Problem In Major Cities Research Articles

PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON TRAFFIC POLLUTION IN FEDERAL TERRITORY OF KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Increasing pollutant emission from vehicles and traffic jams is a serious environmental problem in major cities. This study is focused on the level of public perception and awareness on traffic pollution in the capital city of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Analytical tools such as descriptive analysis were applied to investigate the percentage of public perception and awareness towards traffic pollution and identify factors that influence this problem. Results showed that almost all respondents (99%) were very sensitive and were aware on traffic pollution regarding the physical, nonphysical factors and the health effect. Most respondents indicated that emissions from exhaust after switching on was the major contributor of air pollution. In terms of health, respondents perceived that traffic pollution impacted health and a cause of illness. Most respondents agreed with initiatives that provide incentives for public transport usage so that emission from vehicles can be reduced significantly.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION ON TRAFFIC POLLUTION IN FEDERAL TERRITORY OF KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Increasing pollutant emission from vehicles and traffic jams is a serious environmental problem in major cities. This study is focused on the level of public perception and awareness on traffic pollution in the capital city of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Analytical tools such as descriptive analysis were applied to investigate the percentage of public perception and awareness towards traffic pollution and identify factors that influence this problem. Results showed that almost all respondents (99%) were very sensitive and were aware on traffic pollution regarding the physical, nonphysical factors and the health effect. Most respondents indicated that emissions from exhaust after switching on was the major contributor of air pollution. In terms of health, respondents perceived that traffic pollution impacted health and a cause of illness. Most respondents agreed with initiatives that provide incentives for public transport usage so that emission from vehicles can be reduced significantly.

The urban transport planning with uncertainty in demand and travel time: a comparison of two defuzzification methods

Nowadays the traffic congestion is being a common problem in major cities, every time the travel time is increasing and also the number of private cars. It is urgent to take actions to solve this problem. The urban transport is becoming into the best way to fight against congestion; but to make it more attractive to users it has to be more efficient (less travel time, less waiting time, low fare). The urban transport process has four main activities: Network design, Timetabling, Vehicle scheduling and Crew scheduling. The problem presented here is about the integration of the frequency and departure time scheduled both are subactivities of the timetable construction, besides it includes multiple periods planning and multiperiod synchronization, also the authors consider uncertainty in demand and travel time using fuzzy numbers. The planners faced this problem everyday. The authors created a mathematical model including the characteristics previously mentioned, the objectives of this model are to minimize the total operation cost, to maximize the number of multiperiod synchronization between routes, and to minimize the total waiting time for passengers. The SAugmecon method is used to solve the problem, 32 instances were randomly generated based on real data, and the comparison of two defuzzification methods (k-preference and second index of Yager) is presented. Also, the comparison of the problem with uncertainty on demand and uncertainty on demand and travel time is presented.

Uncovering the spatiotemporal patterns of CO2 emissions by taxis based on Individuals' daily travel

Traffic-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have become a major problem in cities. Especially, the CO2 emissions induced by taxis account for a high proportion in total CO2 emissions. The availability of taxi trajectory data presents new opportunities for addressing CO2 emissions induced by taxis. Few previous studies have analyzed the impact of human trips on CO2 emissions. This paper investigates trip-related CO2 emission patterns based on individuals' travel behavior using taxi trajectory data. First, we propose a trip purpose inference method that takes into account the spatiotemporal attractiveness of POIs to divide human trips into different types. Further, we reveal the spatiotemporal patterns of CO2 emissions from various types of trips, including temporal regularity and periodicity as well as spatial distribution of “black areas”. Finally, comparative analysis of CO2 emissions for different kinds of trips based on trip behavior is conducted using three variables, namely trip distance, trip duration and trip speed. This study is helpful for us to understand how to make travel and cities more sustainable through modifying people's trip behaviors or taxi trips.

Optimization of Urban Single-line Metro Timetable for Total Passenger Travel Time under Dynamic Passenger Demand

This paper studies the optimization of an urban single-line metro timetable for total passenger travel time adapted to dynamic passenger demand, which arises in an urban metro service and is a common problem in major cities. After analyzing the components of the total passenger travel time, a model is presented with the aim of minimizing total passenger travel time. An S-pattern function is proposed to represent the cumulative demand function for each pair of origin and destination in an urban single-line metro. Furthermore, a spatial branch and bound algorithm that is applicable to the model is presented. The advantages of designing a timetable that optimizes the total passenger travel time adapted to dynamic passenger demand are depicted through extensive computational experiments on several cases derived from a real urban single-line metro. An extensive computational comparison of a regular timetable, a timetable optimizing average waiting time, and a timetable optimizing total passenger travel time timetable are performed.

Factors affecting electric vehicle sharing program participants’ attitudes about car ownership and program participation

There are growing concerns on traffic congestion, climate change and parking problems in major cities. Faced with these concerns, policy makers have sought sustainable transportation options including electric vehicle sharing programs (EVSPs). The city of Seoul with 10 million people also has recently launched an EVSP to provide citizens with an alternative travel mode. This study attempts to explore factors affecting the EVSP participants’ attitudes about car ownership and program participation. To do this, a web-based survey was conducted for the participants of the Seoul EVSP, asking their satisfaction levels for the components of the EVSP. Then, using 533 responses of 1772 EVSP members (a response rate of 30%), ordered probit models were developed for three types of attitudes: (1) willingness to dispose of a car, (2) willingness to purchase an EV and (3) willingness to continue participating in the EVSP. The estimated models suggested that participants’ social and economic perspectives were the most important factors affecting the participants’ attitudes. In addition, the attitudes varied depending on personal characteristics such as gender, age and income. Although this study was conducted in the early stage of an EVSP, its results are expected to provide insights into a better EVSP design.

The Ranking Urban Districts on Based Smart Growth Indexes. Case study: Zone 6 of Tehran City

The importance of urban form on sustainable development has been recognized in recent years. Since the late 20th century, a number of countries have adopted urban form policies in environmental planning. Urban form directly affects habitat, ecosystems, endangered species, and water quality through consumption, fragmentation, and or replacement of the natural cover with an impervious surface. The urban sprawl development has led to urban instability and many social, economic, cultural, physical and environmental problems in major cities especially Tehran. This study attempts to investigate the urban development type and how to apply smart urban growth principles for organizing and improving this growth in zone 6 of Tehran city. In fact, The purpose of this research is analysis of Hierarchy Urban districts of zone 6 Tehran on the based Urban smart growth Indexes. This study is an applied research and adopts a descriptive-analytical method. In order to assess smart growth indexes (economic, social, cultural-educational, physical and land functions, healthcare, urban facilities and equipment, environmental and accessibility) the ranking of districtsand the selection of the best section of TOPSIS model was used as the multi-index decision-making method. At last, the study investigates the correlation between the research variables and the urban smart growth integrated index by employing the regression test. The research findings reveal that the physical and land use sections have the most influence on the spatial and physical structure of smart urban growth in zone 6 and the accessibility and the cultural-educational sections occupy the next ranks. Besides, the findings resulted from integrated indexes of smart growth indicate that district 1 with the TOPSIS grade of 0.8921 is known as the top development, and district 4 with the TOPSIS grade of 0.3292 is considered as the low development district among Tehran's 6 zone.

Urban Development of zone22 of Tehran's Municipality toward Smart Growth Strategy

The importance of urban form on sustainable development has been recognized in recent years. Since the late 20th century, a number of countries have adopted urban form policies in environmental planning. Urban form Urban form directly affects habitat, ecosystems, endangered species, and water quality through consumption, fragmentation, and or replacement of the natural cover with an impervious surface. In the recent years, the growing process of the increase of urban population in Iran has brought many problems. One of the consequences of this issue is urbanization's outpacing urban development and urban sprawl development which has lead to urban instability and many social, economic, cultural, physical and environmental problems in major cities especially Tehran. This study attempts to investigate the urban development type and how to apply smart urban growth principles for organizing and improving this growth in zone22 of Tehran city. This study is an applied research and adopts a descriptive-analytical method. In order to assess smart growth indexes (economic, social, cultural-educational, physical and land functions, healthcare, urban facilities and equipment, environmental and accessibility) the ranking of districts and the selection of the best section of TOPSIS model was used as the multi-index decision-making method. At last, the study investigates the correlation between the research variables and the urban smart growth integrated index by employing the regression test. The research findings reveal that the environmental sections have the most influence on the spatial and physical structure of smart urban growth in zone22 and the physical and land use and the cultural-educational sections occupy the next ranks. Besides, the findings resulted from integrated indexes of smart growth indicate that district 1 with the TOPSIS grade of 0.9156 is known as the top development, and district3 with the TOPSIS grade of 0.5078 is considered as the low development district among Tehran's 22zone.

Key drug use, health and socio-economic characteristics of young crack users in two Brazilian cities

BackgroundCrack use constitutes a major problem in cities across Brazil. While existing data suggest that crack use is generally concentrated among disenfranchised young people with extensive health problems and crime involvement, extensive data gaps exist. To address this issue, this study aimed to assess key characteristics of young crack users in two Brazilian cities. MethodsN=160 regular and young adult (ages 18–24) crack users were recruited by community-based methods in the cities of Rio de Janeiro (Southeast) and Salvador (Northeast). Assessments included an interviewer-administered questionnaire on key social, drug use, health and service use characteristics, as well as serological testing of HBV, HCV and HIV status, and were conducted anonymously between November 2010 and June 2011. Participants provided informed consent and received transportation vouchers following assessment completion. The study was approved by institutional ethics review boards. ResultsThe majority of participants were: male, with less than high school education, unstably housed (Rio only); gained income from legal or illegal work; arrested by police in past year (Salvador only); had numerous daily crack use episodes and shared paraphernalia (Salvador only); co-used alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and cocaine; had no injection history; rated physical and mental health as ‘fair’ or lower (Salvador only); had unprotected sex; were never HIV tested; were not HIV, HBV or HCV positive; and did not use existing social or health services, but desired access to crack user specific services. ConclusionCrack users in the two Brazilian sites featured extensive socio-economic marginalization, crack and poly-drug use as well as sexual risk behaviours, and compromised health status. Social and health service utilization are low, yet needs are high. There is an urgent need for further research and for targeted interventions for crack use in Brazil.

Urban climate change impact and Istanbul Water Consensus

Climate change impacts especially on major cities of the world are expected to cause inter-sectoral interactions concerning environmental, socio-economic, cultural, and technological developments and their implementations. This paper presents a methodology to predict future monthly rainfall amounts and surface runoff volumes on decadal basis from 2000–2050 and accordingly interpretation of monthly dry and wet periods, which are the most important gradients for the management of future water supply problems in major cities. It also presents significant articles for combating the climate change impacts on major cities through Istanbul Water Consensus Local and Regional Authorities Declaration on the occasion of the Fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul, which expressed the awareness and responsibility of local and regional leaders concerning climate change impacts on major cities.

대기오염을 고려한 도시의 환경적 수용력 산정 연구

도시의 무분별한 개발로 인해 수도권의 주요도시는 환경문제를 겪고 있다. 이 중 대기오염은 도시민들이 신체적 경제적 피해를 받고 살아가게 되는 원인으로 작용하고 있다. 이에 인간활동으로 인해 배출되는 대기오염물질을 도시환경이 어느 정도 수용가능한지 예측하고, 이를 통해 적정 도시개발 수준을 검토할 필요성이 제기되고 있다. 본 연구는 대기오염물질 배출량에 따라 대기오염의 양상이 다르게 나타날 것이란 전제 하에, 경기도 과천시를 대상으로 대기환경기준 하에서 허용가능한 대기오염물질 배출량을 산정하고, 이를 기반으로 적정 인구규모를 도출하였다. 분석 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, IDW 보간법을 통해 일산화탄소(CO), 이산화질소(<TEX>$NO_2$</TEX>), 아황산가스(<TEX>$SO_2$</TEX>) 농도를 추정한 결과 과천시 전체적으로는 대기환경기준을 초과하지 않는 것으로 나타났다. 둘째, 대기오염물질 배출량과 농도와의 상관분석 결과 일산화탄소(CO)와 이산화질소(<TEX>$NO_2$</TEX>) 농도는 이동오염원과 총오염원, 아황산가스(<TEX>$SO_2$</TEX>) 농도는 이동오염원과 상관관계가 높은 것으로 나타났다. 셋째, 회귀분석을 통해 대기환경기준 하에서 대기오염물질 배출량을 산정하고 이를 기반으로 지탱가능한 인구수를 산정한 결과, 일산화탄소(CO)의 경우 지탱가능인구수가 실제 인구수보다 높게 나타났고, 이산화질소(<TEX>$NO_2$</TEX>)와 아황산가스(<TEX>$SO_2$</TEX>)의 경우는 주거지와 상업시설이 밀집된 도심부와 경계부에서 지탱가능한 인구수를 초과하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구를 통해 시도된 환경용량 측정은 대기환경기준 하에서 어느 정도의 인간활동이 적절한 수준인지를 제시해 주었다는데 의의가 있다. 이를 통해 도시환경이 지니는 용량의 범위 내에서 개발행위를 관리함으로써 지속가능한 도시개발이 가능할 것이다. Indiscreet developments cause environmental problems in major cities of Seoul Metropolitan Area. Among the environmental problems, the air pollution leads the citizens' physical and economic damages. Therefore, it needs to predict how much air pollutant which is emitted from human activities can be carried by urban environment, then to examine the reasonable level of urban development This study assumed that the air pollution is represented differently by the amount of emission. With the assumption, the acceptable air pollutant emission which keeps the air quality under the environmental standard is estimated, then the proper population is calculated in the case of Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. The result is as follow: First, air pollution concentrations of CO, <TEX>$NO_2$</TEX>, <TEX>$SO_2$</TEX> which are estimated by using IDW interpolation of GIS don't excess the air environmental standard. Second, the result of correlation analysis between air pollutant emission and air pollution concentration shows that CO and <TEX>$NO_2$</TEX> has high correlationship with total source of pollution and linear source of pollution, and <TEX>$SO_2$</TEX> with linear source of pollution. Third, the results of regression analysis show that the acceptable population is bigger that the real population in the case of CO, and with the estimation of <TEX>$NO_2$</TEX> and <TEX>$SO_2$</TEX>, the current population in the urban center and boundaries where the residential and commerce land uses are concentrated is bigger than the acceptable population. The consequence of this study is that the estimation of carrying capacity can suggest the acceptable human activities which keep the air quality under the environmental standard. This can leads the sustainable urban development by control the human activities under the carrying capacity of urban environment.

The effects of travellers’ acceptance/satisfaction of unimplemented/implemented transportation demand management strategies on travel behaviour

In the past decades, some major cities around the world have faced various traffic problems caused by the highway infrastructure supply shortage compared with overwhelming vehicle growth. Constructing new highway systems is unlikely to mitigate this problem since available land is limited. On the other hand, physically increasing the supply of transportation systems would cause increased traffic demand, and consequently, the traffic problems may not be improved or resolved. Therefore, managing traffic requires using Transportation (or Travel) Demand Management (TDM). TDM has been one of the main strategies used to improve traffic problems in major cities around the world. In this study, the level of satisfaction towards the existing TDM strategies for road users in Taipei city is explored. As for the strategies not yet implemented, the level of acceptance is also analysed. Finally, a stated choice experiment is carried out to capture the traveller's choice behaviour under different scenarios of TDM strategies. We apply the nested logit model to analyse the satisfaction and acceptability with executed and unexecuted TDM strategies, compare the similarities and dissimilarities within work, shopping and leisure trips and discuss the relationship between variables. We find that travellers agree that disincentive strategies, also known as ‘Sticks’, could solve the problems of traffic jams, but their acceptance or satisfaction is lower than their feeling of effectiveness of TDM strategies. Besides, shortening the travel time of mass transportation tools is an important factor to increase travellers’ willingness to use them.

Participatory noise pollution monitoring using mobile phones

Noise pollution is a major problem in cities around the world. The current methods to assess it neglect to represent the real exposure experienced by the citizens themselves, and therefore could lead to wrong conclusions and a biased representations. In this paper we present a novel approach to monitor noise pollution involving the general public. Using their mobile phones as noise sensors, we provide a low cost solution for the citizens to measure their personal exposure to noise in their everyday environment and participate in the creation of collective noise maps by sharing their geo-localized and annotated measurements with the community. Our prototype, called NoiseTube, can be found online [1].

Participatory noise pollution monitoring using mobile phones

Noise pollution is a major problem in cities around the world. The current methods to assess it neglect to represent the real exposure experienced by the citizens themselves, and therefore could le...

A divisão social da cidade e a promoção da saúde: a importância de novas informações e níveis de decupagem

The article examines the complex relationships among the sociological concept of socio-spatial segregation, urban poverty and health promotion, suggesting research topics that could contribute to a detailed analysis of the Brazilian social reality within the public health context, underpinning decisions on healthcare. Initially, the main aspects of the social division problems in major cities are examined from the historical and sociological viewpoints. The inaccuracies and problems related to the concept of segregation are then discussed analytically, referenced to discussions of urban sociology. The importance of new information and the decoupage of other levels of social ties are also addressed, taking the problems of health promotion into account. Finally, four themes are listed that might well constitute a research agenda: analysis of socio-spatial segregation structures; comparison of social structures and socialization practices in poverty-stricken neighborhoods; a study of the middle class and its space distribution; and Government policies, regulations curtailing segregation and urban inequalities.

Elemental composition of tropospheric aerosols in Hanoi, Vietnam and Nairobi, Kenya

Air pollution problems in major cities within the developing countries need to be studied. There are scanty measurements from the developing countries on airborne particles despite their adverse implications to human health, visibility and climate. One of the major sources of anthropogenic air pollution is energy production. Energy demand is bound to increase as population increases, especially in major cities of the world. Fine particles, particles with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm, are mainly anthropogenic and these particles were collected in the capital cities of Vietnam and Kenya. A cyclone airborne particle collector was used to sample in Hanoi during the months of May to October 2000 and a dichotomous virtual impactor in Nairobi in February 2000. The samples were analysed for elemental content by an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer. S, Cl, K and Fe exceeded atmospheric concentrations of 100 ng m −3 at both cities. Atmospheric elemental concentrations in both Hanoi and Nairobi were orders of magnitude higher than their respective rural towns. Traffic, biomass and waste burning emissions were implicated as the main sources of air pollution in Nairobi, while coal combustion and road transport were the major sources in Hanoi. Regional air pollution had a major impact over Hanoi, whereas an influence of that kind was not identified in Nairobi. Pb and other toxic elements had concentration levels below WHO guideline, however, the two cities are threatened by future high levels of air pollution due to the high rate of population growth. Long-term measurements are required in both areas to evaluate if the alarming situation is deteriorating.

The role of the housing provident fund in financing affordable housing development in China

Since the adoption of the open door policy, the economy of China has been growing rapidly. Along with economic achievement, housing problems in major cities in China have remained largely unsolved. Under the traditional planned economy since 1949, all housing production was the responsibility of the State. Due to the lack of finance, new housing production has not been able to keep up with the increasing urban population. Urban housing reform introduced in 1988 proposed a strategy of developing affordable housing for the ordinary households through the private housing market. However the implementation of such a strategy has encountered a number of obstacles including the lack of a second hand housing market, an undeveloped real estate profession, unclear land and property legislation and an absence of proper property management support. Amid these obstacles, the lack of housing finance would appear to be at the core of the problem. In order to generate funding for housing development, the Chinese Government introduced the Housing Provident Fund (HPF) Scheme in Shanghai in 1991. Under the HPF, all employees were required to contribute a proportion of their salaries to HPF and employers contributed a similar amount. Accounts for individual workers were set up in the Construction Bank of China. Today workers are allowed to withdraw their HPF savings when they retire, alternatively they can use their HPF savings to purchase homes in the private housing market, or from the Comfortable Housing Projects. HPF is now implemented in most cities in China, although there are some variations in the operation of Scheme. By using an empirical study of the HPF Scheme in Shanghai, this paper reviews the role of the HPF in financing affordable housing development in China.

Honda’s current and future engine technologies

Serious air pollution problems in major cities and global warming concerns have led to proposals to replace the internal combustion engine in vehicles. However, in order to commercialise new power units, major issues such as fuel infrastructure and cost must be resolved.

Malignant neoplasms of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses: A series of 256 patients in Mexico City and Monterrey. Is air pollution the missing link?

Air pollution is a serious health problem in major cities in Mexico. The concentrations of monitored criteria pollutants have been above the US National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the last decade. To determine whether the number of primary malignant nasal and paranasal neoplasms has increased, we surveyed 256 such cases admitted to a major adult oncology hospital located in metropolitan Mexico City (MMC) for the period from 1976-1997 and to a tertiary hospital in Monterrey, an industrial city, for the period from 1993-1998. The clinical histories and histopathologic material were reviewed, and a brief clinical summary was written for each case. In the MMC hospital the number of newly diagnosed nasal and paranasal neoplasms per year for the period from 1976-1986 averaged 5.1, whereas for the next 11 years it increased to 12.5. The maximal increase was observed in 1995-1997, with an average of 20.3 new cases per year ( P = 0.0006). The predominant neoplasms in these series were non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, adenocarcinoma, Schneiderian carcinoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In the Monterrey hospital a 2-fold increase in the numbers of newly diagnosed nasal and paranasal neoplasms was recorded between 1993 and 1998. The predominant MMC neoplasm in this series, namely nasal T-cell/natural killer cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, is potentially Epstein-Barr virus related. Nasal and paranasal malignant neoplasms are generally rare. Environmental causative factors include exposure in industries such as nickel refining, leather, and wood furniture manufacturing. Although epidemiologic studies have not addressed the relationship between outdoor air pollution and sinonasal malignant neoplasms, there is strong evidence for the nasal and paranasal carcinogenic effect of occupational aerosol complex chemical mixtures. General practitioners and ear, nose, and throat physicians working in highly polluted cities should be aware of the clinical presentations of these patients. Identification of this apparent increase in sinonasal malignant neoplasms in two urban Mexican polluted cities warrants further mechanistic and epidemiologic studies. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;122:499-508.)

Market wastes in Ibadan, Nigeria

Market sanitation has been a serious problem in major cities in Nigeria. This study describes the characteristics of wastes in 12 markets in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. The results indicate that the wastes comprise of over 68% of easily decomposable matter originating from food, leaves and paper. The wastes on an average showed 66.7% volatile substances, 2.1% total Kjeldahl nitrogen, 1.6% total phosphorus (PO 4), and 66.5% water content. The heavy metal contents were low in the single sample analysed. The possibility of converting such wastes into compost or animal feeds is suggested.