Rapid Urbanization Changes Research Articles

Dynamic synchronization of extreme heat in complex climate networks in the contiguous United States

Urban climate research has surged in the past decades due to its unique position in addressing the concomitant issues of the rapid global urbanization and emergent climate changes. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of holistic and system-based toolkit for investigating complex dynamics of urban climate systems, especially those of hydroclimate extremes. Here we propose a novel framework based on complex networks for analyzing the topological structure of the urban climate in the contiguous United States (CONUS). In addition, we simulate CONUS urban networks using Kuramoto model and the master stability function formalism, which sheds new light on the occurrence and evolution of heat waves as dynamic synchronization processes. It is found that the CONUS urban climate networks are highly modular with spatial hierarchical (hub-periphery) organization. The small-world effect is also manifest in these networks with the characteristic path length between any pair of nodes no more than 5. For globally connected urban networks, as the sparsity of connections increases (with threshold of correlation coefficient), the path length decreases roughly linearly, whereas the synchronizability reduces exponentially.

Influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon pollution on the diversity and function of bacterial communities in urban wetlands.

Human disturbance has become the primary driving factor behind declining urban wetland ecological health due to rapid urbanization. Sediment microbial communities are critical for wetland ecosystem functioning but experience a range of natural and anthropogenic stressors due to rapid urbanization and land use changes, especially in developing countries. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released into the environment primarily come from anthropogenic sources like industrial activities and traffic emissions. Environmental PAH contamination is accelerating due to rapid urbanization, which also increases potential PAH-related dangers to human health. However, PAHs are widely distributed and not easy to centrally control. Microorganisms are the primary mediators of wetland purification, with most PAH-degrading microorganisms being bacteria. To better understand the influence of PAH contamination on urban wetland microbial communities, bacterial community compositions within sediments of urban wetlands in three land use types were investigated using high-throughput DNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in overall microbial compositions among the three land use types, although γ-proteobacteria was the dominant phyla across all samples. Among the potential PAH-degrading bacterial taxa in sediments, Sphingomonas was the most prevalent. The distributions of PAH-degrading taxa were primarily affected by variance in organic compound abundances in addition to various physico-chemical variables, among which high-ring PAH content was a key parameter associated with bacterial distributions, except in the riverine wetlands. Functional inference via phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) indicated that 30 of the 43 genes related to PAH metabolism were predicted to be present within the genomes of bacteria among the three land use type. In particular, dioxygenase and dehydrogenase genes involved in PAH degradation were inferred to be prevalent, indicating that the host urban wetlands exhibited strong potential for organic pollutant degradation.

Determination of Optimal Meshness of Sewer Network Based on a Cost—Benefit Analysis

Urban pluvial flooding occurs when the capacity of sewer networks is surcharged due to large amounts runoff produced during intense rain events. Rapid urbanization processes and changes in climate increase these events frequency. Effective and sustainable approaches for the reduction in urban floods are necessary. Although several gray, green and hybrid measures have been studied, the influence of network structure on flood occurrence has not yet been systematically evaluated. This study focuses on evaluating how different structures of a single urban drainage network affect flood volumes and their associated damages. Furthermore, a cost–benefit analysis is used to determine the best network structure. As a case study, a sewer subnetwork in Dresden, Germany was selected. Scenarios corresponding to different layouts are developed and evaluated using event-wise hydrodynamic simulation. The results indicate that more meshed structures are associated with lower flood volumes and damage. Moreover, all analyzed scenarios were identified as cost-effective, i.e., the benefits in terms of flood damage reduction outweighed the costs related to pipe installation, operation and maintenance. However, a predominantly branched structure was identified as the best scenario. The present approach may provide a new cost-effective solution that can be integrated into the development of different mitigation strategies for flood management.

Social Evaluation of Public Open Space Services and Their Impact on Well-Being: A Micro-Scale Assessment from a Coastal University

Public open spaces services have been shown to be profoundly affected by rapid urbanization and environmental changes, and in turn, they have influenced socio-cultural relationships and human well-being. However, the impact of these changes on public open space services (POSS) remains unexplored, particularly in the Saudi Arabian context. This study examines the socio-cultural influence of POSS on the King Abdulaziz University campus, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and the impact of these services on well-being. A field survey and questionnaire were used to collect data. Non-parametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests) were used to find significant differences in the importance of POSS as perceived by stakeholders based on socio-demographic attributes. Factor analysis was performed for 14 POSS to identify those that are most important. The study showed that (i) university stakeholders are closely linked to services provided by public open spaces (POS) and dependent on POSS, (ii) there were significant differences in the perceived importance of POSS according to gender, age, and social groups, and (iii) 70 to 90% of stakeholders reported POSS as having a positive impact on well-being. Thus, the findings will help design and plan POSS to meet the needs of society and promote well-being.

“Let them sing!” The paradoxes of gender mainstreaming in urban policy and urban scholarship

ABSTRACT The early twenty first century has been a defining period for urbanization at a global scale. There is an urgent imperative to bring a gender analysis into debates on urbanization in this period of rapid urban growth and change. This article examines the potential of intergovernmental and scholarly spaces for gendering approaches to urbanization. We do so by reflecting on our experience of attending the 9th World Urban Forum (WUF 9), held in Kuala Lumpur in February 2018, as well as a series of academic conference sessions held in Toronto, New Orleans, and Montreal in 2018 on the theme of social reproduction and the development of a feminist urban theory for our time. We ask, to what extent do the discursive and performative strategies used in these different institutional settings serve to substantively center gender in transformative visions of the urban?

An agent-based framework for high-resolution modeling of domestic water use

Many cities have been suffering from severe water deficiency in recent years due to rapid urban expansion, socioeconomic development, population growth, and climate change. Domestic water use plays an important role in the total urban water use. A framework for estimating domestic water use is highly needed to develop adaptive measures for efficient water use under climate change and urbanization. In this study, we developed an agent-based model (ABM) with two groups of agents to estimate the domestic water use. These two groups include the government agent that determines the income growth rate, adjusts water prices, and promotes water-efficient appliances, and the residential agents who consume water. To better capture the impact of urbanization and climate change on water use, the utility function of residential agents was further divided into base water use related to economic condition and seasonal water use that is sensitive to climate conditions. Moreover, a bass diffusion model was proposed and integrated into the ABM to consider the diffusion of water-efficient appliances. Results show that our ABM can capture the spatiotemporal pattern of domestic water use in different regions. Residents in the central urban area consume more water compared to residents in the suburbs in the study cities in China, but it is opposite in the study counties in the US. The growth of income and water-efficient appliances are two factors affecting domestic water use. The proposed modeling framework is transferrable to other regions to develop strategies for mitigating domestic water use.

Walking with light and the discontinuous experience of urban change

This paper is concerned with the affective power of light, darkness, and illumination and their role in exposing and obscuring processes of rapid urban change. Little academic attention has focused on how lighting informs multiple, overlapping, and intersecting urban temporalities and mediates our experience of an ever‐changing city. This paper foregrounds a walk through the illuminated city at night as an epistemic opportunity to develop an embodied account of material and temporal change in ways that disrupt the aesthetic organisation of the sensible world at night. By detailing the discontinuous experience of walking through differently lit spaces, the paper develops novel ways of conceptualising the experience of urban change that unsettle common understandings of subjectivity, temporality, and the city. The paper draws on a single night's walk from Canning Town to Canary Wharf in east London – an area that has recently undergone rapid change, including the erection of enclaves of high‐rise development. By accentuating the shared experiences of walking with light, we reveal the affective capacities of light and dark to conceal and expose wider material, embodied, and temporal urban changes but also how we might challenge the organisation of the nocturnal field of the sensible.

Effect of Underground-Type Ammunition Magazine Construction in Respect of Civil and Military Coexistence

Recently, rapid urban development and changes in the national defense environment have required civil–military coexistence plans. In particular, this is an urgent issue for ammunition magazines, which have the widest range of military protection zones among military facilities because of the safety distance standard and their location at transportation hubs. In this study, fundamental research was conducted on underground-type ammunition magazines for the sake of the sustainable civil and military developments. First, the effects of reducing the safety distance for underground-type ammunition magazines, compared to that for ground-type ammunition magazines, were evaluated. Economic and environmental effects expected by substituting underground-type ammunition magazines for ground-type ammunition magazines were analyzed based on the results. Then, design methods of the underground-type ammunition magazine that effectively reduce the safety distance were suggested by performing numerical simulations. The installation of chambers at different depths and the application of technologies to reduce explosion pressure inside the chambers were discussed. Finally, an endowment and concession project method was analyzed based on the previous researches as the most efficient way of implementing the project of an underground-type ammunition magazine. It was concluded that research to specify design methods for underground-type ammunition magazines was urgently required to vitalize future underground-type ammunition magazine projects.

‘For the People’ Without ‘by the People’: People and Plans in Shanghai's Waterfront Development

AbstractThe constant interplay between top‐down authority and bottom‐up agency in the production of urban space has invigorated much scholarly debate in urban studies. China, with its astonishingly rapid urban change, offers a fruitful context for empirical investigations. In this article, we seize the opportunity of Shanghai's recent waterfront development to unpack the process by which the local state in Shanghai planned, designed, delivered and governed the city's much‐storied waterfront. Ostensibly framed as an initiative for the people, the development of Shanghai's waterfront was decidedly not by the people. Powerful state actors and their affiliates in universities and architectural firms collaboratively pursued an urban developmental process that paradoxically enhanced residents’ right to urban space and denied citizens’ right to participation. The local state reconciled this apparent paradox by articulating a ‘quality people’ it sought to serve, fabricating an entire profile of their supposed aesthetic values, leisure habits, spatial preferences and luxurious lifestyles. In its essence, this ‘people’ framing represents an extraordinarily cunning approach to state hegemony, enabling the local state to pursue heavy‐handed interventions while upholding a gentle, humanistic ‘for the people’ discourse.

From Third World to First World: Law and Policy in Singapore’s Urban Transformation & Integration

Abstract The physical transformation of a colonial backwater city, Singapore, in one generation has been described as a feat of urban planning, renewal, and development. Less studied is the political will of the government to create a thriving city fit for purpose. Even less studied is the role of law that provides the powerful levers for the rapid and deep-seated changes to the urban landscape in Singapore. In this regard, the mindset shift that accompanied the massive urban transformation has facilitated a national psyche that embraces the material dimension of progress, for which urban renewal is not just a mere indicator but also a mantra for the fledgling nation-state desirous of change as a mark of progress. This essay examines the multi-faceted role of law in undergirding urban planning, policy, and development in Singapore. Rather than just providing a focus on specific laws that enables the government to shape the processes of urban redevelopment, the essay argues that these laws have to be understood within the context of “urban redevelopment pragmatism” in which pragmatism is as much a planning ideology as it is a driver of urban change and renewal. Furthermore, this planning pragmatism, very much mission-oriented towards national goals, has become a potent source of political and performance legitimacy for the ruling People’s Action Party. The legal regime that provided the wherewithal for urban renewal, economic activity, water quality management, and spatial integration of a polyglot society is now being reconfigured for the urgent aspiration of becoming a global city and a smart nation. The essay also considers the limitations to this planning and redevelopment pragmatism, and how the rapid urban change has somewhat enervated the urban heritage and contributed to a weakening of the collective memory of change amid continuity.

Understanding Landscape Identity in the Context of Rapid Urban Change in China

China is one of the most rapidly urbanising countries in the world. In recent years, it has experienced enormous environmental changes, as well as a loss of landscape identity. This paper aims to explore the concept of landscape identity in the context of the overwhelming urbanisation in China. It develops a conceptual framework on landscape identity from different dimensions. Factors are also identified that drive the urban changes with regard to the landscape identity that develops over time. Taking the city of Yantai, a city in Shandong Province, as an example, it is demonstrated how this conceptual framework can be applied to help in the understanding and protection of landscape identity in China.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, SMART URBANIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract: The research study entitled ‘Global Environment, Climate Change, Smart Urbanization and International Environment Laws for Global Sustainable Development’ focuses on the issues relating to the global environment, climate change, smart urbanization and the international environmental laws that determine these global indicators in achieving sustainable development goals and in trying to assess the linkages and implications of these macro variables as key determinants of the global environment and climate change. Thus, the problem associated with this research study is a global phenomenon that definitely has national, sub-national, and regional implications/ramifications across economies. These macro variables are scientific and practical determinants of the way global economies move forward and the problems encountered by various economies in the light of the global environment, climate, and rapid smart urbanization changes. Hence, the research problem which the research study focuses on is a realistic and practical one that encompasses, covers, and determines the major macro aspects of the global economies. The aspects dealt in the research study covers among others issues such as global environment, climate change, smart urbanization, and international environmental laws, IPCC, Paris Agreement on Climate Change and NDCs, promoting climate-resilient smart and rapid urbanization, exploration of climate change legislation, global environmental governance systems to promote peace, justice and development and in fulfillment of environmental and human rights connected with it, etc., The most important conclusions drawn from the research study is that United Nations has been playing a major role as the unique international organization which has been making all-out efforts to mitigate climate change, adopt climate-resilient measures for effective, smart and rapid urbanization in cities, reshaping these measures to attain global sustainability and Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) and in impacting global infrastructure for global sustainable development.

Opportunities and challenges in water sensitive industrial development: an Auckland case study, New Zealand

ABSTRACT Internationally cities are increasingly applying Sustainable Stormwater Management (SSM) to mitigate urban stormwater problems caused by rapid urban sprawl and climate change. However, a gap exists in specific guidance and supporting case studies for SSM (termed Water Sensitive Design or WSD in New Zealand) at industrial sites. This paper uses a two-step New Zealand case study to identify priority issues to address when formulating guidelines for industrial SSM. The first step, in this paper, reports on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Auckland’s stormwater professionals to gain insight into the practice, motivation, and the benefits and barriers, of applying Industrial WSD (IWSD). The analysis showed that although IWSD could mimic and retain nature to mitigate impacts of changes to stormwater contaminants, flows and volume, as well as enhance aesthetic amenity, comfort level, and human health. The key challenges revealed reasons for these low levels of application were space shortage, lack of cognition and knowledge, lack of official regulations and compliance structure, and maintenance uncertainty. In conclusion, the successful application of IWSD is likely to be a slow process, that requires knowledge and awareness transformation, establishment of a sound regulation and governance structure, and the valuing of WSD in planning and design stages with specific consideration of industrial environments. These findings will inform a second step of this research, formulating guidelines on the application of WSD (and so SSM) to industrial sites and precincts.

Urbanization Enhanced Summertime Extreme Hourly Precipitation over the Yangtze River Delta

AbstractAn extensive urban agglomeration has occurred over the Yangtze River delta (YRD) region of East China as a result of rapid urbanization since the middle 1990s. In this study, a 44-yr (i.e., 1975–2018) climatology of the summertime extreme hourly precipitation (EXHP; greater than the 90th percentile) over the YRD is analyzed, using historical land-use data, surface temperature, and hourly rain gauge observations, and then the relationship between rapid urbanization and EXHP changes is examined. Results show significant EXHP contrasts in diurnal variation and storm type roughly before and after middle July. That is, tropical cyclones (TCs) account for 16.4% of the total EXHP hours, 80.5% of which occur during the late summer, whereas non-TC EXHP accounts for 94.7% and 66.2% during the early and late summer, respectively. Increasing trends in occurrence frequency and amount of the non-TC and TC-induced EXHP are detected over the urban agglomeration. Statistically significant larger increasing trends in both the EXHP and surface temperature are observed at urban stations than those at the nearby rural stations. An analysis of 113 locally developed non-TC extreme rainfall events during 2011–18 summers also suggests the contribution of the urban heat island effects to the more occurrences of EXHP, especially over a band-shaped urban region where several major cities are distributed. This study reveals a significant correlation between rapid urbanization and increased EXHP during the past two decades over the YRD region. The results have important implications for understanding the impact of urbanization on EXHP changes in a warming climate.

Ethnic differences on cardiovascular disease risk and quality of life in Selangor

Malaysia is currently experiencing an epidemiologic and demographic transition. Rapid urbanization and vast changes in lifestyles among the population has led to widespread cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. Also, until now, the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor has remained unknown among the Malaysian population. This study aimed to identify the most significant cardiovascular risk factor among multiethnic adults in Dengkil, Selangor. A case-control retrospective study comparing past exposure (retrospective) between the case (total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 5.18 mmol/L) and control groups (TC < 5.18 mmol/L) on CVD risk via guided questionnaire comprised of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS)-21 and SF-12 was carried out among 180 respondents aged 20 to 56 years in Dengkil, Selangor. In the present study, purposive and consecutive sampling were both applied to recruit respondents and also considering ethnic as a factor; thus, quota sampling was also conducted. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Chi-Square, Independent Samples t-test and multiple logistic regression tests. The findings indicated there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) regarding all the risk factors between the case and control groups except for personal medical history (p < 0.05). Chinese possessed the highest number of significant risk and protective factors. Lastly, the quality of life of Malay controls was higher than that of cases in terms of Physical Component Summary (PCS). Generally, all the risk factors were independent in terms of total cholesterol status, except for personal medical history. The significance of risk factors and protective factors varies according to ethnicity.

FIRST OBSERVATION OF BLUE JAY (CYANOCITTA CRISTATA) DEPREDATING A GOLDEN-CHEEKED WARBLER (SETOPHAGA CHRYSOPARIA) NEST

The golden-cheeked warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) is an endangered songbird whose eastern breeding range is undergoing rapid urbanization and concomitant changes to the predator community. We document the first observation of a golden-cheeked warbler nest depredated by the range-expanding blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) to highlight the potential impacts of warbler nest predation by corvids in urban landscapes.

A growing city: patterns and ramifications of urban change in Wa, Ghana

This paper examines the patterns and ramifications of urban change in Wa, a fast growing municipality in northwestern Ghana. Using spatial information, key informant interviews and observations, the paper discusses how urban change, both in and out of the urban core, has affected environmental conditions. The result shows that, since 1986 built up density within the municipality has been on the decline due to urban sprawl. Meanwhile, compactness has increased in the municipal core resulting from infill whilst the city has been extending outwards into suburban areas in the form of linear strip developments along major transport routes. Overall, urban land use increased from 0.1% (614.4 ha) in 1986 to 7.8% (4587.7 ha) in 2016. Rapid urban change in Wa has resulted in high land values, poor and uncoordinated residential developments, and inadequate social and environmental services. The study concludes that Wa will continue to grow towards the southern, southwestern and western areas and fuse with Bamahu, Kpongu and Danko (in the Wa Municipality) and Siiriyiri (in the Wa West District) to form a single metropolis. It is suggested that the Wa Municipal Assembly should liaise with the Wa West District to complement efforts in the provision of urban infrastructure and environmental services for the emerging metropolis.

Prevalence of Morbidity Profile among Geriatric Population in Urban Field Practice Area, Manikeshwari

Introduction: India has got the label of “an ageing nation” due to contribution of elderly population to demographic figures increasing day by day. Elderly persons face dual disease burden that is communicable as well as non-communicable diseases.
 Objectives: To find out prevalence of various geriatric morbidities.
 Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 463 geriatric persons residing in urban field practice area from Jan 2018 to June 2018.
 Results: Overall prevalence of musculoskeletal problems was found 72.3%. Prevalence of respiratory problems like asthma, tuberculosis etc. was 17.3%. As the age increases number of participants with presence of any morbidities also increases and this difference was found statistically significant. Presence of any morbidity was found higher among widow or widower compared to married participants and this difference was also found statistically significant.
 Conclusions: Present study shows higher prevalence of morbidities among geriatric population like musculoskeletal disorders, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, impaired vision, anemia etc. Increased life expectancy, rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes all contribute to higher prevalence of morbidities. Lifestyle modification, appropriate delivery of preventive, curative and rehabilitative health care services to geriatric age group would definitely help them to lead a life in a healthy manner.

Identification of ecosystem service bundles and driving factors in Beijing and its surrounding areas

In high-intensity human activity areas, such as metropolises, rapid changes in land use, agricultural intensification, and population urbanization have resulted in profound and complex transformations in socio-economic ecosystems. The study of ecosystem service (ES) bundle is conducive to various aspects, such as determination of the variation characteristics of ES; identification of the mechanism of interdependence within ES; and driving mechanism of socio-economic-ecological factors to ES to maintain the sustainable development of the region. The research areas include Beijing and its surrounding areas. Ten ES, including grain providing (GP), water yield (WY), carbon sequestration (CS), soil retention (SEC), purified water service, cultural services, and habitat quality (HQ) were selected for valuing and mapping. The ES paired trade-offs and synergetic relationship, bundle was determined, and the bundles' service types and spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed. Subsequently, GeoDetector was used for detecting the factors affecting the bundles' distribution. Results showed that WY, CS, SEC, and HQ were bounded by Tai-hang and Yanshan Mountains. Among the 45 pairs of ES, 38 pairs bore significant correlation. Multiple services had different degrees of positive and negative correlations with other services. For example, GP had a high positive correlation with WY while bearing a high negative correlation with HQ. Seven bundles include SEC, culture, urban, HQ, agriculture, water supply and purification, and water purification. Various factors played decisive roles in the bundles’ spatial distribution. Among them, the investment capacity and demand for ecological protection depend on the level of GDP and POP. The formulation of agricultural planting plans is inseparable from TADEM. ASL is directly related to species richness. Results indicate that bundle research can identify the areas of the formation of co-occurrence of trade-offs and synergies and support the formulation of ES optimal management plans for different regions through further research of the driving mechanism.

Quantitative assessment of urbanization and impacts in the complex of Huế Monuments, Vietnam

Rapid and extensive urban changes in recent decades have inflicted a multitude of challenges in land-use planning and conservation management, especially for the heritage protection of historic areas. This paper describes the results of an integrated approach to analyzing the potential environmental impacts of urbanization that has profoundly transformed land cover and land -use in Vietnam. A combination of remote-sensing techniques and ancillary indices enables a quantitative evaluation of urbanization impacts on 12 sites in the Complex of Huế Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from 1968 to 2016. This approach includes classifying satellite images, analyzing urbanization characteristics with land-cover and land-use change and urbanization indices, and quantifying environmental impacts by ecosystem service values. Object-based classification results indicate that the support vector machine algorithm achieves an optimum overall accuracy of 84.78–86.5% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.82–0.84. Quantitative results of the total absolute loss value reveal the largest negative effect at Huế Citadel and the most positive at Tự Đức Tomb, with the overall consequence of urbanization being predominantly negative for the whole complex. The adverse impacts are found primarily from the degradation of agriculture and green space. The negative total loss value also serves as a quantification of impacts from increased urbanization on human well-being. This integrated methodology can be a potentially effective tool to plan for sustainable development in the continual trend toward further urbanization in Vietnam.