City Landscape Research Articles

Environmental Implications of Sculpture Landscape in Ancient Cities with Reference to Enugu, Nigeria

The study aimed to examine the environmental implications of landscape sculptures in Enugu, with the objective of examining the historical record and awareness of the cultural connotation of Landscape sculptures to the city development. Based on a qualitative approach, this study examines six landscape sculptures situated in the central business district of the city. The study employs mainly the primary sources of data which include; site visits and interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data such as Archives and internet search engines. Using a purposive and simple random sampling technique, a sample size of 60 community elders and youth were interviewed through focus group discussion (FGD), and oral interview with the aid of a questionnaire. Data were qualitative and quantitative analysed. Findings identified six major landscape sculptures without and with cultural connotations; the Otigba Statue, the White Lion statue, and the status of Park Lane hospital, while others; were sculptures of the three wise monkeys, coal miners, and Edward Anike statue. Findings discovered that more than 90% of the youth are not aware of the historic record and connotation of the landscape sculptures in the city. Keys findings show non-marketable values of environmental implication. The Chi-square result (X2 = P-Sig > 0.05) shows that the environmental implications of the sculpture landscape have no statistical relationship to the economic value of city development, but the non-marketable values show a positive implication of environmental and social implications to city development. The study suggests public enlightenment to enhance landscape sculpture preservation. Further examination of landscape sculpture preservation techniques should be considered for sustainable city development.

Navigating discreetly: Spatial ecology of urban wild boar in Bordeaux City's landscape of fear, France

An exemplary urban adapter, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) has successfully colonized urban ecological niches worldwide. Improvement of strategies for optimal management of urban wild boar need to gather more empirical evidence of their spatial ecology. This study is based on GPS tracking and capture-mark-recapture (CMR) of 10 and 59 wild boar, respectively, captured in Bordeaux Metropolis (France). It shows that wild boar have become urban dwellers, with intra-urban home ranges varying from 1.3 to 64.6 km2 (MCP 100 %) and from 0.5 to 9.6 km2 (KDE 95 %), depending on urban conditions. CMR results confirm the low propensity to move away from urban areas (with a mean distance of 2 km between capture and recapture sites), despite a relatively low one-year survival rate since capture (47.5 %), primarily attributable to removal efforts. Wild boar strongly depended on urban woods, mostly during daytime resting, and highly frequented urban meadows during night foraging. Their use of urban agricultural areas was minimal, but they were mostly monitored following corn and grape harvests. Wild boar mitigated the risk associated with close proximity to humans by: a nocturnal activity (72.2 % of active locations registered from sunset to sunrise), which could also be partially attributed to their sensitivity to heat; a strong use of covered habitats, especially during daytime resting and when close to buildings and roads; and a low mobility during night-time foraging (1974 m average daily distance travelled). Moreover, we demonstrate high inter- and intra-individual variability in the spatio-temporal behaviour of urban wild boar. Finally, we discuss the gap between these results and the narratives surrounding the spatial ecology of urban wild boar. Our results not only confirm the species' ability to adapt to urban environments, but also highlight their behavioural flexibility, underscoring the relevance of significant changes in representations and management activities to mitigate human-urban wild boar conflicts.

Predicting Prayagraj's Urbanization Trajectory using CA-ANN Modelling: Population Pressures and Land Use Dynamics

Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) dynamics provide a crucial role in the monitoring, planning, and management of resources. They also offer valuable information for developing strategies to balance conservation efforts, resolve conflicts between different land uses, and address pressures from growth. The present study focuses on the assessment of LULC dynamics, their forecasting, and their changes for Prayagraj city (including its surroundings) of India. Using long-term spatiotemporal Landsat datasets (1988–2018), we have explored the interlinkages between the change dynamics and human population pressure to explore the impact of agriculture and urbanization on the city landscape. Future growth prediction is carried out by incorporating Cellular Automaton (CA) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models. Six exploratory layers (viz., roads, educational institutes, railway transition, slope, river, and restricted area) are used in the learning process to determine LULC change (1997–2008) simulation. The validation of real and predicted LULC is carried out for 2018, where the correctness percentage and kappa value are found to be 90.29% and 0.87, respectively. Then, the ANN- Multilayer perceptron (MLP) and CA model are applied to predict LULC–2028 using the same trained transition probabilities. Results show that Built-land has grown highly by 10.03%, whereas Agriculture land and Forest land have significantly decreased by 13.43% and 3.03%, respectively, from 1988 to 2018. The predicted LULC of 2028 reveals that Built-land will keep growing by 2.83% during 2018–2028 at the cost of Agriculture land and Forest land, especially in northern, south–western and southern region, including city's inner sphere. United Nations' human population projection reveals that the city is expected to reach a population of 1.625 million by 2028. This indicates that tremendous pressure will be placed on land resources, particularly on agricultural, barren, and forested areas. To address this alarming scenario, it is imperative to delineate future development areas, ensuring better urban planning for the environmental sustainability and economic prosperity of Prayagraj city.

Enhanced pollution removal from canal water by coupling aeration to floating treatment wetlands

Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are natural solutions for purifying polluted water, providing a green surface area and improving city landscape. This study investigated if the efficiency of FTWs can be improved by aeration for treating contaminated canal water. The three used plant species were Canna generalis, Phragmites australis, and Cyperus alternifolius. The experiment was carried out in three FTWs with aeration and three without aeration to compare the removal for COD, NH4 +-N, E. coli, PO4 3−-P, and Fe. In the aerated FTWs, air blowers were installed to run at two different air flow rates of 2.5 L min−1 (Batch 1) and 1.0 L min−1 (Batch 2). Aeration increased the dissolved oxygen concentrations in each tank, which came over 6.5 mg L−1 in both batches. This study sheds light on the positive impact of aeration has on COD and NH4 +-N removal: these are nearly three-fold higher compared to non-aeration conditions and reached approximately 99% (1.7-log reduction) for E. coli removal. Additionally, the plant growth rate in the aerated FTWs was higher than in the non-aerated ones. The average shoot growth rate of Phragmites australis was 0.76 cm d−1 for the aerated FTW which was two-fold higher compared to the non-aerated one.

Bridging traditions: Placemaking and authenticity in architecture for city branding

Abstract This paper explores the symbiotic relationship between placemaking and the authenticity of traditional architecture in the realm of city branding, using Surakarta City in Indonesia as a pivotal case study. It posits that the conscious integration of placemaking initiatives with the preservation and celebration of traditional architectural authenticity can significantly amplify any city’s brand identity, rendering it distinct and resonant on the global scale. Surakarta, with its rich cultural heritage and commitment to preserving Javanese architectural motifs, exemplifies how traditional elements can coalesce with contemporary urban development strategies to foster a sense of place and community identity. Through a qualitative analysis of Surakarta’s urban planning and community engagement practices, this study underscores the transformative impact of authentic architectural preservation in placemaking processes. The findings suggest that such an approach not only enhances the aesthetic and cultural landscape of cities but also strengthens their branding, attracting tourism and investment by offering a unique narrative. The paper concludes with strategic recommendations for urban policymakers and planners, advocating for a balanced integration of cultural authenticity and innovative place-making to achieve sustainable and impactful city branding. This study contributes to the broader discourse on urban development, highlighting the indispensable role of architectural authenticity in crafting compelling city narratives.

Provincializing western planning concepts in a Chinese City: the intertwined adaptation of introduced ideas and local agents in shaping the Guangzhou Central Business District

ABSTRACT The adoption of Western planning ideas has significantly shaped China’s Central Business Districts (CBDs) and spurred economic growth. This article goes beyond existing research by exploring the “provincialization” of Western planning concepts, resulting in unique CBD landscapes in Chinese cities. Through a study of the Guangzhou CBD, it reveals how introduced ideas and local agents mutually adjust and respond to each other’s needs during the provincialization process. Under the “Reforms and Opening-up” policy, Chinese authorities drew from Hong Kong’s experiences to introduce the CBD concept, adapting it to underdeveloped land in Guangzhou and blending it with American downtown design. To meet urban space demands, industrial growth, and land economy needs, urban authorities reorganized local resources to create a discourse of the “central axis” to integrate the CBD concept into the urban layout. Consequently, both introduced ideas and local agents are intertwined to address challenges posed by each other, resulting in Guangzhou’s CBD framing a hybrid urban landscape.

DEMOGRAPHIC DYNAMICS AND URBAN PROPERTY CRIME: A LINEAR REGRESSION ANALYSIS IN KUALA LUMPUR AND PUTRAJAYA (2015-2020)

In an era where urbanization is rapidly transforming the landscape of cities, this study provides a crucial overview of how demographic shifts influence property crime in metropolitan areas. The paper delves into the complex interplay between property crime rates and demographic characteristics in the urban settings of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Malaysia, over six years from 2015 to 2020. Employing linear regression analysis, the study meticulously examines the relationship between property crime and various demographic factors, including total population, male and female populations, and residential and household densities. The findings indicate a consistent positive correlation between total population and property crime, emphasizing urban density's role in crime propensity. Notably, the male population shows a stronger correlation with property crime than females. The study also highlights how residential and household densities influence property crime in these urban settings. These insights are invaluable for policymakers and urban planners, guiding targeted strategies to reduce property crime in growing cities.

Quantifying city freight mobility segregation associated with truck multi-tours behavior

Freight mobility segregation, a phenomenon like residential social segregation, is a crucial aspect of city landscapes that influences the livability and sustainability of cities. However, there is a deficiency in understanding the intrinsic complexity of freight mobility segregation, particularly regarding the micro-level truck behaviors. In this study, we develop a new approach to assess the degree of freight mobility segregation within cities by leveraging large-scale truck GPS data in Chinese cities. The analysis indicates the existence of freight mobility segregation in cities, where certain groups of trucks serve high-demand areas, while another group of trucks serves low-demand areas. The activity spaces of distinct truck groups are largely non-overlapping or segregated. To uncover the correlations between mobility segregation and truck operational patterns, we introduce two metrics to characterize truck multi-tours behavior, focusing on tour pattern predictability and activity explorability. By employing freight point-of-interest (POI) data, we further reveal the influence of local economic structures and industrial compositions on mobility segregation in cities. These findings enrich our understanding of the dynamics of city freight systems, offering implications for improving logistics efficiency and fostering sustainable city development.

Research and Analysis of Smart City Landscape Design and Planning Based on The Internet of Things

Research and Analysis of Smart City Landscape Design and Planning Based on The Internet of Things

City lights revolution: Next-gen optical fibre for smart cities

In the rapidly evolving landscape of smart cities, the integration of advanced technologies is crucial for ensuring safety, optimizing traffic flow, and enhancing the urban living experience. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and visible light communication (VLC) have emerged as promising solutions to address these challenges. This paper explores the integration of V2V communication and VLC at smart pedestrian crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety and traffic management in smart cities. It explores the impact of neighbouring vehicles on V2V-VLC performance and proposes novel methodologies to assess traffic density effects. Results indicate a significant chance of encountering nearby cars during rush hours, emphasizing the importance of these integrated systems for safety and mobility in urban environments. The outcomes show that the chance of running into extra cars in nearby lanes is independent of the particular lane and increases to 80% through rush hours, but falls to a lower amount than 20% through off-peak and initial morning hours.

Examining transformations in coastal city landscapes: spatial patch analysis of sustainable tourism—a case study in Pahang, Malaysia

Examining transformations in coastal city landscapes: spatial patch analysis of sustainable tourism—a case study in Pahang, Malaysia

Evaluation of Plant Use with High Ecological Tolerance for Climate Change Resistant Landscape in Kilis Sample Parks

One of the most important ways to create climate-resilient landscapes in cities is the use of plants with high ecological tolerance in urban open-green spaces. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ecological tolerance factors (frost, salinity, wind, air pollution, and drought) of woody plants in sample city parks of Kilis city (Karataş Park, Fıstıklı Park, and Şehit Terzi Muzaffer Aydemir Park) and to determine if there is a significant difference between the parks in terms of these factors. Firstly, the general area uses, plant species and numbers, and the taxa/natural distribution areas of the plants in each park were determined, and these plants were evaluated according to the factors. Whether there is a significant difference between the ecological tolerance values of plant species in the parks was determined using the "Kruskal-Wallis H-Test for Independent Group”. The study findings indicate that there are no significant differences at the p ≤ 0.05 level in frost, wind, salinity, and air pollution tolerances between the parks; however, there is a significant difference in drought tolerance.

Food for thought: unveiling urban transitions in a small US city through the lens of foodscape typologies

This paper explores whether changes to a small city’s food landscape can indicate neighbourhood change. We have adapted the conceptual framework in Roe et al. on ‘urban foodscape typologies’ to assess and categorise changes in the urban food environment. Our study focuses on the following inquiry: How can identifying different types of foodscape categories in Newburgh, NY – a small US city – assist in tracking urban trends? This study demonstrates how the Roe et al. framework can be adapted to study food landscapes in small American cities. In addition, we introduce approaches, such as mental mapping, that help identify residents’ perceptions of changes to the foodscape. By understanding the potential challenges and opportunities shifts in the foodscape can cause, small cities can implement strategies to ensure that development and revitalisation are inclusive and beneficial for all residents.

Illuminating dark stores: the continued evolution of the post-COVID-19 pandemic retail landscape of cities

This article was published open access under a CC BY-NC-ND licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ .

From rupture to disruptive innovation: the colonial subcontinent’s ‘Devil’s Wind’; the Mughal Bagh (garden) and the English-style public park

ABSTRACT Set against the backdrop of the 1857 uprising against British colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent, the article examines the impact of this tumultuous event on the Mughal era Bagh (garden). The uprising, while causing a sudden and unprecedented rupture in the subcontinent’s political, cultural and urban landscape, also led to a form of disruptive innovation that displaced the well-established Bagh, a private space for leisure or veneration of the deceased, by a novel garden type, an English-style public park. More often than not, this new garden type emerged from remodelling the Bagh, to result in a Bagh-turned-Public Park. This innovative venture not only physically replaced the original Bagh but also changed the notion of leisure from the Mughal-to-the-metropole-inspired variant. Concurrently, this landscape endeavour served the agenda of empire to stamp British authority. To make its case, the city of Delhi, whose large corpus of Mughal- era Baghs underwent remodelling, is selected. As the epicentre of the uprising, Delhi was the recipient of the colonial regime’s spatially tumultuous military and civic interventions to turn it into a tamed modern city, among whose new spatial icons was the English-style public park. Two gardens are examined to demonstrate the rupture and disruptive innovation, as colonial civic actors overlaid an English-style landscape on the Bagh. This seemingly innocuous landscape intervention was as disruptive and efficacious as its spatially violent military counterpart in transforming Delhi into a colonial modern city. The article concludes by taking stock of the Bagh-turned-Public Park in the present as a colonial legacy that continues to be an integral part of the leisure landscape of Indian cities.

Addressing Cross‐Domain Interoperability between Automotive and Smart Grid Architecture Models

AbstractThe rapid advancement and diversification of technical domains, particularly in automotive and smart grid sectors, are pivotal in driving the emerging energy revolution. This evolution is instrumental in governing the future of smart cities, characterized by escalating complexity and diversity within these domains. Such a landscape necessitates seamless collaboration among various domain experts, a task often complicated by the prevalent use of domain‐specific languages and tools tailored to specific engineering needs. This poses a significant challenge towards cross‐domain interoperability.Addressing this challenge, our research introduces a novel approach leveraging abstraction layers inspired by the Software Platform Embedded Systems (SPES) methodology. This approach aims to enhance the compatibility of domain‐specific frameworks, with a focus on the Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM) and the Automotive Reference Architecture Model (ARAM). By applying these SPES‐inspired abstraction layers, our work facilitates the reconciliation of varying levels of detail across different domains.The paper culminates in a proof of concept that demonstrates the practical implementation of this approach, showcasing a method to achieve effective cross‐domain interoperability. This implementation not only underscores the feasibility of our proposed solution but also illuminates a pathway for managing the intricate interplay of systems in the rapidly evolving landscape of smart cities.

Smart City Solution “A Full Stack Solution For Smart Cities”

Abstract —In the landscape of smart cities, Smart City Connect emerges as a pivotal solution, seamlessly integrating essential services like healthcare, dining, lodging, maintenance, fitness, and accommodation. This research paper explores how Smart City Connect optimizes urban living by ensuring convenient access to top-tier hospitals, diverse restaurants, and comfortable accommodation options. The platform fosters efficiency through reliable repair services and promotes well being with state-of-the-art fitness facilities. By prioritizing accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability, Smart City Connect redefines the urban experience, shaping vibrant and inclusive communities for residents and visitors alike. Index Terms – Web-Based Application, Smart City Application.

Urban Landscape Design Strategies Based on Cultural Heritage Protection

The article's focus is on the urban landscape design strategy based on cultural heritage protection. It introduces the importance of cultural heritage protection and discusses its significance and the relationship between urban landscape design. It also examines relevant cases of urban landscape design based on cultural heritage protection in China and abroad. Finally, it puts forward a strategy for strengthening historical protection. The article also promotes social participation and highlights the innovation of the three urban landscape design strategies. It combines this with the application of the Wuhu ancient city urban landscape example in the hope that it will provide a reference and reference for the cultural heritage protection of the city landscape.

Preserving Heritage Riverine Bridges: A Hydrological Approach to the Case Study of the Grau Bridge in Peru

Heritage bridges constitute an integral feature of the urban landscape in numerous cities. However, it is common for these structures to surpass their life cycle, rendering them ill-equipped to withstand the dynamic demands of users and extreme events, particularly hydrological occurrences. This research presents a methodology for the assessment of heritage riverine bridges, with a focus on the Grau Bridge in Peru as a case study. The investigation commences with an exhaustive literature review, complemented by a historical examination, followed by a preliminary diagnosis. Subsequently, hydrological and hydraulic studies are presented, encompassing drone surveys of the riverbed and the bridge, soil analyses, and the application of 1D and 2D models in HEC-RAS. The outcomes of this comprehensive analysis reveal the high vulnerability of the Grau Bridge. Finally, strategic interventions for its conservation are recommended.

Walking in the city

ABSTRACT My short story contributes to discussions about the relationship between memory and place. It is set in Muranów, erected on the ashes of the former ghetto, a space of absence and repressed guilt. Even though the quarter was razed to the ground, it is still part of the city's landscape and remains a haunting presence. It exists in fragments: memories, images, and ghost stories. The short story focuses on the connection between memory, trauma, and storytelling. The space of Muranów, a palimpsest of the past, becomes a trigger for re-examination of what has been forgotten and silenced. Moreover, it explores how a foreign language can serve as a tool through which painful and repressed stories can be (re)told.