City Life Research Articles

Mitigating Climate Change Towards Livable City (Case: Bandung City, West Java)

The increase in environmental problems due to climate change means that people in big cities need to carry out mitigation by reducing carbon emissions in their residential areas to make city areas more livable. This research aims to explore various problems and impacts of climate change in the city of Bandung as well as mitigation efforts carried out by the community to reduce carbon emissions while creating a livable city. The research method is qualitative-descriptive with primary data collection through interviews and field observations. The research was conducted in 4 urban village settlement locations, namely Cibunut Kampong in Kebon Pisang sub-district, Antapani Tengah sub-district, Neglasari sub-district, and Cisaranten Kidul sub-district, Bandung City. The research results showed that there are several spatial and environmental problems in the effort to achieve a livable Bandung City. The climate change mitigation efforts that have been implemented by the community in their residential areas while creating a more livable city area are by adding and managing green open space, independent waste management, managing Buruan sae (Urban farming) programs and vertical gardens, creating bio pores and absorption wells, maintaining environmental cleanliness and establishing collaboration with various related institutions

How Do the Dynamics of Urbanization Affect the Thermal Environment? A Case from an Urban Agglomeration in Lower Gangetic Plain (India)

Urban growth and development has significantly affected urban heat island (UHI) due to urbanization. Particularly in the cities in developing countries, the assessment of UHI has emerged as one of the core research themes as it significantly affects the ecological environment and livability in cities. Thus, the assessment of UHI is crucial for climate mitigation and sustainable urban landscape planning. This study identifies the dynamics of landscape patterns and the impact of composition and configuration on the thermal environment in English Bazar Urban Agglomeration (EBUA), Eastern India, along the urban–rural gradient (URG) approach. Geospatial approaches and spatial metrics were employed to assess the impact of the landscape pattern on the thermal environment. Descriptive and inferential statistics have also been used to find the effects of landscape patterns on the thermal environment. The result has also been validated based on the location and correlation analysis. The built-up area increased by about 63.54%; vegetation covers and water bodies declined by 56.72% and 67.99% from 2001 to 2021. Land surface temperature (LST) decreased with increasing distance from the core of the city. LST declined by about 0.45 °C per kilometer from the core of the city towards the outside. LST had a positive correlation with IS and a negative correlation with green space (GS) and blue space (BS). The mean aggregation of the impervious patches was larger (73.21%) than the GS (43.18%) and BS (49.02%). The aggregation of impervious surface (IS) was positively correlated, and aggregations of GS and BS had a negative correlation with LST. Findings suggest that the spatial composition and configuration of the impervious surface, GS, and BS must be considered in landscape planning and design framework to make the city more livable.

CITTASLOW CITIES AND TOURISM GOVERNANCE: THE CASE OF ISPARTA

With the increasing globalization of world cities and the increase in metropolitan city life, the similarity of cities has revealed the 'slow city' movement. The aim of the slow city movement is to protect the originality and local values of the cities, to highlight them in the most accurate way and to ensure sustainability. This movement is away from the complex city life where the traffic is heavy and the city noise is high; It has been very popular in recent years by people who want to return to a calmer, natural lifestyle. The aim of the study is to compare the places that adopt the slow city movement with the implementation and tourism policies and compare them with the governance dimension. Although it is important that public institutions and organizations and NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations) act in cooperation in order to prevent difficulties in fulfilling the criteria required for a slow city, this cooperation is possible with "tourism governance". In this study, a comparative analysis was made between the quiet cities of Isparta, Eğirdir and Yalvaç. In the study, the data obtained as a result of the use of qualitative research method were collected with the use of interview technique. Convenience sampling method and semi-structured interview technique were used in the research. As a result of the study, it was seen that the awareness of the people about preserving their culture, local food, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, history and natural beauties increased after the districts became slow cities. It can be said that it is very important for the public sector, private sector and non-governmental organizations to work in cooperation within the scope of tourism governance in order to ensure the continuity of the slow city criteria.

Cyber Security and its Fundamentals

Ransomware typically targets large commercial targets. However, random victims who are unable to repel a cyber attack also fall under their attacks. This article will talk about how malware can harm the life of an entire city, and even a country. This article provides information on cyber security, a summary of its worldwide research status and implications, and statistical sources.

Unlocking the Potential of German Smart Cities: Strategy Analysis through Online Content Examination

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of smart city strategies in Germany through the examination of online content. Smart city initiatives have gained significant attention worldwide as urban areas seek innovative solutions to address various challenges. In Germany, renowned for its technological achievement and commitment to sustainability, has witnessed the emergence of numerous Smart City projects. The aim of this study is to investigate the current status of Smart Cities strategy initiatives in Germany based on a sample of 82 cities. To achieve this, an online content analysis methodology is employed, using the official web presences of the selected cities and information published on them. The content analysis focuses on identifying empirical evidence related to digitalisation, data and governance, and obtaining their transparency and progress in a sample of 82 major German cities. The findings of this study reveal the diversity and richness of German smart city approaches, but also a varying degree of sophistication and transparency of strategic initiatives. As an expression of Germany's federal structure, the cities focus on different aspects, such as mobility, energy efficiency or data-driven administration. The insights gained from this online content analysis provide valuable guidance for policymakers, urban planners and stakeholders involved in the design of smart city strategies. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of existing initiatives, policymakers can refine their approaches, address challenges and promote sustainable and inclusive urban development. Furthermore, this study contributes to the academic discourse on smart cities by providing empirical evidence on the implementation of strategies in a German context. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the German smart city landscape and serves as a basis for future research, policy formulation and the pursuit of smarter and more liveable cities.

More afraid of the virus than of bad weather? Exploring the link between weather conditions and cycling volume in German cities before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cycling can only unfold its full potential for environmental sustainability, livable cities, and health if people cycle under most seasonal and weather conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people preferred cycling over public transit, in order to avoid infection. This change may also have affected the weather–cycling association: the pandemic mainly attracted new, fair-weather cyclists; and it may have encouraged cyclists to continue cycling, even under less favorable conditions. In this paper, we explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the association between weather and cycling. We analyze data from bicycle counting stations in Germany, combined with city- and hour-specific weather information and a continuous measure of pandemic intensity. The data set contains more than 2.2 million hourly bicycle count observations from 69 counting stations, covering the years 2017–2021. Results from the most transit-oriented cities in the sample, Berlin and Munich suggest that the cycling volume was more dependent on weather conditions at times of high pandemic intensity. This suggests that the pandemic put new people in the saddle, but these additional cyclists were largely fair-weather cyclists who only cycled when the weather was sufficiently nice. For policy, this could set two targets. First, encourage the new pandemic-cyclists to stay on the bike and, second, support them in transitioning into year-round cyclists eventually.

Assessing quality of life in German, French, Italian and Polish smart cities: Identifying the need for further development

The concept of smart cities has gained significant attention in recent years, as urban areas worldwide seek to leverage technology and innovation to enhance their residents' quality of life. It is agreed that one of the core objectives of the smart cities is the optimisation of quality of life and resident satisfaction. This research endeavours to explore the relationship between smart city rankings and quality of life in four European countries: Germany, France, Italy, and Poland. In doing so, we encountered a multitude of complexities and nuances. While the concept of smart cities holds great promise for urban development and enhancing residents' well-being, the current methodologies for comparing smart cities and assessing quality of life require refinement and standardization. Addressing these challenges will not only advance our understanding of the impact of smart city initiatives but also pave the way for more effective urban planning and policy decisions to improve the overall quality of life in urban areas.

Navigating spatial inequalities: The micro-politics of migrant dwelling practices during COVID-19 in Antwerp

The COVID-19 pandemic and its multiple lockdowns disrupted city life, while restrictions on physical distancing and urban activities highlighted the importance of our living environment and its links to our well-being. As part of the COVINFORM research project, this case study uses a micro-political lens to explore the specific spatial challenges which migrants faced in two of the more socially deprived neighbourhoods in Antwerp, Antwerpen-Noord and Borgerhout. This study aims to understand the specific spatial challenges migrants encountered during the pandemic and examine how they navigated and asserted agency within the confines of their living situation during this period. We combine participant observation with 25 semi-structured interviews with migrants living in two neighbourhoods in Antwerp (Flanders, Belgium), namely Borgerhout and Antwerpen-Noord. Findings show that the COVID-19 pandemic reinforced urban spatial disparities, where people’s strategies of adaptation were suddenly disrupted. Lower-income migrants were particularly affected, living in crowded housing without access to private open space. Access to public and green spaces, as well as facilities and public transport links, became more important during the pandemic, especially for those in poorer housing conditions. Within this context of spatial inequalities, migrants deployed their agency through claiming access to the city, shifting dwelling practices, and leveraging neighbourhood and community networks.

A REVIEW OF BLOCKCHAIN APPLICATION IN LOGISTICS AND LAST-MILE DELIVERY

Due to the ongoing arrival of individuals, large urban areas are expanding while the daily life within them becomes increasingly demanding. These cities' authorities confronted many challenges in providing necessities for their citizens, such as water and food supply, energy, public transportation, road infrastructure, healthcare services, waste management, recycling, and storage facilities. Cities embrace novel technologies and innovative approaches to cope with these evolving circumstances. Cyber-physical systems, digitization, networking, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and blockchains are valuable tools that enable the efficient functioning of smart cities. The subject matter of this article is very complex and covers several disciplines, such as management, transport, and information technologies. Few have mastered the necessary knowledge in all these areas. The authors wish that this multi-dimensional presentation of the current situation will be helpful to those who deal with the organization of life in cities, logistics, or the application of information technologies in business organizations, but also ordinary citizens who are not yet familiar with these problems. The article should allow the reader to see the complexity of last-mile delivery and encourage it to use its potential to get involved in solving this problem.

Which factors influence the use of shared and privately-owned e-scooters in the city of Madrid? Implications for urban mobility

Micromobility using fully-electric two-wheeled vehicles is increasing in cities worldwide. E-scooters, whether shared or privately-owned, provide short door-to-door trips by facilitating the first/last mile stage of the journey. They are expected to improve livability in cities by reducing harmful emissions and space occupation. In this respect, understanding travel behavior and usage patterns is essential to regulate them appropriately. The purpose of this study is to determine individuals' sociodemographic variables, mobility-related attributes, and latent constructs influencing e-scooter usage. To that end, an individual-level model is estimated to explain the adoption and frequency of use of both shared and private e-scooters based on survey data. The research takes the city of Madrid as a case study, and contributes to a deeper understanding of the differences in the use of privately-owned and shared e-scooters, with a particular focus on the influence of mobility habits and attitudinal variables. The study is complemented with some insights on shared e-scooter usage at the trip-level, which shows the substitution caused on walking trips, and their limited ability to promote modal shifts from the private car. Finally, the research provides valuable implications for urban dynamics and feedback for policymakers and transport planners.

Visual Sustainability in Urban Renewal Projects Traditional kut City Center as a Case Study

This research addresses the importance of visual sustainability as an essential element in city centre renewal projects, and its role in enhancing the visual quality of urban centres, as most traditional cities suffer from increasing challenges in facing urban renewal processes due to various interventions, which may lead to the loss of the city’s cultural and visual identity. The research aims to understand how to achieve visual sustainability in the centre of the heritage city of Al Kut as a case study and the impact of this on the quality of life and community interaction.The study area was analyzed using the SWAT analysis method, in addition to a literature review on the topic, observation, interviews with key stakeholders involved, and analysis of existing data and documents. The research concluded that focusing on visual quality indicators can enhance identity, heritage, aesthetics, and quality of life in cities, as the results showed a positive relationship between visual quality indicators and the clarity of the urban environment. Therefore, enhancing visual sustainability in the traditional Kut city center requires focusing on three main indicators that can be achieved by using sustainable local materials, preserving cultural and heritage landmarks, and integrating the urban design process with community participation in planning, design, implementation, and implementation. Evaluations.

Counterfactual mobility network embedding reveals prevalent accessibility gaps in U.S. cities

Living in cities affords expanded access to various resources, infrastructures, and services at reduced travel costs, which improves social life and promotes systemic gains. However, recent research shows that urban dwellers also experience inequality in accessing urban facilities, which manifests in distinct travel and visitation patterns for residents with different demographic backgrounds. Here, we go beyond simple flawed correlation analysis and reveal prevalent accessibility gaps by quantifying the causal effects of resident demographics on mobility patterns extracted from U.S. residents’ detailed interactions with millions of urban venues. Moreover, to efficiently reveal micro neighborhood-level accessibility gaps, we design a novel Counterfactual RANdom-walks-based Embedding (CRANE) method to learn continuous embedding vectors on urban mobility networks with confounding effects disentangled. Our analysis reveals significant income and racial gaps in mobility frequency and visitation rates to sports and education venues. Besides, bachelor’s degree holders experience greater mobility reduction during the COVID-19 crisis. With extensive experiments on neighborhood-level accessibility prediction and visualizing accessibility gaps with embeddings vectors, we demonstrate that the counterfactual mobility network embeddings can improve the explanatory capacity and robustness of revealed accessibility gaps by extending them from aggregate statistics to individual neighborhoods and allowing for cross-city knowledge transfer. As such, urban mobility networks can reveal consistent accessibility gaps in the U.S., calling for urgent urban design policies to fill in the gaps.

МІЖНАРОДНИЙ ТА НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ ТУРИЗМ В ПЕРІОД СВІТОВОЇ РЕЦЕСІЇ ТА РОСІЙСЬКО-УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ВІЙНИ: ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ПОВОЄННОГО ВІДНОВЛЕННЯ

The article focuses on the functioning of the global and national tourism industry after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and during the first two years of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The relevance of the work is enhanced by the fact that the tourism industry is the first to suffer in times of political and financial crises. But despite this, it is the most profitable in a period of stable functioning of state institutions that ensure overall economic growth. The paper analyzes the importance of stable functioning of the hospitality sector in wartime, further development of the hotel and restaurant business, search for ways to maximize profits, and rethinking the existing foreign experience of countries in the territory of which military operations took place, which had a devastating effect on the tourism sector.
 The development of domestic tourism requires the introduction of innovative approaches (development of new hiking routes, stabilization of mental health of military personnel undergoing rehabilitation, integration of IDPs into social and public life of large cities, reconstruction of old and promotion of new tourist locations in accordance with the needs of time and public demands, development of "memory routes") to expand the list of traditional services and introduction of digital technologies, which facilitates business and expands the range of future consumers.

Development of road pavement structures using zeolite of the Tatar-Shatrashanskoe deposit

Introduction. The growing dynamics of road construction, the active improvement of domestic road structures and technologies, and the modernization of the production base will make it possible to form a comprehensive sustainable transport framework for the country, which will provide an impact to the entire economy of the Russian Federation. One of the economically and technologically advantageous solutions for this is the development and construction of road structures using zeolite - pozzolanic additive. The analysis of Russian and foreign sources indicates that pozzolanic additives improve the physical and mechanical properties of road building materials. The purpose of the work is to develop road pavement structures using zeolite from the Tatarsko-Shatrashanskoe deposit. To achieve this purpose, the tasks such as the development of road building materials using zeolite ( local mineral materials treated with Portland cement and zeolite are used for base layers, warm asphalt concrete with zeolite is used for coating layers), the design and calculation of road pavements using zeolite from the TatarskoShatrashanskoe deposit were solved.Materials and methods. The experimental laboratory studies of materials in accordance with GOST 23558, GOST R 70396, GOST R 58406.8, GOST R 58406.9, GOST 9128, GOST 12801 were carried out. The calculation of road pavement structures in the Credo Radon software package for permissible elastic deflection, shear resistance, bending resistance, static load, frost resistance, drainage layer for climatic conditions typical of the Republic of Tatarstan, according to PNST 265, GOST R 58818 was carried out.Results. As a result of the research, the physical and mechanical properties of samples of road building materials using zeolite, which correspond to regulatory requirements were determined. The design and calculation of road pavements using zeolite in the Credo Radon software package was carried out. Structural transverse profiles of highways of categories IV and V using zeolite from the Tatarsko-Shatrashanskoe deposit have been proposed. The use of developed materials and road structures will currently improve the economy, rational environmental management of the region and, in general, provide an opportunity to improve the quality of life in cities and towns by successfully completing the five-year road activity plan.

Geopolitics of Urban Squares: Atmospheric Securitisation and Counterterrorism in Everyday Urban Spaces in Berlin

ABSTRACT In this article, we scrutinise the concept of ‘affective atmosphere’ at the Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, Germany. By unpacking key moments and elements in the Breitscheidplatz’s history, when measures of security and counterterrorism transformed, we investigate how the felt experience of city dwellers and users of the square altered. We argue that the concept of atmosphere, taking the affective dimension of urban life into account, offers an enriching layer of understanding the everyday life in European cities. By focusing on the spatial and affective securitisation that was implemented before and after the attack in 2016, this paper converges everyday urban geopolitics and the concept of affective atmospheres. Bringing together the engagement with experiences of everyday urban life and the atmospheric situation that security and counter-terrorism measure entail in European urban spaces. This paper approximates the felt experience and intangible elements with the help of sensory ethnographies. Shedding light on the aesthetic and sensorial paradoxes of securitisation and counterterrorism measures, hegemonic practices of affective politics and discriminatory spatial expulsion are unravelled.

Measuring the positive effects of the pandemic disease in the environmental planning of healthy cities

<p align="justify">The city as a living system and a dynamic structure throughout history, from birth to the present day, has shown a flexible attitude to the challenges ahead and has been constantly trying to overcome the challenges and reproduce its elements for the opportunity to become efficient and usable in the future. In the face of the corona pandemic challenge, the city has acted in the same way, shown reciprocal behavior, and tried to overcome this crisis effectively. Therefore, city planners and managers must approach the healthy city and its elements with a different approach and perspective. Apart from the destructive effects it has had on the human body and soul, the corona pandemic has also changed the quality of life in cities and their environments so much that new living patterns have been formed and some of the past structures have been discarded. For this purpose, after studying the literature review and the international experiences, the dimensions, factors, and effective indicators of the corona pandemic have been identified. The present study is a descriptive-analytical type, and the desired findings have been explained through a questionnaire using quantitative and qualitative methods and confirmatory factor analysis tools. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of healthy cities has been compromised. It has unveiled the need to give more prominence to caring tasks while addressing intersectional social inequities and environmental injustices. The results of the analysis indicate that 14 indicators including lifestyle changes and health protocols, increase in virtual socialization, reduction of inequality among different groups of people in access to the internet, promotion, and expansion of digital tourism (virtual trips), starting development of apps and start-ups, increasing small-scale commercial markets, upgrading medical equipment, increasing countries interaction in the field of health, the importance of planting trees, using public transportation, increasing public transportation capacity, designing more open and green spaces in the city, more attention to deprived areas and slums and redesign of public spaces based on the prevailing conditions will provide positive effects during the pandemic of Tehran. Therefore, in order to improve and enhance the quality of life in healthy cities, especially during pandemics, suggestions have been made.</p>

Parenting in Proximity to Others: The Importance of Transitions and Trajectories

ABSTRACT In many cities, living in an apartment throughout the life-course challenges the status-quo. While density is acceptable during some life-stages, the default is the detached dwelling during others. The parenting period is one such stage. Using records of the experiences of 20 parents of children 0-5 in apartments in Sydney, Australia, this paper questions the adequacy of density for family life in the case-study city. We add a unique focus on temporality, conceptualising densification and parenting as projects in transition. Our analysis reveals disruptions to densified family life, suggesting that the process of densification is at odds with the timings of childhood and the urgency of the problems perpetuated by lower-density urban form.

Региональные различия в уровне качества жизни: сравнение показателей между городами и сельскими территориями

The article examines regional differences in the level of quality of life in relation to the Russian Federation as one of the economic indicators characterizing the level of development of territories united into subjects. The substantive part of the concept of «quality of life» has been studied, and indicators of the quality of life of the population living in cities and rural areas have been determined. The indicators of the quality of life in cities and rural settlements are analysed on the example of specific regions of the country; the results of the analysis are presented. A list of indicators of the standard of living in cities and rural settlements of the country's regions is indicated, embodying the degree of development of the territory where the settlement and the subject as a whole are located. The importance and expediency in the development and implementation of measures aimed at improving the quality of life in relation to cities and rural areas in different regions of the country are considered.

Analyzing “Gray Zone” Turbulent Kinetic Energy Predictions in the Boundary Layer from Three WRF PBL Schemes over New York City and Comparison with Aircraft Measurements

Abstract We investigated the ability of three planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model to simulate boundary layer turbulence in the “gray zone” (i.e., resolutions from 100 m to 1 km). The three schemes chosen are the well-established MYNN PBL scheme and the two newest PBL schemes added to WRF: the three-dimensional scale-adaptive turbulent kinetic energy scheme (SMS-3DTKE) and the E–ε parameterization scheme (EEPS). The SMS-3DTKE scheme is designed to be scale aware and avoid the double counting of TKE in simulations within the gray zone. We evaluated their performance using aircraft measurements obtained during three research flights immediately downwind of Manhattan, New York City, New York. The MYNN PBL scheme simulates TKE best, despite not being scale aware and slightly underestimating TKE from observations, whereas the SMS-3DTKE scheme appears to be overly scale aware for the three flights examined, in particular, when combined with the MM5 surface layer scheme. The EEPS scheme significantly underestimates TKE, mostly in the elevated layers of the boundary layer. In addition, we examined the impact of flow over tall buildings on observed TKE and found that only the windiest day showed a significant increase in TKE directly downwind of Manhattan. This impact was not reproduced by any of the model configurations, regardless of the land-use data selected, although the better resolved National Land Cover Database (NLCD) land use led to a slight improvement of the spatial distribution of TKE, implying that more explicit representation of the impact of tall buildings may be needed to fully capture their impact on boundary layer turbulence. Significance Statement Because the majority of the world’s population lives in cities, it is important to accurately simulate the atmosphere above and around these cities including the turbulence caused by tall buildings. This turbulence can significantly impact the mixing and dilution of air pollutants and other toxins in highly populated urban environments. The scale of cities often falls into what is known as the “gray zone” for turbulence modeling, which has been analyzed theoretically before but rarely in varied real-world conditions. Our analysis around New York City, New York, suggests that model turbulence schemes can match observations relatively well even at gray zone scales, although newer schemes require refinement, and all schemes tend to underestimate turbulence downwind of tall buildings.

Оцінка ефективності надання екосистемних послуг зі зниження рівня шуму від дорожнього руху у міських зелених зонах міста (на прикладі міста Києва)

Noise pollution is one of the most important factors in the deterioration of the quality of life in cities. Natural vegetation in urban green spaces (UGS) is an effective instrument for reducing road noise. The primary pollution field and the parameters of the UGS determine their different ability to reduce noise levels to comfortable or at least safe levels. One of the directions in the field of recreational research is to assess the effectiveness with which UGS provide noise reduction. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to provide such an assessment on the example of the UGS of Kyiv. In the study, the primary field of noise pollution from roads with different traffic intensities was determined. Modelling has shown that at the border of green spaces, noise values of up to 73 dB are observed in more than half of the city's UGSs. When determining the effectiveness of the noise reduction function, it was found that the majority of UGSs (75%) have a strong potential to reduce noise levels (from 0.7 to 0.8). The modelling results showed the high efficiency of green spaces in Kyiv in performing this function - 90% of the UGSs provide safe conditions for staying. Converting the efficiency values into volumes of ecosystem services (ES) based on the Harrington's desirability function allows us to understand that, given the current levels of traffic load and the parameters of UGS, the maximum volumes of noise reduction ecosystem services provided by vast majority green spaces in Kyiv (2982 objects).