World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

Authors: Xinyu Hao

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This study takes Boshan District, Zibo City, China as the case, and based on ArcGIS and Fragstats technologies, conducts research on the construction of ecological security patterns and the optimization of landscape patterns. By integrating multi-source data such as topography, land use, and NDVI, the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR) is used to identify ecological source areas and corridors, and an ecological security network is constructed. At the same time, the landscape pattern index is used to analyze the dynamic changes of the landscape in Boshan District. It is found that the expansion of forest land significantly contributes to reducing ecological resistance, and the landscape fragmentation degree and the dominance of the dominant patches show a "non-linear threshold" characteristic. The study proposes a ‘core-buffer-potential’ three-level dynamic source area system and an intelligent corridor optimization strategy, providing a scientific basis for the ecological security and sustainable development of mountainous cities.

Keywords: ArcGIS, ecological security pattern, fragstats, optimization of landscape pattern

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Authors: Zhang Hengjia, Jiang Wen, Chen Wei

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How the built environment can promote the mental health of older adults has become a major challenge for the discipline of urban planning in response to population aging and the pursuit of sustainable development. This paper focuses on the mechanisms by which the built environment affects the mental health of older adults, systematically reviewing the topic from the perspective of the moderating effects of individual characteristics among the elderly. First, it reviews the relevant fundamental theories based on the mechanisms of influence. Then, by moving beyond the traditional perspective that treats older adults as a homogeneous group, it systematically analyzes how individual characteristics among older adults moderate the relationship between the built environment and mental health. Furthermore, it identifies the limitations of existing research and proposes potential directions for future studies. This work aims to provide important theoretical references and methodological insights for a deeper understanding of the differences in the interaction between environment and elderly health, the formulation of targeted environmental intervention strategies, and the promotion of sustainable urban development.

Keywords: built environment, individual characteristics, mental health, moderating effect, old adults

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Authors: Xinyu Hao

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Operating within the critical context of ecological civilization advancement, integrated urban-rural development, and comprehensive territorial spatial planning management, this research confronts the pervasive spatial conflict of "urban encroachment on farmland" and aims to enhance the quality of human settlements in both urban and rural environments. Through a systematic approach involving interdisciplinary theoretical synthesis and comparative analysis of international best practices, the study constructs the innovative theoretical framework of the "Smart Agricultural Landscape Resilience Network" (SALRN). A key contribution is the pioneering proposal of an integrative pathway that synergistically combines agricultural landscape carbon sequestration assessment, the application of digital twin technology, and collaborative urban-rural planning. This pathway delivers a suite of systematic strategies designed to optimize the high-quality utilization of urban agricultural spaces, thereby generating multifaceted benefits encompassing significant ecological value, robust economic productivity, and tangible social advantages.

Keywords: smart agricultural landscape, sustainable development, urban agriculture, urban space

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Authors: Nuoya Zhong

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Under the background of urban stock renewal, this paper systematically explores the transformation of the role of landscape architects and the expansion of their knowledge system. Firstly, it analyzes the concept, significance, and evolutionary trajectory of urban renewal in China, highlighting that the current phase has entered a high-quality stage characterized by "retention, renovation, and demolition," emphasizing the synergy of ecological, social, and cultural benefits. Through bibliometric analysis, it is observed that landscape architecture research has shifted from learning Western experiences to localized practices, prioritizing public participation and policy orientation. The study proposes renewal pathways from a landscape architecture perspective, including multidimensional directions such as ecological prioritization and resilience enhancement, and constructs a "progressive action design model" to integrate multidisciplinary collaboration. The role of landscape architects extends from traditional designers to coordinators and actors, necessitating mastery of cross-disciplinary knowledge in ecological restoration, sociology, and digital technologies. Future efforts should deepen the application of smart technologies, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration mechanisms, and enhance educational systems to address complex challenges.

Keywords: landscape architecture knowledge system, urban renewal, stock development, role expansion

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Authors: Naftaly Wambugu, Ruisheng Wang, Bo Guo, Tianshu Yu, Sheng Xu, Mohammed Elhassan

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Land cover maps generated from semantic segmentation of high-resolution remotely sensed images have drawn much attention in the photogrammetry and remote sensing research community. Currently, massive fine-resolution remotely sensed (FRRS) images acquired by improving sensing and imaging technologies become available. However, accurate semantic segmentation of such FRRS images is greatly affected by substantial class disparities, the invisibility of key ground objects due to occlusion, and object size variation. Despite the extraordinary potential for deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) in image feature learning and representation, extracting sufficient features from FRRS images for accurate semantic segmentation is still challenging. These challenges demand deep learning models to learn robust features and generate sufficient feature descriptors. Specifically, learning multi-contextual features to guarantee adequate coverage of varied object sizes from the ground scene and harnessing global-local contexts to overcome class disparities challenge even profound networks. Deeper networks significantly lose spatial details due to gradual downsampling processes, resulting in poor segmentation results and coarse boundaries. This article presents a stacked deep residual network (SDRNet) for semantic segmentation from FRRS images. The proposed framework uses two stacked encoder-decoder networks to harness long-range semantics yet preserve spatial information. In addition, we introduce dilated residual blocks (DRB) between each encoder and decoder network to capture sufficient global dependencies. The attention blocks adopted in SDRNet refine the learnable features and help improve segmentation performance. Finally, an intermediate loss is introduced mid-way to the network to supervise the learning process at the middle layers. Our experimental results obtained using the ISPRS Vaihingen and Potsdam datasets demonstrated that the SDRNet outperforms some of the current best methods in semantic segmentation by attaining overall accuracy of 90.82% and 90.62%, respectively.

Keywords: land cover mapping, semantic segmentation, remote sensing, convolutional neural networks, dilated networks

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Authors: Lei Lei

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Community parks typically embody characteristics such as functional multiplicity, public participation, natural ecology, and a sense of place attachment. However, concomitant with urban development, these parks now face challenges including land scarcity, inadequate facilities, ecological imbalance, and fragmented place memory. An effective renewal approach is urgently needed to restore their essential character. Landscape Urbanism advocates for an integrative three-dimensional and dynamically adaptable urban spatial model responsive to spatio-temporal evolution, offering a potential pathway to address these renewal dilemmas. Through a systematic review of the theory and practice of Landscape Urbanism, this study distills key principles guiding community park renewal. Subsequently, it proposes specific renewal design strategies: (1) Breaking Site Boundaries to Achieve Surrounding Interaction; (2) Unearthing Regional Characteristics to Preserve Site Memory; (3) Adapting to Natural Processes to Create a Composite System; (3) Strengthening Community Participation to Reflect a Dynamic Process. To demonstrate the feasibility of these strategies, Humanistic & Cultural Park in Xinqiao Subdistrict, Shapingba District, Chongqing, is selected as a case study. The Landscape Urbanism-informed renewal strategies are applied to its redesign. This practice aims to transform the park into a community open space characterized by functional multiplicity, cultural continuity, ecological health, and diverse activities, while simultaneously demonstrating the efficacy of the Landscape Urbanism framework in guiding community park renewal.

Keywords: landscape urbanism, community park, urban renewal, humanistic & cultural park

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Authors: Xiaoxuan Shao

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Taking the river basin space as the research object, a method for the integrated conservation of river basin traditional settlements area is proposed based on the traditional settlement spatial distribution characteristics analysis and their developing habitats correlation analysis. Taking the Wujiang River Basin as sample area, this study explores and identifies the spatial distribution characteristics of 498 traditional town settlements in this geographical and cultural area, as well as their relationship with natural and cultural habitats. The research results indicate that the distribution of traditional town settlements in the Wujiang River Basin is generally agglomerative, with an average density of 0.56 per 100 k㎡, which is at a higher level compared to other secondary units in the Chuanjiang River Basin. The distribution of settlements in the upper, middle, and lower sub zones is relatively balanced, with an average density close to the ANN index, and their distribution areas are closely related to transportation location, agricultural and mineral resources, and human geographical habitat spaces. Based on the above conclusions, traditional towns and settlements in the Wujiang River Basin are divided into six types: transportation, agriculture, industry, ethnicity, tunpu and composite. A conservation structure for the historical and cultural space of the basin is proposed, with central town and urban nodes, water and land transportation corridors, mineral resources and ethnic culture areas as point-line-plane elements, as well as integrated conservation measures for the classification and zoning of basin settlements, in order to provide reference for the integrated preservation research of traditional settlements in the river basin spaces.

Keywords: traditional settlements, characteristics and habitat correlating, regional integrated conservation, Wujiang river basin

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Authors: Yuhong Wang

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As the construction of ecological civilization accelerates nationwide, forest parks play a crucial role as an integral part of national parks. However, during the development and construction of forest parks, landscape ecological risks are often overlooked, leading to conflicts between forest ecological conservation and development. Taking the Yaolin Temple Forest Park in Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, as the study area, a landscape ecological risk evaluation indicator system was constructed from three dimensions: “nature-society-landscape pattern.” The indicators were weighted using a combination of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and weighted overlay methods, and spatial localization was performed using ArcGIS to obtain the comprehensive landscape ecological risk distribution map of the Yaolin Temple Forest Park. The results show that the weights for nature, society, and landscape pattern are 0.296895, 0.376166, and 0.444536, respectively, indicating a hierarchy of landscape pattern > society > nature. The comprehensive landscape ecological risk of Yaolin Temple Forest Park is classified as medium-high risk. The proportions of the five risk levels in Yaolin Temple Forest Park are as follows: highest risk accounts for 12.36%, higher risk accounts for 22.06%, medium risk accounts for 28.83%, lower risk accounts for 26.63%, and very lowest risk accounts for 10.12%. Based on the evaluation results, the following optimization recommendations are proposed: implement graded protection and rational development; integrate spatial planning to reduce landscape fragmentation; establish green corridors to enhance connectivity; apply artificial interventions to optimize landscape structure; and establish zones to protect biodiversity. These recommendations aim to provide scientific guidance for the rational development and construction of Yaolin Temple Forest Park, promoting its high-quality development.

Keywords: Landscape ecological risk assessment, Yaolin Temple Forest Park, landscape patterns, Analytic Hierarchy Process

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Authors: Tpl. Suleiman Tanko Kende

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The transition to low-carbon is vital for sustainable urban growth and climate mitigation in rapidly expanding cities like BirninKebbi, Nigeria. This study evaluates how financial institutions including commercial banks, microfinance bodies, and development funds support this shift through funding, investments, and policy backing. Employing a mixed-methods design, it combines stakeholder interviews with quantitative analysis of financial flows to assess the extent of institutional engagement in projects such as electric mobility, non-motorized transport networks, and renewable-energy integration. Early results indicate growing institutional awareness of green finance, yet persistent obstacles such as limited capital access, regulatory hurdles, and weak policy incentives hinder full institutional participation. The research underscores the importance of robust partnerships among government agencies, financial institutions, and urban planners to develop targeted financing mechanisms through addressing these barriers and fostering collaboration, BirninKebbi can accelerate the adoption of climate-resilient transport solutions. These findings enrich the dialogue on sustainable urban mobility financing in emerging African contexts and provide actionable policy recommendations to enhance financial sector involvement.

Keywords: low-carbon-transportation, green-finance, urban mobility, financial-institutions, limate-resilient-transport

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Authors: Wang Xue

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As the complexity of interconnections among critical infrastructure in the real world increases, the overall system vulnerability continues to grow, whereby the failure of localized nodes can precipitate the collapse of the entire critical infrastructure network. The development of critical infrastructure theory can be broadly summarized in terms of definitions and connotations, consequences of cascading failures in single layer infrastructure networks, consequences of cascading failures in multi-layer critical infrastructure systems, and urban planning responses. Notable features include the transition from single-layer to multi-layer networks, the shift from functional interdependence to the combined effects of multiple interconnection types, the evolution from single to multiple risks, and the move from static simulation to dynamic assessment. Current research, however, exhibits insufficient consideration of various interconnection types under special environmental conditions, such as mountainous and coastal regions, and lacks comprehensive characterization of the spatiotemporal processes involved in cascading failures.

Keywords: critical infrastructure, cascading failure, theoretical progress, multilayer network

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Authors: Deng Yuan

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With green sustainable development becoming the core of new human-land relationships, research on urban green development efficiency has garnered significant attention. This study selects the Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration as the sample, constructs a "social-economic-ecological" system-based indicator framework, and employs a non-radial, non-oriented super-efficiency slack-based measure DEA (SBM-DEA) model to measure the green development efficiency of the region. Spatio-temporal data analysis methods are applied to investigate the dynamic transition characteristics of green development efficiency across different city types, aiming to identify targeted strategies for improvement. The results reveal that: (1) During the 2013–2022 observation period, the overall green development efficiency of the Chengdu-Chongqing Urban Agglomeration remained at a relatively high level, with a notable upward trend emerging from 2021. (2) The spatial pattern of green development efficiency exhibits a "high on both ends, low in the middle" structure, mirroring the "central collapse" phenomenon observed in socio-economic domains. (3) The spatial evolution of green development efficiency demonstrates strong potential for integration alongside the "Matthew Effect" and "path dependence" phenomena.

Keywords: Chengdu-Chongqing urban agglomeration, green development efficiency, temporal evolution characteristics, spatio-temporal transition

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Authors: Samanta Bibhasish, Bandyopadhyay Chandrani

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Noise pollution has emerged as a significant public health challenge in India’s rapidly urbanizing cities, contributing to rising cases of hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Despite these risks, noise remains an under-recognized determinant within urban planning. This study explores the public health implications of chronic noise exposure and underscores the need for integrated responses through urban planning. The research highlights the necessity of leveraging innovative urban planning tools as strategic interventions to reduce noise levels and associated health risks. It aligns with global urban health priorities, particularly sustainable development goal 3, which aims at good health and well-being, integrating urban planning with public health objectives. In the context of India’s rapid urbanization and densification, this study investigates the health impacts of noise-induced diseases and proposes collaborative, planning-based interventions to safeguard community well-being. Employing an assessment of a mixed-method approach, the research combines primary health surveys conducted through structured interviews with local health workers in both formal and informal areas with spatial noise mapping and regulatory analysis. Findings reveal that low-income, high-density neighborhoods experience the highest noise levels and bear the brunt of severe health impacts, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. Inadequate zoning controls and weak enforcement of noise regulations exacerbate these challenges. In Rohtak city, where 44% of the population reports non-communicable diseases, chronic noise exposure significantly deteriorates public health outcomes. This research calls for stronger collaboration between the domains of urban planning and public health to foster environments that advance health equity. It provides actionable evidence to inform integrated policy reforms and positions Rohtak as a potential model city for innovative, equitable, and health-sensitive urban development in India.

Keywords: noise pollution, public health, urban planning, urban geography

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Authors: Oluwakemi Akintan, Joseph Adeyeye, Oluwayemisi Ogunleye, Temitope Olukunle

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As many countries strive to move away from the clutches of underdevelopment to the commanding heights of economic greatness by executing large-scale infrastructural projects, massive displacement and resettlement of people from their ancestral homes have been the bane of societies, including Nigeria. Against this background, this paper reviews and assesses the cultural impact and socio-economic condition of the displaced Gbagi people, who are the original indigenes of Kubwa and are now resettled outside of the Capital City during the development of the new Federal Capital City. Using a qualitative approach that allowed an in-depth study of the resettlement scheme, semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from fifty respondents’ perspectives. The findings showed that the Gbagi people resettled in Kubwa are socio-economically worse off than they were in their original villages because they have lost the opportunity for a large farmland area. There is a high unemployment rate and dwindling household incomes occasioned by dislocation from traditional farming occupations and the influx of migrants who, through monetary enticements, have dispossessed the people of Kubwa of land for housing, leading to a shortage of land for farming. Nevertheless, the people enjoy more social facilities and infrastructures than ever before, though they have significantly lost valuable social networks and relationships during their stay at Kubwa because of the new neighbors. However, in making future resettlement activities in the FCT and elsewhere a greater success, issues about compensation, farmland, adequate housing, infrastructure, and the functionality of the infrastructure provided must be emphasized.

Keywords: socio-economic, cultural disconnection, resettlement, development

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Authors: Xiangyu Zhou

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Emergency shelter planning in Chinese cities contends with significant hurdles, including land scarcity, inequitable resource allocation, and constrained functional capabilities. Recent national directives consistently prioritize bolstering urban safety and resilience, mandating the integration of disaster risk mitigation strategies within territorial spatial planning frameworks and advocating for multi-tiered, comprehensive emergency shelter systems. Nevertheless, prevailing research and practical applications often exhibit persistent mismatches between supply and demand, functional fragmentation among supporting facilities, and inadequate adaptation to spatial constraints.This research systematically investigates the synergistic interplay between population evacuation requirements, shelter spatial distribution, associated rescue infrastructure, and the urban built environment. It introduces a trinity collaborativeframework—"Demand-Capacity-Function-Space"—for developing emergency shelter networks. This framework achieves integrated optimization through: (1) Demand-Capacity Alignment: Dynamically synchronizing population needs with shelter resource availability. (2) Functional Synergy: Enhancing the complementary relationships and interdependencies among essential supporting facilities. (3) Spatial Integration: Incorporating urban form and environmental constraints to maximize evacuation route efficiency and accessibility.The proposed framework offers both theoretical grounding and practical methodologies for embedding effective emergency shelter planning within China's territorial spatial planning system, facilitating a crucial transition from fragmented, single-element enhancements towards holistic, system-wide synergistic optimization.

Keywords: emergency evacuation, shelter planning, spatial layout, risk assessment

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Authors: Xiangyu Zhou

Abstract:

Emergency shelter planning in China faces challenges such as spatial constraints, uneven resource distribution, and limited functionality. Recent national policies consistently emphasize enhancing urban safety and resilience, advocating for the integration of disaster risk prevention and control into the territorial spatial planning framework, and promoting the establishment of a multi-level, comprehensive emergency shelter system. However, existing research and practices still suffer from dynamic imbalances between supply and demand, fragmented facility functions, and insufficient spatial adaptability.This study systematically analyzes the synergistic relationships among population needs, shelter layout, related rescue facilities, and the built environment. It proposes a three-dimensional collaborative framework—"Supply-Demand-Function-Space"—for constructing an emergency shelter network. This framework achieves synergistic optimization through: (1) Supply-Demand matching: Dynamicallyaligning population needs with shelter capacity. (2) Functional complementarity: Strengthening the functional interdependence between related facilities. (3) Spatial efficiency: Integrating constraints of the built environment to optimize evacuation efficiency.The framework provides theoretical support and technical pathways for emergency shelter planning within China's territorial spatial planning context, facilitating a paradigm shift from "single-element optimization" to "systematic synergistic optimization."

Keywords: emergency evacuation, shelter planning, spatial layout, urban resilience

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Authors: Zhicheng Liu

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The traditional settlements of the Qiang ethnicity, situated in the alpine gorge terrain of the upper Min River basin in Sichuan Province, China, have long confronted threats from natural hazards including earthquakes, debris flows, and flash floods. Their adaptive evolution and resilience mechanisms exemplify the wisdom of nature-human synergy.As exemplary cases of mountainous human habitats, Qiang traditional settlements have developed unique adaptive systems through prolonged natural and social transformations. This paper systematically analyzes the adaptive characteristics of Qiang villages across spatial morphology, construction techniques, and social organization to reveal their inherent resilience mechanisms.The research demonstrates that Qiang settlements construct a multi-layered resilience system through:(1)Resource Efficiency: Maximizing material utility in construction and resource management;(2)Terrain-Responsive Spatial Organization: Leveraging topography through adaptive spatial configuration;(3)Collaborative Social Structures: Maintaining symbiotic community cooperation frameworks.These indigenous strategies provide valuable insights for contemporary urban-rural resilience planning, particularly in disaster-prone regions.

Keywords: qiang settlements, spatial restoration, cultural heritage preservation, disaster-adaptive evolution, resilience mechanisms

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Authors: Zhicheng Liu

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Traditional Qiang ethnic settlements are predominantly distributed in the high mountain-valley terrain of the upper reaches of the Min River in Sichuan Province, China. The harsh habitat has fostered profound wisdom in human-land coordination. Facing multiple challenges—including accelerated population outflow, degradation of the living environment, and cultural discontinuity—this study systematically analyzes the human-land interaction mechanisms within Qiang settlements to uncover their embedded ecological wisdom. Key strategies include:Vertical Gradient Adaptation Strategies: Adaptive responses to topographical and climatic variations across elevation zones.Three-Dimensional Spatial Configuration: Layered and integrated land-use patterns maximizing limited space.Nature-Integrated Minimal-Intervention Design: Construction approaches minimizing ecological disruption.Circular Water Resource Management: Sustainable systems for water collection, use, and reuse.To address current challenges, this research proposes conservation and development strategies for Qiang settlements based on ecological wisdom principles. These strategies focus on three core dimensions:Protecting Ecological Structure: Safeguarding critical landscape patterns and ecosystem services.Revitalizing Cultural Landscapes: Activating tangible and intangible cultural heritage within the spatial context.Cultivating Sustainable Livelihoods: Fostering economic resilience aligned with local ecology and culture.This framework aims to provide actionable insights for achieving the sustainable development of Qiang settlements, the conservation of vernacular landscape systems in mountainous regions, and broader rural revitalization efforts.

Keywords: rural revitalization, qiang settlements, ecological wisdom, spatial restoration

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Authors: Chuang Tian

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Under China's initiative for high-quality urban living, waterfront spaces are evolving into key carriers of urban life quality. A critical focus lies in preserving historic contexts, such as iconic buildings and spatial landmarks, while creating vibrant waterfront zones with new scenarios, lifestyles, and business formats aligned with contemporary needs. This study centers on Ziyang's urban area, where disrupted historic landscapes and diminished waterfront vitality coexist. Applying the Urban Historical Landscape framework, we analyze the city's historical value through temporarily and spatiality lenses. Findings reveal Ziyang's enduring value in landscape patterns, historic scenery, and locally embedded culture. Drawing on successful domestic waterfront renewal cases, we propose a historical landscape-based design pathway for revitalizing Ziyang's urban waterfront greenway.

Keywords: historic urban landscape, ziyang urban area, waterfront greenway, urban renewal

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Authors: Banbhalang Swer

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Hill stations were developed by the British in colonised lands as settlements to make themselves comfortable. These hill stations were typically developed in areas that the British identified as similar to landscapes back home. Garrisons were established along with health sanatoriums, which helped in forming a retreat from the summer heat. The urbanscape of these hill stations reflected quaint British towns with anglicised names, wide avenues lined with trees similar to those found in Europe, meandering walks and trails, low population density, and large estates. Several hill stations were also developed as educational towns where Catholic boarding schools were established. These areas were exclusive and often developed into being summer capitals, with entire offices being moved there to avoid harsh Indian summers. Such planning and architecture led to the development of a unique typology of settlements which had several points in common, such as high-altitude locations (similarity to European landscapes), isolated and spacious estates with a large bungalow or manor, and a church with a Mall Road (promenade) with access allowed only for Europeans. Another distinguishing factor of these areas was that the settlements in the plains, commonly known as cantonments, were often rigidly planned in a grid pattern, while the hill stations were planned along the slope of the land and integrated into natural land-forms. Shillong is the capital city of Meghalaya and is located at 25.57° N and 91.88° E. It lies in the Khasi hills in Meghalaya and is also the headquarters of the East Khasi Hills district. To the north of the state of Meghalaya lies the state of Assam and the plains of Bangladesh lie to the south.

Keywords: land use land cover, Land use classification urban, urban growth, urban development

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Authors: N. V. Balukhina, A. R. Gibadulina, A. V. Dolgov, R. S. Kamalov

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Soviet-era micro-districts (1970s–1990s), or microrayons, face persistent challenges of low density, poor connectivity, and aging infrastructure-issues prevalent across global modernist residential quarters. This study presents a ‘Set of Spatial Operations,’ synthesizing Western European urban planning strategies (Netherlands, France, Germany) with Russia’s context, derived from quantitative spatial analysis and comparative case studies of 13 diverse Russian micro-districts. Employing metrics such as ground space index (GSI) for density, mixed-use index (MXI) for functional diversity, and permeability indices for connectivity, the framework optimizes land use and mobility. Tested conceptually within Moscow’s Renovation Program through simulations (e.g., GSI increases of ~20% in modelled zones) and informed by European precedents like Bijlmermeer, it offers a replicable toolkit for transforming sprawling estates into compact, sustainable communities. Figures illustrate spatial layouts and zoning shifts, with success measured by GSI (target ≥0.24), MXI (20–35% non-residential use), and network density (≥400 m/ha). Rooted in Russia yet adaptable to contexts like U.S. suburbs (e.g., Levittown densification), it provides architects and planners an evidence-based blueprint for modernist redevelopment, enhanced by methodological clarity and practical examples.

Keywords: micro-district, microrayon, modernist heritage, renovation, spatial operations, urban efficiency, sustainable design

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Authors: Wang Xue

Abstract:

Post-Epidemic Era, Residents' psychological well-being has garnered significant academic attention in the post-pandemic era. Color is a bridge between the human body and the heart, and communities are the fundamental spatial unit of urban structures; communities exert enduring impacts on residents' mental health through spatial color configurations. Investigating the interaction mechanisms between spatial color composition and psychosocial resilience is therefore imperative for enhancing community resilience. This study focuses on color as an important visual element, employs Semantic Differential (SD) methodology, Exploratory Factor Analysis, and image-based color rendering experiments to analyze how contrast, hue and tone to explore the effect of spatial color on subjects' psychological perception. Key findings reveal: (1) ‘harmony, brightness and stability’ constitute primary factors influencing the residents' mental resilience. (2) Low-contrast and cool tones induce greater emotional relaxation, and most subjects wanted green as the dominant color in community spaces. (3) At the same time, there are significant differences in the preference of people of different genders and ages for spatial color configurations. Therefore, when building urban community, its spatial color should be based on the composition of the crowd to dynamically adjust the color contrast and the main color, hue, to meet the psychological expectations of the residents, to enhance the positive perception of the spatial color, and to soothe the sense of spatial tension and depression.

Keywords: factor analysis, chromatic configuration of community spaces, image coloring, psychosocial resilience

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Authors: Zhu Jiayi

Abstract:

Night-time economy has become an important engine to improve the quality of urban life, stimulate economic consumption and boost domestic demand. The concept of night-time economy originated in Britain, and there are many differences between domestic and foreign night-time economy development in the process of origin and development, and it is necessary to put forward strategies to realize the long-term development of night-time economy from the national situation. Night-time economy takes urban space as the carrier, and the relationship with space is very close; how to improve the vitality and efficiency of night-time economy through urban space intervention has become a big problem. This paper takes the main urban area of Nanjing as an example, and combines POI data and night lighting data to analyze the spatial layout and characteristics of the night-time economy. It is found that: (1) Nanjing's night-time economy business is developed with the old city as the core, and the development of the rest of the sub-city areas is not mature enough; (2) in terms of business, the food and beverage business is more dominant in the night-time economy space, and the night-time tourism accounts for a low percentage, which is not easy to show the city's characteristics; (3) spatially, the layered spatial system is conducive to promoting the night-time population agglomeration.

Keywords: Night time economy, main urban area of Nanjing, Spatial pattern, Feature analysis

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Authors: Shaolei Bai

Abstract:

In the realm of contemporary environmental stewardship, the imperative for sustainable development, particularly within the domain of road infrastructure projects, has ascended to unprecedented prominence. Roads serve as the backbone of global commerce, enabling the seamless transit of commodities and individuals. However, the environmental footprint of these infrastructures, encompassing resource depletion, waste generation, and carbon emissions, is substantial. Despite their significance, conventional LCA methodologies applied to road infrastructure are often manual, labour-intensive, and time-consuming, thereby constraining their accessibility and applicability. The complexity of these methods is further compounded when addressing the dynamic and intricate nature of climate change impacts. The absence of a standardized LCA framework leads to inconsistent and incomparable outcomes, undermining their utility and reliability. Standardization and automation of the LCA process will significantly expedite LCA evaluations, enhance result accuracy and consistency, and broaden stakeholder accessibility, facilitating more informed decision-making in road construction and maintenance, which aligns with global initiatives to transition toward sustainable, low-carbon infrastructure development. Data is nowadays held in digital formats. Some data is unstructured in design specification reports, whilst other data is highly structured in building information modelling (BIM) tools. Other digital tools include bespoke carbon calculators attempting to reflect the consequences of design choices on the whole life carbon cost of the projects. The built environment industry is anxious to appraise the environmental integrity of road infrastructure projects, but it is unclear how to standardise and automate the process. This research develops alternative, comprehensive automated proposals for calculating carbon emissions across the entire lifecycle of road infrastructure, from construction to decommissioning. The criteria to assess the effectiveness, scalability, and adaptiveness of each proposed method are developed ready for assessment in alternative scenarios, and considering the limits to its generalizability in other built environment sectors, such as energy networks and water distribution systems.

Keywords: digital transformation, sustainability assessment methods, LCA, MFA, input-output analysis, LCC, social LCA, decision-support tools for sustainability management, highways, LCA, digitalisation, carbon calculation, automation

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Authors: Hatem Wafa, Prathyush Menon, Gino Hrkac

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Saudi Arabia has reformed its education as a demand to the national Vision 2030. As a response, universities and academic institutes are tasked to improve the quality of educational services and find ways to ensure education accreditation. Construction engineering is not far from such reforms. The civil engineering department at many universities is rethinking the quality of its curriculum. They work on improving the quality not only of learning materials but also staff knowledge and using cutting-edge technologies. Building Information Modeling (BIM) and machine learning are among many trendy topics that the university plans to deliver to its undergraduates. However, lack of knowledge, skills and attitude of staff hinder the implementation of teaching such topics. The aim of this study is to provide university students with an innovative BIM and machine learning academic course. This can be one of the first attempts to introduce recent technologies in the construction field for university students in Saudi Arabia. The author has been developing a distinct academic course to introduce BIM and machine learning to Umm Al-Qura University’s undergraduates. The course consists of three main units, namely, BIM basics and foundations, Clash management using BIM, and utilizing machine learning for prediction and optimization purposes. Three learning modules were developed based on the Flipped Learning approach. Students were provided with all the learning materials, videos and various learning activities. To measure students’ performance and attitude, the author developed a multiple-choice test to measure students’ cognitive skills. However, students’ attitude was measured by a self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS for descriptive analysis. However, Structure Equation Modeling by AMOS was utilized to identify the factors associated with students’ attitudes towards the course. Findings show that students’ knowledge and skills are developed based on enhancing students’ motivation. Results show additionally that providing Flipped Learning as a training method was significantly associated with students’ motivation. The factors of autonomy, competencies and relatedness were the foundations for students to effectively learn and acquire construction engineering skills. This study can be a significant guideline for universities and academic institutions in Saudi Arabia in terms of BIM and machine learning in construction. This proposed innovative course can be a motivation for learning institutes to upgrade their learning materials and seek to integrate the latest technologies into their materials. Providing world-class education using BIM and machine learning in construction is a cornerstone to shift engineering education in Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: BIM, machine learning, Saudi Arabia, training course, flipped learning

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Authors: Frederico Basso Montanari

Abstract:

This article addresses the metamorphoses of urban space -and consequently, of the city itself- arising from a new condition: instagramization. To this end, our research considers the spatio-temporal conditions that have enabled the emergence of an increasingly digitalized and financialized world, which form the basis for the instagramization of urban life, shaping what we refer to as the “instagrammable space.” The first section of the article is therefore devoted to a discussion of this so-called instagrammable space, articulating its material aspects (the bricks) and its immaterial dimensions (the bits). In light of a reality that is increasingly spectacularized and mediated by images, it becomes essential to examine the material and symbolic implications of the space of instagramization and the instagramization of space -topics explored in the second and third sections, entitled “From the Alley to the World: the Case of Batman’s Alley” and “Rediscovering the Square: the New Antiques Market of Praça XV,” respectively. Finally, the last section is dedicated to discussing the role of social media in the production and reproduction of space, under the title “Weaving Discourses on the City and the Urban through Social Media.” The article concludes with final considerations, aiming to assess the impacts of the processes outlined above.

Keywords: instagramization, space reproduction, space of instagramization, instagramization of space, commodification of urban space

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Authors: Sooham Mishra, K. Sushmitha

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This study evaluates the sustainability and circularity performance of concrete buildings by developing a time-dependent Circular Economy (CE) index integrated with embodied carbon metrics. As concrete construction accounts for approximately half of global material extraction and significantly contributes to building-related carbon emissions, there is a critical need for advanced life-cycle assessments of design strategies. This paper presents a comprehensive framework that simultaneously quantifies material circularity and embodied carbon, employing reliability-based metrics and uncertainty analysis. Time-dependent reliability modelling is utilized to capture uncertainties associated with structural degradation, material recovery rates, and embodied carbon factors throughout the building life cycle. Embodied carbon is assessed using life-cycle inventory data for concrete and steel, enabling the comparison of emissions across different circular strategies. A case study involving representative reinforced concrete buildings applies the proposed CE index to evaluate design-for-deconstruction, reuse, and recycling scenarios. Monte Carlo simulations are employed to propagate uncertainties within each scenario, generating probability distributions for CE performance and carbon outcomes. The results provide a comparative analysis of different material selections and circular design strategies, particularly emphasizing design-for-deconstruction. This underscores the importance of integrating durable, reusable elements and low-carbon materials into building design. Conversely, increasing recycled aggregate content without enhancing material durability does not significantly improve long-term CE performance, illustrating the trade-offs between circularity and carbon reduction objectives. These findings highlight the necessity of jointly assessing circularity and embodied carbon in concrete building design. The integrated CE index offers a transparent and robust decision-support tool for industry practitioners and policymakers to evaluate building performance under uncertainty. By linking reliability theory with circular economy metrics, this study advances innovative methodologies for sustainable construction. The results provide valuable insights for the development of practical design guidelines, building codes, and policies aimed at promoting circular and low-carbon concrete construction.

Keywords: CE index, time-dependent reliability theory, material circularity, embodied carbon, concrete buildings, unsatisfactory performance

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Authors: Samaneh Mohammadi

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Integrating historical preservation with contemporary urban development is a major problem as cities move toward intelligent, energy-efficient urban landscapes. The main issue this study aims to answer is: How can smart city technologies be successfully incorporated into historic urban settings to promote sustainability and protect cultural heritage? The study investigates the possibilities of fusing preservation techniques for historic structures and communities with cutting-edge technology. The study uses a mixed-methods approach with a multi-grounded theory framework in historic urban settings to investigate the experiences of architects, residents, and urban planners. The study looks at the possibilities of integrating the construction of energy-positive spaces and the renovation of historic structures with sustainable materials. Important issues are also covered, including the expense of deploying smart technology, regulatory obstacles, and maintaining a resilient architectural integrity. The paper offers a conceptual framework for striking a balance of prosperity between the protection of cultural assets for future generations by supporting environmental aims and reinforced community well-being by assisting modern cities in combining sustainability with historical protection.

Keywords: heritage conservation, urban development, smart cities, sustainable strategy

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Authors: Shweta Sundar

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Los Angeles faces an urgent housing shortage compounded by deep-rooted spatial segregation, with high-opportunity, affluent neighborhoods contributing only 14% of the city’s housing stock. In response, the City’s 2021–2029 Housing Element aims to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH) by increasing housing production in these underutilized areas. This research explores ways that the City and the private sector can increase housing production in the high opportunity areas of Los Angeles. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines semi-structured interviews with housing producers and geospatial analysis to identify barriers to both market-rate and affordable housing development. It examines regulatory, political, financial and spatial constraints from a supply-side perspective and evaluates potential policy tools. Findings indicate that unlocking land constrained by low-density zoning is critical to expanding housing supply. Key recommendations include using zoning, land-use, and overlay reforms to enable development; offering regulatory incentives to private developers in exchange for affordability commitments; and increasing subsidies and support for pre-development stages in affordable housing projects. The study also underscores the need for a stronger role of the State in directing equitable development in high opportunity areas. This research provides timely insights for Los Angeles as it prepares to align local zoning laws with California’s RHNA requirements by October 2024.

Keywords: affordable housing, affirmatively further fair housing, zoning, private sector

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Authors: Liu Wenjun, Li Zexin

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The Anshun Tunpu settlements, comprising nearly 300 traditional villages, exhibit distinctive research significance due to their karst geological and geomorphological features, military defense functionality, and the preservation of Han cultural identity within a multi-ethnic context. However, current challenges include population decline, aging demographics, impediments to cultural heritage transmission, environmental and architectural conservation pressures, lagging economic development, and insufficient preservation mechanisms, all of which necessitate advanced and context-specific protection strategies. Building on extensive scholarly foundations of Tunpu studies, this research investigates the inherent evolutionary patterns and characteristics developed over centuries within these settlements. It systematically synthesizes their interconnections across spatial configurations, cultural continuities, evolutionary mechanisms, and distinctive elements. Through qualitative methodologies, the study constructs a regional correlation network framework to delineate conservation-development clusters. Key strategies proposed include establishing a sustainable cultural ecosystem and fostering synergies between cultural resource utilization and economic revitalization. This work contributes to the integration of heritage conservation theories for the Anshun Tunpu settlements while providing actionable references for regional associative preservation of historical settlements in southwestern mountainous areas.

Keywords: historic urban landscape, spatial continuity of heritage in urban-rural transition, associative values, integrated conservation, historical settlements

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Authors: Tazviona Richman Gambe

Abstract:

Acute shortages of housing, transport, and sanitation infrastructure in Southern African cities are primarily driven by rapid and poorly managed urbanization. This paper examines urbanization trends in Zimbabwe and their implications for urban planning and policy. Drawing on the Global Human Settlements Urban Centre Database 2015, it analyses 40 years of urban growth, with a focus on compact versus sprawling development. Findings reveal that while urbanization levels continue to rise, the pace of spatial expansion has slowed. The number of cities in Zimbabwe rose from 10 in 1975 to 33 in 2015, with the fastest growth observed in small cities, often characterized by overcrowded and unplanned settlements. National urban density declined between 1975 and 2000, followed by a modest rebound by 2015. Although trends varied, small cities, especially those with built-up areas under one square kilometer, recorded the highest densities. Despite a general tendency toward sprawl, several cities demonstrated more contained, compact growth. Population projections suggest Harare will retain its dominance, with Chitungwiza emerging as the second-largest city by 2050. These patterns call for differentiated urban policies that prioritize compact development, aligning land use planning with infrastructure investment to promote sustainable urbanization.

Keywords: compact development, density, public infrastructure, urban sprawl, urbanisation

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