Green Park Research Articles

Distribution Maps of the Different Levels of Elemental Concentrations Accumulated by the Lichen in the Northeast of Algeria

An evaluation of environmental pollution in the region of Bordj Bou Arreridj (BBA), Algeria according to metallic trace elements has been carried out, to determine the levels of the 10 elements accumulated in lichens and the different sources found in the region. A total of 192 samples of Xanthoria parietina lichen were collected over an area of 3920.42 km². Sampling sites include urban sites, rural sites, green parks, sites near high traffic streets and industrial enterprises. The lichen samples were analyzed by FAAS for the ten elements and their concentrations were mapped. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Sb and Zn were higher at urban sites and increased with proximity to highways and industrial areas. These results suggest that the composition of lichen elements is strongly affected by road traffic. While the sources of the elements Co, Ni, Fe, Mn and Cr probably come from dust from quarrying and contaminated soil deposits in particular, to the north and west of the region. This mapping of metal pollution can establish the first biological monitoring network in the study area. Keywords: Biomonitoring of lichens, Metallic elements, Pollution sources, Distribution maps, BBA. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/12-2-03 Publication date: February 28 th 2022

Gulls living in cities as overlooked seed dispersers within and outside urban environments

The yellow-legged gull is an opportunistic and generalist bird that has colonised urban areas, where it has found very favourable trophic resources but also causes disturbance to humans and damage to infrastructure. Here, we investigated the potential role that gulls play in the dispersal of plants in Barcelona, a highly populated city of north-eastern Spain. We analysed the stomach contents of 145 chicks collected in urban nests and reported the presence of seeds of 27 plant taxa. We then developed a plant dispersal model based on the movements of 20 GPS-tracked yellow-legged gulls breeding in the city of Barcelona. We estimated seed dispersal distances, seed shadows and percentage of seeds reaching habitats suitable for seeds regurgitated in pellets and those excreted in faeces. Seven of the 27 plant taxa found in the stomachs were alien taxa to Spain. Average dispersal distances of plant seeds by gulls were around 700 m, but maximum dispersal distances reached up to 35 km. Dispersal distances and seed spatial patterns did not differ between faeces and pellet models, as most strongly depended on gull movements. About 95% of the seeds were dispersed within urban environments and between 20 and 30% reached suitable habitats for seed deposition (urban woodlands, green urban parks and urban grasslands). Urban gulls frequently dispersed seeds (including alien species) within urban habitats, both via direct consumption or via secondary dispersal after consuming granivorous birds that had ingested the seeds, such as pigeons or parakeets. Urban planning for Barcelona is based on native plant species, and thus, special attention should be paid to alien plants dispersed by birds, which could pose a risk to native biodiversity in urban ecosystems.

Global climate-driven trade-offs between the water retention and cooling benefits of urban greening

Urban greening can potentially help mitigate heat-related mortality and flooding facing the >4 billion urban population worldwide. However, the geographical variation of the relative combined hydrological and thermal performance benefits of such interventions are unknown. Here we quantify globally, using a hydrological model, how climate-driven trade-offs exist between hydrological retention and cooling potential of urban greening such as green roofs and parks. Using a Budyko framework, we show that water retention generally increases with aridity in water-limited environments, while cooling potential favors energy-limited climates. Our models suggest that common urban greening strategies cannot yield high performance simultaneously for addressing both urban heat-island and urban flooding problems in most cities globally. Irrigation, if sustainable, may enhance cooling while maintaining retention performance in more arid locations. Increased precipitation variability with climate change may reduce performance of thinner green-infrastructure more quickly compared to greened areas with thicker soils and root systems. Our results provide a conceptual framework and first-order quantitative guide for urban development, renewal and policymaking.

A Dynamic Study on Urban Water Resources and Ecological Recreation Space in Ganjiang River Basin

Urban ecological recreation space is an important part of overall urban ecological balance. The rational allocation of urban ecological recreation space is an important reference standard for urban livability. This paper analyzes the ecological footprint, carrying capacity, and deficit of water resources, as well as the basin city ecological stress situation, combined with a static panel data model to explore the intrinsic association between the ecological footprint of urban water resources and the urban ecology in Ganjiang River Basin. This research shows that the ecological footprint of urban water resources is within the water resource carrying capacity in Ganjiang River Basin and represents a long-term water resource ecological surplus. Ecological footprints of water resources have a positive impact on green space coverage area and park green area. The ecological footprint of water pollution has increased annually, and water pollution is the main cause of ecological pollution. On this basis, we propose to increase the prevention and control of water pollution by improving the quality of urban ecological recreation space, increasing the utilization rate of water resources and creating a new model of high-quality ecological cities.

Comparative study of soiling effect on CSP and PV technologies under semi-arid climate in Morocco

Soiling of solar collectors reduces the efficiency of both concentrating solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic technologies (PV), and increases the operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. Many countries with significant solar potential such as Morocco are located in regions characterized by dry and harsh climatic conditions, dust storms and high pollution. This study investigates the impact of soiling on PV and CSP technologies under a semi-arid climate in BenGuerir city of Morocco. For this purpose, one year of data collected from two types of soiling sensors, a Tracking Cleanliness Sensor (TraCS) and DustIQ, was evaluated. A meteorological station installed at Green Energy Park (Morocco). A period with red rain events and a dry period were selected to quantify the impact of soiling on both technologies during these periods. It is found that the soiling effect for CSP mirrors with an annually averaged soiling rate of -1.18%/day is around 5 to 6 times higher than for PV (-0.23%/day). The loss due to soiling during red rain events has been observed more pronounced compared to the dry period.

Sustainable Development Research of Green Smart Park in High-End Manufacturing Based on Internet of Things.

During the transition from industrial production to intelligent, there are still a large number of manufacturing industries in the traditional production mode. The problems of slow information transmission, difficult integrated production management, and complicated process parameter control have led to disconnect decision-making from actual production. In addition, the current manufacturing industry is more of a traditional management method, and the upgrade and iteration speed are slow, and it is not combined with the technology of the Internet of Things. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to use the Internet of Things monitoring technology to explore the improvement of high-end manufacturing and analyze the problems and solutions in the process of consistency of ecological environment and economic effects. This article will use the research methods of specific problems and specific analysis to compare the data and draw conclusions. This article will discuss the technical mechanism of the Internet of Things monitoring and introduce the collection and data of production status data of each station equipment in the production workshop during the production process: improving the current production model, learning foreign experience at the same time, quickly carrying out load curve and data center data accumulation on the service capabilities of the park, verifying multiple operating models, and simultaneously exploring new management models. Based on comparative advantage analysis, the study draws similarities and differences in the development of high-end manufacturing industries at home and abroad, learns advanced experience, proposes improved methods and paths, combines new environmental protection paths, and finally proposes energy operation in the park. Build a green and intelligent park to provide a theoretical reference for sustainable development. The research results show that computer monitoring technology and methods have effectively improved the production environment of high-end manufacturing, combined with the development status of the existing ecological and intelligent composite production system; the infrastructure construction of industrial parks in the new era, IT support, services, manpower resources, and industries has developed rapidly.

Have Residents Changed Their Perceptions and Use of Community Park Green Space During the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Have Residents Changed Their Perceptions and Use of Community Park Green Space During the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Caring safety of national parks, sharing benefit to the public: A book review on <i>National Park Green Construction of Facilities</i>

Caring safety of national parks, sharing benefit to the public: A book review on <i>National Park Green Construction of Facilities</i>

Memories of State Terrorism in Chile: Dark Ruins at Villa Grimaldi

In this short essay, I explore the recent reassessment of ruined sites haunted by the echoes of State terrorism across the Southern Cone of Latin America, asking what is at stake in the conservation of former detention centers and focusing on Villa Grimaldi in Chile. The site was initially transformed into a green park but has subsequently become a museum in which remains of the original buildings and artifacts from the repressive past are publicly accessible. I draw on perspectives that claim that even ruins that portray past acts of inhumanity do not necessarily need to evoke melancholic or traumatic retrospection; rather, they are sites of alternative pasts and futures. The transition from the original green park design to a more prominent use of the ruins speaks of an invitation to reassess the past, addressing marginal aspects of emblematic memories, including the political conflict that underpinned the repression.

Profiling Attached Residents in an Urban Community in the U.S.: An Empirical Study of Social–Landscape Interactions within a Park

Community attachment has been studied predominantly in terms of the social dimensions of community life, which explains what makes residents feel connected to a locality. Following a more recent trend within the community attachment literature, this study examined the role of communities’ physical dimensions in fostering sentiments of rootedness and connections to communities. More specifically, the study sought to better understand the role that urban parks play in predicting community attachment using a discriminant analysis technique to profile attached residents. We selected Discovery Green Park in Houston, Texas, as the study site, where we administered 606 total surveys to park visitors inquiring about their interactions with the park itself, emotional connections to it, and social interactions within the park. We found that strongly attached residents tend to be older, have a greater reliance on the park service and programs, and have meaningful interactions with new people in the park and frequently visit the park in groups to socialize and relax. Additionally, those who are strongly attached to the community attribute greater symbolic meanings to Discovery Green and more strongly identify with the park. The profile of residents attached to the community, given their interactions with the park and its visitors, provides important knowledge to both park managers and community leaders; they can use this information to create conditions, fostering more strongly attached residents who tend to be active agents of positive change in the community.

The spectre of the thing: The construction of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Holocaust memorial

The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Holocaust Memorial is situated on the western side of Green Park in Darlinghurst, in Sydney, Australia. Darlinghurst is considered the heart of Sydney's gay and lesbian population, having been the site of demonstrations, public meetings, Gay Fair Days, and the starting point for the AIDS Memorial Candlelight Rally. It is also very close to both the Sydney Jewish Museum and the Jewish War Memorial. The planning and construction of the Memorial between 1991 and 2001 was a process framed by two competing imperatives. Balancing the commemoration of a subset of victims of the Holocaust with a positioning of the event as a universal symbol of the continuing persecution of gays and lesbians was a challenge that came to define the ten year struggle to have the memorial built.

A Relationship between Micro-Meteorological and Personal Variables of Outdoor Thermal Comfort: A Case Study in Kitakyushu, Japan

Outdoor thermal comfort is an important indicator to create a quality and livable environment. This study examines a relationship between micro-meteorological and personal variables of outdoor thermal comfort conditions in an urban park. The data collection of outdoor thermal comfort is carried out using two methods in combination: micro-meteorological measurement and questionnaire survey. This finding shows that most of the respondents were comfortable with the thermal, wind, and humidity condition. The acceptability and satisfaction level of thermal comfort were positive. The most significant micro-meteorological variable for the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) value is mean radiant temperature (Tmrt). As the Tmrt value is influenced by how much shading is produced from the presence of vegetation or buildings around the measurement location, this finding shows that the shadow was very important to the thermal comfort conditions in the Green Park Kitakyushu. The most influential micro-meteorological variable for the three different personal variables (TSV, WFSV, and HSV) is air temperature. The strongest relationship among the four variables is between TSV and PET. The findings will be the basis for the city authorities in preparing regional development plans, especially those related to the planning of city parks or tourist attractions.

When the hiking gets tough: “New adventurers” and the “extinction of experiences”

The last decade has seen growth in numbers of hikers to the iconic cliff Trolltunga, a spectacular peak hanging horizontally 700 m above ground in Hardanger, Norway, and to similar mountain attractions elsewhere in Norway. An increase in accidents and rescue operations followed, justifying this study that, applying perspectives from adventure tourism with the acceleration of the sublime , the performance turn in tourism , and the extinction of experience theories, supply new insights to reduce the problems. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with tourists and observations along the trail, supplemented by interviewing local municipality staff, service organisation staff, mountain rangers, rescue staff, and internet resources. Many visitors were “new adventurers”, often physically fit but otherwise unprepared for this hike and with a record of few if any previous hikes. Some interrupted their hike and turned back owing to lack of fitness, exhaustion, hyperthermia, and inappropriate gear. Many had difficulty walking the path and, although knowing the length of the hike (28 km), they did not understand its implications regarding its physical and psychological strain. Their comprehension of nature was vague, varying from a green city park to anything outside the town. From childhood and onwards, they lacked experience of doing, seeing, and feeling things while enjoying activities in nature. Exceptions to the above were a few well-equipped adventurers with hiking records dating back to childhood, primarily seeking wilderness with solitude and silence, who were less satisfied with the hike owing to crowding. Most hikers to the iconic mountain cliff Trolltunga were “new adventurers”, fit enough for hiking but lacking mountain skills. Most hikers had a limited comprehension of nature, causing inadequate preparation for the hike resulting in problems. Such hikers may represent future adventurers in nature. Lack of hikers' capabilities may be compensated for by multiple channel information, pre-hike courses, gear rental and shops, mountain rangers, and cabins for shelter. Basic interventions may be better access to natural areas and training in nature-based activities and outdoor living (“friluftsliv”) for children and youth. • The performance turn in tourism yields “new adventurers” who are “fresh” as hikers. • They lack hiking skills and comprehension of nature and mountain hiking. • They pay little attention to advice from guides and ignore signs and warnings. • They do not grasp the significance of information related to mountain hiking. • These problems may be traced back to the “extinction of experiences”.

Spatial disparity patterns of green spaces and buildings in arid urban areas

Urban green spaces are a crucial component in regards to the quality of life, ecosystem balance and recreational services of populations, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This study aimed to explore spatial patterns of accessibility to public parks on a neighbourhood scale in the Sohar Wilayat, Oman. Utilising GIS techniques and landscape metrics, we investigated the spatial variations of green patches relevant to other land use types predominantly residential buildings in each local area. The entropy index, the landscape shape index (LSI) and the area-weighted mean shape index (AWMSI) were calculated to analyse landscape spatial patterns of urban green spaces across the study area. The results of this study indicated that the large numbers of green space patches in the majority of neighbourhoods were associated with large population size. In measuring spatial accessibility to public parks, the central neighbourhoods were characterised by low scores and long distances from green spaces, while neighbourhoods in the south and north showed short distances and high scores for residents’ accessibility to the nearest park. High rates of fragmentation and irregular shapes, particularly within marginal and inner neighbourhoods, can be attributed to rapid urbanisation and sprawl, which has extensively transformed urban green spaces and vacant land into dwellings. Our findings suggest that a spatial quantification and identification of green space distribution patterns and the accessibility of public parks could provide decision-makers and municipality planners with invaluable guidelines for allocating green parks and recreational amenities equitably and efficiently to urban residents.

The Economic Valuation of Urban Green Parks: The Application of Contingent Valuation Method

This study analyzes the total economic values of urban green areas conserved at Bahir Dar city. Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) was employed to obtain estimates of Willingness to Pay (WTP) for improving the endangered and overlooked environmental assets, urban green areas to sustain them & generate benefits to current and future generations. In this contingent valuation survey, the researcher adopted a dichotomous choice with follow-up debriefing questions and scenario description, as well as open-ended follow-up question to model individual’s WTP. The study used purposive sampling method to select the parks under study followed by simple random sampling to select 200 sample respondents. The study result revealed that almost all the respondents have a positive attitude towards the conservation of urban green parks but uncertain about the sustainability of the area’s that leads them not to take care of the areas. Besides, the study results show that the mean monthly WTP of the individuals was between 0.047 -0.16 USD and the Total Economic Value (TEV) of improved urban green areas per month was about 4656.75- 15,704.14 USD calculated from the double bounded elicitation format and open ended elicitation format respectively. Keywords: Bahir Dar , CVM, Logistic Regression, Urban Green Parks, WTP. DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-23-01 Publication date: December 31 st 2021

Exploring Visitor Perceptions towards Urban Park Design and Levels of Enclosure: A Case Study from the UAE

Abstract As cities transition towards urbanization and sustainability, designing attractive green spaces and urban parks is an important issue to planners and urban designers. One factor believed to have some impact on a park’s attractiveness is level of enclosure. Despite the importance of such a factor in identifying types of park visitors and frequency of visits, a limited amount of research has attempted to statistically model impacts of level enclosure on a park’s attractiveness. To address this gap, this article explores impacts of multiple physical characteristics, including levels of enclosure, on park attractiveness and user behavior. Activities in two parks in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) were studied using field observations, photography, interviews, and statistical analysis. Field observations were utilized to model people’s attitude while using parks. Logistic regression was employed to the field observations to investigate associations between different factors and park attractiveness. Results indicated levels of enclosure had a direct influence on park users. Gender, age, and ethnicity were also found statistically significant determinates of park visitor attitudes and park choice. Traces of territorial behaviors and social conflicts were also observed.

Visitors' Perceptions of Urban Green Spaces: A Study of Lisbon's Alameda and Estrela Parks

Urban Green Spaces (UGSs) play a key role in people's well-being, particularly in highly urbanized contexts and possess several elements that may be attractive to visitors. This study focuses on the views and perceptions of visitors of two UGSs located in Lisbon and aimed to determine how they evaluated two different green spaces (Estrela Park and Alameda Park) in terms of physical/natural characteristics, structures, accessibility, surrounding areas, motives for use and importance. Secondly, it sought to explore how people evaluate UGSs in Lisbon in terms of quality and quantity. A total of 188 people responded to a questionnaire composed of close-and open-ended questions. The study revealed that Estrela Park was more valued for its green space characteristics and conservation aspects than accessibility and sports adaptability. Participants visited Estrela Park for its landscape and restful environment and considered the park important to their lives. Although they visited Estrela Park less often, they stayed longer compared to those who visited Alameda Park. Furthermore, regarding the participants' overall perceptions of the UGSs in Lisbon, many participants mentioned the need for more parks and wanted better preservation and distribution around the city. Most importantly, they valued these spaces and believed that UGS helped them to feel more relaxed and balanced, facilitating socialization, recreation and physical activities. In conclusion, this study suggests that green and quiet urban parks in Lisbon are valued by the city's population but they would like to see regular maintenance/cleaning as well as the provision of leisure activities.

Climate change: A Wumpurrarni‐kari and Papulanyi‐kari shared problem

Climate change: A <i>Wumpurrarni‐kari</i> and <i>Papulanyi‐kari</i> shared problem

Design and implementation of an AI-based & IoT-enabled Home Energy Management System: A case study in Benguerir — Morocco

Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) are of great importance today and have attracted a great deal of interest from both, academic researchers, and industrial engineers. These systems are considered as the intersection point between the smart grid and the smart home. Indeed, they can communicate with the user, home appliances, on-site generation sources, storage devices, and the grid operator to make dynamic decisions enabling intelligent and efficient energy management.This work aims to design and implement a smart HEMS that ensures renewable energy integration and energy efficiency improvement in residential buildings. The system designed in this work has been implemented as part of a pilot project in a testbed house of the Smart Campus — Green & Smart Building Park, Benguerir, Morocco.The proposed HEMS framework is based on two control strategies that work jointly: the first concerns the scheduling and control of power dispatch among generation, consumption, and storage agents (Supply-Side Management), while the second concerns the scheduling and control of flexible appliances for optimal load profile modulation (Demand-Side Management). The management of energy flows is based on grid electricity price, forecasting data (PV generation and weather conditions) and user preferences. The two designed control strategies are combined into an AI-based multi-objective optimization algorithm that minimizes costs and maximizes comfort level simultaneously.The obtained results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm and indicate that it would significantly increase the penetration of PV energy for self-consumption and reduce electricity costs, while ensuring a proper compromise between monetary spending and comfort level. The large-scale implementation of such systems would help decarbonize residential energy sector through higher renewable energy integration and energy efficiency improvement in buildings.

張德彛의『述奇』에 나타난 근대 서양의 도시 위생

This paper will be dealing with the introduction and perception of modern Western cities in the 『述奇』in late Qing Dynasty. After visiting Europe as a member of the Binchun(斌椿) Mission in 1866, he traveled abroad a total of eight times. Zhang Deyi, as a graduate of Tongwenguan, was proficient in foreign languages, so he was able to experience Western culture more sensitively than anyone else. In particular, he was shocked that Western cities have wide, tidy, flat roads, making them easier to move and safer. It was a hygienic place where public toilets did not smell, but also a place where green forests and parks could breathe clean air and rest. Zhang Deyi left detailed records in his own 『述奇』 about Western cities that were incomparably clean, hygienic than those of China at the time. This paper will be dealing with how Zhang Deyi introduced Paris, which were considered the best cities in Europe, London, and New York. Zhang Deyi recognized that there was a qualitative difference between Western cities and Chinese cities. He argued that to solve China''s poor urban hygiene problems, the state should establish specialized institutions and establish related systems.