Planning for cooler communities: Vacant lots as components of heat resilience in MESA, ARIZONA

The city of New Orleans is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina and continues to experience numerous negative effects from the lingering storm damage to its urban forest cover. The goal of this study was to analyze recent changes in area coverage of all trees, shrubs, and herbaceous lawns in neighborhoods of New Orleans, particularly in three of the most severely areas damaged by the flooding of 2005, down to the scale of individual blocks, and on all demolished lots and properties conveyed new ownership since 2010. Object-based classification for 4-band aircraft imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) was used to generate high-resolution maps of large tree canopy cover and vacant lots for the city of New Orleans. Field surveys and online map street photos were used to determine the accuracy of new city-wide maps of large tree canopy area. Based on 2017 NAIP image analysis of Katrina-flooded areas, results showed that the Lakeview neighborhood had the greatest number of large trees and the highest density of tree canopy area (at 11% cover), compared to the Lower Ninth Ward and Seventh Ward neighborhoods (both at 9% cover). However, vacant lots mapped in the Lower Ninth Ward were (on average) over twice as large in area as the vacant lot polygons in the other two neighborhoods studied. It was further estimated that 70% of the total area in the Lower Ninth Ward remains covered by vacant lots with shrub and herbaceous cover. The absolute number of lots was also highest for the Lower Ninth Ward with respect to demolished properties with a continuing net greening trend between 2010 and 2017. It is concluded that an object-based classification method can generate accurate high-resolution maps of large tree canopy cover and vacant vegetated lots for the city of New Orleans.

A framework for strategic transformation of vacant lots for heat resilience.

QuestionsPatterns of functional and phylogenetic homogenization of plant diversity at the scale of entire cities are well established. However, fewer studies have investigated how shifts in the composition of urban species pools may alter spatial variation in community assembly across patches within a city. We compared plant diversity both within and between vacant lots in a single urban neighborhood and asked: (1) how do heterogeneous human legacies of land use within vacant lots structure plant community diversity and composition and (2) what is the importance of human legacies for structuring community composition, relative to spatial and environmental variation?LocationUrban residential neighbourhood in Baltimore, MD, US (39°17′ N, 76°38′ W).MethodsWe surveyed herbaceous plant species identity and abundance in 24 unmanaged vacant lots. We constructed functional and phylogenetic diversity metrics from databases and the literature and compared taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity between sections of the lot where a residential building was once located (building footprint), and the area that was originally the garden or backyard (remnant garden). We term these different ‘human legacy’ groups. We partitioned variation in plant community composition between human legacy groups as well as across measured environmental and spatial gradients.ResultsWe report significant plant community compositional divergence between human legacy groups. Beta‐diversity, in particular, was significantly higher in remnant garden sections compared to building footprint sections for all metrics of biodiversity. Plant community compositional variation was primarily explained by differences in human legacies. We found no measurable effects of selected metrics of local environmental variation (abiotic soil characteristics) or environmental context (lot area, proximity to other vacant lots and tree canopy) on compositional variation. Geographic distance between sites, however, did interact with human legacy variation to structure phylogenetic composition.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that human land‐use legacies have complex but measurable effects on both the patterns and the processes by which species co‐existence is maintained across the urban landscape. Within a single habitat type (here, residential vacant lots), variation in legacies of land use may have a stronger plant community structuring effect than contemporary environmental variation.

Heat is the primary cause of weather-related mortality in the United States. The 2021 Northwest heat dome highlighted this susceptibility. In Washington State, 159 excess deaths were attributed to the 7-day period of unprecedented extreme heat between June 26th and July 2nd. This impact was felt even in some of the more acclimatized parts of the state, like Spokane County, where 19 heat-related deaths were reported. As climate change increases the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme heat events, creating and sustaining heat-resilient communities has become an urgent public health priority. On 6 June 2023, Gonzaga University, in partnership with the University of Washington, hosted the Spokane Extreme Heat Risk Intervention Stakeholder Synthesis Symposium. The goals of the symposium were to debrief from recent heat events, identify extreme heat risk reduction interventions used in the region, and characterize remaining practice-relevant research priorities. The symposium convened 45 stakeholders including representatives from local and state agencies, academia, and community-based and Tribal organizations. Symposium participants engaged in small group discussions using the World Café MethodTM. Notes from each discussion were coded using a content analysis approach. Symposium participants identified strengths, barriers to heat resilience, and solutions to reduce risk throughout the Spokane community. We present these findings by practice topic, including risk communication, intervention, collaboration, policy, and research. Additionally, we utilize the socio-ecological model as a conceptual framework to illustrate the complex interplay of factors that govern an individual’s experience of, and ability to respond to, extreme heat events. Given extreme heat’s impact on global public health, the methods used to increase community resilience in Spokane, WA, USA could be used by other communities worldwide to increase their own heat-resilience.

RATIONALE: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a heterogeneous group of lung disorders characterized by inflammation and/or scarring of lung tissue. Coexisting comorbidities are common among patients with ILD and significantly contribute to the economic burden of the disease. However, there is limited research on the complex relationships between ILD outcomes, associated comorbidities, and various measures of social disadvantage across US counties. Our study aimed to assess the association between different county-level social determinants indices and ILD-related mortality in the presence of comorbidities in the US. METHODS: County-level ILD-related mortality data from 2016-2020 were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER). We also obtained mortality data for ILD with common coexisting comorbid conditions, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic lower respiratory diseases (CLRD), diabetes mellitus (DM), cancer, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and influenza/pneumonia, from CDC WONDER. The study examined various county-level indices of social determinants, such as the National Risk Index [NRI = Expected Annual Loss(EAL) × Social Vulnerability(SVI) / Community Resilience(BRIC)] and the Social Deprivation Index (SDI). Both NRI and SDI, originally presented as percentile rankings, were further classified into quartiles for analysis. Negative binomial regression models were used to analyze the associations between ILD mortality with coexisting comorbidities and different health indices. RESULTS: From 2016-2020, the age-adjusted ILD-related mortality rate per 1,000,000 population was 88.8 (95% CI: 88.4-89.2). Counties with greater social vulnerability, deprivation, and lower community resilience showed significantly higher ILD-related mortality. Similarly, mortalities for ILD with coexisting comorbidities of CVD, CLRD, DM, or influenza/pneumonia were significantly greater in counties with higher levels of vulnerability, deprivation, and lower resilience. Notably, the proportional increase in mortality was more pronounced for ILD with coexisting CLRD, DM, or influenza/pneumonia than for ILD alone. Adults aged <65 years, females, Whites, and rural area had the highest relative increase in ILD-related mortality. Interestingly, a paradoxical relationship was observed between ILD-related mortality and National Risk Index and Expected Annual Loss. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant disparities in ILD mortality across US counties, which are strongly associated with social disadvantage as measured by social vulnerability, deprivation, and community resilience. This effect was particularly pronounced in individuals with comorbid conditions like CLRD, DM, and influenza/pneumonia. These findings highlight the critical role of social determinants of health and community resilience in shaping ILD outcomes and emphasize the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities, especially in socially disadvantaged areas.

This research is to identify the relationship between land use and distribution patterns of vacant lots of large scale detached housing areas in Nagasaki-city, Nagasaki Prefecture, one of the provincial core cities, Japan. The main findings are as follows. (1) The ratio of total area of vacant lots in large scale detached housing areas is 16.8%. The ratio of total area of each land use (plot of vegetables, car park and unused land) in vacant lots is as follows; unused land; 89.7%, car park; 7.6% and plot of vegetables; 2.7%. (2) Blocks which include vacant lots are classified into 5 types based on following parameters (the ratio of total area of vacant lots in block, index of mixed land use, density of retaining structure and block in area). (3) The ratio of total area of plot of vegetables and car park in vacant lots of blocks which are low ratio of total area of vacant lots in block is higher than of blocks which are high ratio of total area of vacant lots in block. This is because vacant lots of blocks which are low ratio of total area of vacant lots in block is more commonly used by residents in comparison with blocks which are high ratio of total area of vacant lots in block. Based on these findings, we propose a list of considerations for utilizing vacant lots in large scale detached housing areas.

Urban soil contamination by current-use pesticides and their transformation products: Insights from targeted analysis and suspect screening.

Building community resilience is one of the central priorities of the SFDRR 2015–2030. However, no agreement exists over the exact measurement of the progress of building disaster resilience at community level. This chapter aims to contribute to the literature of resilience measurement in two ways. First, the chapter develops a Japanese version of the Resilience Capacity Index (RCI), which was ranked at the highest sub-national level resilience index in terms of maturity according to the UNDP’s systematic review (2014). Second, it examines how high and low community resilience measured by RCI affects inter-municipality migrations among Japanese nationals and foreign residents. There are four findings in this chapter; first, in areas unaffected by earthquakes, Japanese people are more likely to move-out from municipalities with low resilience, while they are less likely to move-out from municipalities with high resilience. Second, in areas severely affected by earthquakes, municipalities with low resilience suffer additional out-migration, while no additional out-migration can be observed in municipalities with middle or high resilience. Third, in-migration shows that having high resilience does not always benefit municipalities. Municipalities with high resilience (community connectivity) tend to form a closed set of networks within the community unconnected to larger society. Fourth, foreigners do not respond to the level of resilience in both earthquake-affected and non-earthquake affected municipalities. They seem to behave as if there is a separate community for non-Japanese people. The results of this paper suggest the need for a strategy to reduce the number of municipalities with low resilience and encourage more inclusive and participatory communities for foreigners.KeywordsResilience capacity indexCommunity levelInter-municipality migrationsInclusivenessJapaneseForeigners

The COVID-19 pandemic took most communities off guard and has highlighted gaps in community preparedness and resilience in spite of the numerous technological advancements and the variety of available social media platforms that many relied on during lockdown periods. This served to emphasise the necessity for exploring the roles of social media and smart city technologies in mitigating pandemic impacts. In this systematic literature review, we examined twelve articles on social media usage and smart city technologies and their contributions to community resilience during COVID-19. The analysis focused on the use of social media platforms and smart city technologies during and after lockdown periods, examining their role in fostering community resilience. Results indicate that social media and smart city technologies were instrumental in helping communities adapt and recover from the pandemic. While past studies have examined community resilience, social media, or smart cities separately, there is limited literature collating insights on the three elements combined. We therefore argue that these technologies, employed collaboratively, enhance community resilience during crises. Nevertheless, further research is recommended, particularly on urban resilience and comparative analyses to deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between these variables.

Initial interest in community resilience by the U.S. federal government has been followed by waves of community resilience theory building and of community resilience assessment and intervention development and testing. This special issue of American Behavioral Scientist includes reviews of recent work to conceptualize, measure, and foster community resilience. These reviews identify common community resilience principles and considerations that cut across individual community resilience projects. These insights can inform next steps in community resilience practice and research.

Vacant lots: An underexplored resource for ecological and social benefits in cities

Urban agroforestry and its potential integration into city planning efforts

Urban vacant lots (VLs) can harbour a large number of rare and endangered species. In the present study, we evaluated species composition and biodiversity of plant communities inhabiting VLs in the City of Mashhad, northeastern Iran. We used a line transect sampling method to sample 98 random VLs along different districts of the City. We classified VLs based on their species composition and environmental factors. Then, a significant difference in the community composition along with the dominant and indicator species of clusters was evaluated. Also, we compared species and phylogenetic diversities of clusters. We identified four clusters. The species composition of the four clusters was different. One cluster (i.e., D912) had more range‐restricted species than the other clusters. This cluster also had a higher species and phylogenetic diversity than the others. Two clusters had the lowest phylogenetic diversity in comparison with the others. Our results implied that income distribution in the city had indirect effects on plant communities of VLs. Vegetation of VLs in areas with higher average income was less damaged than that of the lower‐income areas. Because of its most diverse and range‐restricted plants, the D912 cluster should be managed to maintain the biodiversity in the city. Land use change to parks or urban agricultural lands is suggested for degraded and species‐poor VLs.

What is the central question of this study? Repeated heat exposure during the summer months can enhance heat loss in humans (seasonal heat acclimatisation), but does the magnitude of that enhancement differ between young and older adults when assessed during passive heat exposure? What is the main finding and its importance? While seasonal heat acclimatisation enhanced evaporative heat loss (i.e. sweating) in both young and older adults, those improvements led to a greater reduction in body heat storage in older adults. These outcomes indicate that heat acclimatisation may confer greater thermoregulatory benefits with increasing age. Repeated heat exposure throughout summer can enhance heat loss in humans (seasonal heat acclimatisation), although the effect of ageing on those improvements remains unclear. We therefore sought to assess thermoregulatory function in young and older adults during environmental heat exposure prior to and following seasonal heat acclimatisation, hypothesizing that the magnitude of adaptation would be greater in older relative to young adults. To achieve this, 14 young (19-27years) and 10 older adults (55-72years), who resided in a temperate humid-continental climate, completed a 3h resting heat exposure (44°C, ∼30% relative humidity) in the winter-spring months as part of a larger investigation (pre-acclimatisation), before being re-evaluated using the same heat stress test following the summer months (post-acclimatisation). Whole-body dry and evaporative heat exchange, and metabolic rate were measured throughout using direct and indirect calorimetry (respectively), and used to quantify body heat storage (metabolic rate + dry heat gain - evaporative heat loss). Evaporative heat loss increased in both groups following acclimatisation, but those improvements led to a decrease in body heat storage in older (mean difference (95% CI); 213 (295, 131)kJ; P<0.001), but not young adults (-25 (-94, 44)kJ; P=0.458). Thus, body heat storage was greater in older compared to young adults before (222 (123, 314)kJ; P<0.001), but not following acclimatisation (34(-55, 123)kJ; P=0.433). Although there is a need for larger and more controlled confirmatory studies, our findings indicate that seasonal heat acclimatisation may induce greater thermoregulatory adaptation in older compared to young adults.

The City of Atlanta, Georgia, is a fast-growing urban area with substantial economic and racial inequalities, subject to the impacts of climate change and intensifying heat extremes. Here, we analyze the magnitude, distribution, and predictors of heat exposure across the City of Atlanta, within the boundaries of Fulton County. Additionally, we evaluate the extent to which identified heat exposure is addressed in Atlanta climate resilience governance. First, land surface temperature (LST) was mapped to identify the spatial patterns of heat exposure, and potential socioeconomic and biophysical predictors of heat exposure were assessed. Second, government and city planning documents and policies were analyzed to assess whether the identified heat exposure and risks are addressed in Atlanta climate resilience planning. The average LST of Atlanta’s 305 block groups ranges from 23.7 °C (low heat exposure) in vegetated areas to 31.5 °C (high heat exposure) in developed areas across 13 summer days used to evaluate the spatial patterns of heat exposure (June–August, 2013–2019). In contrast to nationwide patterns, census block groups with larger historically marginalized populations (predominantly Black, less education, lower income) outside of Atlanta’s urban core display weaker relationships with LST (slopes ≈ 0) and are among the cooler regions of the city. Climate governance analysis revealed that although there are few strategies for heat resilience in Atlanta (n = 12), the majority are focused on the city’s warmest region, the urban core, characterized by the city’s largest extent of impervious surface. These strategies prioritize protecting and expanding the city’s urban tree canopy, which has kept most of Atlanta’s marginalized communities under lower levels of outdoor heat exposure. Such a tree canopy can serve as an example of heat resilience for many cities across the United States and the globe.