions about actual environmental performance, economic convenience, range anxiety, and availability of adequate charging infrastructures. Full article

Wind speed differences between weekdays and holidays at urban sites in Japan were investigated in search of the influence of urban anthropogenic heat on surface wind speed using data from the Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System (AMeDAS) of the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) for 44 years. The wind speed was found to be lower on holidays than on weekdays, not only in large cities but also in areas with medium degrees of urbanization, which is interpreted to be due to the stronger stability of the surface boundary layer under lower temperatures with smaller amounts of anthropogenic heat. The rate of decrease is about −3% in central Tokyo, and about −0.5% for the average over stations with population densities between 1000 and 3000 km⁻². Additionally, an analysis using the spatially dense data on the Air Pollution Monitoring System of Tokyo Metropolis for 28 years showed that negative anomalies in wind speed on holidays were detected at many stations in the Tokyo Wards Area, although negative temperature anomalies were limited to a few stations in the central area or near big roads, suggesting different spatial scales in the response of temperature and wind speed to anthropogenic heat. Full article

Emergency service facilities play a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of fire disasters in urban areas. This research article delves into the critical aspects of analyzing service coverage for emergency facilities in relation to fire disaster risk in Chiang Rai city—a strategic hub in northern Thailand. Focusing on fire disaster risk merchandise and shops, categorized by the type of hazardous materials they store and sell, this study leverages facility location data obtained through web scraping from Google Maps. Utilizing spatial analysis and Geographic Information Systems (GISs), this research evaluates the reachability of emergency services, assessing travel times and coverage efficiency. The findings reveal significant disparities, particularly within the critical 3 min response window, highlighting the need for strategic improvements. This study offers actionable insights for urban planners and policymakers, advancing the integration of spatial technology in urban disaster management to enhance public safety and resilience. Full article

Beyond the human-related conception, Urban Science is a broad concept that includes and concerns various interconnected issues linked to Natural, Engineering, Human, Social, and Computational Sciences. Natural Science is represented by issues linked to GeoScience and BioScience. GeoScience issues concern (i) the physical-environmental aspects linked to (a) design, planning, and expansion of the urban environment; (b) urban management interventions; (c) prevention and (d) mitigation of natural and human-induced risks; (e) defense against natural and human-induced risks and (ii) cultural aspects linked to (a) educational purposes and (b) promoting, enhancing, and disseminating scientific as well as territorial and environmental knowledge and awareness. Geoscience is represented also by Street Geology, a silent geology mainly present in historical centers of urban areas, but not only, and that can be used as an educational tool, an opportunity for broader discussions on geological-environmental and socio-cultural issues. Look, see, understand, and take awareness are four steps that give voice to street geology. This paper highlights some aspects of GeoScience in two different urban areas, located in Southern Italy, represented by (a) the Longobard Walls of Benevento (BN) and (b) the 1794 Vesuvius’ lava flow in Torre del Greco (NA). Full article

The present research has the objective of proposing the design of rural housing infrastructure with self-sustainable modular design strategies that allow for a regional conservation area within the Callejón de Conchucos. The absence of adequate territorial planning has led to disorganized urban growth, characterized by the lack of green areas, resulting in a negative impact on the quality of urban life of the inhabitants, increasing their risk to natural disasters. The methodology employed was the analysis of extensive research through a comprehensive literature review, urban studies and climate assessments. Sustainability strategies were implemented using various digital tools, such as Climate Consultant, Google Earth and maps, AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp and 3D Sun path. Therefore, the proposal allows for the enhancement of comfort through spaces for the conservation of natural resources, taking advantage of its landscape and nature of the place, with the characteristics of sustainability in rural and urban housing in high Andean areas, implementing bioclimatic strategies, such as evaporative cooling, and clean technologies that allow for an energy efficiency of 50%. In conclusion, the proposal for the Callejón de Conchucos seeks to transform the region into an attractive tourist destination by providing high-quality ecosystem services and an enriched cultural experience by integrating modular design criteria and employing sustainable and appropriate technologies. Full article

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder that causes serious harm to individuals and society. There is growing evidence that environmental factors may be associated with sleep disorders, but few studies have explored the relationship between insomnia and urban functional structure from a spatial perspective. This study collected multi-source big data (e.g., insomnia posts on Weibo, locations of urban facilities on Baidu) and explored the effects of different urban spatial element configurations on residents’ insomnia. The ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models were used to quantify the global and local effects of urban functional categories on residents’ insomnia. The results showed that the quantity of catering service facilities accounted for the largest proportion, and the consumer function was the most consistent with the distribution of insomnia. There is a domain relationship between the incidence of insomnia and urban functional zones. It has the strongest correlation with employment mixed functional zones and the weakest with residential mixed functional zones. These findings could serve as references for the functional structure and layout of urban space for improving the sleep health of residents and benefit for urban health. Full article

This study investigates the role of vegetation in enhancing thermal comfort and achieving energy savings in educational building courtyards located in hot, arid climates. The research focuses on an educational building courtyard in New Aswan City, Egypt, and employs a combination of field monitoring and numerical simulations to evaluate the thermal performance of the space. The study utilized the ENVI-met V5.5.1 model for thermal assessment and the Design-Builder software version 6.1.3.007 to quantify the potential energy savings. Nine different vegetation scenarios were proposed and analyzed to identify the most effective strategies for improving the courtyard’s thermal conditions. The results demonstrate that a 60% coverage of the courtyard with Cassia Nodosa vegetation produced the most significant improvements. This scenario led to a decrease of over 25.4 °C in physiological equivalent temperature (PET) and a reduction of more than 31.3 °C in mean radiant temperature (T_mrt). Moreover, the energy savings achieved were approximately 19.2%. Interestingly, the study also observed an unexpected decrease in the temperature mitigation efficacy of Ficus nitida when vegetation coverage was increased from 40% to 60%. This phenomenon can be attributed to the complex interplay between the inherent characteristics of the Ficus nitida species and the microclimatic factors within the courtyard environment. These findings provide valuable insights for designers and architects to integrate effective vegetation strategies into the design of educational building courtyards in hot, arid climates. By enhancing thermal comfort and reducing energy consumption, this approach can contribute to the creation of more sustainable and comfortable learning environments. Full article

This study reviewed previous studies on place attachment and related factors in the urban setting. Assessments were conducted on over one hundred peer-reviewed journal papers that met the selection criteria. The results were divided into six categories. Place attachment can improve each of the three dimensions of wellbeing. It can also mitigate the negative impacts of environmental stressors on wellbeing. Furthermore, traditional gardens and local landscape characteristics contribute to a stronger place attachment, depending on the degree to which they present local history and culture. Green landscapes can also help immigrants feel more connected to their community and place of origin. Social interaction has also been linked to the development of place attachment, which is stronger in low-income/deprived neighborhoods. Furthermore, higher place attachment promotes civic engagement and social trust. Place attachment also helps older people cope with aging difficulties in their living environments. Finally, there is a mutually beneficial association between place attachment and perceived neighborhood walkability, as well as a relationship between the scale of the place and the level of attachment. The various research gaps recognized by this study could be addressed in future studies to better understand the role of place attachment in creating sustainable urban environments. Full article

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been widely considered an essential element to contribute to green and smart transportation, which will further enhance the development of smart cities. Hong Kong, as one of the largest metropolises in the world, has promoted the deployment of EVs for both the private and public transportation sectors over the past decade, with substantial financial subsidies and encouraging policy incentives. With the rapid penetration of EVs, especially in the market of private passenger cars, Hong Kong may face the challenge of insufficient charging facilities in the next few years. As such, the research study aims to develop a mathematical model using a topological method to map out feasible locations for new EV charging facilities on Ap Lei Chau Island, to construct a small Python program to optimize the mapping process of these feasible locations, and to estimate energy consumption and associated economic analysis to foster the spatial planning of EV charging facility networks. In conclusion, optimal locations for new charging facilities for EVs have been revealed to match the rapid growth of EV usage and facilitate the emergence of green and smart transportation. Full article

This research, conducted as part of the European project PA-MAP (Participatory Approach to Monitoring Air Quality in Urban Environments), investigates citizens’ perceptions of air pollution in two European cities: Turin (Italy) and Dublin (Ireland). We systematically collected social data through semi-structured surveys distributed via online platforms. Our aim was to gather comprehensive information on the perception of pollution sources and the effectiveness of control systems. We examined citizens’ habits and their suggestions to improve air quality. The results revealed the following: (1) In Turin, the perception of air pollution significantly influences individuals’ self-assessments of health. Consequently, increased vigilance is required to mitigate environmental health risks and to disseminate information on air quality and effective practices for reducing air pollution. (2) The use of sustainable transportation in Turin is hindered due to the inadequate maintenance of cycling infrastructure. Citizens prefer to use cars or trains, which facilitate rapid travel. (3) In Dublin, greater sensitivity to the problem of air pollution has emerged, and the use of sustainable means of transport is facilitated via ad hoc infrastructure. These results provide empirical evidence to policymakers to support the promotion of concrete local actions through which to improve air quality. Full article

Simultaneous causality occurs when two variables mutually influence each other, creating empirical contexts where cause and effect are not clearly unidirectional. Crime and policing often appear in urban studies presenting the following characteristic: sometimes, increased police patrols can reduce criminal activities, and other times, higher crime rates can prompt law enforcement administrations to increase patrols in affected areas. This study aims to explore the relationships between patrol dynamics and crime locations using spatial regression to support public policies. We identify spatial patterns and the potential impact of crime on policing and vice versa. Data on crimes and patrol locations were collected from the database provided by the Planning and Management Secretariat and the Social Defense Secretariat of Pernambuco, Brazil. The study employed Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) to create a spatial simultaneous regression model for integrated security zones within the Brazilian geography. This approach provides a holistic visualization, enhancing our understanding and predictive capabilities regarding the intricate relationship between police presence and crime. The results report a significant relationship, with crime locations explaining police patrols (varying in geographic domain and type of crime). No statistically significant results from most geographic locations point to the inverse relation. The quantitative analysis segregated by typology presents a potential for effective public decision support by identifying the categories that most influence the patrol security time. Full article

The life quality of populations, especially in large agglomerations, is significantly reduced due to air pollution. Major sources of pollution include motor vehicles, industrial facilities and the burning of fossil fuels. A particularly significant source of pollution is thermal power plants and coal-fired power plants, which are widely used in developing countries. The Astana city in the Republic of Kazakhstan is a fast-growing agglomeration where air pollution is compounded by intensive construction and the use of coal for heating. The research is important for the development of urbanism in terms of ensuring the sustainable development of urban agglomerations, which are growing rapidly. Long memory in time series of concentrations of air pollutants (particulate matter PM10, PM2.5) from four stations in Astana using the fractal R/S analysis method was studied. The Hurst exponents for the studied stations are 0.723; 0.548; 0.442 and 0.462. In addition, the behavior of the Hurst exponent in dynamics is studied by the flow window method based on R/S analysis. As a result, it was found that the pollution indicators of one of the stations are characterized by the presence of long-term memory and the time series is persistent. According to the analysis of recordings from the second station, the series is defined as close to random, and for stations 3 and 4, anti-persistence is characteristic. The calculated Hurst exponent values explain the sharp increase in pollution levels in October 2021. The reason for the increase in polluting substances concentration in the air is the close location of thermal power plants to the city. The method of time series fractal analysis can be the ecological state indicator in the corresponding region. Persistent pollution time series can be used to predict the occurrence of a critical pollution level. One of the reasons for anti-persistence or the occurrence of a temporary contamination level may be the close location of the observation station to the source of contamination. The obtained results indicate that the fractal time series analysis method can be an indicator of the ecological state in the relevant region. Full article

Climate change poses a severe environmental crisis where many European urban centers face increased risks, among others, of flooding and/or water scarcity due to intense rainfall and prolonged droughts. Urgent adaptation measures are required to enhance resilience in urban, peri-urban, and agricultural areas against extreme weather events. This article describes a method for categorizing urban areas based on climate-related risks as a targeting and prioritization system for allocating climate resilience measures in cities. The method allows for calculating a climate vulnerability index value, considering temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, population density, altitude, and urban area. Focused on the Mediterranean region, particularly Sicily, the index application generates quantifiable vulnerability values for urban settlements, enabling comparison and prioritization. The reproducible and scalable method provides a valuable tool for urban analysis beyond the Mediterranean and can facilitate decision-making processes to initiate future studies and projects. Full article

This study investigates the socio-spatial distribution of food deserts in Santiago de Chile, aiming to understand how urban planning and socioeconomic factors influence access to nutritious food. Employing geospatial analysis techniques with data from OpenStreetMap and the 2017 Census, the research identifies areas within Santiago where access to healthy food is limited. The novelty of this study lies in its application of spatial autocorrelation methods, specifically Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), to reveal clusters of nutritional inequality. The findings indicate significant concentrations of food deserts in both lower socioeconomic peripheral areas and, surprisingly, in some high-income central areas. These results suggest that both poverty and urban infrastructure, including car dependency, play critical roles in shaping access to healthy food. By highlighting over two million residents affected by food deserts, the study underscores the urgent need for integrated urban planning and public health strategies. This research contributes to the understanding of urban nutritional inequality and provides a replicable methodological framework for other cities. The implications extend beyond Santiago, offering insights into how urban design can be leveraged to improve public health outcomes through better access to nutritious food. Full article

Studies on tollbooth workers involving the concentration of metal(loid)s in highway dust are scarce. We aimed to assess the levels of metal(loid)s in soils and washed and unwashed leaves of Brachiaria decumbens on roadsides. Dust deposition and heavy metal content in the leaves are used to estimate the exposure of tollbooth workers to oral, inhalation, and dermal ingestion of metals in highway dust. The concentrations of aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in washed and unwashed soil and leaves were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The results showed that soils along highways had a high concentration of heavy metals. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Pb near the roundabout and tollbooth are higher than the concentrations at the points between them. The highest transfer factor values were determined for aluminum. In the case of the non-carcinogenic effect, the hazard index (HI < 1) of tollbooth workers due to oral exposure to street dust containing metal(loid)s is higher than dermal contact and inhalation. The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk showed a high potential carcinogenic risk for As and Cd. Full article

People responsible for shaping the future of cities often seek valuable tools to assist in their decision-making processes. Using objective, quantified, and analysed data proves highly beneficial when determining where to focus interventions at the city level. Various urban indexes have been established to measure different aspects of urban life, ranging from sustainability to liveability. These indexes encompass multiple dimensions of a city, including mobility and walkability, among others. The age-friendly cities initiative developed indicators for assessing the age-friendliness of cities. Some researchers further refined these indicators to focus on urban planning competencies. Building on this foundation, this article aims to present an Age-Friendly Neighbourhood Index (AFNI) validated by a panel of experts using the Delphi method. This index can serve as a valuable tool for urban planners when they need to prioritise interventions to enhance age-friendliness at neighbourhood scale. The article also outlines the necessary data and measurement techniques for these indicators. The AFNI has been applied to a real case study in the city of Santander (Spain). This application assesses the age-friendliness of various neighbourhoods in Santander, demonstrating the challenges in acquiring sub-local quality data and emphasising the need for data-driven urban management. Full article

The relationships between the circuits of the urban economy and retail desertification are analysed based on two retail strips in Barcelona: Passeig de Gràcia, a central hub with global reach, and the Sants-Creu Coberta strip, which responds to the demand for consumption on a local, everyday scale. The hypothesis is that the relationships between these circuits and retail desertification behave differently depending on their relative position in the city with respect to consumption flows. This is tested with a one-to-one analysis of the uses of ground floor premises in both strips for 2016 and 2021, using data from the Commercial Censuses of the Barcelona City Council and Barcelona Provincial Council, respectively. Each ground floor premises is classified as superior, lower or vacant, which allows the process to be mapped from 2016 to 2021 for each of the premises. The article provides, first and foremost, an original systematisation of the behaviour, relationships, and observed forms between the circuits and desertification, and secondly, it demonstrates the differential behaviour of these relationships and forms through case studies, indicating that retail desertification is the main cause of economic and landscape change. Full article

Urban air pollution poses a significant threat to human health, with metropolitan areas particularly affected due to high emissions from human activities. Particulate matter (PM_x) is among the most harmful pollutants to human health, being composed of a complex mixture of substances related to severe pulmonary conditions. Urban green spaces play a vital role in mitigating air pollution by capturing PM_x, and it is essential to select plant species with a high capacity for PM_x accumulation to effectively enhance air quality. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the accuracy of two PM_x quantification methods—light microscopy and filtration—which demonstrated a high correlation (R² = 0.72), suggesting that both methods are reliable for assessing PM_x accumulation on leaves. Light microscopy allowed for the visualization of PM_x deposition, revealing the species warranting further analysis using the filtration method. Among the species analyzed, Euonymus japonicus, Ligustrum lucidum, Alnus glutinosa, Rubus ulmifolius, and Laurus nobilis demonstrated the highest total PM_x accumulation, exceeding 50 µg cm⁻², making them particularly valuable for air pollution mitigation. This study examined the correlation between leaf traits such as specific leaf area (SLA), leaf area (LA), leaf dissection index (LDI), and leaf roundness and PM_x accumulation across the 30 different plant species. A multiple linear regression analysis indicated that these leaf traits significantly influenced PM_x accumulation, with SLA and LA showing negative correlations and leaf roundness exhibiting a positive correlation with PM_x deposition. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of selecting plant species with specific leaf traits for effective air quality improvement in urban environments particularly in highly polluted areas, to enhance air quality and public health. Full article

The purpose of this study was to develop analytical tools to find the effectiveness of using aerosols to mitigate the urban heat island effect. Specifically, mineral calcite would be placed in a plume over cities to reflect solar radiation. A secondary goal is to compare the relative efficiencies of releasing the particles from tower heights or from aircraft heights. The aim is to reduce daytime temperatures at the surface. The method was to use a one-dimensional model or a single-column model to predict temperatures and weather conditions at all altitudes over a period of one month. The SCAM6 code was altered to incorporate the new capabilities for introduced aerosols. The pre-existing code considered only windblown dust, so the code was enhanced to handle aerosols that were intentionally produced. The key findings are that calcite as an aerosol does affect the weather. The models predict that in humid regions, calcite is less effective because it interacts with water clouds. In arid regions, calcite should be more effective since there are fewer water clouds to interact with. The result is that it is possible to predict reductions in air temperatures if solar insolation can be reduced. It was shown that temperatures can be reduced by 4 °C in arid regions. The conclusions are that calcite aerosol should be effective at mitigating urban heat islands. However, further work is needed related to economic, health, and ecological concerns. Full article

This work aims to map the optimal routes based on time and distance, via e-scooters and walking, to visit 54 historical heritage sites in Faro. Implementing these routes promotes environmental sustainability by reducing CO₂ emissions and encouraging healthier, greener tourism. The route optimization was conducted in ArcGIS, utilizing the Network Analyst extension and vector data obtained from OpenStreetMap. The results showed that there are routes that can be completed in one or more days, depending on visitors’ availability, physical capacity, or their chosen method of transportation. The optimal route to visit the 54 historical heritage sites forms a closed circuit spanning 17.35 km. If visits are split into two routes, one covering 31 monuments in the old city and the other 24 monuments in the exterior area of the urban center, the optimal closed-circuit routes measure 6.16 km and 11.31 km, respectively. This study is expected to enhance tourism promoted by the Faro municipality and make it more environmentally friendly. Full article

Remnant forests are vital in urban ecosystems as they serve as a crucial link between organisms, inorganic environments, and human settlements. However, there is a lack of research on how urbanization affects the physical and chemical properties of soil in remnant forests, as well as the response of soil fauna to environmental changes within these forests. Our study utilized the urbanization gradient research method to investigate the characteristics of the soil fauna community in remnant forests across different urbanization gradients and to understand its intrinsic response to environmental changes. Our results indicate support for the “moderate disturbance hypothesis” based on the statistical values of diversity indices. Additionally, it was found that SOM and Pb are the primary factors influencing soil fauna diversity in the remnant forests, while SOM and Zn are the main influencing factors for the dominant soil fauna groups. To elucidate the impact of urbanization on soil fauna biodiversity in remnant forests, future studies should consider other urbanization factors. Full article

Energy is a crucial factor for urban development. Cities have a crucial role in climate change, as they use 2/3 of the world’s energy, producing 70% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In order to reduce the large ecological footprint of the utilization of conversional energy sources (coal, gas, and oil) and enhance a nation’s energy independence (security), it is crucial to find alternative fuels. Biomass residues are characterized as a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy source. Hence, this review describes a critical assessment of not only the quality characteristics of several waste and biomass residues for bioenergy production and biofuels but also the value-added products that could be produced from wastes to enhance industry (e.g., pharmaceutical, cosmetics, packaging industry, etc.). Furthermore, the challenges and potential solutions of waste utilization for bioenergy production and the transformation of value-added products for urban sustainability are also explored. Despite the high-quality characteristics and the availability of these wastes, several critical factors should be taken into account. Biomass residues could contribute to sustainable development goals (SDG), such as sustainable cities and communities, clean energy, responsible consumption and production, the economic growth of a country, and, as a result, urban development. Full article

In the face of climate change and population growth, Local Climate Zone (LCZ) maps have emerged as crucial tools for urban planners and policymakers to address Urban Heat Island (UHI) effects, thereby playing a significant role in mitigating climate change. This study presents a methodology for classifying major Swiss cities into LCZs, offering an efficient, cost-effective, and uniform tool for supporting climate action plans across municipalities and cantons. Initial results show that Sentinel-2, Landsat 8, and Landsat 5 imagery perform well in LCZ classification with an overall accuracy usually exceeding 80%, and Sentinel-2 displays marginally superior performance. Temporal analysis reveals that the built-up classes of Open low-rise and Open mid-rise have increased by ~3%, while Large low-rise and Bare rock or paved have decreased, and Compact mid-rise remains stable. For the natural classes, Water and Dense trees remain stable, but Low plants have declined (~4%). A general decline in overall accuracy over time is noted, attributed to landscape changes. This preliminary effort emphasizes the need to enhance and automate the methodology, integrate it into the Swiss Data Cube, and potentially extend analyses with climate data to better study UHI effects. Future work will include developing visualization and tracking services for urban planners and authorities. Full article