Neighborhood Scale Research Articles

Impacts of ash tree removals on summer daytime temperatures in Madison, Wisconsin

Maintaining and increasing canopy cover is frequently promoted as a strategy for mitigating excess heat in cities. However, the impact of changing tree cover on surrounding air temperatures is often unpredictable and can depend on tree species, size, shape, and location. In this study, we explore whether the removal of ash trees in one downtown neighborhood in Madison, Wisconsin affected surrounding air temperatures at small spatial scales (15 to 35 m). We used a bicycle-mounted temperature and radiation sensor to repeatedly record high-frequency observations along four transects. We observed no discernible difference between daytime air temperatures near locations surrounded by tree removals and temperatures at locations without any nearby tree removals. Overall, across the four clusters of streets that were monitored, proximity to mature ash trees did not correlate to reduced air temperatures. Attempts to model temperature as a function of surrounding land cover and street tree characteristics all had poor predictive power (R2 ranged from 0.01 to 0.54), and explanatory variables related to tree cover were never statistically significant. The finding that the removal of ash trees did not impact daytime air temperatures patterns at the neighborhood scale suggests that the most densely developed streets in Madison may not easily support sufficient canopy cover to experience tree-induced cooling, underscoring the importance of pursuing a variety of strategies to mitigate urban warming.

Arabic translation, cultural adaptation, and pre-testing of neighborhood environment walkability scale for adults-abbreviated (NEWS-A): Arabic NEWS-A

BackgroundImproving neighborhood walkability is critical for sustainable and livable urban development and is associated with increased physical activity. The Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated (NEWS-A) is a tool for assessing neighborhood walkability among adults. Currently, no Arabic version is available for this important walkability scale.ObjectiveTo translate the NEWS-A to Arabic, culturally adapt, and pre-test it for adults.MethodsThe NEWS-A was translated and culturally adapted using Cross-cultural Survey Guidelines and then pre-tested using 65 households selected randomly from the neighborhoods of three districts in Riyadh. After answering the survey, 55 participants took part in a semi-structured cognitive interview, which sought their understanding of the words in the Arabic questionnaire, the clarity of each item, and their suggestions for improvement.ResultsTranslation and adaptation of NEWS-A to Arabic resulted in adding two items (mosque and healthcare center) to section B of the scale (stores, facilities, and other things in your neighborhood) and one related item to section C (access to services). The total individual items became 57 instead of the original 54 items in the English version. Also, we added “ATM machine” to item 14 (Bank/credit union) in section B. In addition, the overall results of the cognitive interview showed that most of the participants understood the intended meaning of the questionnaire (99.5%). Further, 99.8% of the respondents stated that the items were not difficult to comprehend, while 100% of the sample indicated that the sentences were comfortable and not sensitive to them.ConclusionTranslating, adapting, and pre-testing the NEWS-A resulted in retaining all the original items and adding three additional items. The Arabic NEWS-A provides an important tool for future research on neighborhood environment walkability among adults.

Enhancing ultra low temperature district heating systems with neighborhood-scale heat pump and triple-pipe distribution: A techno-economic analysis

Ultra-Low Temperature District Heating (ULTDH) systems are advanced District Heating (DH) systems enabling the efficient utilization of low-temperature heat sources for heating systems. A significant challenge in ULTDH systems is the economic inefficiency associated with use of booster Heat Pump (HP) in buildings to achieve the desired Domestic Hot Water (DHW) temperature. To address this issue, this study proposes an innovative ULTDH system incorporating neighborhood-scale water-source booster HPs and distribution triple-pipes. Triple pipe's dual supply line capabilities facilitate the neighborhood-scale water-source booster HPs to be brought out at the neighborhood scale, demonstrating an intelligent approach. This approach reduces the capital investment and enhances the Coefficient of Performance (COP) by utilizing supply line of DH system as the heat source. A comprehensive case study is conducted to demonstrate the superior techno-economic performance of the proposed ULTDH system compared to Low Temperature District Heating (LTDH) as the benchmark solution. All components of both systems are sized by determining the DHW and Space Heating (SH) demands for each neighborhood. Thermodynamic analysis is conducted at a 1-min time resolution for an entire year. Six different heat production scenarios are developed to determine the Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH). The results indicate that while the energy performance of the ULTDH surpasses LTDH, the rise in electricity prices favors the ULTDH system.

Digitization processes at the neighborhood scale: Infrastructure, governance, community, and practices

Digitization processes at the neighborhood scale: Infrastructure, governance, community, and practices

Impact of Spatial Characteristics on Gendered Retail Consumption in Seoul: A Gender-Sensitive Urban Planning Perspective

This study examines the impact of spatial characteristics on gendered retail consumption in Seoul, South Korea, providing empirical evidence for gender-sensitive urban planning. Gender-sensitive urban planning integrates gender perspectives into all stages of urban development, aiming to address the diverse needs and experiences of all genders spatially. While existing research has predominantly focused on gender differences in labor participation, this study shifts the focus to retail consumption, which is a critical aspect of daily life. Our research analyzes the spatial attributes of urban spaces at the neighborhood scale and their influence on aggregated retail consumption by gender. The aggregated retail sales by census output area (jipgyegu) represent the aggregated retail consumption. Utilizing spatial regression methods, this study identifies significant spatial autocorrelations and clustering patterns in retail sales data. The findings reveal that traditional markets, less-developed commercial areas, and specific retail sector (retailing, medical, and educational services) densities positively impact SMW (subtraction of men’s retail sales from women’s retail sales), while city center areas, developed commercial districts, special tourism zones, and specific retail sector (restaurants and entertainment) densities have negative impacts.

Spatial distribution, pollution level and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in urban street dust at neighbourhood scale

Urban street dust (UStD) is a vital issue for human health and is crucial for urban sustainability. This study aims to enhance the creation of safe, affordable, and resilient cities by examining environmental contamination and health risks in urban residential areas. Specifically, it investigates the concentrations and spatial distribution of chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in UStD in Yenimahalle, Ankara. The mean concentrations of Zn, Cr, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cu in UStD were 97.98, 66.88, 55.22, 52.45, 38.37, and 3.81 mg/kg, respectively. The geoaccumulation pollution index (Igeo) values for these elements were: Cd (5.12), Ni (1.61), Cr (1.21), Pb (1.13), Cu (0.78), and Zn (0.24). These indices indicate that the area is moderately polluted with Cr, Pb, and Ni, uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Cu and Zn, and extremely polluted with Cd. The hazard index (HI) values for Cr, Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Zn were below the non-carcinogenic risk threshold for adults, indicating no significant risk. However, for children, the HI values for Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn were 3.37, 1.80, 1.25, and 1.25, respectively, suggesting a higher risk. Carcinogenic risk (RI) of Cd, Ni, and Pb was significant for both children and adults, indicating that exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact is hazardous. The findings highlight the need for strategic mitigation measures for both natural and anthropogenic activities, providing essential insights for residents, policymakers, stakeholders, and urban planners.

Exploring heterogeneous relationships between multiscale built environment and overweight in urbanizing China

Overweight has emerged as a significant threat to people's health. Although a handful of studies have evaluated the neighborhood built environment (BE) and overweight connection, there is little knowledge about how urbanization moderates the connection. The present study seeks to assess whether there are differences in the BE and overweight connection between urban and rural settings, and how the connection varies across different urbanization rates. Based on a nationwide sample of 7883 individuals in China, we consider both scales of BE elements and examine their heterogeneous associations with overweight. The findings show that both scales of BE elements are essential determinants of overweight. Significant differences in the connection between urban and rural settings are observed. Most BE elements are shown to be significant contributors in urban settings, whereas only residential density, metro, and public transit supply play significant roles in rural settings. Additionally, the BE and overweight connection also varies across urbanization rates. The BE elements are more influential to overweight in more urbanized areas. Our findings indicate that planning efforts at both neighborhood and city scales are essential and targeted planning strategies should be made according to local contexts.

House Sparrows as Sentinels of Childhood Lead Exposure.

Our understanding of connections between human and animal health has advanced substantially since the canary was introduced as a sentinel of toxic conditions in coal mines. Nonetheless, the development of wildlife sentinels for monitoring human exposure to toxins has been limited. Here, we capitalized on a three-decade long child blood lead monitoring program to demonstrate that the globally ubiquitous and human commensal house sparrow (Passer domesticus) can be used as a sentinel of human health risks in urban environments impacted by lead mining. We showed that sparrows are a viable proxy for the measurement of blood lead levels in children at a neighborhood scale (0.28 km2). In support of the generalizability of this approach, the blood lead relationship established in our focal mining city enabled us to accurately predict elevated blood lead levels in children from another mining city using only sparrows from the second location. Using lead concentrations and lead isotopic compositions from environmental and biological matrices, we identified shared sources and pathways of lead exposure in sparrows and children, with strong links to contamination from local mining emissions. Our findings showed how human commensal species can be used to identify and predict human health risks over time and space.

Methodologies for the design of positive energy districts: A scoping literature review and a proposal for a new approach (PlanPED)

Cities can substantially contribute to European Green Deal targets by accelerating their transition towards smarter, more efficient, and renewable-based energy models. In that context, European cities need to increase their self-sufficiency and the resilience of their energy system especially through the promotion of district and neighbourhood scale energy projects such as positive energy districts (PEDs). Despite the increasing interest for PEDs experienced in the last years, their deployment is currently hindered by the absence of an energy planning culture and the lack of adequately skilled personnel in cities. Indeed, there is a strong need for practical tools and guidelines that support practitioners in the design and implementation of PEDs. In that context, the present paper introduces PlanPED, a framework for the conception of methodologies for PED planning, design, and implementation, to support municipalities in their energy transition. PlanPED aims at providing a multiple perspective approach based on the most important elements from existing methodologies. In that sense, the paper begins with an overview of the state of the art, leading to the identification of trends, gaps, and good practices of current research. Then, based on this analysis, the novel framework PlanPED is introduced. It consists of three interconnected workflows that, if followed, enable to know which steps and resources need to be put into practice to initiate the transition towards PED, while recognizing the variability of contexts and necessities. By doing so, PlanPED seeks to facilitate the elaboration of tailored and practical roadmaps for the deployment of PEDs in cities.

MSPA-based green space morphological pattern and its spatiotemporal influence on land surface temperature

The frequent occurrence of extreme heat events has notably affected human's living environment, and a considerable number of studies have reported that green space is an efficient measure by investigating the correlation between green space and land surface temperature (LST). However, spatiotemporal effects of green space on LST still remain unclear. In this study, green space patterns (e.g., core, islet, perforation, edge, loop, bridge, and branch) were identified through morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA). Moreover, the effects of green space pattern on LST in three periods were investigated through three kinds of models. As indicated by the results: (1) the geographically and temporally weighted regression model exhibited the optimal performance compared with other two models. (2) in general, the core, the edge, the bridge, and the branch significantly contributed to cooling, and the islet hindered cooling. However, the perforation and the loop exerted significant dual nature effects with the similar quantity of the negative and positive coefficients, showing relatively complex impact mechanism. (3) the intensity of the effect of the respective MSPA class varied across the study area. The core had the most substantial effect, which distributed in the south and middle corners. (4) the result suggested that a neighborhood scale in China, which was 960 m in this study, served as a basic unit in green space management. The spatiotemporal non-stationarity of the effects of green space morphological patterns on LST provided important insights into urban thermal environment improvement through urban green space planning and design.

Associations between the social environment and early childhood developmental outcomes of Puerto Rican children with prenatal Zika virus exposure: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPrenatal exposure to the Zika virus can lead to microcephaly and adverse developmental outcomes, even in children without evident birth defects. The social environment plays a crucial role in infant health and developmental trajectories, especially during periods of heightened brain plasticity. The study aimed to assess socioenvironmental factors as predictors of developmental outcomes of 36-month-old children exposed to Zika virus prenatally.Study designThis cross-sectional study included 53 mothers and 55 children enrolled in the Pediatric Outcomes of Prenatal Zika Exposure cohort study in Puerto Rico. The study performs follow-up developmental assessments of children born to mothers with confirmed and probable Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Mothers completed socioenvironmental questionnaires (e.g., Perceived Neighborhood Scale and US Household Food Insecurity Survey). Children’s developmental outcomes were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development: Third Edition, the Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Third Edition, the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-Socioemotional: Second Edition, and the Child Adjustment and Parent Efficacy Scale.ResultsLinear regression models, adjusting for a child’s sex and age and maternal education, revealed that early life exposure to food insecurity and maternal pregnancy stressors were significantly associated with poorer developmental outcomes in Zika virus-exposed children at 36 months of age. Maternal resilience representation of adaptive ability was associated with the preservation of adequate developmental outcomes in children.ConclusionsPregnancy and early childhood are critical life periods for ensuring optimal brain development in children. While the mechanisms in the interaction of children with their environment are complex, the risk and protective factors identified in the study are modifiable through public policy and preventive initiatives. Implementation of comprehensive strategies that improve access to social support programs, educational and nutritional interventions, and mental health services during pregnancy and early childhood can enhance the developmental potential of vulnerable children.

Utilizing Space Syntax Techniques to Understand the Relationship Between Spatial Configuration and Walkability in Urban Neighborhoods (Case Study: Valiasr Neighborhood, Tehran)

The numerous benefits of walking, as one of the healthiest, simplest, and most cost-effective modes of transportation, have prompted many urban researchers to identify influential factors in pedestrian-oriented urbanism. These efforts aim to transform urban areas, including neighborhoods, into conducive environments for walking, thereby realizing related benefits such as sustainable development. Extensive research has confirmed the role of the built environment in attracting and distributing pedestrian movement, with a significant portion highlighting the relationship between urban configuration and walkability. This study aims to determine the role of urban configuration components in enhancing walkability at the neighborhood scale, selecting the Valiasr neighborhood in Tehran due to its location in the city’s commercial center with a high volume of pedestrian traffic. For this purpose, after identifying spatial configuration components related to walkability – including accessibility, connectivity, and spatial arrangement components – key streets in the neighborhood's spatial configuration were identified using an initial analysis of spatial arrangement variables, followed by a survey of pedestrian volumes on selected streets. The evaluation of configuration components led to design recommendations in two layout patterns – grid and parallel block. The relationship between urban configuration and walkability, utilizing space syntax techniques, was identified after analyzing spatial arrangement variables in three different scenarios (existing condition and two proposed alternatives). The results indicate that accessibility components have the most significant impact on walkability in the Valiasr neighborhood. Following this, connectivity components were identified as influential in promoting pedestrian-oriented urbanism. Regarding spatial arrangement components, a comparison with prior research confirms that spatial elements do not operate independently of mixed-use and access to services and facilities. Instead, they play a role not in the formation of movement but in facilitating and directing it.

A Study on Tourist Satisfaction Based on the Conservation and Reuse of Alleyway Spaces in Urban Historic Neighborhoods

The preservation and reuse of historical alley spaces infuse these areas with renewed vitality, which holds significant importance for the direction of preservation and restoration efforts in historical districts. This paper focuses on Jinyu Alley in Quanzhou and identifies a study targeting tourists for the protection and reuse of historical alley spaces. Through preliminary research and interviews, a system of evaluation indicators for urban historical alley spaces post-usage was established using a factor analysis, extracting five main components: historical context, neighborhood space, commercial environment, supporting facilities, and operational management. Additionally, a modified importance–performance analysis (IPA) method was employed to conduct a quadrant analysis on tourist satisfaction evaluation indicators. Transformation quadrant distribution maps of various evaluation indicators reveal dissatisfaction among tourists with certain aspects of supporting facilities, the commercial environment, and neighborhood space. Relevant departments should prioritize improvements in dining quality, business variety, neighborhood traffic connections and transformations, neighborhood space form and scale, landscape greening, environmental elements, parking availability, and trash bin density for future enhancements. Finally, based on the results of tourist satisfaction surveys and information gathered from interviews with a minority of residents, a more inclusive and sustainable strategy for the protection and reuse of historical alley spaces is formulated.

Evaluation of Probabilistic Forecasts of Binary Events with the Neighborhood Brier Divergence Skill Score

Abstract A procedure for evaluating the quality of probabilistic forecasts of binary events has been developed. This is based on a two-step procedure: pooling of forecasts on the one hand and observations on the other hand, on all the points of a neighborhood in order to obtain frequencies at the neighborhood length scale and then to calculate the Brier divergence for these neighborhood frequencies. This score allows the comparison of a probabilistic forecast and observations at the neighborhood length scale, and therefore, the rewarding of event forecasts shifted from the location of the observed event by a distance smaller than the neighborhood size. A new decomposition of this score generalizes that of the Brier score and allows the separation of the generalized resolution, reliability, and uncertainty terms. The neighborhood Brier divergence skill score (BDnSS) measures the performance of the probabilistic forecast against the sample climatology. BDnSS and its decomposition have been used for idealized and real cases in order to show the utility of neighborhoods when comparing at different scales the performances of ensemble forecasts between themselves or with deterministic forecasts or of deterministic forecasts between themselves. Significance Statement A pooling of forecasts on the one hand and observations on the other hand, on all the points of a neighborhood, is performed in order to obtain frequencies at the neighborhood scale. The Brier divergence is then calculated for these neighborhood frequencies to compare a probabilistic forecast and observations at the neighborhood scale. A new decomposition of this score generalizes that of the Brier score and allows the separation of the generalized resolution, reliability, and uncertainty terms. This uncertainty term is used to define the neighborhood Brier divergence skill score which is an alternative to the popular fractions skill score, with a more appropriate denominator.

From Block to City Scale: Greenery’s Contribution to Cooling the Urban Environment

Urban greenery is a strategy to improve the thermal environment in urban areas affected by heat islands and global warming. These phenomena can harm the citizens’ quality of life. Researchers have investigated the thermal benefits of urban vegetation, but only a few have explored its complexities across diverse urban scales. Understanding these variations is critical for precise analysis, customized solutions, efficient resource allocation, and enhancing urban living quality while promoting sustainability and climate resilience. This paper reviews 250 scientific articles about the relationship between greenspace and the urban thermal environment published between 2010 and 2023 through urban scales. It summarizes the parameters and findings of greenery’s contribution to cooling the urban environment. The data reveal that most studies concentrated on the block scale, public open spaces, neighborhoods, parks, grouped vegetation, mixed arrangements, high vegetation, spatial parameters, and the use of air temperature data to report their findings. The cooling-effect evidence shows that the block scale has an average mitigation range of 0.7–2.7 °C, the neighborhood scale of 1.1–2.9 °C, and the city scale of 0.5–2.2 °C. Furthermore, it is critical to define reliable research methods and perform thorough software validation to assess model performance and establish guidelines for urban-landscape design accurately.

Compact Housing for Incremental Growth: The K206 RDP Project in Alexandra, Johannesburg

The South African Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) was initiated to provide subsidised housing for low-income families. However, the programme faced challenges in establishing adequate technical guidelines and standards, resulting in subpar housing quality. This article discusses the multifaceted nature of subsidised housing design, emphasising the importance of incorporating technical housing standards as well as the spatial needs of residents based on their context (at both domestic and neighbourhood scales). The article focuses on the K206 housing RDP project in Alexandra, Johannesburg, as a case study that transitioned from generic technical standards to a resident-responsive design scheme that was inspired by the backyard room incremental expansions that were already prevalent in the Alexandra context. A critical review of South Africa’s RDP housing design technical standards and policy is explored. The article also examines the density standards and allowances for incremental expansions introduced by the K206 project, analysing data derived from fieldwork observations, interviews, and the spatial analysis of 26 dwelling units. The study’s findings underscore the significance of maintaining an equilibrium between technical standards and resident-responsive design decisions. The results demonstrate that tailoring the RDP housing design solutions to unique contextual needs can significantly elevate the quality of life of residents concerning income generation and flexibility for incremental expansion. However, this balance is delicate and disparities between the RDP technical standards and user-initiated development over time also have the potential to ultimately impair residents’ living spaces.

The Neighbourhood–Health Nexus: Design, Behaviour and Futures

Over the last decade, and more recently with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID- 19) pandemic, increased attention has been given to the dynamic between health and urbanism. Features such as city design, the environment, and socioeconomic factors have been studied worldwide. Most studies have focused on a single element of the urban environment, making it difficult to understand the possible influence of related urban features. Furthermore, studies have addressed the issue of urbanism and health on different international, national, urban, and local scales, resulting in multiple inconsistencies. With the enhanced growth of cities, it is argued that the neighbourhood scale is the ideal scale to understand the built environmental–health nexus. More specifically, the paper reviews studies that focus on neighbourhood design and its influence on health, and studies that focus on residents' health-related behaviour. In addition, it maps the key developments in e-health and its expected influence on health services in neighbourhoods. Insights from these reviews are used to offer a preliminary conceptual framework for addressing health in neighbourhoods.

A study on analysing sociospatial distribution and equity in access to urban parks in Bengaluru, India

BackgroundGiven the effect of urbanisation on land use, allocation, and implementation of urban green spaces, we attempt to analyse the sociospatial distribution and equity in access to urban parks in Bengaluru, India, also known as the garden city of India. MethodsGeospatial method was used for mapping the park's distribution and measuring the accessibility using road network data. To understand equitable access to the parks, four socioeconomic parameters from 2011 census (ie, population density, children aged 6 years or younger, proxy wealth index, and the Scheduled Caste population) were correlated with the parks' accessibility. FindingsThe spatial distribution revealed that 19 of 198 wards did not have a single park and 36 wards only had one park. About 25–29% of wards did not have accessibility to neighbourhood-level and community-level parks within a 400–800 m distance. These parks must be accessible within walking distance of 400–800 m but were found to most likely be inaccessible in the periphery where population density was low and children population was high in comparison to the central part of the city. Similarly, parks found inaccessible in the eastern part of the city where the scheduled caste population is high, and also found inaccessible to the low-income neighbourhoods residing in the western part and southern periphery of the city, indicating the uneven distribution and inequitable access to public parks. InterpretationOur study proposes reshaping of both neighbourhood parks and community parks, an attempt to look beyond biodiversity. The affirmative actions in terms of availability of public parks with adequate area requirement and essential services at a neighbourhood scale is required to redress the inequity of access. In addition, accessibility to parks must be considered important in urban planning. FundingNone.

A Neighbourhood Unit for Equitable Resilience

The early twentieth-century concept of the neighbourhood unit aimed to use spatial planning to redress problems associated with that era of urbanization in the US and Europe, including car traffic, pollution, and social alienation. We ask how this influential and controversial concept might be adapted to address today's most vexing urban challenges: climate change hazards and widening inequality. Drawing on a diverse array of global case studies, we argue that the neighbourhood can be a unit for 'equitable resilience', but only if we reconceptualize neighbourhoods in significant ways. First, 'neighbourhood' must be defined more capaciously to include not just the middle-class enclaves envisioned by Clarence Perry and other early neighbourhood planning advocates, but also places that are home to disadvantaged residents, from mixed-income communities to public housing, informal settlements, and manufactured home parks. Second, for neighbourhood interventions to bring lasting equitable resilience, they must be linked to analysis and action on wider spatial and political scales. Finally, to ensure resilience will be equitable, neighbourhood scale interventions must link built environment changes to institutional changes that improve conditions in the domains of livelihoods, environmental safety, governance, and security from displacement. In short, to be units for equitable resilience, neighbourhoods must help residents build the power to act in the face of climate change and other threats.

Особенности теплового поля города Ростова-на-Дону по данным дистанционного зондирования Земли

Thermal fields of natural and anthropotechnogenic origin are an integral part of the urban habitat, which influences the functioning of its components, as well as determines the conditions of existence of living organisms including humans. Settlements act as areas of formation of extensive temperature anomalies, mainly positive ones, known as urban heat island. This phenomenon was discovered more than 200 years ago and is currently being investigated in detail. However, the study of smaller anomalies - neighbourhood-scaled and local - is also a subject of scientific and practical interest. These heterogeneities in the distribution of thermal energy are caused by the presence or functioning of individual objects, and therefore, on the one hand, have a direct impact on the state of the environment and human living conditions, and on the other hand, are a promising area for the development of environmental engineering and settlement rational arrangement. As part of the conducted research, the main patterns of spatial distribution of the Earth's surface temperature within the Rostov-on-Don city district were identified, as well as the areas of formation of anomalies of local and neighbourhood scale and objects and processes contributing to their formation were identified. The results and conclusions can be used for further study of ecological and geophysical features of urban landscapes, and also have an applied value in determining the direction and consequences of the impact of the advancement of specific types of urban development of the territory.