City Region Research Articles

Developing two-dimensional indicators of transport demand and supply to promote sustainable transportation equity

Inadequate supply of transport infrastructure is often seen as a barrier to a sustainable future for cities globally. Such barriers often perpetuate significant inequalities in who can and who cannot benefit from sustainable transport opportunities, and as a result there is momentum for transformative urban planning to promote sustainable transportation equity. This study introduces a new set of two-dimensional indicators, merging elements of supply and demand, to identify barriers and imbalances in sustainable transport equity. The accessibility indicators, which are generated for bus, rail, and cycle infrastructure, consider the proximity of administrative areas to good quality transport infrastructure, as well as mode-specific demand, to clearly identify areas where the supply of infrastructure is inadequate to support local populations. We present a policy case study for Liverpool City Region, which demonstrates how these indicators can be used in an analytical framework to support transformative urban planning in long-term. In particular, the indicators reveal policy priority areas where demand for sustainable transport is greater than supply, as well as neighbourhoods where multiple transport inequalities are intersecting spatially, highlighting the need for specific types of infrastructure investment to promote sustainable transport equity (e.g. more frequent services, additional cycle paths). Our framework lays the foundations for improved decision-making in urban systems, through development of mode-specific sustainable transport indicators at small area levels, which harmonise elements of supply and demand for the first time.

Friendly, not friends: migrant settlement and diverse social ties in Australian regional cities

ABSTRACT Visa policies and pathways are increasingly driving international migration to Australia’s regional and rural centres. Often embedded within a multicultural imaginary, notions of friendliness and neighbourliness are instilled in the ‘small town’ narratives of these regional cities. However, little is known about whether this friendliness translates to the formation of deeper, meaningful connections that create the conditions for a sense of belonging to emerge. Drawing on empirical data from two regional cities across Queensland, this research investigates the challenges and barriers to forming friendships between migrant communities and ‘local’ Australian residents. We explore how co-ethnic relationships, while significant, do not always benefit and bolster migrants’ sense of belonging in the regions. Instead, we argue that inter-ethnic friendships with other migrant communities offer pathways to belonging in regional contexts. In doing so, we challenge prevalent assumptions regarding the inherent value of co-ethnic ties and the tensions so often raised within inter-ethnic relations.

Effectiveness of the lockdown policy in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the absence of vaccines and effective treatments, governments worldwide have implemented lockdown policies as non-pharmaceutical interventions to flatten the infection curve. This study evaluates the effectiveness of containment policies implemented at the local level in Vietnam. Data were synthesized from 143 policy interventions across 49 provinces and centrally run cities from April 27 to October 1, 2021, and an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was used to estimate the effectiveness of each intervention. A random-effects meta-analysis was then conducted to combine the results based on different criteria. This analysis found that Directives No.15/CT-TTg and No.16/CT-TTg were successfully implemented in the provinces of Northern Midlands and Mountains, Red River Delta, North Central, Central Coastline, and Central Highlands. However, these directives were less effective when employed in the Southeast and the Mekong Delta areas. Furthermore, the ITS analysis indicates that Ho Chi Minh City and provinces in the Southeast region implemented stringent lockdown directives later than other regions, leading to the loss of control over the pandemic during the study period. In-depth studies on lockdown interventions could provide valuable insights for policymakers in managing future outbreaks, particularly considering the time required for the development of vaccines and drugs.

Towards coordination of spatial relations: Understanding Chinese mega-regionalization from a secondary city perspective

Mega-regional planning in China is expected to tackle intra-regional unevenness, namely the development gap between regional core cities and the surrounding secondary cities. However, mega-regionalization processes seem to further increase the centrality of cores and push secondary cities towards greater polarization and peripheralization, as they lose socioeconomic vitality, industrial capacity, and political voice. To reflect on why mega-regions are not fulfilling their role of rebalancing regional urban systems, we conceptualize mega-regionalization as a mechanism to coordinate spatial relations within a territory and build a novel framework to analyze the relations between core and secondary cities. First, we show that visions of mega-regional planning regarding core-secondary relations pursue goals of morphological polycentricity, flow multi-directionality, and functional complementarity. Then, we use thematic analysis to evaluate the policy orientations of mega-regional planning to achieve these goals and extract three policy themes governing core-secondary spatial relations - coexistence, connectivity, and cooperation. These can systematically redefine mega-regional planning mechanisms by giving a central role to the spatial relations between core and secondary cities. Emphasizing spatial relations to conceptualize mega-regional governance allows a novel reflection on the challenges of unevenness grounded in the perspective of secondary cities. This deepens our understanding of governance mismatches that keep ideal visions and policy orientations misaligned when seen from secondary cities. Place, priority, and actor mismatches limit the potential of mega-regionalization to respond to their challenges. This research provides a relational understanding of mega-regions, calling for more attention to secondary cities, and the development of more balanced and sustainable mega-regions.

City Regionalism in the Global South: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

This study investigates city regionalism within the context of state restructuring in postcolonial Ghana. To understand Ghana’s emerging city regionalism, first, we argue that planning is marshaled as an institutional instrument to materialize the state’s vision of remaking national territory and internationalizing the state. Second, city regionalism is a political process leveraged by a unique power geometry. The study adopts Ghana’s Northern Savannah Ecological Zone (NSEZ) regional plan to elucidate city regionalism in the Global South. Our findings reveal the central government’s inclination toward endogenous territorial restructuring, by which city region development is centrally orchestrated and state guided. In addition, city regionalism is influenced by the geostrategic ambitions of international capital, especially Chinese capital, which seeks to draw investment into the built environment and infrastructure. The central government’s customization of a regional governance agency, the Northern Development Authority (NDA), and the decentralization of land resources give rise to a “dumbbell” power structure. The concentration of legal and cohesive power in the central government and an overly privatized land ownership regime characterize this dumbbell power structure. The operation of the NDA is thus a scaffolding with no substantial power. The central government exercises restrictive fiscal regulation over regional and local states in the NSEZ. These two dimensions hamper the effective implementation of the regional plan. Collaboration between different levels of state administration, traditional authorities, and civil society actors is imperative to address the complexities of city regionalism in postcolonial Ghana.

Seasonal dynamics of land surface temperature and urban thermal comfort with land use land cover pattern in semi-arid Indian cities: Insights for sustainable Urban Management

The cities in semi-arid and arid regions generally exhibit distinctive land use land cover (LULC) pattern and seasonal variation in urban thermal comfort (UTC) and land surface temperature (LST). This study examines the seasonal variation in LST and UTC and quantify the importance of LULC pattern in influencing LST in eight Indian semi-arid cities using Landsat 8 datasets. Random forest regression (RFR) model has been applied to quantify the influence of LULC in determining LST. The study shows that bare soil and open spaces in outskirts of selected cities have comparatively high LST than the core of cities. The mean LST varies seasonally from 12.84 °C in Udaipur to 26.18 °C in Jaipur in winter and summer. Analysis of UTC shows that autumn and winter seasons have better UTC than spring and summer seasons. RFR analysis shows a robust correlation (R2 > 0.85) between LULC and LST across all cities. Notably, built-up areas, open land, and vegetation cover exert the greatest influence on LST. Study suggests that targeted LULC planning may effectively address UTC problem in semi-arid cities and enhance sustainability. Study may help in understanding the seasonality thermal environment and assist in mitigating UHI and maintain UTC in these cities.

Mapping associations of polygenic scores with autistic and ADHD traits in a single city region.

The genetic and environmental aetiology of autistic and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) traits is known to vary spatially, but does this translate into variation in the association of specific common genetic variants? We mapped associations between polygenic scores for autism and ADHD and their respective traits in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 4,255-6,165) across the area surrounding Bristol, UK, and compared them to maps of environments associated with the prevalence of autism and ADHD. Our results suggest genetic associations vary spatially, with consistent patterns for autistic traits across polygenic scores constructed at different p-value thresholds. Patterns for ADHD traits were more variable across thresholds. We found that the spatial distributions often correlated with known environmental influences. These findings shed light on the factors that contribute to the complex interplay between the environment and genetic influences in autistic and ADHD traits.

Digital governance and carbon emission reduction: Evidence from “National Pilot Policy of Information Benefiting the People” in China

Promoting digital governance is crucial for the Chinese government's governance reform. This study utilizes panel data covering 280 cities in China to examine the influence of government digital governance on reducing carbon emissions. The "National Pilot Policy of Information Benefiting the People," implemented in 2014, serves as the quasi-natural experiment for the analysis. The study employs the difference-in-difference (DID) methodology to indicate that improving the government's digital capacity contributes to reducing carbon emissions, which is robust to several robustness tests. Government digital governance facilitates the reduction of carbon emissions primarily via three mechanisms: developing green finance, gathering green talents, and promoting green technology innovation. Enhanced digital governance by the government exerts a more pronounced effect on reducing carbon emissions in cities in the eastern region, smaller municipalities, and resource-dependent municipalities. Additionally, current policies have notably decreased carbon emissions in the pilot cities, though a lag exists in the policy spillover effect affecting neighboring cities. This study investigates the influence of government digital governance on reducing carbon emissions through the lens of digital transformation. It offers valuable empirical insights for enhancing the governance capabilities of the Chinese government in the new era and facilitating the achievement of carbon reduction targets in urban areas.

Resilient city construction efficiency and its influencing factors in China's Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle: Considering both construction input and resilience level of the city

The growing expansion of urban centers combined with a deteriorating climatic environment raises the likelihood and severity of urban disasters. Thus, there is an urgent need to accelerate the resilient city construction. Here, we use efficiency theory to structure an assessment indicator system of the resilient city construction efficiency to examine the actual correlation of urban resilience enhancement and urban resource consumption. Specifically, 16 key cities in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle (CCEC) are investigated using the super-efficient SBM and GTWR models. The findings reveal that the resilient city construction efficiency varies greatly among cities in the region, but most cities have relatively low resilient city construction efficiency, showing high resource consumption and low resilience levels. Also, the lower efficiency of regional resilient city construction is mainly due to the serious ineffectiveness of technical and resource inputs, insufficient outputs of ecological resilience and engineering resilience, and is also greatly influenced by factors such as the economic level and the technological innovation level. Upon this basis, we suggest the development strategies for resilient city construction in CCEC. This study broadens the perspective and scope of urban resilience research, and also provides a realistic reference for accelerating the construction of resilient cities.

Using composite indicators and city dashboards to promote place-based policy interventions

Spatial inequality is a common urban phenomena in cities around the world, where stark contrasts in a variety of different social and economic outcomes paint a vivid picture of compound inequalities. Tackling these influences from a policy perspective remains challenging, as political economies often span multiple actors and municipal bodies, lacking effective policy instruments to challenge multiple forms of inequality at once. This paper provides a new data-driven perspective, which seeks to improve how policy is developed when trying to mitigate the impacts of compound inequality. Utilising a place-based approach, we present an evidence base which has been co-produced with policymakers, comprising composite spatial indicators and a city dashboard for Liverpool City Region. The assembled evidence base highlights clear patterns of compound inequality across the region, identifying places in greatest need of support. In the paper we discuss how this evidence base is now being used to distribute investment from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements, generating positive outcomes for people and places across the region. Finally, we conclude by reflecting on the benefits of building collaborative relationships between academics and policymakers, and the utility of our approach, which uses urban indicators and city dashboards, which we argue can secure a more equitable future for cities globally.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in middle-sized cities of Burkina Faso: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Since March 2020, COVID-19 has evolved from a localized outbreak to a global pandemic. We assessed the seroprevalence of COVID-19 in three towns in the Centre Sud region of Burkina Faso. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in three middle-sized cities in Burkina Faso's Centre Sud region, from June to July 2021. Subjects aged 16 or over at the time of the survey were considered for this seroprevalence study. The Biosynex COVID-19 BSS rapid test was used to detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) against SARS-CoV-2. A standardized questionnaire was also administered to collect additional information. A total of 2449 eligible participants (age ≥ 16 years) were identified. Serological tests for COVID-19 were performed in 2155 individuals, of which 2143 valid tests were retained and analyzed. Out of the entire sample, 246 positive tests were observed, corresponding to a prevalence of 11.48%. Prevalence was 9.35% (58 cases) in Kombissiri, 12.86% (80 cases) in Manga and 11.99% (108 cases) in Pô. By gender, 13.37% of women (164 cases) tested positive, and 8.95% of men (82 cases). Women accounted for 66.67% of all positive test subjects. The results from the multivariate analysis show a significantly higher seroprevalence in women (p = 0.007), people over 55 years old (p = 0.004), overweight people (p = 0.026) and those with drinking water sources at home (p = 0.013). The results of this study show that the COVID-19 virus also circulates in the population of middle-sized cities in Burkina Faso, far more than officially reported by the information service of the government of Burkina Faso, given the lack of systematic testing in the general population in the country. The study also highlighted the greater vulnerability of women, older and overweight individuals to the epidemic. The preventive measures put in place to fight the pandemic must take these different factors into account.

Voluntary initiatives of non-profit organizations in the formation of creative communities and creative spaces of the city: a philosophical view

Relevance. This article examines the topical issue of the role of the non-profit sector in urban development from a philosophical point of view. The authors cite key concepts that reveal the socio-legal aspects of the work of NGOs; define the socio-philosophical significance of the activities of non-profit organizations in Russian cities.The purpose of the study is to identify the impact of volunteer initiatives of the non-profit sector on the development of creative locations of cities, the dynamics of territorial development.Objectives: to determining the relationship of NGOs with the development of the creative potential of the city; socio-philosophical analysis of competitive materials of applications from non-profit organizations to civil society development funds; identification of directions for the formation of urban creative and innovative spaces created with the help of NGOs.Methodology. The work uses a systematic method, an analytical review and synthesis of the information under study. The authors used materials from open data reports on the evaluation of the results of the projects of the winners of the competitions for grants from the President of the Russian Federation for the development of civil society in 2022.Results. The result is an idea of the socio-cultural modernization of the urban sphere. Initiative in the implementation of voluntary urban socially significant projects forms the sustainability of urban living conditions, the investment and image attractiveness of the city, and the positive migration issue. The interrelation between initiative projects of representatives of the non-profit sector and socio-cultural design of the environment, activation of the creative class, and improvement of the comfort level of urban areas is revealed. Modern active NGOs in Russian cities represent the avant-garde, implementing creative projects and broadcasting cultural trends, creative practices that define the conceptual meanings of the development of a particular city (region). Projects based on the voluntary aspirations of citizens and related to the assistance of specific social groups acquire a sustainable character of development and form the features of the city.Conclusion. The results of the study showed that the work of the non-profit sector in Russian cities is transforming urban spaces by developing creative resources and creative industries.

Effectiveness of Prenatal Gentle Yoga to Improve Norephinefrine Levels in Primigravida and Multigravida Pregnant Women at Pkm Makassar City Region

Pregnant women are at risk of experiencing anxiety and stress which causes the release of the hormone norepinephrine which is produced by most neurons in the brain stem and hypothalamus. Yoga has a positive impact on the body by reducing the performance of the hypothalamus, thereby releasing neuropeptides which stimulate the pituitary gland and releasing ACTH which suppresses the production of stress hormones. Prenatal Gentle Yoga is a therapy that supports the healthy balance between body and mind that is needed during the process of pregnancy until delivery. This research was carried out at the Bara Baraya Health Center, Antang Health Center, Kapasa Health Center, and Mamajang Health Center. The research design used in this research is Quasi Experiment with a Nonequivalent Control Group Design approach. Sampling used a purposive sampling technique. The instrument used is ELISA (Enzyme Linked Limmuno Sorbent Assay). The research sample consisted of 24 respondents, 12 people in the intervention group, and 12 people in the control group. Criteria in this research; Primigravida and multigravida pregnant women, pregnant women in the II-III trimester with a gestational age of >=20 to <31 weeks, pregnant women without complications in pregnancy. Based on statistical tests (Mann Whitney Test), norepinephrine levels in the intervention group decreased (p=0.008), there was a significant difference, in the control group the statistical test showed no significance (p=0.347). Thus, prenatal gentle yoga is effective in reducing levels of the hormone norepinephrine.

A framework for urban resilience measurement and enhancement strategies: A case study in Qingdao, China

Comprehensive measurement and analysis of urban resilience is essential to ensure sustainable urban development. This paper creates a multilevel urban resilience evaluation index system based on four dimensions of economy, society, ecology, and infrastructure and the three attributes (resistance, recovery, and adaptability), then applies the framework to Qingdao, China. The results suggest that: (1) The overall level of urban resilience in Qingdao showed an upward trend, rising from a relatively high level in 2012 to a high level in 2021. Economic and social resilience maintained a high consistency, developing rapidly, while the development of ecological and infrastructure resilience fluctuated, and infrastructure resilience was slow and lagging. (2) Qingdao's overall resilience is higher than other cities in the same region, but infrastructure resilience is relatively low. Moreover, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) of the resilience of the four subsystems in Qingdao has evolved from near imbalance to good coordination. (3) Infrastructure resilience is the primary obstacle factor in the dimension layer, followed by ecological resilience. Based on the results, corresponding improvement strategies are proposed. A comprehensive multidimensional measurement of the urban resilience of Qingdao can identify the main shortcomings and provide a reference for decision-making and resource allocation in resilient cities.

Land suitability analysis for blue-green infrastructure implementation in an urban stormwater management system in Surabaya, Indonesia

ABSTRACT In low-lying areas, pluvial, fluvial, and coastal flooding can combine to form complex flood events. In this context, integrated blue-green infrastructure (BGI) has emerged as a viable approach to environmentally friendly stormwater management. This study concentrated on two primary objectives: i) the development of a geospatial technology-based land suitability map for BGI implementation and ii) the identification of optimal BGI nodes and corridors. Surabaya City in the Delta Brantas region of Indonesia was selected as the location for a pilot study. The land suitability analysis considered five criteria (slope, potential drainage density, land use/land cover, soil types, and proximity to roads), and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to assign weights to these criteria before calculating a BGI index using the raster calculator tool in GIS. A BGI index map was then employed to identify potential BGI nodes on public land and priority corridors. The eastern and western regions of Surabaya, which are characterized by agriculture, fishponds, salt ponds, and mangrove forests, were identified as prime candidates for BGI implementation. Areas of public land under the jurisdiction of the city government, such as government offices, police stations, and educational zones, also offered the opportunity for BGI initiatives.

The impact of manufacturing agglomeration on green development performance: Evidence from the Yangtze river economic belt in China

Exploring pathways for China to achieve the dual goals of stabilizing economic growth and promoting green development provides important reference value for countries worldwide. This is particularly crucial in addressing global climate change and achieving carbon neutrality. This paper focuses on 108 cities within the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China, employing the Generalised Spatial Two-Stage Least Squares (GS2SLS) method to conduct an in-depth analysis of the impact of manufacturing agglomeration on green development performance. This study finds that, at the current stage, manufacturing agglomeration can effectively promote green development performance; however, the impact exhibits a U-shaped relationship. This means that the effect of manufacturing agglomeration on green development performance initially decreases and then increases. Additionally, knowledge spillover effects, resource allocation effects, and structural upgrading effects are important channels contributing to this nonlinear relationship. Extended analysis reveals that in the cities of the lower Yangtze River region, there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between manufacturing agglomeration and green development performance, while in the middle and upper reaches, the relationship is U-shaped. Furthermore, the expansion of city size positively promotes the green development effects of manufacturing agglomeration. These conclusions not only provide important guidance for China in achieving high-quality green development but also offer significant insights for developing countries worldwide in attaining the dual goals of economic growth and green development.

Penerapan Good Governance pada Pemerintahan Daerah Ditinjau dari Perkembangan Ilmu Pemerintahan

The state government system is an important part of a country. In implementing regional independence, to be able to carry out its benefits well, regional authorities are required to create regulations for managing goog in each region. The rules of a good regime relate to how regional authorities, whether regency or city, act as policy executives, whether national or local policy. While the rules for good governance relate to how regional authorities implement regional level policies, this is also related to how regional authorities are able to carry out the policies that regional authorities want to implement.

Counterurbanization in China? A case study of counties in Huang-Huai-Hai area from the perspective of urban-rural relations

For decades, China's urbanization has primarily involved trans-regional migration from inland areas to major city regions along the coast or within the interior. As urban-rural disparities diminish, China has transitioned to intra-regional urbanization. However, there remains a gap in understanding the effects of this transition of urban-rural relations within China. This study focuses on counties as the fundamental research unit, examining net migration of the Huang-Huai-Hai Area. The spatial differentiation and its influencing factors were analyzed using ArcGIS and linear regression techniques. The results indicated a shift in the net migration trend of counties' populations in the Huang-Huai-Hai Area around 2010. The phenomenon of “counterurbanization” after 2010 changed the underlying rationale for population net migration. Counties' net migration was affected by both their relationship with cities and internal county factors. The close connection with cities promoted population growth in the counties. In-situ urbanization was vital for county development. The industrial structural adjustments were pivotal in population retention. The healthcare and education resources affected the migration patterns. The “counterurbanization” in this area could create new urban-rural dynamics. The revitalization of county populations meant significant implications for rural revitalization. This study, which is one of the first studies ever of the phenomenon of counterurbanization in a developing country, can provide insights for the development of integrated urban-rural areas and rural revitalization efforts.

A PRELIMINARY OBSERVED SELF EVALUATION STUDY OF STATUTORY TOBACCO REGULATION ACT IN AND AROUND SCHOOLS OF MYSURU DISTRICT

This preliminary survey investigates the proximity and prevalence of tobacco outlets shop near schools, aiming to understand the potential exposure of school-aged children to tobacco products specially cigarettes. The study focuses on identifying the density and location of tobacco shops within a defined radius of educational institutions. Data were collected from multiple schools in various regions of Mysuru city and rural areas, using geographical information systems (GIS) to map and analyze the distribution of these outlets using the latitude and longitude of the location. The findings reveal a significant number of tobacco outlets situated within close proximity to schools, raising concerns about the accessibility of tobacco products to minors. Although the school management is strictly following the rules in the virtue of COPTA act 2003 of displaying board of prohibition, restriction, prevention and punishments of usage tobacco products. The results underscore the need for stricter zoning regulations and public health interventions to reduce the exposure and appeal of tobacco products to young people. This survey provides a foundational analysis that can inform policy makers and community leaders in their efforts to create healthier environments for children and adolescents.

Optimization Design Methods for Thermal Environment Problems in Chinese University Teaching Buildings at Various Periods

Chinese universities have gone through three periods of centralized construction and significant differences in the design of teaching buildings in different periods may cause various thermal environment problems. This study takes a city in a cold region in northern China as an example and selects three teaching buildings built during three concentrated construction periods: 1950s to 1960s, 1980s to 1990s, and early 21st century as common cases. Based on field research, thermal environment measurement, APMV and PMV-PPD evaluation, and DeST simulation methods, it was found that the average summer APMV of the three teaching buildings was 1.37, indicating poor thermal comfort. In winter, the ambient temperature of the classrooms was below 18 °C for about 30% to 40% of the whole year, the average PMV value was −2.36, and the PPD value was obtained as 83.28%, far exceeding the standard requirements. The obtained results form a design strategy to optimize the thermal environment of teaching buildings. By considering the teaching building of historical architecture from the 1950s to 1960s as an example, the optimization design was carried out from three aspects to improve the indoor thermal environment and reduce the building’s cooling and heating load. The cumulative load of the building throughout the year was reduced by 21%, the cumulative heat load was reduced by 28.3%, and the cumulative cooling load was reduced by 10.1%. This research is anticipated to be of great reference significance for enhancing the thermal comfort of existing buildings, promoting energy conservation, and reducing carbon emissions. At the same time, it contributes to the protection and optimal use of historical buildings.