Inefficient Land Research Articles

Exploring land system reform for demographic transition in rural China

Rural population in China has undergone dramatic changes driven by large-scale industrialization and urbanization. However, under the current land system, it is difficult to adjust rural land resource allocation according to population changes, resulting in an imbalance in the human-land relationship of rural China and restricting the sustainable development of agriculture and rural areas. Therefore, there is an urgent need to further promote land system reform to cope with rural demographic transition and the challenges it brings to rural human-land relationship and provide institutional support for rural revitalization in the new era. The results show that population contraction, population aging, and below-replacement fertility are the main features of China's rural population transition in 1990–2020, which brings about problems such as the aging and weaking of social actors and non-grain farming. Meanwhile, the disconnect between land-use transition and demographic transition determines that inefficient land use, mainly characterized by cropland abandonment and homestead idle, is prevalent in rural China. Focusing on the trend of demographic transition in rural China, deepening the reform of contracted land, steadily advancing the reform of homesteads, and strengthening the provision of supporting policies are needed. These measures aim to promote the capitalization and assetization of land resources through the introduction of market mechanisms and empowerment, thus enhancing land resource allocation efficiency and optimizing rural human-land relationship.

Redevelopment of Underutilized Land in Cities Based on the Perspective of Relevant Stakeholders

As urbanization continues to advance, the issue of redevelopment of low utility land in cities has gradually become the focus of widespread attention. The existence of low utility land leads to irrational allocation of urban resources, low land utilization efficiency, and brings challenges to sustainable urban development. This paper comprehensively analyzes the main causes of low utility land in cities and analyzes them from the perspectives of stakeholders at different levels, and at the same time, it proposes a series of solutions tailored to the local conditions by comparing the problems in urban redevelopment in Guangzhou and London, because different cities have different policies, laws or development pattern which may infect the management of low utility land differently. Meanwhile, this paper also explores the solution to the problem of inefficient land use through effective urban planning, policy adjustment and cooperation among stakeholders to promote sustainable urban development. Finally, this paper gives some problems and challenges that need further attention in the future.

Illusion in Architecture: An Alternative for Creating Virtual Environment to Support Efficient Site Utilization

Virtual materiality has become a reality due to technological advancements. This affects the evolution of architecture. Land utilization in residential designs is currently unrestricted. Humans still exploit natural land and food supplies to build homes. Conversely, houses that merely use the land for viewing rather than traversing it are an example of inefficient land usage. In architecture, virtual materiality plays a part in creating an artificial world. In order to minimize land consumption, an architectural strategy that may introduce virtual materiality into the real world is required. Illusion is one tactic. Tricks and deceit are given priority in the illusion technique. This program is intended for home users who want to replace their natural surroundings with an artificial one. By using this method, nature can improve without requiring interference from the original environment. Modeling experiments and qualitative research are used in the research methodology. Create suggested concepts by using an architectural methodology. Rendering models and sketches are the research outputs. The findings demonstrate that home design can make use of illusion as a representation of virtual materiality. Through the application of matter illusion techniques, manufactured environments can be made to resemble natural ones. Implementing the material illusion in a trapezoidal home. Screen technology is used to do this. The center of the design is where screen technology is used to display environmental content. big horizontal and vertical sides are necessary. However, this can be a substitute for the natural environment for residents, especially in dwelling design.

Effects of Climatic Variations and Changing Land Use/Land Cover on Flooding in Southern Nigeria

The prevalence of flooding in Nigeria in the past few years (with its devastating consequences) has become a source of concern for policymakers and researchers alike. Scholars have attributed the high frequency of flooding, particularly in the southern region of Nigeria, to several factors; climatic variation and land use/land cover changes are themes that fall under the domain of natural and anthropogenic causes of flooding, respectively. This study examined climatic variations and changing land use/land cover in southern Nigeria with the view of determining their synergistic effects on flooding. We adopted a mixed approach for data collection with the use of Geographic Information System (GIS), retrieval of primary data from meteorological stations in the region, and field surveys. Findings show a significant decrease in rural land uses like arable lands, wetlands, and undisturbed forests; while there was a corresponding increase in urban/peri-urban land uses like settlements and tree-crop plantations over the period from 1999 to 2019. The land use/land cover changes have manifested in the destabilization of the microclimate, distortion of the carbon circle, loss of biodiversity, reduction of ecosystem services of the natural areas, and flooding. The decadal rainfall trends over the past three decades show consistent extremities with mean rainfall duration decreasing while the mean intensity increases; aggravating soil erosion, urban runoff challenges, and flooding. Climatic variations (mainly extreme rainfall patterns) synergize with inefficient land use management to exacerbate flooding in southern Nigeria. While policymakers in this region may not have the standalone capacity to significantly control climate change and the consequential variations in the local microclimate, they can re engineer land use policies to eliminate or substantially degrade anthropogenic factors that exacerbate flooding.

Optimizing Land Use for Carbon Neutrality: Integrating Photovoltaic Development in Lingbao, Henan Province

This study aims to examine the impact of land use variations on carbon emissions by incorporating the development of photovoltaics as a scenario. To meet this end, we investigate the carbon emissions fluctuations resulting from different development scenarios: natural development, low-carbon strategies, and widespread adoption of photovoltaic technology. We identify important influencing factors related to these changes and utilize multi-objective optimization and the PLUS model to simulate land use patterns in Lingbao City projected for 2035, with a focus on achieving carbon neutrality. Through multiple scenarios, we analyze differences in carbon emissions, economic benefits, ecological impacts, and land use allocations. Our findings demonstrate that the photovoltaic scenario leads to a substantial 3500-ton reduction in carbon emissions and boosts overall benefits by RMB 85 million compared to the low-carbon scenario. This highlights the significant role of photovoltaic systems inefficient land utilization, meeting carbon emission targets, and generating economic gains. This research explores the relationship between land use alterations and carbon emissions, aiming to achieve ambitious carbon reduction objectives by integrating photovoltaic applications across diverse land types. It provides fresh perspectives for examining urban land utilization and strategies to reduce carbon emissions.

Review on Multilayer Farming: A Way Towards Farmer Prosperity

Multilayer farming is an innovative agricultural strategy that redefines traditional farming practices by harnessing vertical space to cultivate multiple layers of crops within a single agricultural system. This approach is designed to overcome challenges associated with land scarcity and inefficient land use. The concept involves arranging different crops in layers, utilizing the vertical dimension to its fullest extent. The layers can include ground-level crops, vines climbing on trellises, and even trees or shrubs, creating a multi-tiered ecosystem. This arrangement optimizes sunlight exposure, nutrient distribution, and water usage, resulting in enhanced productivity. One of the key advantages of multilayer farming is its potential to significantly increase overall yield per unit of land. By strategically combining plants that complement each other in terms of growth patterns, resource requirements, and ecological interactions, farmers can create a symbiotic environment that maximizes the use of available resources. Resource efficiency is a focal point in multilayer farming. The intercropping of different plant species helps in nutrient cycling, reducing the need for external inputs. Furthermore, the diverse plant composition can deter pests and diseases, reducing the reliance on chemical interventions. The vertical stacking of crops also allows for efficient water usage through integrated irrigation systems. Beyond its practical benefits, multilayer farming contributes to biodiversity preservation. The coexistence of various plant species fosters a more resilient and ecologically diverse agricultural landscape. This can have positive effects on soil health, pollination, and overall ecosystem stability.

Critical Evaluation: An Assessment Tool for Fostering a Creative Environment at Kyrenia Waterfront

A vital goal of this article is to examine waterfront development and creative class roles. It also discusses the importance of critical evaluation for sustaining social inclusion on urban waterfronts. Testing took place on the Kyrenia waterfront upgrade for creative classes and other people to determine waterfronts’ physical, functional, social, and cultural suitability. To determine the preferences, needs, and satisfaction levels of urban waterfront users, a survey, along with structured observations, was conducted: cultural and creative places and activities, appropriate rules and regulations, motivated entrepreneurs, continuous fund opportunities, preserving the historical context, cultural heritage, and unique values, physical and functional sufficiency, social well-being, and adequate accessibility, as well as tolerance and open-mindedness. A survey was conducted (sample size = 250), and subsequent systematic observations were conducted to obtain the data. As the survey findings indicate, the Kyrenia Waterfront has physical, functional, cultural, and social barriers that challenge both creatives and prospective creatives, including students and employers. Physically, inadequate infrastructure and accessibility challenges were reported. Functionally, limited amenities and inefficient land use were identified. Culturally, a lack of preservation of historical elements was evident. Socially, a sense of exclusion and inadequate community spaces were noted. These obstacles result in reduced attractiveness, limited community engagement, and hindered economic potential for the Kyrenia Waterfront. While the severity may vary, similar issues likely extend across the city, suggesting a broader urban challenge rather than a unique problem specific to the Kyrenia Waterfront alone. Critical evaluation is an essential component of the design process. Critical evaluation should involve collaboration among design professionals, clients, users, communities, public officials, and relevant experts to ensure a holistic and practical design outcome. Comprehensive policies should address the results of such an evaluation. Hence, it should be considered when determining what is required to create a community inclusive of all creative class segments.

Scenario Analysis of Carbon Emission Changes Resulting from a Rural Residential Land Decrement Strategy: A Case Study in China

Greening the unused or inefficient land surface is of vital importance to increase the carbon pool in environmentally fragile but depopulated rural areas. A proactive land-use strategy, rural residential land decrement (RRLD), is triggered by rural land abandonment and can contribute to greening the land surface. A RRLD can be designed and implemented according to the specific regulations and rules and linked to regional environmental change. However, the carbon consequences of implementing multi-scenario RRLDs remain unknown. Thus, this study exemplifies a rural county of China, proposes a framework that illustrates how spatial zoning, decision model, and prediction techniques jointly determine the RRLD, and accounts for the associated carbon emissions under three scenarios. The results demonstrate that half of the 2012.23 hectares of RRLs were recommended for conversion to farming or gardening use. Under the scenarios of agricultural priority, compact ecological priority, and complete ecological priority, the change of carbon emission capacity in one township could be up to 77.41 tCO2 yr−1, −172.32 tCO2 yr−1, and −209.07 tCO2 yr−1. The total change of Fang’s carbon budget ranged from −1179.91 tCO2 yr−1 (sequestration) to 461.53 tCO2 yr−1 (emission). The findings provide a practical paradigm for utilizing land-use strategies to improve the carbon-related environment.

Research on village classification and development based on particle swarm optimization model: Xiecun Township, Yuanping City, in Shanxi Province, China

China’s village development confronts substantial challenges, inefficient land use due to the scattered village layout, sluggish development of village industries, and lack of proper planning for village development and construction, etc. Scientific classification of villages and village-based policy is the key to address these challenges. This study employs cell phone signaling big data to construct a population flow model based on particle swarm optimization algorithm This model takes into account spatial driving force and social connection strength as dual conditions. Also, it analyzes the settlement redistribution optimization scheme under the model through empirical research on Xiecun Township of Yuanping City, Shanxi Province, in order to classify villages scientifically and apply different strategies to village development according to the classification results. The findings of the study indicate that the area characterized by the densest distribution of optimized particle clusters, with good land conditions and high economic income, are classified as “cluster-enhanced villages”. Regions with the densest distribution of the initial particle distance factor and the densest distribution of optimized particle clusters are closer to the urban centers, which are better positioned to take advantage of the city’s financial and technological resources and continuously improve the added value of agricultural products, so they are classified as “peri-urban integrated villages”. Areas characterized by sparse distribution of optimized particle clusters need to actively cultivate the advantageous and characteristic industries in the countryside, and bolster transportation conditions and the protection of local culture, so as to realize the green development of urban and rural regional economy. Such areas are classified as “characteristic conservation villages”. In areas without optimized particle cluster distribution or areas with extremely sparse distribution of optimized particle clusters, the rational layout of urban and rural settlement spatial organization should be vigorously promoted, with emphasis on the enhancement of ecological environment, and they are classified as “relocated and annexed villages”. According to the results of village classification, corresponding strategies to promote the development of different types of villages are proposed in terms of spatial optimization, industrial upgrading and planning.

Exploring the quality and safety issues in the coconut oil processing industry in Sri Lanka: A Review

Coconut oil is a significant dietary component in Sri Lanka and serves as the primary source of fat for Sri Lankans, primarily used for culinary purposes. This review focuses on the quality and safety concerns within the coconut oil processing industry of Sri Lanka. The study collected data through interviews with industry personnel, conducted field visits to both small-scale and large-scale operations, and analyzed existing research. Several factors impact the quality and safety of coconut oil products. Key issues include the increase in free fatty acid content, the production of aflatoxin in copra, phthalate contamination from packaging, and the contamination of coconut oil with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These quality and safety concerns result from cross-contamination with metals and other chemicals during equipment use, a shortage of trained personnel, insufficient laboratory testing of oil quality parameters before market distribution, and inadequate surveillance of small and medium-sized oil mills by regulatory bodies. Additionally, the local market faces high levels of adulteration, where coconut oil is mixed with lower-quality oils, stored improperly, or is of overall poor quality. Issues related to coconut cultivation include a decline in yields due to inefficient land usage, reduced productivity, climate change impacts, pest infestations, diseases, and increased production costs. The adulteration problem arises from the supply-demand gap for coconut oil in Sri Lanka and the high cost of producing one litre of good-quality coconut oil. The Sri Lankan government and the Sri Lanka Standards Institution have introduced a product standard for coconut oil production, outlining key parameters for the final product. Nevertheless, the absence of a comprehensive process standard affects quality control throughout production. Small and medium-scale producers lack awareness of SLSI standards, leading to non-compliance, along with an absence of regular quality and safety checks. Consequently, stringent enforcement is necessary to address these challenges. While improvements have been made, unresolved issues remain; therefore, a quality assurance system for the coconut oil processing industry is an urgent requirement, especially for small and medium-scale oil production facilities, which are key suppliers to the local market.

Land Bank Sebagai Solusi Inovatif Pembangunan Keberlanjutan: Mengatasi Perubahan Penggunaan Tanah di Kabupaten Sidoarjo

The rate of increase in population in Sidoarjo Regency continues to increase, and Sidoarjo Regency has medium and large industrial areas spread across 18 sub-districts. Of course, this will impact changes in land use in Sidoarjo Regency. In this way, the increasing demand for land in Sidoarjo Regency is not only for meeting residential needs but also for development in the industrial sector. The increase in demand for land will result in the availability of land becoming scarce, land market prices becoming unstable, and various problems arising. Seeing these problems, research was used to review whether the Land Bank concept could be a solution. The method used in this research is descriptive quantitative. The presence of the Land Bank is considered a way to make land management more productive. The study regarding Banklank in Sidoarjo Regency needs to be reviewed again by the local government so that land availability is balanced for the community. By implementing the Land Bank concept in Sidoarjo Regency, inefficient land use can be minimized, and the amount of land for the future can be maintained.

Identification of Inefficient Urban Land for Urban Regeneration Considering Land Use Differentiation

Accurately identifying inefficient urban land is essential for urban regeneration and mining underutilized assets. Previous studies have primarily focused on examining the overall efficiency of land use without adequately considering the heterogeneity of urban land use types and comprehensive characteristics of urban quality. As a result, the spatial accuracy and precision of research findings have been relatively low. To address this gap, we developed a comprehensive method to identify inefficient urban lands for residential, commercial, and industrial use. The method integrated multi-source geographic data to quantitatively characterize the efficiency of different land use types considering six key dimensions, including building attribute, urban service, transportation condition, environmental quality, business performance, and production efficiency, utilized principal component analysis to reduce the multicollinearity and the dimensionality of the data, and identified land clusters with similar features that were inefficiently used by means of hierarchical clustering. By applying the method to Changsha, China, we validated its effectiveness. The results demonstrate that the method can accurately identify inefficient residential, commercial, and industrial land, with kappa coefficients of 0.71, 0.77, and 0.68, respectively. The identification results reveal the spatial distribution patterns of different types of inefficient land. Inefficient residential land is concentrated towards the city center, particularly in central areas. Inefficient commercial land is relatively evenly distributed, mainly outside the core commercial regions. Inefficient industrial land clusters towards the periphery, forming several agglomeration areas centered around industrial parks. By precisely identifying inefficient urban land and focusing on the key influencing factors, the proposed method enables the site selection of urban regeneration, site redevelopment evaluation, and optimization of urban resources.

Assessment of the soil buffer capacity in the green plantings of the megalopolis parks

Land degradation poses a serious challenge to food security, livelihood sustainability, ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation, while inefficient land management leads to widespread loss of soil biodiversity. The soil buffer capacity is actively involved in the mechanisms of implementing such an ecosystem service as the development and stabilization of soil fertility. Buffering determines the share of the soil potential that determines the processes of immobilization (deposition) and mobilization (release, loss) of a particular element of fertility – first of all, mineral nutrients required by plants, productive moisture, thermal energy of the soil, gas composition of soil air, acidity. The soils in parks on the territory of megacities are an integral component of them determining the conditions for the growth and development of green spaces. We assessed the acid-base (pH) buffer capacity of urban areas in a park area covered with tree stands of such introduced tree species as horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), small-leaved elm (Ulmus parvifolia), common hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) and Japanese pagoda tree (Styphnolobium japonicum) growing on the territory of the T. G. Shevchenko Park (Dnipro city, Ukraine). Soil samples were collected under the crowns of these tree species. The acid-base buffering capacity of urban soils was determined by the Arrhenius method, which includes adding certain volumes of acid and alkaline components to the sample, and further calculating the buffering area within acid and base intervals. Buffering areas were calculated using the Simpson formula. The results were processed with statistical methods (arithmetic mean and standard deviation were calculated, and the difference in means was found according to the Tukey's comparison test). Initially the samples of the studied soils were found to have mostly a slightly alkaline reaction of the soil solution. Within the acid range of external influences, the buffer capacity of urban soils under introduced tree species was determined to establish the following descending series: horse chestnut, common hackberry, small-leaved elm, honey locust, Japanese pagoda tree, sugar maple. The same series was established for the total acid-base buffering capacity. The results show the greater acid-base buffer capacity of soils sampled under horse chestnut, common hackberry, small-leaved elm and honey locust trees, and therefore these soils were resistant to degradation compared to the soils sampled under Japanese pagoda tree and sweet maple. The environment-forming role of introduced tree species in the implementation of buffer properties of urban soils in the park on the megalopolis territory can be assumed.

Mechanisms of Forestry Carbon Sink Policies on Land Use Efficiency: A Perspective from the Drivers of Policy Implementation

Rapid urbanization has brought economic dividends to China, but it has been accompanied by inefficient land use. Meanwhile, the mechanism of forestry carbon sinks (FCSs) on land use efficiency (LUE) has not been sufficiently discussed in the context of the pursuit of “carbon neutrality” around the world. Based on the idea of the benefit–cost theory, this study investigated the impact of FCSs on LUE in 30 provincial-level regions (2006–2019) in China using the difference-in-difference model. The results showed that, first, via the mechanisms of public opinion (PO) and rewards and penalties (RP), FCSs could significantly improve the LUE in the regions, and that the former had a greater effect than the latter; second, the tests of the assumption of parallel trends showed that FCSs had a slower effect on the LUE under the PO mechanism than under the RP mechanism; third, the analysis of the LUE showed that the improvement in LUE mainly occurred in the eastern, central, and southwestern regions of China. The conclusions were as follows: (1) FCS is able to promote LUE via both the PO and RP mechanisms; (2) there is a lag in the promotion of LUE by FCS, and the lag is larger with the PO mechanism; and (3) there is spatial clustering in the promotion of LUE by FCS. In line with these conclusions, we propose policy recommendations to better exploit the policy effects of FCSs in three aspects, namely promoting the development of forestry carbon sink projects, improving the relevant mechanisms of FCSs, and improving the mechanisms of PO and RP.

มลพิษทางเสียงที่เกิดจากท่าอากาศยาน

Noise pollution caused by airports is an important long-term problem as the noise level of most airport activities is higher than 85dB (A), which the World Health Organization (WHO) has assigned that a noise level greater than 85dB (A) is considered a dangerous noise affecting quality of life, due to non-standard noise control during operation or inefficient land management. Currently, the number of flights and passenger travel is likely to increase. It may cause more noise pollution and have a wider impact if not properly addressed. Therefore, this academic article aims to study the problems of noise pollution caused by airports including risk activities, future trend, impacts and solutions. It appeared that land use planning in the establishment of the airport and forecasting the upcoming air traffic in the future by taking into account the extent of the impact of noise in the airport vicinity area Including the addition of modern aircraft innovation and seriously implementation of the (International Civil Aviation Organization: ICAO) airport operating standards can help to effectively reduce the impact of noise pollution caused by airports.

Industrial Park Renovation Strategy in a Poverty-Alleviated County Based on Inefficient Land Evaluation

China has entered a new era of high-quality urban development. As an important stock resource in the city, old industrial parks face new situations of transformation and regeneration due to various problems such as chaotic land layout, low industrial efficiency, and lack of supporting facilities. However, existing research primarily focuses on case studies in large cities and rural areas, lacking fine-tuned adjustment plans for county-level cities in China. Therefore, this article aims to establish a decision-making and evaluation framework applicable to economically underdeveloped areas, providing a reference for the transformation of inefficient industrial land in county-level cities nationwide. Based on expert consultation, case studies, and other methods, a low-efficiency land evaluation model is constructed from three dimensions: spatial efficiency, operational efficiency, and industry screening, to tap the potential value of stock land. The research data are primarily provided by government departments and processed and quantified using GIS software. Based on the quantitative evaluation results of the Shengfang Industrial Park in Lianhua County, Jiangxi Province, three major strategic directions for land parcels with different renewal potentials are proposed: retention and improvement, rectification and renewal, and redevelopment and utilization. Targeted renewal strategies for the case industrial park are proposed from the aspects of spatial renewal and implementation mode guidance. The results of this study could provide suggestions for local government decision-making, which could contribute to the improvement of resource utilization efficiency and economic benefits. The findings could also provide references for the planning and development of industrial parks in other impoverished counties. Future research could focus on long-term monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and the application of evaluation results.

A Summary on the Theory and Policy of Urban Inefficient Land Redevelopment in China

Promoting the redevelopment of inefficient urban land, improving land use efficiency, and optimizing urban spatial layout are important measures to achieve high-quality development. Starting from the definition and connotation of urban inefficient land, this article summarizes the criteria and types of urban inefficient land, the techniques and methods for inefficient land research, the reasons for the formation of urban inefficient land, the existing difficulties in the process of redevelopment, corresponding countermeasures, and redevelopment models. This article summarizes the experience and practice of developed regions, analyzes the deficiencies of related research and looks forward to direction of future research.

Exploring the temporal and spatial effects of city size on regional economic integration: Evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China

The continuous expansion of cities has led to prominent threats of urban housing shortage, inefficient land use, and environmental degradation. Determining an appropriate city size to promote REI is a fundamental problem in China’s new-type urbanization period. This study investigated the impact of city size on REI from the spatio-temporal perspective, and performed an empirical investigation of such effects through spatial models, using panel data for 2004–2019 for 108 cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). The results demonstrate that city size has an inverted U-shaped effect on REI, and the effects vary across urban agglomerations in the YREB. Moreover, we calculated their growth potential from the REI perspective based on 2019 data. This study examined 108 cities and found that 30 of them had exceeded their optimal size for efficiency during the REI process, highlighting the need for spatial territorial governance, management, and planning. Of the remaining cities, 68 were near their REI efficiency-maximizing size, with no more than 20% growth potential. Only 6 cities had the potential to expand between 20% and 50%, while 4 cities had the capacity to grow by more than 50%. Therefore, governments must develop tailored land use and urban management policies for each city to enhance their REI.

Mediating Effect and Suppressing Effect: Intermediate Mechanism of Urban Land Use Efficiency and Economic Development

The limited nature of land supply determines that improving land use efficiency is an inherent requirement for economic development. The aim of this study was to quantitatively examine its impact. Most current studies have explored the quantitative relationship between urban land use efficiency (ULUE) and economic development, but less attention has been given to the mechanism of action of both. In this study, we construct an analysis framework for the mechanism of ULUE in promoting economic development from three aspects: economic scale, economic structure, and economic quality, and we quantitatively investigate its impact on economic development and intermediate action mechanism through a mediating effect model on the basis of measuring ULUE by using a super-efficiency SBM-undesirable model. Based on the analysis of the panel data of 56 cities in the Yellow River Basin (YRB), the results show that, first, ULUE has formed an ideal positive driving effect on economic development, and its influence mechanism has obvious heterogeneity in cities with different geographical locations and resource endowments. Second, ULUE affects economic development through three channels: economic scale-up effect, economic structure optimization effect, and economic quality enhancement effect, and there are two different mechanisms of mediating effect and suppressing effect. Finally, variables such as investment intensity of urban construction land and social benefit act as suppressing effects, while variables such as economic output density of urban land, industrial structure, employment structure, economic benefit, and environmental benefit play partial mediating effects. These evidence-based findings can provide practical guidance for solving the dilemma of a lack of economic development momentum and inefficient land use in a country or region.

Green spaces in housing development – buyers’ preferences

Globally, extreme weather events are occurring more often, with increased intensity due to anthropogenic climate change. For example, in July 2022, monthly average temperature in Spain was 2.7 C above average, and UK has recorded temperatures above 40 degrees for the first time. It has been proven that implementation of green spaces in cities helps to address environmental, social, and even economic problems by providing ecological services, reducing temperature, and attenuating the heat island effect, providing aesthetic enjoyment, recreational opportunities and decreased stress levels. However, green infrastructure is rarely prioritised by developers. It has been argued that, due to space constraints, green infrastructures are an inefficient land use, costly to maintain, and that there is uncertainty if green infrastructures are valued by the market. This paper reports on results from a study examining the attractiveness and the effect of green spaces on housing market customer’ perceptions. To analyse the impact of green spaces, we worked with landscape architects and residential housing developers designing a multi apartment building with a courtyard. The courtyard area was designed accordance to The Green Area Factor resulting in five courtyard designs, each with a different level of greenery. All five designs were presented in dynamic virtual views and embedded in a survey questionnaire. Maintenance costs of all five green spaces were calculated. The findings shows that greenery does effect the perceived attractiveness of residential development. Maintenance costs for the courtyards, with lowest and highest level of greenery, differ by approximately 10 percent of the total maintenance costs. These findings are applicable in the context of new housing construction and renovation projects.