Growth Of Cities Research Articles

Public Participation in Rapid Response Services for the Sustainability of Jakarta Smart City

Public participation plays an important role in the development of rapid response services to support the sustainability of Jakarta Smart City. This study aims to explore and analyse the level of public participation in utilising and developing these services, and their impact on urban sustainability. The research method used is a qualitative case study through in-depth interviews and document analysis. The results of the study indicate that the level of public participation in rapid response services in Jakarta Smart City varies greatly. Factors such as accessibility, trust, and awareness are the main determinants of the level of public participation. Citizens who actively participate tend to feel greater benefits from these services, while those who are inactive tend to experience gaps in services. Public participation also has a positive effect on service efficiency and the quality of life of city residents. However, this study also found several obstacles that hinder public participation. Low awareness of the importance of the role of individuals in developing smart cities, limited accessibility, and low digital literacy are the main challenges. To increase sustainable public participation, efforts are needed that involve education, training, and strengthening of information technology infrastructure. In conclusion, public participation has a crucial role in the sustainability of Jakarta Smart City through rapid response services. Effective management of public participation can improve service efficiency, strengthen community engagement, and support sustainable urban development. Therefore, continuous efforts are needed to improve and manage public participation for long-term success. With education, training, and improved technological infrastructure, broader and more equitable participation can be realised, supporting the growth of inclusive and sustainable smart cities in the future.

Politics and city growth in Italy: Do connections matter?

AbstractIn this paper, I assess the existence of a political connection premium for Italian municipalities during the so-called “Second Republic” (1991–2011). The early 1990s witnessed a seminal event in Italian political history with the “Mani Pulite” (“Clean Hands”) investigation following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Subsequently, major political parties dissolved, culminating in a bipolar political landscape characterized by cyclical alternation between center-right and center-left factions (extending until at least 2011). Exploiting population data on small and medium-sized Italian municipalities between 1991 and 2011, I found that “politically connected” municipalities showed a population premium of about 2.5% compared to “non-politically connected” ones. The results are robust to NUTS-3 fixed effects, to a comprehensive set of controls, and to a full set of robustness checks. The relationship is confirmed using aggregate municipal income data as an additional proxy of local economic growth. Over and above this, social capital and the quality of local institutions seem to play a pivotal role in enabling the political connection. Election-related checks suggest the connection as two-way: using municipal data from the 2013 and 2018 general elections, I found that the treated municipalities depicted a higher turnout and fewer populist votes.

Multi-Objective Optimization of Urban Gas Station Site Selection Under Territorial Spatial Planning Constraints

The traditional process for selecting urban gas station sites often emphasizes economic benefits and return on investment, frequently overlooking mandatory and guiding constraints established by territorial spatial planning regulations. This neglect can compromise the effective layout and future growth of cities, potentially affecting their long-term development. To address this issue, this study develops a systematic framework for urban gas station site selection that integrates both mandatory and guiding constraints. By conducting detailed analyses of feasible construction areas and fuel demand, the framework quantifies relevant indicators and establishes a comprehensive index system for site selection. A multi-objective optimization model employing genetic algorithms was utilized to maximize fuel demand coverage, minimize inter-station redundancy, and achieve optimal site coverage. This framework was applied to the central urban area of Lishui City, China, as a case study. The site selection schemes achieved a coverage rate exceeding 90%, an inter-station redundancy rate around 30%, and a demand coverage rate surpassing 90%, optimizing the key objectives. Compared to traditional methods that often ignore territorial spatial planning constraints, this framework effectively avoids conflicts with urban planning and regulatory requirements. It enhances infrastructure coordination, supports environmental sustainability, and exhibits strong adaptability to diverse urban contexts, thus offering valuable support for practical decision-making.

The Miskolc Method: Modelling the Evolution of a Natural City with Recursive Algorithms Using Simulated Morphogenesis

This article explores the application of procedural design methods in urban morphology, drawing inspiration from the innovative work of the Architectural Workshop of Miskolc in Hungary during the late 20th century. This study presents a generative approach termed “Simulated Morphogenesis” (or the “Miskolc Method”), which models organic city growth by analysing historical urban tissues and applying recursive algorithms to simulate natural urban development. The method leverages advanced generative tools, such as Rhinoceros 3D and Grasshopper, to model the step-by-step growth of Central European cities, with a particular focus on Miskolc. By incorporating controlled randomness into the algorithmic processes, the method captures the complexity of organic urban growth while maintaining structured development. The Miskolc Method emphasizes the importance of continuity and context, allowing for the “healing” of urban fabric discontinuities or the generation of new urban structures. This article demonstrates how this approach, while rooted in geometrical analysis, offers a valuable foundation for preliminary urban planning. The findings are relevant for understanding the morphogenesis of cities and provide a flexible framework applicable to various urban contexts globally.

Managing grid impacts from increased electric vehicle adoption in African cities

Electric vehicles are pivotal for global climate solutions, particularly in emerging markets like Africa. Despite the continent’s clean energy potential, electric vehicle adoption faces unique challenges due to inefficiencies and reliability issues of distribution power grids. Here, we analyze the impacts of expanding electric vehicle fleets—private, commercial, and paratransit—on Nairobi’s power grid. We simulate traffic patterns, charging behaviors, and transformer utilization using local mobility data. Our results show that while electric commercial and paratransit fleets may improve power system efficiency, widespread private EV adoption could significantly strain the grid, increasing peak loads and transformer aging. Smart charging strategies could mitigate these issues, reducing potential transformer replacement costs by up to 40%. Our study highlights the importance of tailored demand management and infrastructure planning to support EV growth in African cities, providing critical insights for policymakers, utilities, and transport planners to facilitate sustainable electric mobility transitions.

Structural change in city systems evolution

AbstractThis paper analyzes city system dynamics, based on a theoretical framework relating interaction potentials to agglomeration economies and density externalities. It employs new historical time series data on population size of cities in Sweden over two centuries (1810–2010) and introduces two schematic growth factors: (i) the intra-city potential and (ii) the extra-city potential located in in rings encircling each city. The first factor is measured by each city’s population size, while the second is a vector of distance-discounted population size for each of a city’s urban rings. In this way, we can explain a city’s growth as a function of its interaction potential inside the city, as well as inside the first, second hand third ring. A robust finding is that cities with large ring potentials follow different development paths than those with small ring potentials. We also find clear evidence of structural change between the two centuries 1810–1910 and 1910–2010. In the first period, city growth is positively impacted by the size of the intra-city potential, whereas the same potential dampens or reduces the growth in the second period. Moreover, the ring potentials outside the city tend to switch from having negative growth stimulation in the first period to having positive stimulation in the second period.

Modelling scenarios for water supply and sanitation technologies in Jordan

The influx of refugees, population growth and current agricultural practices have led to an increase in water demand in Jordan, placing pressure on existing water provision. Climate change further exacerbates declining water availability. Against this backdrop, the techno-economic feasibility of four water supply and sanitation alternatives for small and medium scale cities in Jordan were explored, using local unit costs and Al-Mafraq as a case study. City level piped network combined with household rooftop rainwater harvesting and surface runoff collection into local ponds and piped networks with treatment using the nature-based solution of root-zone for sanitation were demonstrated to provide the highest benefits in terms of cost, convenience and water conservation. Our work highlights the need to invest in long-term urban infrastructure networks to promote sustainable future growth of cities. This is vital to address severe water scarcity challenges that ultimately impact those at the urban fringes most.

Analysis of disequilibrium and driving factors of carbon emission efficiency: Evidence from five major urban agglomerations in China

Urban agglomerations (UAs) are not only highly integrated economic communities but also communities of shared destiny with integrated environmental protection and ecological construction. Although low-carbon development within UAs has garnered significant attention, a lack of comprehensive analysis remains regarding the imbalances and driving factors influencing carbon emission efficiency (CEE) in these regions. This study investigates the CEE of China's five national UAs from 2006 to 2020 by incorporating the meta-frontier framework into the super slack-based model. The global Malmquist index analyzes dynamic trends in CEE by decomposing the total factor productivity of carbon emissions to examine the catch-up, innovation, and technological leadership effects. In addition, this paper employs the Theil index to explore the disequilibrium of CEE among the five UAs. Outcomes reveal that, first, CEE has regional heterogeneity, with the Pearl River Delta UA (PRDUA) having the highest CEE and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei UA (BTHUA) having the lowest CEE. The gap between BTHUA's CEE and that of other UAs is widening. Second, the overall CEE holds improvement room, with its disequilibrium resulting from uneven city growth within the UA. Third, the innovation effect is the key to improving CEE. Fourth, PRDUA serves as the technical leader among all UAs, while the two UAs in the inland area possess the potential for technical leadership. Finally, drawing from the empirical results, this paper provides specific suggestions for advancing industrial transformation, boosting innovation capabilities, and minimizing internal imbalances within UAs. The goal is to steer UAs in China toward low-carbon development.

Air Pollution and Urban Economic Growth: A Study Based on Dynamic Models

<p class="Paragraph"><span lang="EN-US">With China's economic growth, the issue of air pollution has become increasingly prominent. As the core of political and economic development, 184 major cities in China face severe air pollution and significant environmental pressures due to high population density. Consequently, China has established key urban environmental monitoring stations in these cities to monitor pollution emissions in real time. This paper utilizes panel data from 184 Chinese cities spanning 2012-2022 and employs dynamic GMM models, fixed effects models, and mediation effect models to empirically examine the impact of air pollution on urban environmental pollution and its mediation mechanisms. From the perspective of cities with different income levels, a dynamic GMM model is established to determine the correlation between air pollution and various factors influencing urban economic growth. The study finds that air pollution significantly reduces economic growth in Chinese cities at the 1 per cent level, with each unit increase in air pollution reducing economic growth in Chinese cities by 0.84 units. Urbanization and human capital are identified as two crucial channels through which air pollution affects the economic development of Chinese cities. The negative impact of air pollution on economic growth is more pronounced in larger cities compared to smaller ones, and the adverse effects of haze pollution become increasingly significant over time. Therefore, policymakers should take the cultivation and application of new quality productivity as a key strategy to enhance the quality of economic development, and realise a win-win situation between economic growth and environmental protection through scientific and technological innovation and industrial restructuring. This will not only help alleviate the air pollution problem, but also inject new momentum into the high-quality development of China’s economy.</span></p>

Retail franchise ecosystem dynamics: Insights from countries of varied development levels

This study explores the influence of entrepreneurial ecosystems on international franchise expansion. We understand franchising as a part of retailing and reflect on various country-level factors that impact the international franchise growth in 52 developed and emerging markets. We classify developed and emerging markets based on the Human Development Index (HDI). Employing an entrepreneurial ecosystem framework initially applied to new business growth in cities, we investigate how cultural, institutional, economic, and infrastructure factors affect franchise growth. Our findings indicate that well-developed infrastructure, economic freedom, and supportive laws contribute to franchise expansion, while locations with high crime rates are less attractive to franchise expansion. Surprisingly, increased internet access or higher spending on research and development does not consistently further franchise expansion. Countries with higher levels of human development tend to have franchises that are expand more rapidly. However, we found little difference between countries with very high development and those with high development standards. This study helps us understand what makes franchise business expansion work and how they can succeed in different countries. Implications for businesses and governments looking to support franchise growth are explained. Finally, the results reflect the importance of understanding the unique dynamics of emerging markets and offers actionable insights for businesses and policymakers aiming to foster retail ecosystems and franchise on these specific markets entrepreneurship globally.

How does ICT development in resource-exhausted cities promote the urban green transformation efficiency? Evidence from China

The contradiction between resource depletion and economic growth in resource-exhausted cities is becoming prominent. The role of ICT has been reflected in many policies to promote sustainable urban development. It is necessary to clarify the mechanism of ICT for urban green transformation efficiency (UGTE) in resource-exhausted cities. In this research, 39 resource-exhausted cities in China were selected as the research samples, and panel data were collected for 20 years to assess their ICT development level and their UGTE. The panel regression model, PVAR model, heterogeneity test, and moderating effect test were used to analyze the relationship between the two. The main findings are as follows: (1) ICT has a facilitating effect on UGTE in resource-exhausted cities, with a regression coefficient of 0.170⁎⁎⁎. (2) The improvement of ICT significantly promotes the UGTE in these cities, and the promotional effect reaches a peak after a lag of 6 periods; the original UGTE also has a negative impact on the future ICT development level, and the negative impact reaches a peak after a lag of 6 periods. (3) The promotional effect of ICT on UGTE in resource-exhausted cities consists of being strongest in the eastern region (0.477⁎⁎⁎), then in the central region (0.233⁎⁎⁎), weaker in the western region (0.167⁎⁎), and weakest in the northeastern region (0.080*). (4) The improvement of energy structure, green innovation structure, and urban-rural consumption structure strengthens the promotional effect of ICT on UGTE in resource-exhausted cities. Finally, targeted policy recommendations were proposed.

PENGARUH KARAKTERISTIK UNIT HUNIAN TERHADAP KEPUASAN BERMUKIM PENGHUNI PERUMAHAN

The rapid population growth and urbanization in major cities across various developing countries have increased the demand for urban infrastructure, including housing. As projected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by the year 2030, more than 60% of the population is expected to reside in urban areas. Meeting housing needs is a fundamental requirement for humans that evolves according to different life stages. This study aims to examine the effect of housing characteristics on residential satisfaction in simple housing in the city of Kendari. The research type is explanatory, with the research population consisting of type 36 houses. The sample size is set at 195 units, and data collection was carried out using questionnaires. The data were analyzed with structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS version 24 to obtain causal relationships between the variables developed in this study. The results indicate that the effect of housing unit characteristics on residential satisfaction has a path coefficient of 0.01 with a probability level of 0.968. These findings suggest a positive effect of housing unit characteristics; however, this effect is not significant in relation to the level of residential satisfaction among occupants of simple housing.

Analysis of spatial and temporal evolution and driving factors of carbon emission in Shandong Province: based on the perspective of land use

Land use/cover change is the second major contributor to carbon emissions, following energy emissions. Studying provincial land-use carbon emissions is crucial for achieving the “double carbon” goal. This study selects 16 prefecture-level cities in Shandong Province as the research object. It analyzes the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of carbon emissions in Shandong Province based on land-use data and energy consumption. In terms of net carbon emissions, this study utilizes the standard deviation ellipse and kernel density estimation to analyze net carbon emissions change from the municipal and regional perspectives. In terms of carbon ecological carrying capacity, not only the carbon ecological carrying capacity of forest and grassland was considered, but also the carbon ecological carrying capacity of crops in Shandong Province, which is a large grain province. Using the geographic detector to explore the drivers. Research findings indicate that carbon sources and sinks show a clear spatial and temporal distribution pattern, with the center of gravity of net carbon emissions extending to the northeast. Areas with high carbon ecological carrying capacity have high forest coverage, grassland coverage, and crop yields. Regarding driving factors, the urbanization rate, economic aggregate, and technological progress demonstrate significant explanatory power through single and interaction tests, suggesting that these factors are critical drivers of land-use carbon emissions within Shandong Province. Based on the spatiotemporal pattern analysis of land-use carbon emissions in Shandong Province, each city's growth rate and spatial distribution characteristics can be clarified, providing a scientific basis for the local government to formulate regional and differentiated emission-reduction policies. In addition, by exploring the driving factors of land-use carbon emissions in Shandong Province, the influence level of factors on carbon emissions can be revealed to provide references for formulating regional sustainable development strategies.

A Study on the Role of Engineering Materials Innovation in Urban Infrastructure Development in Promoting Economic Growth

Accompanied by the high speed of infrastructure construction in China’s major cities, China’s construction industry has been growing rapidly, and the engineering materials industry in construction has begun to transform from weak to strong. The study constructs a systematic theoretical model of engineering materials innovation in the construction industry to realize a systematic understanding of the engineering materials innovation mechanism. Combined with the economic growth theory, the impact of engineering materials innovation on regional economic growth in major Chinese cities is explored by using the threshold regression model. Through the study, it is found that the current innovation of China’s engineering materials industry is mainly facing two major problems, namely the slowdown of industrial growth rate, and the reduction of fixed asset investment, while the diversification path of engineering materials technological innovation outputs is beginning to diverge, and the diversity and ubiquity indices are gradually increasing, but the growth rate is slowing down. Threshold regression shows that when engineering materials innovation every 1% growth, for regional economic growth (GDP) to promote the role of between 0.099%~0.112%. The research in this paper provides a new perspective and comprehensive explanation for the study of engineering materials innovation-driven economic development, enriches the theoretical study of regional economic growth, and also provides theoretical insights and practical guidance for the government’s policy making and enterprises’ innovation practice.

Can China's low-carbon city pilot policy facilitate carbon neutrality? Evidence from a machine learning approach

This study examines China's 2060 carbon neutrality goal using the Double/Debiased Machine Learning (DML) model to analyze the causal effects of the low-carbon city pilot (LCCP) policy on urban carbon neutrality in 277 Chinese cities from 2008 to 2017. A series of empirical studies and robustness tests show that the LCCP policy has promoted carbon neutrality in Chinese cities. Through causal mediation analysis, this study identifies potential mechanisms, including increasing green credit, stimulating green innovation, optimizing industrial structures, and strengthening environmental governance. The LCCP policy has a varied impact on cities, depending on their resource endowments, geographical locations, and sizes. Furthermore, this study develops a green development index to assess the causal impact of the LCCP policy on green development, suggesting that it does not hinder the city's economic growth but rather enhances its quality and sustainability. This study provides empirical evidence for regional environmental governance and improvement strategies and offers valuable insights into China's transition from prioritizing rapid economic growth to achieving high-quality development.

Horizontal ecological compensation and urban inclusive green growth: evidence from China.

Horizontal ecological compensation (HEC) has the potential to incentivize inclusive green growth in cities. Using the multi-stage difference-in-differences (DID) method, this study examines the impact of HEC policies as a quasi-natural experiment. Panel data are analyzed; the data pertain to 87 cities in the Yangtze River Basin, from 2007 to 2020. The findings indicate that HEC policies significantly contribute to inclusive green growth, with consistent effects across different estimators. The moderating effect test reveals that urban industrial pollution levels and green innovation are key pathways through which HEC policies influence inclusive green growth. Further analysis shows that the positive impact of HEC is more pronounced in watersheds with high marketization and in downstream regions, suggesting that HEC may exacerbate regional disparities in inclusive green growth. This study offers insights for China and also for other developing countries seeking to promote urban inclusive green growth and achieve sustainable development goals.

Causes of the Groundwater Levels Rise in the Absheron Peninsula and the Ways of its Regulation

In connection with the growth of Baku city and its adjacent regions located in the Absheron Peninsula, this territory is the most densely populated part of our republic. The waste from industrial enterprises and oil and gas fields, a significant part of which is also located within the Peninsula, has a negative influence on the ecological situation of the studied area. This article provides an overview of the hydrogeological conditions of various areas of the object under study and identifies changes in the level of groundwater in these areas while establishing the reasons for its rise. Physical and chemical analyses of water samples taken from drilled wells and dug wells throughout the region were carried out. The reasons for the increase in the level of underground water were established, which lead to flooding, swamping, and recurrent salinization of the soil in the Absheron Peninsula. Measures and recommendations were developed to restore the ecological balance of the study area. In addition, groundwater, phreatimetric data, and water reservoir strikes in cities, villages, and settlements located on the peninsula were studied. The physico-chemical composition of underground waters and their mineralization levels were studied in laboratory conditions. The groundwater levels in drilled and dug wells across the peninsula were established and compared with data from historical records and literature. The studies conducted allowed for the evaluation of the suitability of groundwater for various national and economic uses. It has been established that, simultaneously with natural factors, anthropogenic factors have had a significant influence on the rise in the level of groundwater, including the absence of central sewage and drainage systems, the discharge of water from industrial enterprises, and household water, among others. To eliminate the environmental emergency, it is recommended to carry out priority temporary measures in some areas of the Absheron Peninsula at the initial stage.

Sustainable development and environmental protection in the Absheron peninsula: a geo-ecological perspective

The research focuses on the ecological and geographical aspects of the Absheron region in Azerbaijan, highlighting the significant environmental challenges and the need for sustainable resource management. Given the region’s rapid economic development and urbanization, there is a crucial need to balance economic growth with environmental conservation to ensure long-term ecological stability. The Absheron region faces numerous environmental issues due to intensive industrial activities, particularly in the oil and gas sectors, and increasing urbanization. These activities have led to significant anthropogenic impacts, necessitating comprehensive studies to assess and mitigate their effects on the natural environment. The article’s primary aim is to analyze the current dynamics of economic progress in the Absheron peninsula, assess the anthropogenic impacts, and identify efficient strategies for environmental management. The study also aims to provide a comprehensive ecological survey of the region, focusing on sustainable green economic practices. There has been significant urban growth in cities like Baku, Sumgayit, and Khyrdalan, contributing to increased environmental pressure. Modern settlements and infrastructure development have played a crucial role in organizing advanced systems for economic purposes. The economic activities, particularly in the oil sector, have significantly impacted the region’s natural complexes, necessitating the implementation of green economy principles. Effective management practices are essential to prevent pollution, maintain ecological balance, and protect natural resources. The study highlights the importance of greening initiatives and emergency response plans to manage environmental risks. The author emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to economic development and environmental conservation in the Absheron region. The study provides valuable insights into the ecological and geographical challenges of the Absheron region and offers practical solutions for achieving sustainable development. The article outlines the potential of geographic information systems and remote sensing technologies in monitoring and managing environmental change, in particular, in assessing the impact of industrial activity and urban expansion. The results of the study indicate the need for a comprehensive policy that combines economic development goals with environmental protection measures to ensure long-term environmental sustainability and economic prosperity in the Absheron Peninsula.

Study on Urban Growth of Pakse City

This research has considered the growth and important changes of Pakse city in Lao PDR from 2005 to 2020. The city is strategically located as a commercial and tourism center in the Mekong sub-region. In addition, Pakse's rapid urban growth is fueled by economic development, infrastructure improvements, demographic changes and strategic geographic location, all of which contribute to making it an important urban center in the south. The research aims to study the growth of the city of Pakse to create an understanding of the phenomenon, the driving force as well as the factors that lead to the growth of the city as a way to plan and control the development of the city for sustainable growth using the integrated research method of spatial analysis, quantitative analysis and document survey which analyzes the growth of the population and households, economic growth and the growth of the urban area. The analysis results show a population increase of 32.30 percent (from 78,669 people in 2005 to 116,200 people in 2020). Economic growth is also clear GDP per capita increased by 56.86 percent (from 1,097 dollars in 2005 to 2,543 dollars in 2020). The growth of the construction area of the city increased by 47.03 percent (from 285 hectares in 2005 to 538 hectares in 2020) and in Pakse city municipality, there is a growth of 46.35 percent (from 279 hectares to 520 hectares in 2020). Most of the built-up area is concentrated in the city center, covering 96.65 percent, and the number of buildings has increased by 45.18 percent (from 17,262 to 30,870 in 2020). These findings indicate the growth of Pakse city during the study period.

Green spaces in Ghana’s built environment: Analyzing perceptions and urban planning perspectives through the lens of the New Environmental Paradigm

In the busy world of city growth, urban green spaces in Ghana are befallen with destruction due to urbanization. Using a cross-sectional design and case-studying Damongo and Kintampo, this study assessed the perceptions of urban residents and urban planning perspectives about green spaces in enhancing the environmental condition of fast-growing urban areas, and proposed guidelines for the managing green spaces within Ghana’s built environment. The results revealed that underutilization and insufficient funding for greenspace management increase vulnerability to urban encroachment, especially during inward city growth. Again, the exhaustion of the limited resources of the earth could have repercussions for the population of the earth; however, the need for such resources and the level of poverty influences poor environmental decisions. Further, the results showed that planning for urban green and open space ought to be decided at the local level. The study, therefore, recommends a collaborative approach involving city authorities, private sectors, and the public for effective green space management, emphasizing inclusive decision-making and active preservation, and the development of local standards within a national framework, guided by an urban green spaces protection scheme.