Human-environment Interactions Research Articles

Whisperings From The Ordinary: A Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) Approach To Bridging The Human-Object Divide

In a world increasingly dominated by connected devices, one realm remains silent: most inanimate objects that surround us. This stark contrast highlights a critical gap in human-environment interaction, one that the present work aims to bridge through the power of intelligent conversation and shared understanding. Traditional IoT methods, while efficient, raise crucial concerns regarding sustainability. Embedding electronics into every object risk exceeding costs and generating substantial e-waste. This necessitates exploration of alternative paradigms that unlock the communicative potential of everyday items without environmental burden. Enter the confluence of object detection and conversational AI. Object detection, encompassing techniques like image classification, empowers machines to perceive their surroundings and make informed decisions based on identified objects. Conversational AI refers to the ability of computers to engage in a natural, human-like dialogue. By fitting in object detection, conversational AI can transform lifeless objects into active and intelligent participants in our lives, fostering a richer relationship with the spaces we inhabit. This paper proposes an AI-powered mobile application that unlocks the communicative potential of everyday items, transforming them from passive elements into active participants in our lives. We are exploring to enhance domestic routines by streamlining daily tasks with object-initiated reminders, proactive maintenance suggestions, and personalized advice. This research delves into the technical aspects, potential applications, and ethical implications of granting voice to the voiceless.

Transitioning from gridlock to sustainability: advancing transport strategies for eco-friendly solutions in high-income countries.

The study aims to comprehend sustainable behaviors in high-income nations, where human-environment interactions are crucial. Increased transportation needs in industrialized countries highlight the importance of environmental challenges affecting human well-being. Railway passenger carrier, automobile energy efficiency, technology breakthroughs, financial incentives, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) affect congestion and sustainability, which the study analyses for sound policy inferences in a panel of 28 high-income nations from 2000 to 2022. The panel ARDL estimates reveal that railway passenger carrier increases carbon emissions in the short run while it improves them over time, highlighting the importance of urban planning. Environmental pollution, energy use, transportation behavior (including PPPs), and technical innovation have an inverse connection, demonstrating the efficacy of energy-efficient transport methods, research and development, and renewable energy sources. However, economic incentives highly correspond with carbon-intensive habits, emphasizing the need for high-income countries to phase them out.

Cross-Cultural Applications of the New Ecological Paradigm in Protected Area Contexts

Working mostly in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic countries, environmental psychologists have developed scales assessing relationships between pro-environmental beliefs and behaviors. Working in Tanzanian and Indonesian protected area landscapes, containing important biodiversity and conflict over human-nature interactions, we investigate the utility of the New Ecological Paradigm for measuring pro-environmental beliefs and understanding support for protected area regulations. We found the New Ecological Paradigm ineffective at measuring pro-environmental beliefs in both countries; in Tanzania due to acquiescence bias, and in Indonesia exploratory factor analysis supported none of the original factors, with 4 of 15 statements loading onto a novel “eco-fragility” factor. Individual statements in both countries and the eco-fragility factor in Indonesia were weakly correlated with support for protected area regulations, highlighting while elements of the New Ecological Paradigm can improve understanding of support for protected area regulations, care must be taken when applying psychometric tools in novel cultural contexts.

Desert-oasis evolutionary process in the Tarim Basin since ∼ 2.2 ka B.P. during the late Holocene and their environmental implications

Oases, serving as ideal locations for human settlements in arid regions, exhibit extreme sensitivity to regional climatic fluctuations. Consequently, the oasis deposition sediments play a pivotal role in the study of regional paleoenvironmental changes and the exploration of prehistoric human-environment interactions. The YSD and STM sections, both typical aeolian-lacustrine sections located at the edge of the Tarim Basin, were investigated in this study. By analyzing optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating results and grain-size proxy indicators, the environmental evolution patterns in the Tarim Basin since approximately 2.2 ka BP were reconstructed. Additionally, the parametric end-member analysis on the grain-size data was conducted to explore the environmental significance revealed by each end-member. The research findings indicate that: (1) ∼ 2.2–1.8 ka B.P., sediment morphology and grain-size parameters indicate that the climate in the Tarim Basin recorded by the STM section was relatively dry, with rivers gradually receding and frequent sand-drift activities. During the development of the YSD section (∼1.67–1.5 ka B.P.), the environmental conditions in the Tarim Basin transitioned to a relatively humid phase, with the Yarkand River experienced multiple episodes of natural diluvial deposition. The grain-size data of two sections both comprise five sedimentary dynamic components, serving as sensitive indicators of regional humidity conditions and winter monsoon intensity. (2) The oasis development in the Tarim Basin during the late Holocene (particularly refers to between ∼ 2.2 ka B.P. and ∼ 1.4 ka B.P.) exhibits a significant positive correlation with temperature records. (3) Environmental changes and human activities jointly regulate the spatial and temporal distribution and number of archeological sites during the development of both sections. However, the dominance of the two factors varied across different historical periods.

Landscape positioning of Neolithic mustatil stone structures along the margins of the Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia

Monumental rectangular stone structures called mustatils are an important emerging feature of the Holocene archaeological record of northwestern Arabia. To date, few have been excavated, with available radiocarbon dates suggesting an age range of ca. 5400–4200 BC. Here we present a rigorous spatial analysis to identify the patterning and landscape context of 169 mustatils in the southern and western margins of the Nefud Desert. This included: (1) a systematic survey of satellite imagery to identify mustatils; (2) viewshed analysis to examine location and landscape visibility; (3) a point process model to understand how diverse environmental and landscape variables affect mustatil locations; (4) mark correlation function to assess spatial patterning of mustatils based on their size. Results indicate that mustatil locations are determined most by proximity to water (likely locations of enhanced surface water occurrence under the enhanced humidity of the Mid-Holocene), on east facing slopes, close to rocky areas, at elevations between 880 and 950 masl, and on or near topographic ridges (positive topographic position index). Viewshed analysis showed that mustatils are preferentially located in areas that have good views, but not the best that are available, indicating complex landscape positioning that balances a range of topographic and behavioural factors. Using a rank permutation method with size (length) of mustatils as a proxy for labour mobilization we show that mustatils within clusters are not arranged hierarchically based on size, and were likely built by non-stratified groups of people. Our analyses show that people were choosing multiple factors when deciding where to build mustatils, and that the distribution of mustatils may relate to different groups of people resulting in the construction of complex ritual landscapes. As one of the earliest examples of large-scale monumental stone structure construction in global prehistory, understanding mustatils can enlighten us on human-environment interaction during the Neolithic.

Urban biodiversity is affected by human-designed features of public squares

Cities are designed primarily for the benefit of humans but also provide habitat for other species. However, understanding how different components of urban vegetation and other features of urban spaces enable different species or species groups to live in the city remains limited. Here we show that, for the City of Munich, designed features of public urban squares strongly determine the occurrence of different species groups. While taxon richness and abundance increased with increasing ‘greenness’ of the square, different taxa responded to different square features, such as the proportion of lawn, the volume of shrubs and the density of trees, as well as the number of people or pets on these squares. Our results highlight that urban design for human needs affects other species that may cohabit these spaces. Consequently, planning strategies for biodiverse cities that aim to enhance human–nature interactions need to be multifaceted, considering the needs of humans and other taxa to create diverse living cities.

HiSC4D: Human-Centered Interaction and 4D Scene Capture in Large-Scale Space Using Wearable IMUs and LiDAR.

We introduce HiSC4D, a novel Human-centered interaction and 4D Scene Capture method, aimed at accurately and efficiently creating a dynamic digital world, containing large-scale indoor-outdoor scenes, diverse human motions, rich human-human interactions, and human-environment interactions. By utilizing body-mounted IMUs and a head-mounted LiDAR, HiSC4D can capture egocentric human motions in unconstrained space without the need for external devices and pre-built maps. This affords great flexibility and accessibility for human-centered interaction and 4D scene capturing in various environments. Taking into account that IMUs can capture human spatially unrestricted poses but are prone to drifting for long-period using, and while LiDAR is stable for global localization but rough for local positions and orientations, HiSC4D employs a joint optimization method, harmonizing all sensors and utilizing environment cues, yielding promising results for long-term capture in large scenes. To promote research of egocentric human interaction in large scenes and facilitate downstream tasks, we also present a dataset, containing 8 sequences in 4 large scenes (200 to 5,000 m2 ), providing 36k frames of accurate 4D human motions with SMPL annotations and dynamic scenes, 31k frames of cropped human point clouds, and scene mesh of the environment. A variety of scenarios, such as the basketball gym and commercial street, alongside challenging human motions, such as daily greeting, one-on-one basketball playing, and tour guiding, demonstrate the effectiveness and the generalization ability of HiSC4D. The dataset and code will be publicly available for research purposes.

Late Pleistocene to Holocene alluvial deposits of the Inaouène Valley and their paleoenvironmental significance (north Morocco)

This study investigates the paleoenvironmental changes and fluvial dynamics in the Inaouène River Valley of central northern Morocco over the last 22,000 years. Through comprehensive field study and radiocarbon dating of Upper Pleistocene and Holocene alluvial deposits, the research identifies six main alluvial units reflecting distinct phases of fluvial activity and environmental conditions. These phases include coarse gravel aggradation between ∼22 and 15 cal kaBP, indicating a braided channel system, followed by multiple fine-dominated alluviation phases occurring at ∼13, ∼10, ∼6–5, ∼3, ∼0.7–0.3, and ∼0.1-0 cal kaBP. The trunk channel evolved from a low-sinuosity wandering style in the Early-Middle Holocene to a high-sinuosity pattern in the Late Holocene. Periods of landscape stability, evidenced by soil formation, were dated around 0.3 and 0.8 cal kaBP, with additional episodes estimated just after ∼12 cal kaBP and around 3.8 cal kaBP. Notably, the study also uncovered evidence of significant human intervention during the Middle Holocene.A comparison with other archives enabled us to reconstruct late Pleistocene and Holocene palaeoenvironmental conditions on both regional and supraregional scales, linking specific stages of floodplain development to prevalent influencing factors. Emphasizing the fluvial system response, we present a cause-effect model that focuses on long-lasting climatic phases (e.g., Last Glacial Maximum, MIS2-MIS1 transition, African Humid Period) as well as sub-millennial to centennial Rapid Climate Changes, North Atlantic cooling events, and solar activity minima. Human intervention played a key role in the Inaouène's evolution during the Middle Holocene, as evidenced by clear anthropogenic markers found in the associated deposits. These findings not only contribute to our understanding of the area's geomorphological history but also highlight its significant archaeological potential, opening new avenues for interdisciplinary research in this understudied region.The study offers new insights into central northern Morocco's late Quaternary alluvial geochronology and paleoenvironmental evolution, aligning with regional findings and contributing to a broader understanding of climate-driven landscape changes and human-environment interactions across North Africa and the Mediterranean.

Sustainable Development Interaction between Humans and the Interior Architecture

This research explores the evolution of sustainability in interior architectural environments by analysing four distinct settings: Egyptian, African, Japanese, and Chinese. These environments were chosen due to their climatic similarities and shared characteristics. The study examines representative dwelling models from each environment to understand how advanced sustainability can be tailored to each context. The research follows a structured approach, beginning with analysing human-environment interactions and the influence of culture on these dynamics. It delves into the evolution of interior architecture through various historical stages, considering factors like urban expansion, globalization, contemporary design, and technological advancements. The study also looks at the economic and social changes that have shaped interior architecture in these diverse environments. By creating a line graph illustrating these developments, the research highlights the progression of interior architecture across different historical periods. The findings suggest that sustainable development in interior architecture can be enhanced by drawing inspiration from ancient cultures. Traditional design elements, such as natural materials, symbolic colours, and energy-efficient layouts, offer valuable lessons for contemporary architects and designers. By integrating these time-tested techniques, modern interior architecture can achieve a balance between cultural heritage preservation and ecological sustainability, leading to designs that are harmonious with the environment.

Revisiting moated sites in Northeast Thailand: integrating spatial analysis with previous and new research insights

Moated sites in northeast Thailand serve as pivotal evidence of human–environment interaction since the Iron Age and have been subject to extensive study. This research conducts a comprehensive examination of moated sites, aiming to analyze their spatial characteristics and relationships with physical environmental factors across various scales, including regional and major river basins. To achieve these goals, advanced GIS tools including average nearest neighbor (ANN) analysis, kernel density estimation (KDE), standard deviational ellipse (SDE) analysis, and the Kruskal–Wallis test are employed. By incorporating a dataset of 468 moated sites and expanding the geographic scope beyond previous studies, this research offers new insights into settlement patterns and environmental interactions. Contrary to earlier interpretations suggesting random dispersion, the study’s findings reveal a clustering pattern, indicating intentional spatial organization by ancient communities. The study also highlights the influence of rainfall on the number of moats, with multiple moats more common in lower rainfall areas and single moats in higher rainfall regions. Additionally, the results observe that sites with more moats are typically found at higher elevations, although no significant correlation between elevation and site size was identified, challenging previous studies' conclusions. These results underscore the importance of local environmental conditions, such as rainfall and elevation, in shaping the distribution and characteristics of moated sites. The findings highlight the complex interplay between environmental factors and human settlement strategies, emphasizing the role of water management in ancient communities.

Enhancing human well-being through cognitive and affective pathways linking landscape sensation to cultural ecosystem services

ContextLandscape sensation is essential for the delivery of cultural ecosystem services (CESs), yet the pathways through which these services are delivered remain inadequately understood. Exploring how people obtain CESs from landscapes facilitates better understanding of the tradeoffs and synergies between ecosystem services and landscape sustainability.ObjectivesThis study aimed to elucidate the sensory pathways that links landscape attributes to CESs, focusing on the roles of cognitive and affective experiences.MethodsWe analyzed social media comments for the measurement scale of cognition. We employed partial least squares structural equation modeling to integrate sensation, cognition, affect, and satisfaction, using questionnaire data (n = 503).ResultsCognitive comprehensions and affective responses play a crucial role in interpreting CESs while sensory experiences do not directly determine people’s satisfaction with CESs. The effective pathways are achieved through the sole mediator of cognition or by serial mediators of cognition and affect. Of the two mediators, cognition has a more profound mediating effect than affect.ConclusionsBoth physical and biological components, such as landscape sensory attributes, as well as cognitive and affective responses, influence human-nature interactions. These components should be considered when promoting the sustainability of human-dominated landscapes.

Numerical modeling of biophilic design incorporating large-scale waterfall into a public building: Combined simulation of heat, air, and water transfer

Biophilic design, which integrates nature into built environments, fosters beneficial human–nature interactions. It has gained traction as a promising solution to achieve a better trade-off between sustainability and occupants' well-being. However, despite its potential, quantitative assessment of biophilic design, particularly water elements, remains limited. This study addresses this gap using a two-step approach that quantifies the effects of biophilic water design on indoor hygrothermal conditions. We first developed a numerical model that couples building energy simulations with computational fluid dynamics to accurately predict the heat, air, and water transfer phenomena caused by waterfalls and ponds, and a novel mathematical model that precisely calculates water evaporation using water potential as the driving force of moisture transfer. Then, using this proposed method, we performed a numerical analysis of an actual public building as the reference space. This analysis quantitatively evaluated the effects of water elements on a hygrothermal environment and their impact on energy conservation. A series of comparisons and discussions based on the simulation results demonstrated the model’s capability to accurately simulate the hygrothermal environment influenced by waterfalls and ponds. Moreover, the study confirmed and quantified the effects of waterfalls, specifically its significant evaporative cooling effect during summer, humidifying effect in winter, and heat load reduction benefits. These findings enrich our understanding of the impacts of biophilic water design on indoor environments and energy conservation, thereby contributing to the optimization of biophilic design practices.

Agent-Based Model for Situational Awareness in the Workplace: Enhancing Neural Networks with Direct Feedback Alignment

The integration of direct feedback alignment (DFA) into neural networks presents a paradigm shift in computational models, enhancing situational awareness within professional settings. This paper explores the application of DFA in agent-based computational models, demonstrating its efficiency and biological plausibility over traditional backpropagation methods. The research highlights the significant impact of direct feedback alignment on reinforcing situational awareness, evidenced through comprehensive simulations that show marked improvements in agents' ability to effectively navigate and comprehend complex work environments. The study suggests that direct feedback alignment revolutionizes neural network learning processes and significantly enhances cognitive aspects critical to employee safety and operational efficiency. It lays the groundwork for future investigations into the integration of neural computation techniques with organizational psychology and behavior, offering a new perspective on fostering safer, more aware, and efficient workplace environments. The potential application of direct feedback alignment across various professional scenarios opens new avenues for research in computational neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and organizational behavior, with a focus on optimizing human-environment interactions in complex systems.

Coastal Cultural Ecosystem Services: A Bridge between the Natural Ecosystem and Social Ecosystem for Sustainable Development

Cultural Ecosystem Services (CESs), as non-material benefits and well-being provided by ecosystems to humans, possess the ability to bridge nature and human society and interpret their complex interrelationships. Coastal areas are regions with concentrated human activities, where coastal zones are often subject to human development, pollution, and degradation. Compared to other ecosystems, coastal ecosystems face greater pressures and threats, and the cultural services they provide are more vulnerable. Research on coastal ecosystem cultural services needs to consider ecosystem vulnerability and find ways to protect and restore ecosystem functions. Therefore, this paper explores the intrinsic logical system and feasibility of guiding natural resource management and enhancing human well-being through coastal CESs, discussing related research data acquisition, method analysis, and perceptual application. Based on this, this paper analyzes the development trends of coastal CESs in natural resource management and enhancing human well-being from aspects such as biodiversity, human–nature interaction processes, cultural heritage conservation, local economic development, and community management. Finally, it proposes advancing the in-depth research of coastal CESs from the perspectives of integrating multi-source data, interdisciplinary development, and incorporating CESs into policy making, providing theoretical support for the systematic study of rational resource utilization and sustainable ecosystem development.

Modeling pedestrians' activity time-use choices in a virtual urban public space: The influences of the environment and affective experience

Understanding pedestrians' time-use choices for multiple activities in urban public spaces is crucial for developing diverse and inclusive public spaces. Few studies have explored how pedestrians' time-use choices are influenced by the physical environment when engaging in various micro-level activities in public spaces, nor have they captured the influence of experience-based factors (e.g., emotion and perceptions) triggered by varying environments, as well as heterogeneity between individuals. This study employs the multiple discrete-continuous extreme value (MDCEV) model to estimate the effects of public space environmental attributes, visit purpose, emotion, and perceptions on individuals' activity time-use choices using data collected in varying virtual hypothetical public spaces. A latent class MDCEV model incorporating personal variables is used to further examine individual heterogeneity. The results indicate that outdoor dining spaces and benches significantly promote outdoor activities. Emotional pleasure and arousal, as well as perceived legibility and liveness, significantly influence various activities in varying ways and to varying degrees. Differences in activity time-use choice patterns between two groups are revealed - one more emotionally driven and the other more cognitively driven. The results complement existing knowledge of pedestrians' activities and inform the planning and design decisions for positive human-environment interactions in urban public spaces.

Distentanging the late-Holocene human–environment interactions in the Altai Mountains within the Arid Central Asia

Understanding the impacts of human activities on landscapes necessitates a comprehensive analysis of historical changes in climate, vegetation, fire and land utilization. The human-environment interactions were investigated through the analysis of new charcoal data from Kelashazi Peat in the Altai Mountains, compared with the detailed paleoenvironmental records and historical human activities (e.g., agriculture and pastoralism) at other three distinct sites. The findings suggest that the late-Holocene (prior to ∼2000 years ago) fire activities were mainly influenced by temperature at higher elevations and were primarily driven by vegetation cover at lower elevations. Over the past two millennia, human activities have increasingly impacted fire dynamics. Elevated fire frequencies during the Medieval Warm Period at higher elevations were linked to warmer climates and intensified pastoral activities. Lower fire incidences at lower elevations may be attributed to population outflows during the Medieval Warm Period, while heightened fire occurrences at lower elevations might result from increasing agricultural activities during the Little Ice Age. This study underscores the intricate interplay between natural climate-vegetation-fire dynamics and anthropogenic burning trends in the late Holocene across different elevations of the Altai Mountains within the Arid Central Asia.

The subsistence strategy transformation of the Yangshao culture (6900-4800BP) in the Guanzhong Area and Western Henan based on new faunal materials from the Miaodigou site

While the significance of the Yangshao culture in early China is widely recognized, systematic and detailed analysis and discussion of its subsistence strategy are lacking, especially for faunal materials. This paper examines the new and crucial faunal remains that include 3,400 identified specimens from the Miaodigou site unearthed in 2002. At that site, pig husbandry was predominant and wild animals were occasionally hunted as supplemental resources. In combination with published research including zooarchaeology, paleoethnobotany, and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope studies of 29 other sites mainly from the Guanzhong area and western Henan, we argue that subsistence strategy underwent a comprehensive and profound transformation during the middle period of Yangshao culture, namely Miaodigou period, as crop production and pig husbandry flourished in a wide range of areas. Domestic pigs accounted for over 80% of mammals, reaching an unprecedented proportion in the Neolithic age and manifesting a high level of consistency in feeding and slaughtering, and foxtail millet replaced broomcorn to become the most important crop at all sites, both of which demonstrate the breadth and depth of this transformation. The tension between the deterioration of climate, the decrease of surrounding wildlife resources due to excessive development and the continuous growth of the population may have contributed to this transformation. This study enriches our understanding of human-environment interactions in the embryonic stage of Chinese civilization and triggers further thoughts on how culture, society, the environment and subsistence were entangled in the development of civilization.

Perceived setting interdependencies: the hidden barrier to urban parks’ stress-alleviation potential

ABSTRACT Previous research suggests that perceived setting interdependencies (PSI) affect human-environment interactions, impacting restorative experiences in the leisure time settings. However, the relationship between the environmental elements of urban parks, PSI, and their effects on cognitive restoration remains unclear. This research examined the relationship between the PSI experienced by urban park users and their feelings of “being away” and “fascination,” particularly in the context of stress. The study analysed data from 435 park users in Bangkok using structural equation modelling. Findings indicated that park features, such as biodiversity and amenities, influenced PSI, impacting stress recovery. High PSI negatively influenced stress recovery, suggesting the detrimental effects of environmental overlap. Contrary to the attention restoration theory, being away negatively correlated with stress recovery, while fascination positively impacted being away and stress recovery. The study suggests that urban park designs should minimize PSI and include fascinating features to effectively facilitate psychological restoration and stress recovery.

Socio-environmental drivers of human-nature interactions in urban green spaces

Online platforms have broadened the opportunities of people to interact with nature through community/citizen science, especially in urban areas. However, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the social and environmental factors that influence nature interactions in cities. Here, we aim to identify the social and environmental predictors that impact nature interactions, by combining citizen science data with environmental and demographic data in New York City. We applied generalized linear models to identify which of 12 social and environmental factors influence nature interactions in public parks (n = 355) in the Borough of Queens, New York, New York (USA) in two scenarios, small-medium sized parks only (n = 355) and all parks (n = 359). We used iNaturalist records, including the number of users (Observers), Observations, Observed Biodiversity, and a calculated interaction effect (number of users × observations, Interaction), as metrics of nature interactions. For small-medium parks, all nature interactions were significantly influenced by park area, canopy cover, percent population with blood pressure and asthma conditions, noise, and summer mean temperature. Observers and Interaction were positively associated with median income. Observers, Observations, and Interaction were predicted by percent water cover, impervious cover, distance to public transportation, and ethnic diversity. In the analysis that included all parks, the results were similar with minor differences. This study demonstrates a holistic approach to a very specific type of human-nature interaction newly made available with technological advances, seen through an interdisciplinary lens and will help inform planners, residents, and city government on creating more interactive and socio-environmentally beneficial urban green spaces.

Archaeobotany in an era of change and challenge: potential and fragility of macro- and micro-remains

ABSTRACT Apart from helping us understand past communities’ response to climate change and their plant management resilience mechanisms, archaeobotanical information may also serve as a basis to rethink our economic system and implement new solutions to current challenges (e.g. re-adopt forgotten crops or implement circular economy models). Already fragile by nature, the integrity of archaeobotanical heritage is affected by current climate events, such as changes in temperature and precipitation. One consequence is the loss of precious knowledge about past economies and human-environment interactions and its potential to inform us on questions relevant to the present and future. With the Iberian Peninsula as an example, we present a thoughtful insight into the manifold kind of information derived from archaeobotanical assemblages and the harm in losing it. Finally, we call for action to fight against climate change while drawing archaeologists’ attention to the importance of protecting archaeobotanical heritage.