Open Space Research Articles

Unlocking aerobatic potential of quadcopters: Autonomous freestyle flight generation and execution.

Quadcopter drones are capable of executing complex aerobatic maneuvers when controlled manually by skilled pilots but are limited to simple aerobatic actions when flying autonomously in open spaces. As such, this study introduces a comprehensive system that enables drones to generate and execute sophisticated aerobatic maneuvers in complex environments with dense obstacle distributions. A universal representation is proposed, succinctly capturing flight as a series of discrete aerobatic intentions. These intentions consist of topology and attitude changes, which can be combined in various ways to describe intricate flight maneuvers. A spatial-temporal joint optimization trajectory planner is also introduced to generate dynamically feasible trajectories that are as smooth as possible and devoid of collisions. In addition, we investigate unique yaw sensitivity issues in aerobatic flight and identify the inherent influence of differential flatness singularities on yaw rotations while avoiding associated dynamics issues. A series of ablation studies confirmed the necessity of these spatial-temporal joint optimization and yaw compensation strategies. Additional simulations and physical experiments validated the stability and feasibility of our proposed system for improving uncrewed aerial flight. The proposed system enables drones to autonomously achieve flight performance usually reserved for professional pilots, unlocking boundless potential for aerobatic flight evolution in uncrewed aerial vehicles.

The Calculation of Green Open Space Patterns in The Cities in Indonesia

The Calculation of Green Open Space Patterns in The Cities in Indonesia

The study of outdoor thermal comfort in open spaces of cold climate campus

In the urbanization process, phenomena such as the urban heat island effect exacerbate climatic deteriorations, leading to environmental issues in cities. Campus areas, as significant ecological components within the urban environment, play a crucial role in environmental regulation. This paper investigates the impact of outdoor physical environments in campuses on users’ thermal comfort from the perspective of thermal comfort. Using surveys, meteorological measurements, and behavioral analysis, this study examines four distinctive spaces within a campus in Xi’an, establishing a thermal comfort baseline for the population in Xi’an’s campus spaces. The research results indicate: (1) Globe temperature (Tg), air velocity (Va), air temperature (Ta), and ground temperature (G) are the primary factors affecting students’ thermal sensations in campus open spaces. Respondents tended to improve their thermal sensations through changes in humidity and solar radiation. (2) In the campus open spaces of Xi’an, the overall NPET of the subjects was 13.9 °C, with the NPETR ranging from 9.4 to 18.4 °C. (3) The preferred warmth temperature for university students in Xi’an is 15.15 °C, which is 1.25 °C higher than the NPET (13.9 °C).

PERSEPSI DAN MOTIVASI PENGUNJUNG TERHADAP PEMANFAATAN HUTAN KOTA SRENGSENG SEBAGAI OBJEK WISATA (Visitor’s Perception and Motivation Towards the Use of Srengseng Urban Forest as A Tourist Attraction)

Srengseng Urban Forest is one of the types of Green Open Space (RTH) with tourism potential that is worthy of being developed. This can be seen from the adequate views of the forest and lake, easy access to the location, and can be a means of recreation for the surrounding community. Srengseng Urban Forest is one of the important areas that should be considered in order to create a comfortable city layout. In order to achieve a comfortable city forest for visitors, data is needed regarding visitor perceptions and motivations. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions and motivations of visitors to Srengseng Urban Forest. The study used a qualitative method through interviews using a closed questionnaire. The research respondents numbered 90 people, who were determined using the Slovin Technique. The assessment of the results was analyzed using the Likert Scale. Data collection used was to search for, record, and collect all information objectively and as it is according to the results of observations and interviews in the field, namely data recording and various forms of data in the field. Visitor perceptions of Srengseng Urban Forest in the categories of knowledge, comfort and security, security and safety, cleanliness, and facilities are in the good and very good categories. Visitor motivation in Srengseng Urban Forest on the driving factors is dominated by recreational and sports activities. Meanwhile, the pull factors are dominated by proximity to the visitor's residence as well as the coolness and comfort of the place.

Design Optimization with Building Forms and Their Effects on Outdoor Thermal Comfort: The Case of Composite Climate of Lucknow, India

The recent development in Lucknow shows that the amount of built mass may increase significantly soon, which may affect outdoor thermal comfort. This study aims to achieve a better alternative to the geometrical configuration of vertical surfaces that helps improve the outdoor thermal comfort level. The study primarily deals with the exploration of built forms by altering the planar forms, heights, and orientations to arrive at a better composition of vertical surfaces. 144 typologies were finally generated, which were then simulated in ENVI-met. The results show that, with the I-shaped typology it is difficult to reduce solar access, whereas in terms of ventilation, the typology performed better than L-shaped and C-shaped typologies. For this reason, the hours of solar access, as well as wind speed, should be seen together while developing the built-form typology. Urban neighborhoods can be designed with streets and open spaces oriented primarily to northeast-southwest and northwest-southeast directions which allow the open spaces to be thermally more comfortable than the rest of the orientation. This research highlights the importance of varying building heights to enhance thermal comfort. The findings provide valuable insights for composite climate cities like lucknow and can serve as a framework for future design strategies aimed at mitigating outdoor thermal discomfort. It is therefore important for planners, urban designers, and architects to design considering the minimal impact of the upcoming development on the thermal comfort level.

The Built Environment of Kamiti Maximum Security Prison, Nairobi: Implications for Rehabilita-tion and Psychological Well-being

This article explores the built environment of Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in Nairobi, Kenya, analyzing its spatial layout, architectural features, and their impact on the psychological well-being of inmates. Building surveys, guided by a structured observation checklist were used to evaluate the physical characteristics of the built environment, while a semi-structured questionnaire was used to study inmates’ perception of the built environment. 250 respondents, drawn from the inmates’ population participated in the study. Descriptive correlational analysis was used to relate the in-mates’ subjective views to the presiding physical characteristics of the built environment. The study findings identified the constructed environment as the sovereign contributor of psychological dis-tress, with significant variation with age, which added 0.016 variance, while length of imprison-ment and marital status had insignificant variation at 0.007 and 0.001 respectively. Both the inade-quate infrastructure and the deficient design of spatial layouts, ward sizes and design, outdoor open spaces, training facilities and sensory environment were identified as the specific attributes of the built environment with significant impact on psychological wellbeing, with significance coefficients of 0.86, 1.84, 0.94, 2.12 and 1.27 respectively. The study thus concludes that the built environment at Kamiti Maximum Prison is driven by colonial punitive principles rather than modern rehabilita-tive strategies. The study highlights the deficiencies in Kamiti’s infrastructure and recommends a rehabilitative model that balances security and control; health and well-being; and rehabilitation and reintegration, thereby contributing to the growing discourse on therapeutic prison architecture

Can domestic resource mobilisation by civil society organisations (CSOs) open up civic space in the Global South?

ABSTRACT In response to political and funding pressures, civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Global South are seeking to generate more funding from local sources. This article explores whether domestic resource mobilisation can also open up civic space by reviewing the evidence on the relationship between domestic resource mobilisation and civic space in the Global South. This article adopts a scoping review methodology and follows a literature search and screening process where 25 studies were synthesised. In addition, we draw on primary data from interviews with CSO representatives in Burkina Faso, India, Ethiopia, and Kenya to examine whether and how domestic resource mobilisation can improve the operating environment for civil society. We find that domestic resource mobilisation enhances CSOs’ legitimacy and credibility at the grassroots by increasing downward accountability, albeit with trade-offs. CSOs use domestic resource mobilisation as a platform for engaging citizens and opening spaces for collective action, which increases civic participation and demands for social accountability. We further find that political actors are more receptive towards CSOs with a local base, although this receptiveness depends on the context and the functions of CSOs. Finally, we identify some potentially negative aspects of domestic resource mobilisation for civic space.

STRUCTURE OF OPHTHALMIC TRAUMA USING STATIONARY DATABASE FROM THE NATIONAL OPHTHALMOLOGY CENTRE NAMED AFTER ACADEMICIAN ZARIFA ALIYEVA (2019 - 2023)

Purpose – to analyze the structure of ophthalmic trauma among patients who received inpatient treatment at the National Ophthalmology Centre named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva. Material and methods Within the framework of the study, statistical data on eye injuries among patients who received inpatient treatment at the National Ophthalmology Center named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva were analyzed. A total of 2,152 medical records (2,225 injured eyes) were analyzed for the period from 2019 to 2023. The study retrospectively analyzed the frequency of various types of ocular injuries using the Birmingham Eye Trauma Terminology (BETT). The correlation between injury types and their locations was also analyzed. Results TThe study revealed the predominance of open-globe injuries throughout the observation period and a high incidence of ocular injuries associated with the presence of a foreign body. Among closed-globe injuries, lamellar ruptures were the most common, accounting for an average of 82.1±14.6% of all analyzed cases. Foreign body-related eye injuries constituted a significant portion of all ophthalmic traumas, with 45.1% involving corneal penetration and 33.6% involving penetration in vitreous. Of all the studied eye injuries, 48.1% occurred in open spaces (forest, garden, beach, etc.), while 23.6% were related to industrial activities. Conclusion The identified structural features of ophthalmic trauma among inpatients of the National Ophthalmology Centre named after Academician Zarifa Aliyeva and the assessment of injury locations, highlight the necessity of developing comprehensive preventive measures aimed at reducing trauma incidence and increasing awareness of associated risks. It is essential to continue monitoring and improving preventive programs, especially for vulnerable population groups. Key words: ophthalmic trauma, ocular injuries, closed-globe injuries, open-globe injuries, foreign bodies, prevention

Simple open-set recognition combining metric learning and anomaly detection

In real world scenarios, there is always a risk that an object recognition system will encounter unknown objects. Open-set recognition, which identifies such objects as ‘unknown,’ is a crucial research area. Most existing open-set recognition methods have complex structures. Considering the application of closed-set recognition models already used in the real world are utilized for open-set recognition, a simple structure is preferable for implementation. In this study, we propose a novel open-set recognition method that focuses on the feature space of a recognition model by combining metric learning and anomaly detection (AD). By applying metric learning, the feature vectors of the same class are clustered and those of different classes are separated, increasing the open space for the detection of unknown objects. The AD model trains on feature vectors from the intermediate layers of a recognition model, allowing unknown detection without altering the existing model structure. We evaluated various combinations of metric learning and AD techniques, identifying an effective pairing. Our results show that the proposed method performs comparably to state-of-the-art approaches on simple datasets. The simplicity of the proposed method makes it easy to adapt existing closed-set recognition models for open-set recognition in real-world applications.

The first urban open space product of global 169 megacities using remote sensing and geospatial data

Urban open space (UOS) plays an important environmental role, especially in areas characterized by intense social and economic activity. However, the high interclass similarities, complex surroundings, and scale variations of UOS lead to unsatisfactory UOS mapping performance, and UOS mapping products for major cities around the world are lacking. To fill this gap, we used a deep learning-based method based on a tiny-manual annotation strategy and optical remote sensing imagery to produce a 1.19 m resolution UOS map of 169 megacities, namely the OpenspaceGlobal product. We generated the OpenspaceGlobal product with five urban open space categories. To obtain the final OpenspaceGlobal product, we processed over 8.5 TB of remote sensing images and nearly 90 million polygons in crowdsourced geospatial data. The validation results showed that the OpenspaceGlobal product had an overall accuracy of 79.13 % and a kappa coefficient of 73.47 %. The OpenspaceGlobal product can promote a better understanding of human-made space surfaces in major cities around the world.

A Decade of Sanitary Fellings Followed by Climate Extremes in Croatian Managed Forests

Forests in Croatia are characterized by higher levels of biodiversity in species composition. Three significant events occurred in Croatian forests over the past ten years, all of which have a common denominator—sanitary felling. The challenge in the sustainable development of forests started with the ice storm of 2014 that amounted to damage and raised costs in forest stands to EUR 231,180,921. The second challenge was in 2017 when the bark beetle outbreak occurred in the Gorski Kotar region. In December 2017, a windstorm in the same area caused damage to approximately 500,000 m3 of wood stock. The third climate extreme was in the summer of 2023 when three storms with strong winds and heavy rain damaged even-aged forests of common beech and pedunculated oak. The damage was substantial: 3,954,181 m3 of timber was mostly broken and destroyed across 21,888.61 ha of area, and the most damage was in the pedunculate oak forests of Slavonia, i.e., Quercus robur subsp. Slavonica, at 1,939,175 m3. For the main meteorological stations in lowland Croatia, data on precipitation amounts (mm) and wind speeds (m/s) were collected for the period 1981–2023, and the results of our analysis for the last decade are presented. Meteorological drought was analyzed using the rain anomaly index RAI. Data regarding open space fires in the Mediterranean karst area of Croatia were collected from the Croatian Firefighting Association, and the calculation of the burned area index (BAI) was determined. Throughout the entire area of Gorski Kotar County, a sample of permanent plots was set and used to assess the extent of forest damage from the ice storm in 2014 and for the establishment of permanent monitoring of the recovery of trees and forests damaged by the ice storm. The monitoring of bark beetles in the Gorski Kotar region started in 1995 and is still in progress. The aftermath of bark beetle outbreaks in two uneven-aged silver fir stands was studied after a bark beetle outbreak and a sanitary felling of 4655.34 m3. In the area of lowland Croatia, a statistically significant and positive correlation was found between sanitary fellings, maximum wind speeds, and rain anomaly indices in even-aged forests. In conclusion, sustainable development will be at risk due to difficult recovery, rising costs, and overall climate change in the years to come.

‘The freedom of the place during daylight hours’: urban renewal and the fight over play streets in Newcastle upon Tyne, c.1955-1980

ABSTRACT Newcastle upon Tyne’s 1960s planning policy included play streets as a short-term measure in neighbourhoods intended for long term urban renewal. The aim was to create safe spaces for children’s play in areas that lacked open space. Contributing to a reassessment of postwar planning and the environmental turn of the 1970s, this article examines the circumstances surrounding the implementation and adaptation of this policy, its abandonment in 1974 and continuing resident activism following this. Based on municipal and government archives and local newspapers, it critically examines the moral landscape of play streets and the planning and traffic engineering policies and practices underpinning their governance. It shows that the demise of play streets was not due to a decrease in demand for them. Instead, a dominant ‘car logic’ contributed to constituting the child as out-of-place in the street. Factors including the transfer of play streets from planning to engineering, reductions in traffic management budgets following the 1973 oil crisis and a lack of national and regional government support would ultimately limit the possibilities they afforded. The article argues that ideas about the child and street play in this period cannot be divorced from evolving postwar planning and engineering policies and practices.

Color Doppler showing right ventricular blood flow into the aorta via the right coronary artery through an open endocardial trabecular space.

Color Doppler showing right ventricular blood flow into the aorta via the right coronary artery through an open endocardial trabecular space.

Effects of tactile perceptions on elderly adults’ thermo-physiological responses in outdoor open spaces

Effects of tactile perceptions on elderly adults’ thermo-physiological responses in outdoor open spaces

Accessibility and Inclusiveness of Public Open Spaces in Fragile Contexts: A Case Study of Kaya, Burkina Faso

Public open spaces enhance urban sustainability by promoting social inclusion and supporting the right to the city. Somehow, in fragile contexts, knowledge of the accessibility and inclusiveness of these places, especially in the African context, is scarce. In alignment with the SDGs advocating for equal access to public open spaces, this study investigates how the fragile context impacts the accessibility and inclusiveness of public open spaces in Kaya, Burkina Faso. Employing a mixed-methods approach grounded in urban fragility and spatial justice theories, data were collected through GIS tools, group discussions involving 73 participants, and a questionnaire survey with a quota sample of 515 residents. Thematic and contextual analysis and Key Influencer tools were used to interpret the data in depth. The findings reveal that the fragile condition of Kaya impacts social groups in different ways. People living in informal housing, internally displaced people, women, aged people, people living with disabilities, and young people are more likely to experience spatial injustice and social exclusion from public open spaces. This study concludes that innovative measures to enhance governance, planning, and investments promote spatial justice, thereby reducing fragility.

Low-profile wideband slotted microstrip patch antenna array based on higher-order mode for Wi-Fi 6/6E application

Abstract This paper puts forward a novel miniaturized, low-profile, and wideband slotted microstrip patch array with the capability of covering Wi-Fi 6/6E (ranging from 5.15 to 5.83 GHz and from 5.925 to 7.125 GHz). Through etching periodic slots on the traditional patch antenna to modify the boundary conditions, both the TM10 fundamental mode and anti-phase TM20 mode of the patch can be simultaneously excited within the wide frequency band. Then, a 2×2 patch array is designed. The antenna’s bandwidth is further enhanced by the coupling mode between the patch array and the feed network. With a profile of 0.06λ0 (where λ0 is the open space wavelength at the center frequency), the antenna array has a -10 dB impedance bandwidth of 34.1% (between 5.1 and 7.2 GHz). The research findings demonstrate substantial application potential in various Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

Optimized design of hospital open space based on outdoor thermal comfort: The case of Shaanxi People’s Hospital in China

Optimized design of hospital open space based on outdoor thermal comfort: The case of Shaanxi People’s Hospital in China

The Change and Continuity in the Morphology of Traditional Malay Kampung in Medan, Indonesia 1913-2024

This study examines the morphological transformation of the traditional Malay kampung in Medan, Indonesia, from the colonial period (1913) to the present day (2024). Using a typo-morphological approach, the research analyzes spatial changes of streets, buildings, and open spaces, revealing how historical, social, and economic dynamics have shaped the kampung’s evolution. The findings indicate that early settlements were structured around the Malay Sultanate called Istana Puri in Kota Matsum III district. This area showed a clear spatial arrangement of Malay traditional settlement. However, post-independence urbanization, migration, and economic shifts led to increasing density, irregular patterns, and the fading of traditional Malay architectural identity. By 2024, commercial activities dominated major roads, while residential areas moved inward, resulting in fragmented spatial patterns. The study highlights the impact of colonial legacies, the 1946 social revolution, and economic growth in shaping Medan’s urban transformation. Understanding these changes provides insights for urban planning strategies that balance modernization with cultural preservation. This research contributes to the discourse on historical urban morphology and the challenges of maintaining cultural identity in evolving cityscapes.

The Execution of Burning of Seized Narcotics Goods in Open Space on Environmental Health from a Rights Perspective

In the verdict of a narcotics case, the destruction of confiscated narcotics is usually one of the rulings that must be implemented. In Indonesia, the method of destroying confiscated narcotics goods that is commonly used in the execution of decisions in the form of destroying confiscated narcotics goods is by using the open burning method. However, this method of burning confiscated goods is considered to potentially violate human rights because it affects the environment and public health. This research aims to find out how human rights views on the open burning of confiscated narcotics and to determine the destruction procedure that is in accordance with human rights standards in Indonesia. The research method used in this research is socio-legal by using descriptive analytical research specifications. The research stages were carried out with secondary data library research and field research in the form of interviews with the National Narcotics Agency. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that the method of burning confiscated narcotics in open spaces can violate human rights. This is because the smoke from the combustion still contains high levels of dangerous narcotic substances, thus violating the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Furthermore, regarding the method of destroying confiscated narcotics that is safe for the environment and the surrounding community, namely using an incinerator. This is because incinerators do not produce smoke from combustion, so they do not pollute the environment and are not harmful to the surrounding community

Evaluation of hazard quotient (HQ) of toxic and heavy metal concentration in air sediments across selected cities in Nigeria

This study evaluates Hazard Quotient (HQ) from toxic and heavy metal concentration across selected cities in Nigeria. The gravitational sedimentation method was used to collect air sediments to extract toxic and heavy metals contained in air particulates. Funnel shaped collectors which were securely attached to clean empty containers were exposed in open spaces at designated locations within the city, for a period of nine months (January to September 2023), covering the two major seasons in Nigeria. Airborne particles were allowed to settle naturally in the container along with rainwater. Samples from various sub-locations within the city were put together for spectroscopic analyses. This procedure was repeated in six cities covering various geographical and climatic regions in Nigeria. The cities include Benin (S1), Kano (S2), Abuja (S3), Lagos (S4), Enugu (S5), and Calabar (S6). The average concentration of toxic and carcinogenic elements reveals that; lead (Pb) at 5.66, nickel (Ni) at 4.58, magnesium (Mn) at 4.43, Cadmium (Cd) at 1.83, Iron (Fe) at 1.31 and chromium (Cr) at 1.06. Conversely, elements such as; (NH3) :0.042, (Al):0.36, (Co):0.02, (Cu):0.11, (Zn):0.01, (K):0.86, (N):0.32, (N):0.042, (F):0.12 and (Na):0.18 have HQs below 1, indicating safe exposure levels. Cadmium (Cd) displays the highest HQ in Kano (S2) at 2.33, suggesting significant health risks, which may include cancer and kidney failure. Nickel has highest HQ recorded in Edo State, Benin (S1) at 5.5, linked to bronchitis, asthma, and skin irritation. Manganese (Mn) has the highest HQ in Enugu (S5) at 16, with potential for lung inflammation, liver damage, and cognitive impairment. Lead (Pb) shows the highest HQ in Kano (S2) and Calabar (S6) at 8, associated with kidney damage and developmental issues. Chromium (Cr) exhibits the highest HQ in Kano (S2) at 1.3, potentially causing lung cancer and bronchitis. Potassium (K) exceeds an HQ of 1 only in Kano (S2) at 1.05, posing risks of hyperkalemia and kidney issues. This study highlights the critical need for monitoring and mitigating exposure to elements with high HQs to protect public health in these urban areas.