Metropolitan Centers Research Articles

Tunnel-induced land subsidence assessment in a densely populated residential area using Sentinel-1 PS-InSAR

Land subsidence detection in residential areas based on advanced remotely sensed data is an effective technique to mitigate catastrophic disasters in time. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) in spaceborne platforms is a highly sophisticated technique to estimate ground surface subsidence with millimeter accuracy for wide-area observation. SAR is beneficial for large-scale social infrastructure project planning and monitoring in densely populated residential areas. In this study, we applied a permanent scatterer (PS) interferometric SAR (PS-InSAR)-based technique for monitoring land subsidence in a tunnel construction site in the Greater Tokyo Area to investigate tunnel-induced ground surface subsidence. Sentinel-1 repeat-pass SAR data in ascending and descending orbital directions were used for continuous observation. Consecutively estimated interferograms based on repeat-pass SAR data were generated to monitor and detect tunnel-induced land subsidence as well as confirm long-term stability along the tunnel excavation path. A bidirectional displacement of the ground area parallel to the earth’s surface in the east–west direction and perpendicular to the earth’s surface in the up–down direction was estimated at a high-phase consistency location using a PS interferometric stacking technique. The resultant data were then analyzed to detect anomalies in the ground area in the spatiotemporal domains by performing displacement time-series analysis. An area near Higashi-Tsutsujigaoka’s local administrative region in the metropolitan center of Tokyo was observed to have 15-mm subsidence and 30-mm displacement in the east–west direction during August–October 2020. The conventional level survey results in the same ground area showed 15–20-mm subsidence above the tunnel excavation path. The findings of this study offer insights into understanding land subsidence in residential environments.

72 Hospital level of service, rural-urban hospital location, and neonatal resuscitation interventions at birth: A population-based study in Alberta, Canada from 2000-2020

Abstract Background Advanced neonatal resuscitation interventions (ANRIs: endotracheal intubation, chest compressions, and epinephrine) are rarely needed for infants born at ≥34 weeks gestational age (GA). However, healthcare providers (HCPs) in community hospitals can encounter the need for ANRIs, while having less experience and resources than HCPs in centers with neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Understanding practice differences between hospitals of different levels of service (LofS) and rural/urban location can inform quality improvement to reduce health disparities. Objectives To examine how hospital level of service and rural/urban location relate to ANRI rates in Alberta, Canada, a universal public health system with standardized Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) training. Design/Methods All live births ≥34 weeks GA in Alberta from 2000-2020 inclusive were examined using retrospective, population-level administrative data from the Alberta Perinatal Health Program (APHP). Hospitals (n=97) were contacted to determine annual LofS during the study period, with levels (0,1A/B/C,2,3) based on provincial obstetrical triage for availability of delivery support, cesarean-sections, obstetricians, paediatricians/neonatologists, and NICUs. Hospitals were further subcategorized by population and proximity to metropolitan centers.(Table 1) Rates of individual interventions or any ANRI were compared. Results There were 971,403 live births during the study period with a mean GA of 38.9 weeks; 1.6% were missing ANRI data, 955,835 births were included. Most occurred in hospitals with level 2 (57.4%) or level 3 (21.8%) NICUs; few occurred at sites with no delivery support (Level 0, 0.1%). ANRI rates were intubation (0.8%), chest compression (0.2%), and epinephrine (0.02%), any ANRI (0.96%, ~1/1000 live births). However, chest compression rates progressively decrease, and intubation rates progressively increase as LofS increases.(Table 1, Figure 1) When considering rural/urban location, there were outliers in chest compression rates in remote 0 (25.4/1000 live births) and metro-influenced 1A (30.2/1000 live births), intubation in remote 1C (33.3/1000 live births) and metro 0 (193.5/1000 live births) and epinephrine in metro 0 (64.5/1000 live births). Conclusion In this population-based cohort study of ≥34 weeks births, there were higher chest compressions rates and lower intubations rates at hospitals without NICUs despite standardized training. Reasons for this difference require further investigation; potential solutions such as targeted outreach education and introduction of laryngeal mask airways could be explored.

Differences in survival of patients with multiple myeloma in rural versus metropolitan regions: Analysis of population data of an Australian local health district.

The objective of this study is to determine if there are differences in outcome for patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma in a rural setting compared to a metropolitan setting and which factors influence these outcomes. Retrospective cohort study. Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. A total of 391 patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma between 2000 and 2022. Treatment and survival outcomes of these patients. Patients being treated in a rural cancer care centre had lower overall survival compared to those treated at a metropolitan cancer care centre (median OS = 44.4 months vs. 80.2 months, p = 0.002), despite access to similar treatments by the same group of haematologists. There was a significantly higher rate of upfront autologous transplantation (38% vs. 20%, p = 0.001) and higher rate of inclusion in clinical trials (16% vs. 7%, p = 0.021) in patients treated at a metropolitan cancer care centre compared to the rural cancer care centre. Multiple myeloma patients treated at a rural centre had shorter survival compared to patients treated at a metropolitan centre, and this may be related to lower rates of autologous transplantation and inclusion in clinical trials.

A blockchain-enabled private parking space allocation with improved parking space utilization

With the rapid development of the world’s infrastructure, we are moving towards making cities smart, known as smart cities. To make smart cities sustainable, designing efficient solutions is needed to reduce traffic congestion due to the lack of parking spaces within the constrained land areas of many metropolitan city centres. Parking problems in urban areas can be reduced by sharing vacant private parking spaces with others. In this work, we propose a decentralized and shared private parking management system using blockchain, which helps private parking owners and users fulfil their demands without the involvement of central authority. The proposed parking allocation method assigns parking to a single user from multiple parking providers, but the requester does not need to relocate between different parking spaces. The proposed method significantly improves private parking space utilization compared to a state-of-the-art parking allocation system. Hence, the system satisfies more user requests and generates more profit for parking owners than the state-of-the-art parking allocation system. The proposed system is a winning strategy because it maximizes the utilization of private parking spaces for the entire community’s benefit and helps to reduce traffic congestion. Experiments conducted in the simulated environment validate the benefits of the proposed model and show that it outperforms the state-of-the-art parking allocation system. A prototype of the proposed system is also developed in the Ethereum blockchain to validate the work, and the gas cost used to deploy the proposed model is analyzed.

Location patterns and factors of Polish makerspaces

Makerspaces (MS) represent a type of new working space (NWS), a subject addressed by numerous researchers. Nevertheless, among the abundance of publications on NWS, only a limited number discuss the detailed distribution of MS and address the significant issue of their location factors. This article aims to supplement these research gaps based on the example of Polish makerspaces, through a comprehensive database of Polish NWS and spatial analysis conducted through GIS systems. According to the results, there is a predominance of MS in the main metropolitan centers, alongside a rising significance in peripheral areas while a co‑occurrence of MS with other institutions focusing on innovation, creativity and education is recorded. It is also pointed out that location factors related to transportation are mainly found in large urban centers, but not noticeable elsewhere. Through the use of in‑depth interviews, the author points to the significant relevance of social factors in the MS creation phase, together with accessibility and infrastructure‑related factors. In addition, crucial components impacting on MS establishment include the engagement of MS members, municipal support, location and the characteristics of the MS environment. Lastly, the validity of the rules and regulations of organizations supporting the creation of MS are outlined.

Geographic Factors Impacting the Demand for Public EV Charging: An Observational Study

The practicality and substitutability of electric vehicles depend on there being a fast, reliable way to recharge on round trips beyond the range of a single charge. Grouping such infrastructure into charging hubs benefits developers and operators through economies of scale and electric vehicle drivers in terms of travel logistics and passed-through cost savings. The need for charging capacity at en-route charging hubs is impacted by the following four identifiable geo-social parameters: (a) highway travel volumes, reflecting the rate at which electric vehicles are expending energy in the area; (b) local population, reflecting both the increased needs of electric vehicle owners without dedicated home chargers and the reduced needs of those commuting into a metropolitan center; (c) the quantity of competing charging stations; and (d) being on a critical interprovincial route. Twelve charging stations located in diverse locations around Nova Scotia, Canada, were evaluated in terms of these four parameters, and their recorded use was investigated from a dataset of 26,000 charging events between April 2022 and April 2024. The regression reveals that there are strong positive correlations between demand for fast charging and (a) traffic volumes (45%) and (c) being on an interprovincial route (42%), while there is only a very weak correlation with (b) local population (2%). Interestingly, there is only a weak negative correlation with (c) the number and capacity of nearby competing chargers (−6%), suggesting that either in short-term route choice or longer-term vehicle choice, the presence of chargers encourages electric vehicles.

The safety of same-day discharge following percutaneous coronary intervention in regional Australia.

Same-day discharge (SDD) following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has proven safe, and global adoption of this strategy has been increasing rapidly. These data are predominantly derived from high-volume, metropolitan centres with a relative paucity of data from regional and remote settings. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of a same-day, criteria-led discharge strategy following elective transradial PCI in a regional setting. This is a retrospective, single-centre cohort study. Consecutive outpatients aged ≥18 years presenting for elective transradial invasive coronary angiography between March 2019 and February 2024 were included in the analysis. We report the primary composite outcome of 30-day all-cause mortality and unplanned hospital readmission and compare proportions between those who were discharged on the day of their procedure with those admitted overnight in hospital and discharged the next day. A total of 555 eligible patients were identified, of which 330 (60%) were discharged on the day of their procedure. The composite primary end-point occurred in seven (2%) of the SDD patients and in six (3%) of the overnight admission patients (relative risk = 0.80; 95% confidence interval = 0.27-2.34; P = 0.68). No significant differences were seen in rates of readmission, or in other clinical outcomes assessed, including death, myocardial infarction, stroke and vascular complications or bleeding. In a regional setting, SDD following elective transradial PCI, in select patients, is a safe approach which was not associated with higher rates of unplanned readmission or adverse clinical outcomes.

A cross-sectional study assessing the role of interventional radiology services in regional and remote Australia.

It is estimated that 8% of hospitalised patients require treatment from Interventional Radiology (IR). However, little is known about the potential impact of IR on regional and remote Australians, including Indigenous patients. This study aimed to assess treatments performed by IRs on regional/remote patients to predict future IR workforce and governance needs. Single-centre cross-sectional study at a tertiary Victorian hospital. Patients were identified when they had an advanced IR treatment between 1 January 2022 and 2024. Basic procedures such as biopsy and drain insertion were not included. The primary outcome was the type and volume of IR treatments performed on patients who were transferred from a regional or remote home location for treatment. Of 3485 advanced IR interventions, 908 procedures (26.0%) from patients who lived in a regional or remote location were included with 36.5% female, of mean age 55.6 years (SD 17.9). 1.4% identified as Indigenous which is similar to the Indigenous population incidence in Victoria of 1.0%. Of this group, 350 (38.5%) were either a day procedure, overnight elective admission, or simple inpatient procedure which could have been performed in a regional centre, which included 1.1% Indigenous patients. There is an unmet need for IR services in regional and remote Australia, with many patients being transferred to our metropolitan centre for treatment that could be performed in regional IR hubs. This data will be important to drive government and hospital planning including capital infrastructure, workforce modelling and future recognition of IR as a new specialty in Australia.

Perceptions and Lived Experiences of Nurses After Completion of a Perinatal Nurse Residency Program.

This study was designed to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of new graduate or new-to-specialty labor and delivery nurses. These nurses had completed a perinatal nurse residency program at a high-risk metropolitan medical center in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Eight nurses were interviewed for this study with qualitative individual interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used. Three main themes emerged: assimilating a specialized knowledge base and skill sets, navigating challenging circumstances, and coping with the transition to independence. Nurse residency programs can ease the transition to practice in the labor and delivery specialty. Revisions to future perinatal residency programs should include enhanced preceptor education, prolonged night shift orientation, assessment of nurse learning style and needs, and increased consistency of debriefing after traumatic events. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 202x;5x(x):xx-xx.].

Rural general surgical provision from the perspective of twenty-two rural general surgeons: a thematic analysis.

Australia continues to suffer from a geographical maldistribution of general surgical services with only 20% of general surgeons working rurally despite 29% of Australia's population residing outside major metropolitan centres. This qualitative study explored the impact of human capacity and infrastructure upon rural general surgery provision. This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews of rural general surgeons. Participants were recruited via the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Rural newsletter and purposive sampling. All interviews were conducted between January 2023 and April 2023. Transcripts were transcribed, de-identified, and thematically analysed. Two female and 20 male rural general surgeons were interviewed from seven of the eight Australian State or Territories. Four main themes were identified which reflected the impact of human capacity and infrastructure upon Australian rural general surgery provision: (1) small hospital syndrome - and the impact, (2) the rural general surgeon identity, (3) infrastructure and disempowerment and (4) over-reliance on visiting surgeons. Improving access to equitable general surgical care for rural Australians requires appropriate infrastructure and a well-trained, sustainable multidisciplinary surgical team (human capacity). A greater understanding of the issues may help drive rational, long-term supportive solutions.

Transportation Barriers in Pediatric Orthopaedic Clinic Visits.

To identify what transportation barriers pediatric patients face when traveling to a major metropolitan orthopaedic center, how these barriers affect care, and what changes can be made to address this issue. A cross-sectional transportation survey was administered to 107 caregivers of patients being seen in the orthopaedic clinic at a tertiary children's hospital in a large metropolitan area. Using logistic regression analysis, we compared socioeconomic characteristics, transportation methods, and scheduling practices among caregivers who reported missing at least one visit in the past and those who reported never missing a visit. 13% (14/108) of caregivers reported missing one or more past visits due to late arrival or transportation issues. Families that traveled more than 45 minutes to clinic (P = 0.04), waited more than one week to schedule a visit (P = 0.002), or reported difficulty scheduling a visit (P = 0.02) were significantly more likely to have a history of nonattendance. In addition, patients who were nonambulatory (P = 0.007), used a mobility device (P = 0.007), or were non-White (P < 0.05) were significantly more likely to have missed a visit. Travel time, difficult or delayed scheduling, and patient ambulatory status were all associated with missing orthopaedic clinic visits although other socioeconomic factors were not related. Interventions to improve orthopaedic clinic attendance should focus on promoting accessibility for patients with mobility limitations and encouraging simple and timely scheduling practices.

Exploring long term Impervious Surface Areas (ISA) dynamics using Landsat imagery, Μachine Learning and GEE: The case of Attica, Greece

Accurate data on Impervious Surface Areas (ISA) are essential for various studies concerning urban environments, as the constant proliferation of these surfaces is a noticeable result of urbanization, especially in metropolitan cities. The present study proposes a methodology approach in performing a long-term mapping of ISA changes in Attica Prefecture, Greece, from 1984 to 2022, exploiting the Landsat archive and contemporary machine learning (ML) methods of geospatial data processing, namely Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Random Forests (RF). Using Google Earth Engine cloud platform, the SVM and RF classifiers are developed and implemented for four single dates (in years 1984, 1999, 2013 and 2022). Accuracy assessment of the classification maps was based on the computation of a series of statistical metrics based on the confusion matrix, ans the McNemar's chi-square test which was used to evaluate the statistical significance of the difference in the classification maps, derived from SVM and RF classifiers. Both SVM and RF provided very accurate results, with Overall Accuracy (OA) higher than 90% and kappa coefficient (Kappa) higher than 0.8 for all classification maps, with SVM performing better in 1984 and 2022 and RF outperforming SVM in 2013. In addition, the McNemar's test confirmed the statistical significance of the research findings reported herein. Change detection results, highlighted the wide sprawl of the urban fabric, especially in sub-urban areas, surrounding the metropolitan center of Athens. The employed methodology represents a significant advancement in the application of GEE, beyond their general use, by integrating cutting-edge ML techniques with available remote sensing data to create an automated analysis process. This innovative fusion not only enhances the precision and efficiency of ISA mapping but also establishes the basis for a pioneering standard in the field by harnessing the power of advanced technologies and accessible data sources.

Intraoperative radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer.

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) offers more convenience compared to external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) following breast-conserving surgery for early-stage breast cancer. This study describes the implementation of IORT at a metropolitan academic cancer center. Demographics, tumor characteristics, margin status, adjunct EBRT, and cosmetic results were retrospectively analyzed in patients undergoing BCS with IORT. IORT consists of 20 gray delivered to the partial mastectomy cavity. From 2015 to 2020, 171 patients (65.5% African American) were included. Histologically, 104 (60.8%) patients had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), while 67 (39%) patients had DCIS only. Seventeen (15.9%) patients with IDC and 12 (8.6%) patients with DCIS had positive margins. There were 15 ipsilateral breast recurrences (8.8%) and three patients (20%) developed systemic disease. Twenty-five patients (14.6%) underwent adjuvant EBRT. The local recurrence-free survival at 60 months from date of IORT was 89.4% (95% CI 82.7%-93.6%). For overall survival (OS), 168 (98.2%) patients were alive at a median follow-up of 51.4 months, and three total deaths were recorded. IORT is a highly desirable and convenient alternative to EBRT for early-stage breast cancer especially for patients with poor compliance. IORT has an acceptable ipsilateral recurrence while not precluding adjunct EBRT based upon the final pathologic report.

Outcomes of rectal cancer treatment in rural Australia and New Zealand: analysis of the bowel cancer outcomes registry.

The demographics and geography of Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), with few metropolitan centres and vast, sparsely populated rural areas, represent a challenge to providing equal care to all patients. This study aimed to compare rectal cancer care at rural and urban hospitals in ANZ. From the Bowel Cancer Outcomes Registry (BCOR, formerly known as the Bi-National Colorectal Cancer Audit; BCCA), rectal cancer patients treated between 2007 and 2020 were compared based on hospital location (urban versus rural). Propensity-score matching was performed to correct for differences in baseline characteristics between groups. A total of 9385 rectal cancer patients were identified from the BCOR: 1329 (14.2%) were treated at rural hospitals and 8056 (85.8%) at urban hospitals. Propensity-score matching resulted in 889 patients in each group, matched for age, ASA score, hospital type (public/private), tumour height from the anal verge, and pre-treatment cT- and cAJCC-stage. Rural patients had fewer pre-treatment MRIs (67.9% versus 74.7%; P = 0.002), and underwent less neoadjuvant therapy (44.7% versus 50.9%; P = 0.01). Rural patients underwent fewer ULARs (39.4% versus 45.6%; P = 0.03), and fewer anastomoses were formed (67.9% versus 74.4%; P = 0.05). CRM rates and postoperative AJCC stages (P = 0.19) were similar between groups (P = 0.87). Fewer rural patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (37.8% versus 43.3%; P = 0.02). There are significant differences in pre-treatment MRI rates, (neo)adjuvant treatment rates and surgical procedures performed between rectal cancer patients treated at rural and urban hospitals in ANZ, while CRM rates and postoperative AJCC stages are similar.

Rituals of Colonial Memory: Crafting Imperial Nostalgia in Republican Italy

The latest historiographical trends are revealing how the end of colonialism has influenced the political and social configuration of former metropolitan centres. In particular, the return of former colonial settlers has raised a series of issues that have resonated in European political debates and societies. In Italy, these processes were shaped by a peculiar decolonization process, coinciding with the equally tortuous transition from fascism to the Republic. Drawing on recent historiography on the return of colonial settlers, and expanding the chronological span and methodological scope of previous works through original archival sources, my intervention aims to reconstruct how imperial nostalgia became a political resource exploited by both repatriate associations and conservative political factions. Although similar to contemporaneous cases, in Italy colonial commemorative practices had peculiarities linked to the role of Catholicism and to the fact that far right and even neo-fascist movements exploited the demands of repatriates for their own political benefit. This article thus broadens the historiographical understanding concerning the decline of Italy's empire and deepens the analysis of its lasting impacts on the politics and society of Republican Italy.

Co-morbid Insomnia and Sleep Apnea (COMISA) in a large sample of Iranian: prevalence and associations in a sleep clinic population.

Sleep apnea (SA) and insomnia (INS) are prevalent sleep disorders among referrals to sleep clinics. People with comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA) suffer both disorders simultaneously. The epidemiology of COMISA is not well known in the Middle East including Iran. We hypothesized that COMISA is prevalent in metropolitan sleep clinic cohorts in Iran. The records of patients aged < 95 years referred to sleep disorders centers in four large metropolitan areas including Kermanshah, Tabriz, Shiraz, and Ahvaz were examined. Polysomnography (PSG) was performed in all these patients in specialized centers and the results were scored by a trained technician and interpreted by a sleep specialist. SA was defined as an Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI ≥ 5), INS was defined by psychiatrists according to self-report and clinical interviews, and COMISA was defined if both disorders were present. Participants with neither condition were included in as comparator group. One-way ANOVAs, correlation, and linear/logistic regression analyses were used. This study included 1807 patients (Mean age 49.3, SE ± 13.7; 38.8% Female). Comparator, INS, SA and COMISA made up 7.2%, 16%, 50.2% and 26.6% of the sample, respectively. Logistic regression analyses showed that male gender, older age, and increasing neck circumference, but not BMI, were associated with COMISA. Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores were lower in INS (5.39 ± 5.78) compared to the other three groups. COMISA is a prevalent condition in metropolitan sleep centers in Iran among participants referred to sleep centers. The data showed that male gender and age were associated significantly with COMISA.

Intoxication in the city: Investigating spatial patterns and determinants of drugs and alcohol-related illegal activities in India's geostrategic corridor

Illicit drug and alcohol-related activities pose significant challenges to metropolitan centres globally, impacting public safety and socio-economic stability. This research analyzes the spatial and temporal patterns of drugs and alcohol-related illegal activities (DARIA) in Siliguri, known as the "Gateway of North-East India." The primary objectives are to explore DARIA patterns, identify clusters and concentrated areas, and investigate contributing factors. Using GIS-based spatial analysis and geographical models, we studied incidents recorded over three years from 2021 to 2023. Advanced spatial statistical approaches were applied to identify specific clusters of DARIA occurrences. The pure temporal analysis highlighted periods of increased illegal activity. Various geographical models, including ordinary least squares (OLS), geographically weighted regression (GWR), and multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR), were used to examine the spatial association. The MGWR model, with an explanatory power of R2 = 0.816, provided a detailed understanding of spatial relationships and variations in DARIA. Our findings indicate specific zones with frequent DARIA occurrences, mainly near major transportation hubs, commercial points, and areas with significant mobility. Key exploratory factors such as illiteracy rate, population density, proximity to playgrounds and slums were highly associated with DARIA incidents. These findings contribute to developing safer, more resilient, and more sustainable cities worldwide.

Center and Periphery in the Early Modern Spanish Empire: An Art-Historical Perspective on Colonial Latin America

ABSTRACT Art history’s center-periphery paradigm holds metropolitan centers as the originators of artistic models that the periphery copies. Accordingly, European artworks were the primary models for colonial Latin America’s artists who dutifully copied them. Scholarship that accounts for complex artistic negotiations characteristic of colonial societies complicates the long-held view of colonial Latin America as a replicative artistic periphery to Europe. It recognizes mutually constitutive relationships between different groups and artistic practices in the Spanish imperial order. This article highlights select examples of cross-cultural artistic interactions in colonial Mexico and argues that they often operated outside the European/Renaissance preoccupation with artistic originality/innovation as it is characterized in the artist biography genre of early modern Europe. Significantly, Christian global designs were the justification for Spanish power in the Americas, and colonial religious art has often been used to measure the success of that order. Accounting for the strategic copresence of European and Indigenous cosmologies and aesthetics in colonial visual culture is crucial to developing a more rounded and critical understanding of the Christian colonial order in Latin America. It also offers one alternative to the binary and largely unidirectional center-periphery model by highlighting the multidirectional flow of ideas, beliefs, and forms.

Peri-urban dynamics: assessing expansion patterns and influencing factors

BackgroundPeri-urbanization, the expansion of large metropolitan centers into adjacent peri-urban regions, is a growing concern due to land scarcity and escalating housing costs. These zones, a blend of rural and urban features, blur the line between urban and rural areas, creating new landscapes. This study examines historical, present, and potential growth trends in the peri-urban area surrounding Durgapur Municipal Corporation (DMC). Analytical techniques and spatial metrics are used to track development intensity changes over time, including built-up density, Shannon’s entropy, Landscape expansion index, Average Weighted Mean Expansion Index, Annual Built-Up Expansion Rate, Built-Up Expansion Intensity Index, and Built-Up Expansion Difference Index. Landscape indices like Patch Density, Edge Density, Landscape Shape Index, Largest Patch Index, Ratio of Open Space, and Area Weighted Mean Patch Fractal are used to understand fragmentation, connectivity, and spatial relationships. The Logistic Regression Model (LRM) is used to identify influencing factors and CA-Markov modeling for future built-up areas.ResultsBetween 1991 and 2001, built-up area in the region increased significantly, primarily due to urban development near industrial zones, roadways, and mining areas. The growth was primarily concentrated in the western sector and near National Highway-2 (NH-2). Urban sprawl was a continuous trend, with the highest built-up density in the South-South-East (SSE) direction from 1991 to 2011. Additionally, a key determinant of built-up development was the distance to the city core. By 2031, the built-up area is expected to concentrate in the western and southeast regions, reaching 177.90 km2.ConclusionsThis expansion is attributed to urban development near industrial zones, roadways, mining areas, and other infrastructure. The study identifies distance to the city center as a significant influencing factor for built-up development. The results emphasize the need for inclusive urban planning methods prioritizing sustainable development principles and prudent resource management for future growth and efficient management in the DMC’s peri-urban area.

Citizen science engagement reveals patterns of long-term persistence of an at risk butterfly in three metropolitan centers

Insect declines have been documented for about twenty years worldwide, and the more recent Bee Colony Collapse Disorder has brought public attention to the issue. With this in mind, the persistence and thriving of an iconic, once-extirpated butterfly, the Atala (Eumaeus atala), in three major metropolitan centers located in southeastern Florida is remarkable and deserves close examination as to how it happened. The Atala butterfly is a charismatic species mostly residing in an urban dominated landscape, and has been a prime target of citizen science engagement since the second re-discovery of the species in 1979 in coastal Miami. Three citizen science actions were instrumental in this recovery: reintroductions, year-long population monitoring afterwards, and participation in annual butterfly counts. In this research, we analyzed three different sets of monitoring data gathered by citizen volunteers to help us determine factors that may influence the Atala butterfly’s persistence. We found that the most labor- and time-demanding citizen science data allowed us to define fine scale population phenological dynamics enabling us to quantify the anecdotal biannual “crash and eruption” cycles, while the median level long-term engagement data revealed a coarse, multiple year crash and eruption population cycle. Our analyses illustrated that the contribution of on-going data collection gained through committed citizen science actions play a critical part in the species conservation strategy, allowing us to apprehend new integral knowledge of the butterfly’s biology, as well as factors influencing its population persistence and distribution.