Issue Of Overcrowding Research Articles

A Comparative Study of Swin Transformer and CNN Models for Crowd Counting

Abstract. Crowd counting, a critical component in the management and safety planning of large gatherings and public spaces, is essential for ensuring smooth event operations and preventing potential overcrowding issues. While the standard convolutional neural network (CNN) based model performs well in head counting tasks, it has certain drawbacks when applied to complex scenarios. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, Transformer models that rely on self-attention mechanisms, as Swin Transformer, have demonstrated exceptional performance in visual tasks, such as image classification, and segmentation in recent times. This study examines the experimental findings of Swin Transformer's head counting tasks and contrasts them with the CNN-based model. Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Mean Square Error (MSE) evaluation indicators show that the Transformer model outperforms the classic CNN model in terms of generalization abilities when dealing with complicated scenarios. Future research work will increase the diversity of data sets and focus on optimizing model structure and improving training efficiency.

Overcrowding, Drugs Abuse and Violence vs. Rehabilitation Interviews and Perceptions of a Sample of Prisoners

Based on the interviews collected and conducted during the data gathering process for the documentary "11 days: within the prison walls”, some inmates from the prison of Nerio Fischione based in Brescia (Italy) decide to share their stories to a microphone and storytellers. The voices provide a sincere look, suitable for investigating the subjective perceptions that inmates have regarding the prison environment, exploring the complexities of their experiences. What emerges from the stories is a place that is far away from the rehabilitation purpose that it should have. The enormous issue of overcrowding, drug pills treatment abuse, and, above all, the pervasive violence within the corridors of the facility. The punitive function seems to prevail and is doubly enacted: firstly, through the nature of the prison itself, and secondly, through the prison conditions that prevent from any possibility to start a positive path. This article aims to contribute to the existing academic debate providing an insight from the prisoners’ perception about their personal experience, focusing on the issues that most frequently emerge from their testimonies: the lack of significance that they experience on a daily basis.

Collaborative and professional accommodations on Airbnb: Exploring patterns for sustainable tourism management in Spain

This study analyses the characteristics of accommodation types (collaborative and professional) in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, and Valencia. It examines location factors, including proximity to top tourist spots, concentration of Airbnb accommodations, and population density, to identify which accommodation type contributes to negative impacts in these cities. Additionally, it delves into pricing features, reviews, length of stay, accommodation services, and host characteristics to distinguish between collaborative and professional accommodations.Logistic regression analysis and Random Forest are used, employing 500 decision trees to explore non-linear and complex relationships. Partial dependence plots offer insights into how predictions evolve across different ranges, providing valuable information about the locations, population density, tenure, and reviews associated with the two accommodation types.The findings reveal that professional accommodations tend to be concentrated in areas with high population density and near major tourist attractions, exacerbating tourist overcrowding issues. Conversely, collaborative accommodations are situated more than 4 km away from the main tourist spots, potentially contributing to a more balanced distribution of tourists and avoiding excessive concentration.These findings have significant implications for urban tourism dynamics, offering valuable insights that can inform urban planning, policy development, and sustainable tourism practices.

Assessing Patterns and Trends in Urbanization and Land Use Efficiency Across the Philippines: A Comprehensive Analysis Using Global Earth Observation Data and SDG 11.3.1 Indicators

Urbanization, a global phenomenon with profound implications for sustainable development, is a focal point of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11). Aimed at fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urbanization by 2030, SDG 11 emphasizes the importance of monitoring land use efficiency (LUE) through indicator 11.3.1. In the Philippines, urbanization has surged over recent decades. Despite its importance, research on urbanization and LUE has predominantly focused on the country’s national capital region (Metro Manila), while little to no attention is given to comprehensive investigations across different regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities of the country. Additionally, challenges in acquiring consistent spatial data, especially due to the Philippines’ archipelagic nature, have hindered comprehensive analysis. To address these gaps, this study conducts a thorough examination of urbanization patterns and LUE dynamics in the Philippines from 1975 to 2020, leveraging Global Human Settlement Layers (GHSL) data and secondary indicators associated with SDG 11.3.1. Our study examines spatial patterns and temporal trends in built-up area expansion, population growth, and LUE characteristics at both city and municipal levels. Among the major findings are the substantial growth in built-up areas and population across the country. We also found a shift in urban growth dynamics, with Metro Manila showing limited expansion in recent years while new urban growth emerges in other regions of the country. Our analysis of the spatiotemporal patterns of Land Consumption Rate (LCR) revealed three distinct evolutional phases: a growth phase between 1975–1990, followed by a decline phase between 1990–2005, and a resurgence phase from 2005–2020. Generally declining trends in LCR and Population Growth Rate (PGR) were evident, demonstrating the country’s direction towards efficient built-up land utilization. However, this efficiency coincides with overcrowding issues as revealed by additional indicators such as the Achieved Population Density in Expansion Areas (AAPDEA) and Marginal Land Consumption per New Inhabitant (MLCNI). We also analyzed the spatial patterns and temporal trends of LUE across the country and found distinct clusters of transitioning urban centers, densely inhabited metropolises, expanding metropolitan regions, and rapidly growing urban hubs. The study’s findings suggest the need for policy interventions that promote compact and sustainable urban development, equitable regional development, and measures to address overcrowding in urban areas. By aligning policies with the observed spatial and temporal trends, decision-makers can work towards achieving SDG 11, fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urbanization in the Philippines.

2311 Doing nothing is NOT an option—successful collaboration as part of wider quality improvement exercise in frailty services

Abstract Introduction Population is growing old worldwide and UK is no exception. Health service models designed to cater the needs of service users are under immense pressure due to the ageing phenomenon. With unprecedented demand, their often low acuity, hence low priority and delayed conveyance to hospital and unavailability of services to address their needs due to delayed arrival; frail older patients often have to wait longer in emergency department (ED) to receive care in ED. Innovation and news models of care are therefore need of the hour to address this challenging situation. Methods Quality improvement initiative to establish acute frailty service. Development of Older Person assessment unit (OPAU) in Oct 2022 with already established and functional acute frailty team. Plan for direct referral to OPAU from South East coast ambulance service (SECAmb) colleagues. Weekly meetings with SECAmb. Geriatrician of the Day supporting alternative pathways instead of ED. Development of frailty poster with criteria to referral and uploaded on SECAmb work iPads, displayed in ambulances delivery area and ambulance queuing area inside the hospital. Single point of access phone number launched April 2023 to access frailty team & other alternative services from outside the hospital. SECAmb webinar for education and awareness of alternative pathways (UCR, SDEC, frailty, virtual ward), attended by 40 front line SECAMB staff. Results October 2022–0 patients. November 2022–2 patients. December 2022–8 patients. January 2023–18 patients. February 2023–32 patients. March 2023–33 patients. April 2023–39 patients. Conclusion With sustained efforts and effective collaboration, number of patients being referred to alternate pathway (frailty team) are increasing with anticipated significant reduction to SECAmb conveyance to ED in the long run, addressing overcrowding issues.

Beyond Bars: Transformative Strategies for Reducing Prison Congestion in the United States of America

The United States has an excessive number of incarcerated individuals. The number of incarcerated individuals surpasses 2.3 million, which is greater than any other country. This research analyzes the issue of overcrowding in US jails and presents innovative solutions. The paper commences by elucidating the prison system and the philosophical rationales for both punishing and rehabilitating offenders. The essay subsequently examines the imposition of harsh sentences, the government's "War on Drugs" campaign, flawed bail procedures, insufficient rehabilitation and reintegration initiatives, violations of parole and probation terms, challenges in allocating resources, and the accumulation of legal system delays that contribute to prison overcrowding. This analysis explores the ramifications of overcrowding on both convicts and staff, encompassing aspects such as emotional and physical well-being, safety, and the functioning of the prison system. The study suggests an inclusive approach to this key matter. In order to decrease the likelihood of repeat offenses and facilitate the process of reintegrating individuals into society, it suggests implementing more extensive rehabilitation programs that prioritize education, vocational training, and mental well-being. Additionally, it analyzes the potential for expediting jail construction and circumventing public resistance through the privatization of jails. Furthermore, it suggests the deliberate expansion of jails in order to accommodate a greater number of prisoners. It underscores the importance of implementing strategies to enhance the utilization of resources and the provision of services. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of overhauling bail procedures to prevent the incarceration of persons who are unable to afford it, thereby compromising the fundamental premise of presumption of innocence. Furthermore, it suggests the reduction of lengthy incarceration periods, particularly for individuals who have committed nonviolent offenses, while promoting alternative forms of punishment and rehabilitation approaches. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of implementing drug courts and restorative justice practices as a means to prevent incarceration of nonviolent offenders. Additionally, it advocates for the implementation of early release initiatives that give priority to the rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals into society, while also incorporating risk assessment and supervision. Final recommendation: Revise parole violation procedures to prioritize rehabilitation and fairness, rather than resorting to incarceration for offenders. Ultimately, the study highlights the urgency of implementing comprehensive prison reform to tackle the issue of excessive overcrowding and guarantee the humane treatment and rehabilitation of criminals. This research analyzes the issue of jail overcrowding in the United States from multiple viewpoints and suggests numerous effective strategies to decrease the number of people in prisons.

A holistic approach for tourism carrying capacity estimation in sensitive ecological areas

AbstractMediterranean ecosystems are in the spotlight of tourism activities, with the local populations trying to make the most of them, while in parallel, the stress signs, such as habitat and biodiversity degradation, increased pollution, or beach erosion, have begun to emerge. Furthermore, this combination of exotic and delicate qualities accompanied by excessive tourist flows leads to the imperative need for sustainable tourism development studies in these areas. In the current study, aiming to develop a new holistic framework for assessing Carrying Capacity in sensitive coastal ecosystems, a combined methodology was created and tested in Balos Lagoon, a Natura 2000 area in Western Crete. The method encompasses calculating different Carrying Capacity indicators, environmental quality measurements, visitors’ perceptions identification, and finally, a multicriteria analysis to capture the stakeholders’ and local community’s viewpoints. The combined methodologies identified vital issues, including overcrowding—Effective Carrying Capacity is exceeded by 1000 people per day during the peak season—tar residue pollution, microplastics, insufficient road infrastructure and excessive car numbers exceeding capacity. Stakeholder involvement was pivotal, prioritizing twelve proposed actions to address those issues. Notably, “frequent beach clean-ups,” targeting visual impacts, emerged as the most critical action, while parking reallocation and setting a maximum daily ferry limit were also highly ranked, promising solutions to alleviate overcrowding issues. The paper offers valuable insights for future research, emphasizing the need for continuous environmental monitoring, implementation of high-priority measures, and economic valuation of natural capital. Ultimately, this research contributes to the literature by presenting a pioneering methodology for holistic assessment and sustainable tourism development in Mediterranean sensitive coastal ecosystems.

Factors influencing cost overruns in publicly funded hospital projects

In the context of Vietnam's strong economic development and increasing demand for healthcare, enhancing healthcare infrastructure and addressing the issue of overcrowding in public hospitals has become a crucial government objective. This study focuses on identifying the factors influencing cost escalation in public hospital construction projects funded by public investment. The research applies a non-probability sampling method, using convenient sampling and Referral/Snowball sampling techniques. A total of 120 individuals participated in the study, including investors, project managers, design and construction contractors, subcontractors, and relevant suppliers. The study's findings have identified and ranked the ten most significant factors affecting cost escalation in public hospital projects. These factors include inadequate functional design, inadequate functional design, delay in disbursing public investment capital, unforeseeable events, design errors leading to repetitive construction, impact of exchange rate fluctuations on imported medical equipment, unfavorable weather conditions during construction, delay in providing adjusted contract prices or approving adjusted investment amounts, complex geological conditions, and use of estimated quantity estimates in bidding when design is incomplete. The results of this research contribute significantly to the management of construction costs in public hospitals, particularly in the context of public investment funding.

What's Good in the (Neighbour)Hood? Examining the Wellbeing of Urban Regeneration using Administrative Data

New Zealand (NZ) faces substantial housing challenges with a housing crisis brought on by housing shortages, rising housing costs, poor quality stock and overcrowding issues. Kāinga Ora is the primary government agency responsible for social housing and urban development in New Zealand. It has made significant investments towards increasing the housing supply, with plans to increase housing supply by 40,000 homes in the next 15 years. Over 90% of Kainga developments are in NZ’s largest city, Auckland, with 90% of those dwellings being social housing. These investments aim to improve wellbeing, liveability, social connections, and place-based identity through the provision of affordable homes, shared community spaces and active transport options. Urban regeneration has the potential to alleviate our housing burden and thereby have positive long-term impacts on community wellbeing. The purpose of this research is to identify and quantify the wellbeing impacts of urban regeneration in NZ. Evaluations of major urban developments are often overlooked, resulting in uncertainty about the long-term effects of urban regeneration on the community. There is substantial scope for comprehensive empirical research that provides social return-on-investment information. To this end, this research empirically estimates the impact of urban regeneration on wellbeing. New Zealand has adopted a well-being approach that supports public policy advice. The use of “big data” allows researchers to derive data-driven evidence to support this advice. The wellbeing framework used in this research draws on the NZ Treasury’s Living Standards Framework (LSF). Wellbeing outcomes of urban regeneration are grouped across three domains: (1) human capital – education and labour market outcomes; (2) physical and mental health and (3) crime and safety. Wellbeing outcomes in this research are constructed from administrative data from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), administered by StatsNZ, which houses a wide range of administrative and survey data collected from government organisations.

Data-driven analysis and modeling of individual longitudinal behavior response to fare incentives in public transport

AbstractIncentive-based public transport demand management (PTDM) can effectively mitigate overcrowding issues in crowded urban rail systems. Analyzing passengers’ behavioral responses to the incentive can guide the design, implementation, and update of PTDM strategies. Though several studies reported passengers’ responses to fare incentives, they focused on passengers’ short-term behavioral responses. Limited studies explore passengers’ longitudinal behavioral responses for different types of adopters, which is important for policy assessment and adjustment. This paper explores and models passengers’ longitudinal behavior response to a pre-peak fare discount incentive using 18 months of smartcard data in public transport in Hong Kong. We classified adopters into six types based on their temporal travel pattern changes before and after the promotion. The longitudinal analysis reveals that among all adopters, 19% of users change their departure times to take advantage of fare discounts but do not contribute to the goal of reducing peak-hour travel. However, these adopters are more likely to sustain their changed behavior in a long term which is not desired by the incentive program. The spatial analysis shows that the origin station distribution of late adopters is relatively more diverse than the early adopters with more trips starting from distant areas. The diffusion modeling shows that the majority adopters are innovators and the word-of-mouth diffusion effect (imitators) is marginal. The discrete choice model results highlight the heterogeneous impact of factors on different types of adopters and their values of time changes. The significant factors common to adopters are: departure time flexibility, the expected money savings, the required departure time changes, and work locations. The findings are useful for public transport planners and policymakers for informed incentive design and management.

Clustering Nigeria’s IDP Camps for Effective Budgeting and Re-Settlement Policies Using an Optimized K-Means Approach

ABSTRACT: The increasing number of IDP camps in Nigeria due to insurgency and displacement has continued to pose serious policy as well as budget issues. The challenges and needs of these camps differ and require proper identification and isolation so as to direct limited resources effectively. Using the demographic data published by Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) on the IDP camps for 2021, an intelligent and optimized K-means cluster analysis was employed to classify the camps and identify their unique features for the purpose of guiding government policies and budget aimed at improving the standard of living in the camps. In four clusters, the model successfully classified 164 of the camps as having major poverty and health issues, 114 as having overcrowding and health issues, eleven as having overcrowding issues, and thirteen as living a normal life. The results provide a suggestive guide for imminent aid .

피구금자의 권리에 관한 국제인권규범과 한국의 실행

The primary objective of this paper is to promote a thorough understanding of how Article 10 of the international Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, holding the same force as domestic law, is interpreted by the United Nations Human Rights Committee and applied to specific cases. Based on this understanding, a general examination of the implementation and compliance status of this provision within the country has been conducted, paying particular attention to the following points: Firstly, the issue of overcrowding in correctional facilities requires a satisfactory resolution, as despite the Human Rights Committee urging for improvements and constitutional court rulings declaring it unconstitutional, the problem remains unresolved.
 Secondly, ensuring the right to health for detainees is crucial. Particularly concerning individuals with mental illnesses, there is a lack of treatment- focused approaches in correctional facilities. Expanding access to mental health treatment within these facilities is not only essential for safeguarding detainees' human rights but also aligns with the rehabilitative principles of correctional practices.
 Thirdly, the protection of foreigners under the Immigration Control Act falls within the scope of Article 10. Although it is not criminal detention, it represents a prominent area of application for the provision. Limiting the fundamental rights of individuals subject to this act should have stricter requirements than those applied to correctional facility detainees. However, the treatment of foreign detainees in immigration facilities seems to prioritize confinement and control over their basic rights, raising concerns. Efforts should be made to improve the detention environment fundamentally while ensuring the autonomy of foreign detainees.

The prison seminary movement and the impact of faith-based programmes

The prison seminary movement and the impact of faith-based programmes Challenges facing US prisons are increasing. With issues of overcrowding, widespread mental illness, high levels of post-traumatic stress disorder, violence, and more, prisons are failing to correctly rehabilitate inmates. Unfortunately, policymakers largely ignore decades of criminological research documenting how faith-based programmes reduce social isolation and shame among prisoners and offer emotional and network pathways that support fresh starts, which is what Byron R. Johnson and Sung Joon Jang from Baylor University share their expertise in now, regarding the key challenges affecting America’s prison system, the prison seminary movement and the positive impact that faith-based programmes can have. Looking at Angola’s unique prison seminary, and the impact of faith-based programmes, Byron R. Johnson and Sung Joon Jang analyse the work of faith-based organisations and faith-motivated volunteers in prisons, and find through empirical evidence that by embracing religious faith, inmates can and do transform their lives in meaningful ways.

Effect of Overcrowding on Childhood Hospital Admissions for Acute Respiratory Infection: A Matched Case–Control Study

Objective: To determine the association between in-house overcrowding and acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children. Methods: This case-control hospital-based study wad conducted in Saidu Teaching hospital from March-2022 to December-2022. For cases we included 80 patients of age 6 to 59 months, who presented with newly diagnosed or relapsed cases of ARI. Controls were age and gender matched individuals who presented to outdoor hospital department for non-ARI evaluation and had no history of ARI since past 2 months. The in-house crowding was defined as >3 persons living in one bedroom in a home. Results: Mean age in this study was 18.3±8.9 months in ARI group and 19.7±7.8 months in control group (p-value 0.41). There were higher number of patients belonging to poor class in ARI group; 36 (45%) versus 21 (26.2%) in controls, 26 (32.5%) patients in ARI and 31 (38.7%) patients in controls were belonging to middle class, 18 (22.5%) patients in ARI and 28 (35.0%) patients in control group were belonging to upper class (p-value 0.03). Majority of patients in ARI group were from rural areas; 53 (66.3%) in ARI and 37 (46.3%) in control group (p-value 0.01). In-house overcrowding was found in 19 (20%) patients in ARI group and in only 9 (11.3%) patients in control group (p-value 0.03). Conclusion: In-house crowding is significantly associated with increased risk of ARI. The issue of overcrowding in rural regions is more serious than in cities. For Pakistani populations, the problem of overcrowded housing needs to be addressed. Keywords: In-house overcrowding, Acute respiratory infections, Rural living, socio-economic status.

How to Alleviate Feelings of Crowding in a Working from Home Environment: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The sudden adoption of working from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic has required the reconfiguration of home spaces to fit space for remote work into existing spaces already filled with other domestic functions. This resulted in blurring of home and work boundaries, the potential lack of space for telecommuting from home, and telecommuters' feelings of crowding. Numerous studies have shown the negative effects of crowding feelings on workers' responses. This study focused on the issue of crowding in the residential workspace. An online survey was conducted to investigate how features of the home workspace correlate with telecommuters' feelings of crowding and how these feelings affect satisfaction, health, and productivity. As a result, we found that various environmental features of home workspaces (e.g., house size, purpose of workspace, accessible balcony, lighting, noise, etc.), as well as psychological aspects (e.g., individual control over space use), had significant effects on telecommuters' feelings of crowdedness. It was also found that feelings of crowding in the WFH environment can directly and indirectly affect teleworkers' satisfaction with work environments, well-being, and work performance. Based on the results, we offered various potential ways to alleviate overcrowding issues in the WFH context.

Factors and Solutions Addressing Overcrowding in Emergency Department

Overcrowding in emergency departments is a significant challenge in the world of medicine. Approximately 90% of the emergency departments face the issue of overcrowding. The causes of the phenomena are intensely contested, which makes it challenging to come up with effective, focused solutions. Individual patients, healthcare systems, and entire communities are all impacted by emergency department overcrowding. Crowding's detrimental effects on the delivery of healthcare services lead to delays, subpar care, and inefficiency, all of which have an adverse impact on the health outcomes of emergency patients. The purpose of this research is to review the available information about factors and solutions addressing overcrowding in emergency departments. Increased number of patients arriving in the emergency department, lack of resources, and the number of admitted patients waiting for transfer from the emergency department to a hospital ward are all contributing factors to the problem of overcrowding in the emergency department. The quality of medical care is directly impacted by emergency department overcrowding, which causes medication to be administered later than intended and raises the risk of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. It also contributes to a number of unintended issues, including increased duration of waiting times, a decline in patient satisfaction, and a loss of revenue for medical facilities. Additional staff, observation units, hospital bed access, non-urgent referrals, ambulance diversion, destination control, congestion controls, and queuing theory are some of the possible solutions to overcrowding. Effective implementation of the strategies managing overcrowding at emergency department is needed.

FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SEE AND TREAT PATHWAY IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF SAN CAMILLO-FORLANINI HOSPITAL

Introduction: To date, Emergency Department overcrowding represents one of the most important problems regarding the organisation of emergency healthcare. See and Treat was devised in England around the 1980s to provide an effective solution to the overcrowding issue. The Emergency Nurse Practitioner indicates a faster pathway in selected patients with certain characteristics. This model translates into a reduction in waiting times while maintaining the same quality of care. Aim: To evaluate the potential benefits for patients of the implementation of the See and Treat model within the Emergency Department. Materials and Methods: Using the GIPSE system, all Emergency Department entries from 2019 have been selected. Minor codes in the triage phase have been considered, as well as those potentially falling within the See and Treat protocol. Each included case has been associated to a See and Treat diagnosis. The waiting time and the time spent in the Emergency Department were derived from the data collected. Results: 9.41% of the sample is eligible for the See and Treat method, with an average waiting time of one hour and peaks of almost 4 hours for white codes. The application of the See and Treat model to the population covered by our study would reduce the waiting times at the Emergency Department by 6.99%, reduce the simultaneous presence of users on the Emergency Department by 8.88% and reduce the stay for other minor codes by 4.38%. Discussion: The percentage of patients treatable in the See and Treat system (11%) is in line with the Tuscany trial but statistically lower than the international context (from 63% to 90%). The results obtained from this study showed the significant impact that the See and Treat model could have on reducing overcrowding, positively affecting both users and staff.

New Temporary Public Housing Typology in the Basque Country: A Legislative and Design Response to the New Requirements of the 21st Century Society

The Administration of the Basque Country has been responsible for public housing since 1981. Since then, more than 104,000 protected housing units have been built for 2,200,000 inhabitants, 34,000 of which have been directly promoted by the Basque Government. To better adapt its policies to the requirements of a new contemporary society, the Housing Department of the Basque Government has developed a new Habitability Decree in 2022. This Decree aims to update housing to the new ways of living in Basque society and to incorporate new social requirements regarding housing, such as universal accessibility, gender perspective, productive housing, and remote work, while trying to open new ways to improve flexibility of the housing stock. This article analyses some of the key aspects of the new Decree and one of the newly regulated typologies for temporary housing aimed at young and older populations. In addition to the critical selection of the most relevant aspects of the Decree, this article aims at contextualising its requirements in the European context and the broader reference framework of the housing crisis in the Basque Country. To that end, the most notable novelties of the Decree are presented alongside the analysis of 13 temporary housing projects developed by the Housing Department before the approval of the Decree, placing special emphasis on the issue of over-occupation. The analysis makes it possible to typologically characterise the temporary accommodation built to date and to compare the new minimum living space requirements per person with other international regulations. As a conclusion, a discussion is offered about the usefulness of the Decree for adapting new housing in the Basque country to the 21st century, and for preventing the issue of overcrowding.

Ecotourism Development in Small Cities: Insights from Macao

ABSTRACT Small cities with fewer natural resources are relatively hesitant in developing ecotourism. However, ecotourism can be in any form anywhere, whenever all stakeholders involved in such businesses are ecologically, economically, and ethically responsible. This study therefore tries to identify challenges for small cities in developing ecotourism, by using the four criteria (i.e. ecotourism based in nature; learning opportunities; sustainably managed sites; and ethical and responsible activities). It also explains reasons discouraging small cities from ecotourism development based on the perspectives of involved stakeholders in nature-based tourism. Macao, with its small size, few natural resources, and the need to diversify tourism products to ease overcrowding issues in the urban touristic areas, was chosen as a case study to fill this research gap. The detailed evaluation of each criterion on ecotourism development and management presented a clear view of what has been done and not done properly in the city. This finding offers potential solutions for different public and nonpublic sectors who are attempting to embrace ecotourism.

PLIGHT OF FEMALE PRISONERS IN PAKISTAN

PLIGHT OF FEMALE PRISONERS IN PAKISTAN