Increase In Urban Population Research Articles

Transit, walking and cycling infrastructure and sustainable development in Enugu city, Nigeria

In a predominantly urban world, people’s ability to move within cities is a critical driver of sustainability. The transportation system which constitutes a large percentage of the physical urban environment provides mobility and aid economic sector. However, it contributes to several major environmental pressures including pollution, congestion, accidents, waste accumulation, resources depletion and disruption of nature. While urban population growth and increase in economic activities combine to generate higher demand for transportation services and heighten the problem. How to effectively deal with these imposing threats and simultaneously provide optimal mobility for city dwellers is the backbone of this research. Drawing experiences from developed cities, the study used Achara layout in Enugu as a case study. From observation, surveys and published literature data were collected and analysed qualitatively. The primary data include, physical traffic count, existing road character, traffic infrastructure and demographic statistics. Findings show the extensive sterility of Enugu’s urban infrastructure to motorized traffic and lack of provision for walking and cycling. It recommends strategies for planning and managing the urban environment which recognizes and acknowledged the social, environmental and economic realities. The conclusion demonstrates that cities designed for pedestrians and cyclist are cities designed for people and sustainable development.

Urban heat islands and their effects on thermal comfort in the US: New York and New Jersey

In recent decades, urbanization and the dramatic increase in urban populations have exacerbated the urban heat island effect. At present, much attention has been paid to the causes and patterns of the urban heat island effect. However, there are few quantitative studies on the impact of the urban heat island effect. By extracting post-world climate data, DEM data, and land use data for 20 years between 2001 and 2020, this paper first studies the variation pattern and spatial distribution characteristics of urban heat islands in New York State, summarizes the seasonal distribution characteristics of temperature, and then uses Giles formula to calculate Tom's discomfort index and evaluate human thermal comfort, and evaluates the effect of heat island effect on human sensory thermal comfort. The results show that on the time scale, the surface temperature in the study area generally showed a slow upward trend over the past 20 years. For example, in July, the maximum and minimum temperatures increased by 3.2 °C and 4.1 °C, respectively. At the spatial scale, most of the heat island areas in the study area were distributed in the New York City agglomeration, especially from May to October, when the heat island effect was particularly obvious. The temperature map showed obvious high temperatures. Compared with 2001, the human discomfort index (DI) increased between June and August 2020. The land use map shows that as the city expands, people's DI index also increases, and the proportion of people who feel uncomfortable with heat increases to 50%. Except for the New York City cluster, other areas were mostly athermic-free. This result shows that excessive urban development concentration seriously affects residents' quality of life. We should pay attention to the superimposed impact of climate change and urban heat islands on the human discomfort index, and adjust the local high temperature and thermal field area through reasonable planning, strengthening greening, and using building technology to make cities more livable.

On Environmental Protection and Sustainable Utilization of Land Resources

In today’s era, with the rapid development of social economy and the rapid increase of urban population, the demand for land resources is becoming increasingly strong. However, as is well known, the land resources on Earth are limited. If we want to achieve long-term development, we must take the path of sustainable development and use land resources sustainably. At the same time, the sustainable use of land resources and environmental protection are also inseparable, and the two are complementary. At present, China should rely on the superiority of the socialist system, mobilize various forces, coordinate planning, highlight key points, and implement step by step, while following natural and economic laws, to achieve the goals of environmental improvement and sustainable land resource utilization as soon as possible.

Thermodynamic Effect of High-Rise Reinforced Concrete Typology on Asian Cities: Effect of Socioeconomic Obsolescence Factors on Thermodynamic Complexity

The construction of reinforced concrete (RC) apartments played a crucial role in accommodating the substantial increase in urban populations during the post-war period in Asian cities. However, the RC process in these regions exhibits limitations in terms of the building’s life cycle duration. These limitations arise due to two main factors: the inherent hybrid nature of RC and the insufficient measures for addressing inner rebar corrosion, as well as the lack of adequate control over the management of the “structural class” amid rapid economic expansion. This study examines the impact of rapid urbanization and economic growth on the construction industry, with a specific focus on the utilization of concrete buildings. Drawing on Odum’s urban energetics theory, macroeconomic data are analyzed to investigate the patterns and implications of widespread concrete construction during the late 20th century, particularly in Asian countries. The findings are then compared with earlier periods of economic expansion in other countries, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between urbanization, economic growth, and the use of concrete structures. The application of Odum’s theory enhances the analytical process, offering valuable insights into the dynamics of the macro urban energy system. In this assessment, four countries are selected based on the stage of their urban economic expansion. The selection is determined using the recent changes observed in three key factors: (1) urban concentration, (2) GDP growth rate, and (3) gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) on housing volume. The assessment identifies the point in time when production, represented by the GDP growth rate, surpasses consumption, represented by GFCF on housing volume. Through this assessment, it becomes possible to make macro-scaled predictions about the urban energy system, even with limited archival data available.

Paratransit service quality modeling reflecting users' perception-A case study in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Increasing usage of private cars and low service quality of public transport is an acute problem in many developing cities. The prerequisite is to meet the mobility needs, especially for low-income people, to ensure adequate capacity by the service provided. Paratransit is an indispensable mode of public transport, especially where the mass transit system is insufficient. Rapid increase in urban population, per capita income along existing transport infrastructure has stimulated their usage as a cheap and convenient public transport mode. Quality of service is considered as one of the most significant means to assess transit performance. To observe the performance of public transportation in roadway systems, overall passenger perceived service quality (SQ) has always been the most significant means of measurement. This research aims to establish a relationship between SQ variables describing the service of paratransit by Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) based on users' perceptions. An interview survey was conducted off-board to 2025 paratransit users at twenty paratransit routes in Dhaka metropolitan area (Bangladesh). Results show that the attribute of integration with supporting modes has the highest loading, inferring it as the most significant aspect of SQ. Attributes loading value may be explained according to the importance perceived by the users. Several SE models were developed using 21 service variables from 2000 questionnaires. Upon developing different models, the best model with three latent constructs was identified as the main characteristics for explaining the entire set of physical and service performance elements of the paratransit service. Three latent constructs were ‘Quality of transport’, ‘Transit performance’ and ‘Service quality’. Among 21 SQ variables, ‘Security of passenger’, ‘seat comfort level’, and ‘riding safety’ have been found to impart the greatest influence on the overall perceived SQ. The study findings support the data collected from paratransit users. This study may help the paratransit operators to determine variables that are decisive for SQ and their relation with the overall perceived SQ by the users. Understanding SQ variables, influencing passenger perception makes it easier to design and deliver good quality service.

Analysis of urban heat islands with landsat satellite images and GIS in Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan City

Cities are growing geographically in response to the enormous increase in urban population; consequently, comprehending growth and environmental changes is critical for long-term planning. Urbanization transforms naturally permeable surfaces into impermeable surfaces, causing an increase in urban land surface temperature, leading to the phenomenon known as urban heat islands. The urban heat islands are noticeable across Malaysia's rural communities and villages, particularly in Kuala Lumpur. These effects must be addressed to slow, if not halt, climate change and meet the Paris Agreement's 2030 goal. The study posits an application of thermal remote sensing utilizing a space-borne satellite-based technique to demonstrate urban evolution for urban heat island analysis and its relationship to land surface temperature. The urban heat island (UHI) was analyzed by converting infrared radiation into visible thermal images utilizing thermal imaging from remote sensing techniques. The heat island is validated by reference to the characteristics of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which define the land surface temperature (LST) of distinct locations. Based on the digital information from the satellite, the highest temperature difference between urban and rural regions for a few chosen cities in 2013 varied from 10.8 to 25.5 °C, while in 2021, it ranged from 16.1 to 26.73 °C, highlighting crucial temperature changes. The results from ANOVA test has substantially strengthened the credibility of the significant temperature changes. Some notable reveals are as follows: The Sungai Batu area, due to its rapid development and industry growth, was more vulnerable to elevated urban heat due to reduced vegetation cover; therefore, higher relative vulnerability. Contrary, the Bukit Ketumbar area, which region lies in the woodland region, experienced the lowest, with urban heat islands reading from 2013 at −0.3044 and 0.0154 in 2021. It shows that despite having urban heat islands increase two-fold from 2013 to 2021, increasing the amount of vegetation coverage is a simple and effective way of reducing the urban heat island effect, as evidenced by the low urban heat islands in the Bukit Ketumbar woodland region. The study findings are critical for advising municipal officials and urban planners to decrease urban heat islands by investing in open green spaces.

Rural Displacement and Its Implications on Livelihoods and Food Insecurity: The Case of Inter-Riverine Communities in Somalia

This study investigates the phenomenon of forced displacement in Somalia over the past few decades and its implications for the livelihoods and food security of IDP communities. Employing a mixed-method approach, the study draws on various theories to interpret the complex dynamics underlying forced displacement and the subsequent loss of livelihoods. The findings reveal that the drivers of displacement have exhibited variation across different periods, encompassing conflicts, droughts, food scarcity, and political intricacies. Notably, the displacement experienced by inter-riverine communities primarily stems from weak institutions, intensified resource competition, disputes over fertile agricultural land, and conflict and food scarcity. This displacement has resulted in a rapid increase in urban populations and socio-economic crises. Primary data substantiates the severe socio-economic challenges faced by displaced individuals. Such historical perspectives and empirical evidence allow policymakers and stakeholders to better comprehend the multifaceted challenges confronting Somalia. The study underscores the agricultural implications of forced displacement, emphasizing the importance of targeted interventions to revitalize agricultural systems, resolve land disputes, facilitate access to vital resources, and enhance the livelihood conditions of affected communities within Somalia and in similar contexts elsewhere.

An Assessment of Long-Term Urban Heat Island Impact on Istanbul’s Climate

Istanbul with its high urban population increase and rapid rate of its unplanned urbanization, it is critical to investigate the relations between urban heat island, population growth, and changes in the urban land use. The aim of this work is to study the local climate change and the effects of urbanization on urban climate of megacity Istanbul. Temporal variations of urban heat island (UHI) and UHI intensity in Istanbul were analyzed by using air temperature data measured by five meteorology stations for the period of 1951–2020. Minimum, maximum, and mean temperature data of Istanbul were used to understand the possible impacts of urbanization on the climate of the megacity. In addition, Corine Land Cover (CLC) datasets for the years 1990, 2000, 2012, and 2018, were used to visualize the spread of urban cover throughout the city. Seasonal observations data were statistically tested for monotonic trends. Significant upward trends in temperature were found in all selected stations, both rural and urban. The air temperature in urban areas, densely populated residential areas of the Istanbul, has increased more in years compared to its rural parts. The results showed an increase of night time (minimum temperature) temperature in both urban and rural stations between 0.010 – 0.047 °C yr-1 and an increase of daytime (maximum temperature) in all stations between 0.026 – 0.034 °C yr-1. The urban heat island impact increased over Istanbul with the expansion of the urban areas toward rural areas further reducing green areas.

Long-term evaluation of surface air pollution in CAMSRA and MERRA-2 global reanalyses over Europe (2003–2020)

Abstract. Over the last century, our societies have experienced a sharp increase in urban population and fossil-fuelled transportation, turning air pollution into a critical issue. It is therefore key to accurately characterize the spatiotemporal variability of surface air pollution in order to understand its effects upon the environment, knowledge that can then be used to design effective pollution reduction policies. Global atmospheric composition reanalyses offer great capabilities towards this characterization through assimilation of satellite measurements. However, they generally do not integrate surface measurements and thus remain affected by significant biases at ground level. In this study, we thoroughly evaluate two global atmospheric composition reanalyses, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMSRA) and the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications v2 (MERRA-2), between 2003 and 2020, against independent surface measurements of O3, NO2, CO, SO2 and particulate matter (PM; both PM10 and PM2.5) over the European continent. Overall, both reanalyses present significant and persistent biases for almost all examined pollutants. CAMSRA clearly outperforms MERRA-2 in capturing the spatiotemporal variability of most pollutants, as shown by generally lower biases (all pollutants except for PM2.5), lower errors (all pollutants) and higher correlations (all pollutants except SO2). CAMSRA also outperforms MERRA-2 in capturing the annual trends found in all pollutants (except for SO2). Overall, CAMSRA tends to perform best for O3 and CO, followed by NO2 and PM10, while poorer results are typically found for SO2 and PM2.5. Higher correlations are generally found in autumn and/or winter for reactive gases. Compared to MERRA-2, CAMSRA assimilates a wider range of satellite products which, while enhancing the performance of the reanalysis in the troposphere (as shown by other studies), has a limited impact on the surface. The biases found in both reanalyses are likely explained by a combination of factors, including errors in emission inventories and/or sinks, a lack of surface data assimilation, and their relatively coarse resolution. Our results highlight the current limitations of reanalyses to represent surface pollution, which limits their applicability for health and environmental impact studies. When applied to reanalysis data, bias-correction methodologies based on surface observations should help to constrain the spatiotemporal variability of surface pollution and its associated impacts.

Role of Education and Financial Development in Economic Growth of Selected Asian Countries

Education and financial development are key determinants of economic growth. This research makes an effort to highlight the role of education and financial development with urbanization in the economic growth of selected Asian countries. Economic growth is used as a dependent variable, and secondary school enrolment, financial development, life expectancy, and urban population are used as independent variables. Panel data set for the time 2002 to 2019 is used for the analysis. The random effect technique is used. The study results demonstrate that secondary school enrolment, financial development, life expectancy, and urban population increase economic growth in selected Asian countries. It is recommended that government should provide free of cost education facilities in selected economies. Moreover, the public should be provided with more financial debt facilities to increase per capita income, high living standards, and economic growth in these selected economies. The plan must be placed on education and health high on the agenda in these economies.

Examining the environmental aspect of economic complexity outlook and environmental-related technologies in the Nordic states

Understanding the outlook of countries' economic complexity is vital for assessing the future of industries' product characterization. It provides opportunity and insight on how to mitigate the negative externalities that arises from the increasing pressure on the ecosystem. Based on this account, the effect of economic complexity and the corresponding outlook on environmental degradation vis-a-vis greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions alongside other environmental indicators are examined for the panel of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden for the period 1995 to 2020. After employing Driscoll- Kraay's standard errors for random effect (RE) with individual effects for the examination, the results indicate that the region's level of economic complexity favors environmental sustainability. Contrarily, the economic complexity outlook spurs GHG emissions, thus suggesting that future performance of the region's economic complexity could be detrimental to its ecosystem. Another similar, and undesirable observation is that the increase in urban population hampers environmental quality as it causes a surge in GHG emissions. Meanwhile, the results then conclude that economic growth, economic complexity, and environmental-related technologies are found to be potent drivers of environmental sustainability as the indicators exert negative pressure on GHG emissions in the Nordic region. Important policies that potentially guide immediate, and future sector-wide activities toward enhancing the region's sustainable development programs are posited through the study outcome.

Fppsv-NHSS: Fuzzy parameterized possibility single valued neutrosophic hypersoft set to site selection for solid waste management

The massive increase in urban population has created a slew of socioeconomic and environmental issues. Among these problems, the most notable is the disposal of solid waste and the search for an effective system for it. Many scholars employing various fuzzy set-like methodologies have considered it a fuzzy multi-criteria or multi-attribute decision-making problem due to the involvement of criteria and anticipated uncertainty. The goal of the current study is to use an innovative methodology to tackle the expected uncertainties present in the solid waste site selection problem (SOWSSP). Such uncertainties may be seen in decision-makers’ choices of parameters (or subparameters) and the degree to which they accept approximations for various options. Therefore, a novel mathematical structure called fuzzy parameterized possibility single valued neutrosophic hypersoft set (Fppsv-NHSS) is characterized first and then integrated with modified Sanchez’s method to resolve the SOWSSP through the proposal of an intelligent algorithm. The steps of the proposed algorithm are explained with a self-explanatory example. The relationship between the suitability of solid waste management systems and sites is discussed, and their rankings are determined with rich descriptions of their feasibility. The preferential aspects of this study are that it is capable of managing uncertainties depicted by the nature of parameters and approximations of alternatives by using the concept of fuzzy parameterization and possibility grades respectively. It employs particular mathematical formulations to determine the fuzzy parameterized degrees and possibility grades that are missing in the existing literature. It facilitates the decision-makers to evaluate the alternatives independently, with the choice being indeterminate. With the help of comparison, the computed results are found to be consistent and reliable due to their preferential features.

Regional Branding as an Effort to Promote a Sustainable Environment

Regional branding is an essential strategic way for increasing the development or progress of a region. Many studies that discuss city branding are associated with the tourism sector or others to increase regional competitiveness. Meanwhile, it is no less important to carry out regional branding, such as green branding, which focuses on global warming issues, to minimize environmental damage. So, regional branding is an increasingly important position because only the government is currently playing a role in promoting regions to create a sustainable living environment. This study aims to analyze the effect of regional branding and other factors, such as fiscal, economic, and social decentralization factors, on improving environmental quality. This study uses panel regression impact: difference in difference to explain the impact before and after branding on environmental quality. The data used was secondary panel data from 34 provinces during 2016-2021. The results showed that urban branding increased the environmental quality index after the Climate Conference 25 (COP25). Meanwhile, fiscal decentralization will likely encourage an increase in the environmental quality index. The increase in urban population and electricity consumption will likely reduce the environmental quality index. In this case, the central government needs to invite local governments and other stakeholders to collaborate and work together to improve regional branding focusing on the environment and environmental mapping qualifications.

Analysis of Urbanization and Energy Consumption Using Time Series Data: Evidence from the SAARC Countries

Urbanization has posed some tremendous challenges which are related to environmental stresses through increased energy consumption. These challenges have drawn attention to the need to implement urbanization with sustainable energy consumption globally. The present study aims to identify the urbanizing factors that cause energy consumption in the SAARC countries. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is considered in the study during the period of 1975-2014. The data are analyzed by using simple statistics and econometric techniques, such as the ordinary least squares (OLS) method for the country level. The study has found that all urbanizing variables significantly affect energy consumption with different levels in different countries, as shown by the OLS method. The coefficient of GDP is statistically significant at 1% level of significance for Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while at 5% and 10% levels for India and Nepal, respectively. The coefficient of the industrial sector share in GDP is statistically significant at 1% level of significance for Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. The result shows that a 1% increase in the service sector’s share in GDP leads to a reduction in energy consumption of 0.15%, 0.34% and 1.61%, respectively, in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The result for urban population indicates that a 1% increase in urban population leads to an increase in energy consumption by 1.94%, 2.32%, 0.85% and 3.87%, respectively, for Bangladesh. India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Green technology and energy efficiency technologies to use in the industries, encourage using public transportation, sustainable energy and urbanization are potential policy recommendations.

Informatic Analysis and Review of Literature on the Optimum Selection of Sustainable Materials Used in Construction Projects

The dramatic increase in urban population has led to rapid infrastructure development worldwide and the construction industry has become one of the most progressive sectors in the world today. As a result, the construction process and its related stages play a significant role in the environment's impact, both directly (via resource and energy consumption as well as the production of contamination and waste) and indirectly (through intense pressure on inadequate infrastructures). Consequently, there is a global drive to develop “environmental-friendly and sustainable, “green” and carbon reducing buildings”. Implementing sustainability can improve the quality of our life, granting us a healthy life and promoting economic, social, and environmental circumstances. The optimal selection of sustainable building materials is acknowledged as the most fundamental way for designers to apply sustainability principles to construction projects. This Paper provides a comprehensive literature review for sustainability maximization through the material selection process. The paper performs an analysis of the previous studies related to sustainable material selectionto identify the critical factors and knowledge gaps that should be considered in the material selection process. Finally, the paper concludes that the current literature in the building domain lacks a standard method that could help decision-makers selectthe appropriate materials by considering all factors that arise in the decision-making process to maximize sustainability in buildings. Furthermore, a need exists to fill the gap between designers and decision-makers in the sustainable construction industry for improving the selection process of sustainable building materials while at the same time looking at the accomplishment of environmental goals and meeting design and budget requirements

Urban Heat Risk: Protocols for Mapping and Implications for Colombo, Sri Lanka

Global and urban-induced local warming lead to increasing heat risk in cities. The rapid increase in urban population, weak infrastructure, poverty, as well as an ageing population, make the risk more acute in developing cities. However, heat risk is not uniformly distributed and a detailed exploration of the link between urban characteristics and local variations in heat risk is needed to aid targeted mitigation. In this paper, we demonstrate a fine-grained heat risk map using existing data combined with expert opinion in a humid tropical city (Colombo, Sri Lanka) with the objective of highlighting the relative heat risk as a function of physical and socioeconomic conditions across the city. We then simulate the effects of shading and greening on the ‘high’ heat risk areas, and greening on the ‘low’ heat risk areas, to show that a combined approach will be needed to reduce risk at ‘high’ risk areas. In ‘low’ risk areas, maintaining the green cover is crucial to heat risk reduction. The paper, thus, establishes a protocol for detailed heat risk mapping with existing data and points to the differing importance of shading and greening in different parts of the city, thus, showing where, and to what extent, mitigation actions could be beneficial.

The science of urban trees to promote well-being

Urban trees and forests are one of the main tools available in cities to face current and future environmental challenges and ultimately promote well-being. More than half of the world’s population lives in cities nowadays. This rural exodus to cities resulted from a pursuit of better life quality. However, the urban population increase led to new levels of complexity. Such complexity calls for multifunctional solutions such as Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Trees are at the core of NbS, for all the ecosystem services they provide. Nevertheless, managing them is challenging and requires both the empirical knowledge of practitioners and a deep scientific understanding of the tree’s structure and function. This special issue on “Urban Trees” advances our knowledge of their ecosystem services, tolerance and resilience to the urban environment, their possible disservices, and steps forward on new proposals for managing urban trees. It is clear from the current literature and the studies in this special issue that decision-making on urban trees must be supported by scientific evidence to promote well-being in cities.

The Challenges of Building Sustainable Cities in Cameroon: Health Issues Associated with a Rapid Urban Population Increase in Buea Municipality.

Rapid urbanization compounded by urban poverty is one of the main challenges facing many Sub-Saharan African countries. The Buea municipality is the 10th largest city in Cameroon and equally faces such problems brought about by unplanned development in the past four decades. In 2020, the population growth rate in Buea rose to 42% compared to 5.6% in 2005, especially in the peri-urban areas. This resulted in direct and indirect pressures on available resources. Since 2019, Buea has been hosting close to 100,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) fleeing from the conflict between the defense and security forces and the separatist groups operating in the South West and North West Regions. Consequently, this expansion of urban agglomerations in Buea brings about challenges for the urbanites whose standard of living within the urban space is affected. This article seeks to qualitatively examine how this rapid urbanization has contributed to this recurrence of cholera outbreak since 2019 and the effects on the healthcare system and measures that are in place to mitigate this outbreak. In addressing these issues, the study administered in-depth phone Interviews with medical practitioners at Buea Regional Hospital, which is the main Cholera Treatment Centre in Buea. It also conducted in-depth phone interviews with public health experts at the South West Regional Delegation of Public Health and Buea Council personnel incharge of hygiene and sanitation. The study also made use of direct observation of the researcher on the field during sensitization campaigns in the affected communities in Buea. Base on the results the influx of IDPs have stress the already existing sanitation and shortage/rationing of water in the town. The study also found out that governance and cultural issues are equally associated to the problem of recurrence of the cholera disease in Buea Municipality.

Crime Mitigation Strategies Utilised in Slum Areas of Nairobi, Kenya

The increase in urban population, occasioned by the rural-urban migration of young people has resulted in the expansion of informal settlements to accommodate the large numbers of low-income earners and the unemployed. This trend is replicated all across developing economies and in Kenya, it has resulted in the establishment of informal settlements such as Kangemi, Kawangware, Mathare, Mukuru, Korogocho, and Kibera, which is the largest in the whole continent. One of the negative implications of the growth of the informal settlement is the increase in criminal trends as most residents, particularly the youth resort to criminality as a way of making a living. In response, various strategies have been adopted to mitigate or rather prevent criminal activities in these informal settlements. This study focused on such strategies as used in four slums, which include Kibera, Mukuru, Mathare, and Korogocho. The study adopted the descriptive research design, which involved the collection and analysis of quantitative data using questionnaires. The data was collected from a sample of 659 residents of the four informal settlements who were randomly sampled. The data was input in the Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) and then analysed using the descriptive method whereby the data was presented on tables based on percentages. The study concluded that crime was a big problem for informal settlement residents. However, one of the most prevalent crimes included illicit brew, general robbery, muggings, and burglary. The residents claimed that the government was less concerned about resolving crime. The residents, however, acknowledged the significant role that they can play in solving crime in the slums and that community participation was critical in bringing on board all stakeholders. They have, therefore, organised themselves as communities to tackle crime and insecurity in their neighbourhood. Some of the crime prevention programs adopted include community policing, police patrols, vigilante groups, erecting gates and fences, village security committees, and the employment of night guards. The study recommended increased collaboration between state and non-state actors to combat crime in informal settlements and the enhancement of the existing community policing initiatives.

Assessment of Urban Green Open Spaces of Micro- and Meso-Level Zones, Based on the Growth Pattern: Case of Patna City

India’s urban population increase is creating pressure on the urban green open spaces. The overall city-level per capita open space is considered as a benchmark of the open space. The open space of Patna is 2.43 sq m per capita, but at the community level or ward level, there is a lacuna. So, there is a significant gap in open space distribution at the city level and the micro level, that is, ward or block level. An assessment was carried out on three parameters, i.e., quantity, accessibility, and quality. Open space, catchment area, and vegetation cover were used as independent variables, and population density and ward area as dependent variables, to understand the distribution at the ward level, that is, community level. Distribution was analyzed by Pearson correlation between the independent and dependent variables within three parameters. The open space distribution between three meso-level areas based on the growth pattern was analyzed with the help of linear regression and R-squared tests to compare the distribution between the areas. The result shows that Patna has poor distribution in the old and new areas. The developed areas in between have good distribution at the micro level and meso level. Patna has 2.3 sq m per capita as per the proposed open space plan and projected population of 2030, which is less than the standard 3.16 sq m/capita at the community level and 3.66 sq m/capita at the district level.