Residential Quarters Research Articles

Interpretation of Gravity Monitoring Data on Geotechnical Impact on the Geological Environment

The Verkhnekamskoye potassium salt deposit located in the Perm Krai is the main source of raw materials for the potash industry in Russia. The penetration of underground waters into the shafts of the mine, which is situated beneath the industrial zone, and residential quarters of the city of Berezniki led to the flooding of the mine with subsequent collapsing of the earth’s surface. For obtaining the information about negative impacts of engineering processes associated with mineral mining operations, a method of highly accurate gravimetric monitoring observations is suggested, suitable for tracking the time changes of the gravitational field. As a result of monitoring observations we obtain a dynamic anomaly of gravity which is defined as the difference between the subsequent and the previous gravity values. Since all the unvarying components of the gravitational field are present in each pair of the observations, the dynamic anomaly only reflects a specific geological or mining process. The method for processing and interpretation of the dynamic anomalies of gravity, which synthesizes qualitative and quantitative approaches to extracting the geological information from gravity data, is developed. The interpretation yields the areal distribution and probable depth interval of the zone of rock decompaction and shows the magnitude of the change in the density of rocks characterizing the intensity of the decompaction process. The practical implementation of the highly accurate gravimetric monitoring observations is carried out in the emergency sites of the mines of the Verkhnekamskoye potassium salt deposit has demonstrated high efficiency of the suggested method.

Elimination of the effect of progressive collapse as a factor in increasing the environmental friendliness of district buildings

The work is devoted to the principle of designing residential quarters with the exclusion of building collapse according to the “domino” principle, ie. without the development of progressive collapse in the event of an accident. This principle increases the efficiency of the “green” development of the construction industry. The work provides real examples when the mistake of the architect of the improvement of the district cost the integrity of a large quarter, presents pictures of man-made disasters associated with the collapse of entire microdistricts. The text of the article is a study of methods and tools for designing buildings and structures, which, being combined into one quarter, will be able to maintain structural integrity in the event of a collapse of one of the components of such a residential building. The principles of calculating a reinforced concrete monolith that prevent progressive collapse are highlighted. Also, the text of the article contains the author’s nomogram, obtained empirically and confirmed by experiments.

Research on the reconstruction of old residential quarters based on the concept of sustainable development

According to the problem of sustainable development after the reconstruction of old residential quarters, this paper analyses the community cases of Electric Power Design Institute in Wuhan and Jinsong community in Beijing. Then, through the investigation of the reconstruction of them, the paper summarizes sustainable development community design mode, and extracts the key factors affecting the sustainable development of the reconstruction, so as to provide sustainable reference for the follow-up guidance of more reasonable reconstruction and design of old residential quarters, and to improve the urban renewal.

Analysis of Non-motorized Vehicle Traffic Flow in Tsinghua University and Comparison with External Roads

Universities in China adopt closed planning layout basically. The demand for non-motorized vehicles is strong and the traffic characteristics are prominent, which is different from the conditions of external roads. Considering the availability of surveillance video in Tsinghua University and the convenience of observing the traffic environment, this paper takes roads on campus as the objects to analyse the characteristics of its non-motorized traffic and make comparison with external ones. The results of campus traffic will not only help us understand the current situation and improve traffic safety, but also provide a basis for solving traffic problems in similar spaces such as unit courtyards, residential quarters, etc..

The influence of Moscow and Leningrad on the compositional organization of residential quarters in Yaroslavl in the 1920s and 1930s

Introduction. The article shows the relevance of studying compositional techniques applied to residential areas in provincial cities in relation to the unfolding program of housing renovation and reconstruction of historical centres of cities. Despite a significant amount of research on various aspects of Soviet urban planning and domestic architecture of the period under review, the local research, focused on the development of particular cities in comparison with the architectural practice of the capital is in demand in both domestic and foreign architectural studies.
 Materials and methods. The step-by-step comparison of the Yaroslavl domestic architecture, dating back to the 20ies and 30ies of the 20th century, is compared with the one of Moscow and Leningrad to identify the features characterizing the formation of compositional techniques applied to residential areas in Yaroslavl.
 Results. The study highlights several stages in the evolution of residential development in Yaroslavl. It is shown that the first stage gravitated towards the Moscow practice characterized by a somewhat mechanistic approach to filling the territory of a quarter. The second stage, which dates back to the end of the first five-year plan, was characterized by a new function of domestic architecture as a limiting controller of central urban spaces. Further stages are focused on the task of developing approaches to the preservation of the valuable historical legacy in the context of reconstruction of central neighbourhoods.
 Conclusions. The article shows the features of the Yaroslavl architecture at each stage, and conclusions are made about the extent and nature of influence produced by the Moscow and Leningrad schools. There are unique approaches to the compositional organization of residential quarters built both on vacant land plots and in the central neighbourhoods of the city that accommodates a valuable historical heritage.

Energy Conservation and Consumption Reduction in Residential Quarters: Taking Cuihu Garden Residential District in Pingxiang City as an Example

This paper uses Auto-Revit for an energy assessment of Cuihu Garden Residential District located in Anyuan District, Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province. Comparative analysis of building energy consumption before and after energy-saving renovation. Through simulation analysis, it can be concluded that replacing LED light sources, enhancing natural ventilation efficiency, and increasing green roof construction can effectively reduce building energy consumption. This article draws the following conclusions: Firstly, by replacing the LED light source, the energy of the residents in the community can be reduced by 65.2%; secondly, the combination of mechanical ventilation and natural shaft ventilation can reduce 73kWh of electricity in ten hours; finally, the green roof energy effectively alleviate temperature changes on the surface of the building, and indirectly reduce the power consumption of heating and air conditioning in the building. The research results can serve as a reference for the improvement of building energy efficiency in cities with subtropical monsoon climate regions represented by Pingxiang City. The direction of energy-saving improvement can be extended to inland small cities in the country and the world.

Hygienic Substantiation of Acoustic Load Reduction Methods for Residential Premises

Summary. Introduction: Traffic flows cause noise discomfort in 75-80 % of urban territories. Automobile and railway objects located near residential buildings generate indoor noise levels that exceed current standards by 5–30 dB. Approximately 20–25% of the Russian population live in areas of excessive traffic-related acoustic load. Despite the existing methods of acoustic load reduction in residential quarters, the number of complaints about high noise exposures in residential buildings keeps growing. Our objectives was to give a hygienic substantiation of an additional method of acoustic load reduction in residential premises based on the results of analyzing the level of acoustic discomfort. Materials and methods: Measurements, assessment and analysis of the noise level along automobile roads and railways and in the reverberation chamber were carried out in accordance with the current regulatory and technical documentation using a noise/vibration meter and spectrum analyzer “EKOFIZIKA-110A”. Data was processed using the Signal+/110 Utilities software. We studied characteristics of sound insulation of airborne noise with polyester shutters with fire retardant impregnation. Results: The results showed that high noise exposure levels in residential areas with transport infrastructure. Automobile traffic flows form an acoustic load in the range of 71–84 dBA, urban railway traffic flows (trams) – 61–80 dBA, and a train – 66–77 dBA. The excess of hygienic standards at night can reach 32 to 39 dBA. The material with the best sound insulation properties was selected showing an efficiency of 5 dBA. Conclusions: Acoustic discomfort is now registered in urban residential areas with developed automobile and railroad networks. Available methods of soundproofing and noise mitigation are not effective enough or may not be used in the current urban development situation to reduce the risk of negative reactions of the human body to excessive noise exposures in residential premises, especially at night. A 5 dBA acoustic load reduction can lower the risk of negative reactions of the human body to noise exposures.

Marina el-Alamein (Egypt): A Topographical Study and the Functioning of an Ancient Provincial Town on the Mediterranean Coast

Marina el-Alamein, a small town situated around 100 km west of Alexandria, is a good example of a middle-sized settlement flourishing during the first three centuries AD. The present paper analyses the urban layout and plan of the settlement. The main hypothesis proposed here is based on the results of excavations conducted on the site since 1986. Thanks to the observations from the field, in addition to analyses of the already excavated structures, it was possible to reconstruct the street system and divide the urban space into three zones: the coastal zone (port area), the residential quarters, and the necropolis. All of them were situated on three natural terraces. The northern part, located along the seashore, was occupied by the port and warehouses. On the second terrace, wealthy residential quarters with a relatively large bathhouse complex were spread along the coast. Finally, a large necropolis with several types of monumental tombs created a border between the town and the desert.

Associating COVID-19 Severity with Urban Factors: A Case Study of Wuhan.

Wuhan encountered a serious attack in the first round of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has resulted in a public health social impact, including public mental health. Based on the Weibo help data, we inferred the spatial distribution pattern of the epidemic situation and its impacts. Seven urban factors, i.e., urban growth, general hospital, commercial facilities, subway station, land-use mixture, aging ratio, and road density, were selected for validation with the ordinary linear model, in which the former six factors presented a globally significant association with epidemic severity. Then, the geographically weighted regression model (GWR) was adopted to identify their unevenly distributed effects in the urban space. Among the six factors, the distribution and density of major hospitals exerted significant effects on epidemic situation. Commercial facilities appear to be the most prevalently distributed significant factor on epidemic situation over the city. Urban growth, in particular the newly developed residential quarters with high-rise buildings around the waterfront area of Hanyang and Wuchang, face greater risk of the distribution. The influence of subway stations concentrates at the adjacency place where the three towns meet and some near-terminal locations. The aging ratio of the community dominantly affects the hinterland of Hankou to a broader extent than other areas in the city. Upon discovering the result, a series of managerial implications that coordinate various urban factors were proposed. This research may contribute toward developing specific planning and design responses for different areas in the city based on a better understanding of the occurrence, transmission, and diffusion of the COVID-19 epidemic in the metropolitan area.

Opportunities for integrating the historical industrial enterprises into the modern urban environment in Rostov-on-Don

Today, historical industrial facilities and their territory, located earlier on the outskirts, industrial enterprises with the growth and development of cities, were included in their architectural and planning structure. There is currently a clear tendency to orient the historical industrial heritage objects to urban public spaces using the re-functionalization methods in the historical industrial heritage reconstruction in our country and foreign design practice. The relevance of the industrial facilities’ reconstruction in Rostov-on-Don is due to the presence of irrationally used urban areas and the need to create the universal modern spaces for work, leisure and entertainment in the central residential quarters of the city. The study examined two industrial heritage sites and presented the design solutions for them.

Spatial Distribution Pattern Analysis of Unsafe Setting of Electric Wires in Urban Area Using K-function Methods: A Case Study of Guangming District

Hidden fire risk are important disaster-inducing factors for potential fire accidents, which provides a breakthrough point for early intervention and prevention of potential fire accidents. Unsafe setting of electric wires is a very dangerous type of hidden fire risk that could cause fire accidents. It is of great significance to analyze the distribution pattern of hidden fire risk and related factors of this type of hidden fire hazard for early intervention. However, few researches have been done in the field of hidden fire risk. In this study, two network K-function methods, the univariate network K-function method and the bivariate network K-function method, were applied to analyze spatial patterns and its related factors of unsafe setting of electric wires as a hidden fire risk. The research data came from daily inspection in urban grid management of Guangming district, Shenzhen. The results indicated that the spatial distribution of unsafe setting of electric wires is highly related to the transportation network in the study area. The distribution pattern is influenced by the distribution of residential quarters and office buildings. The methods in this study can also be used to analyze other types of hidden fire hazards.

Dependency Between the Total and Effective Imperviousness for Residential Quarters of the Lviv City

Dependency Between the Total and Effective Imperviousness for Residential Quarters of the Lviv City

Urbanization in Nigeria: The Onitsha experience

In Nigeria, many urban centers sprung up as a result of colonial administrative development and its subsequent mining activities. A typical instance is the cities of Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kaduna which emerged as administrative, commercial or mining centers. Similarly, Onitsha, a budding traditional society, metamorphosed over time to be a commercial center in Eastern Nigeria. In lieu of this, the competition between migrant traders and indigenes intensified over land ownership and customary rights. In recent times, Onitsha faces the challenge of inadequate spaces both for its businesses and for its residential quarters resonating communal conflicts between neighbouring communities: a consequence of urbanization pressure developed during the process of land acquisition. Largely, this paper aims at investigating the inherent causes of rural-urban migration as well as exploring the contributions and challenges of migrants in Onitsha. Employing qualitative and quantitative methods of historical inquiry, this paper will attempt an analysis, using Onitsha as a case study, of differing problems and prospects of sustainable urban development in Nigeria. Three qualitative techniques namely: phenomenological approach, narrative approach and process tracing will be utilized for data collection, its analysis and in the interpretation of findings. The paper will mostly investigate the contradictions inherent in migration patterns and how these affect settler-indigene relations in the city of Onitsha, South-Eastern Nigeria. The push-pull theoretical paradigm by Ernest Ravenstein complemented by the individual/opportunity nexus theory advanced by Shane and Venkartaraman will be appropriated for this purpose. Basically, the crux of the study purports that Onitsha's urban development lies currently on a tinder box as the city's lack of an urban development plan has resulted in the emergence of illegal structures especially on water ways; a classic case being the River Niger which may one day overflow its banks thereby birthing detrimental consequences. Against this background, an efficient town planning committee instituted by the government should ensure adequately that Onitsha is restored to its prior status as a plush and plum city.

Study on the relationship between the measurement of household carbon emissions and spatial correlation in Nanjing——Taking 4993 residential quarters as examples

In order to explore the spatial distribution of household carbon emissions of Nanjing, 4993 residential quarters in Nanjing are used as the research objects, the IPCC method is used to construct the calculation formula of living carbon emissions to calculate the amount in Nanjing, and the ArcGIS software is applied to carry out spatial analysis. The results show that the total carbon emissions of residential quarters in Nanjing in 2017 was 272,632 tons, of which Jiangning District, Gulou District, Pukou District and Qinhuai District had more carbon emissions, accounting for 53% of the total; The spatial distribution had a concentrated trend, and the central urban area exhibited a “low-to-low” correlation, while the outer area of the central urban region presented a “high-to-high” positive correlation. Finally, countermeasures and suggestions are proposed for the planning and emission reduction of residential quarters in Nanjing.

Side parking device based on automobileautomatic force drive

With the development of China’s economy and the continuous deepening of urbanization, the number of urban private cars has increased dramatically [1]. However, the planning of the community construction was relatively backward at the beginning, this has resulted in many residential areas, especially the old-fashioned ones. The problem of difficult parking is becoming increasingly prominent. Therefore, it is very necessary to design a parking device that can effectively use the existing space and create more parking spaces. In addition, efforts are made to reduce the manufacturing cost of the device, save energy for product operation, avoid complicated maintenance of the device, and reduce potential safety hazards during use. The project team designed a side parking device based on the automatic driving force of the car. The device includes a vehicle-carrying walking module and a motion module. The vehicle-carrying walking module is composed of a laterally-movable vehicle-carrying platform device and a safety baffle mechanism, which realizes the lateral movement of the car parking and prevents accidents during the car parking process. The motion module is composed of a cross-cut telescopic mechanism, a transmission mechanism, a driving mechanism, and a ratchet and pawl mechanism, which realizes the functions of parking the car in the warehouse and preventing the car body from slipping. After many discussions, the members of this project team have fully studied the problems of the existing parking devices and the parking difficulties faced by the old-style residential quarters, the project team decided to start from two aspects: first, to overcome Insufficient; then, to meet the actual needs of parking in the community [3].

LAEND: A Model for Multi-Objective Investment Optimisation of Residential Quarters Considering Costs and Environmental Impacts

Renewable energy systems are especially challenging both in terms of planning and operation. Energy system models that take into account not only the costs but also a wide range of environmental impacts support holistic planning. In this way, burden-shifting caused by greenhouse gas mitigation can be identified and minimised at an early stage. The Life cycle Assessment based ENergy Decision support tool LAEND combines a multi-criteria optimising tool for energy system modelling and an integrated environmental assessment for the analysis of decentral systems. By a single or multi-objective optimisation, considering costs, environmental impact indicators as well as weighted impact indicator sets, the model enables the determination of optimal investment planning and dispatch of the analysed energy system. The application of LAEND to an exemplary residential quarter shows the benefit of the model regarding the identification of conflicting goals and of a system that compensates for the different objectives. The observed shift of environmental impacts from the use phase to the production phase of the renewable electricity generators points further to the importance of the integration of the entire life cycle.

Evaluation of external costs in road transport under the openness of a gated community

Residential quarters in Chinese cities are usually walled off from their surrounding roads for security purposes. Recently, the Chinese government has decided to thoroughly open gated residential communities in order to improve traffic capacity and coordinate major roads in the road network, which will inevitably pose challenges, such as environmental pollution, for community members. Unfortunately, before this decision, there were no comprehensive investigations into whether this measure works for road traffic or how much the adverse impact exerts upon residents. Here, we propose a comprehensive method combining microscopic traffic simulation with a vehicle exhaust emission and dispersion model and a noise emission and attenuation model, in addition to a consideration of social cost, to evaluate the possible influence of opening an enclosed residential community to surrounding roads. The validity of the hybrid model was assessed by an assumptive case of two rectangular gated communities under varying traffic flow and five community opening modes. Preliminary results indicate that the opened community outperforms the gated in the most of 49 percent reduction in comprehensive cost. A more detailed analysis reveals that the appropriate extent of openness should rely on the actual situation, and potentially serves as a foundation for the healthy development of communities and cities. Based on the case study results, this paper outlines some strategical suggestions for improving enclosed residential areas by striking a better balance between traffic capacity and environmental risks.

Architecture of modern coastal development. Saint Petersburg realias and experience of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Hamburg

Results of the first stage of territory development in the Gulf of Finland near the western coast of Vasilyevsky Island in Saint Petersburg are rated unsatisfactory. Results in the field of aesthetics, ecology, social stability and functional arrangement of the urban environment on new lands are negative. According to the analysis of experience in coastal areas' reconstruction in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Hamburg, ambitious goals that were set for the project in Saint Petersburg were not achieved due to defects of the urban planning system — there was no centralized project management, activities of contractors, who neglected exclusive potential of the coastal area and its proximity to the historical core of the city, were insufficiently coordinated and controlled. It is argued that this is due to inertia of the Saint Petersburg design and construction system. During many years, it was focused on large-scale residential development of vast peripheral territories and, therefore, it was not capable to resolve issues related to development of highly urbanized environment in the city center. Omissions made during construction of a highway through the residential area are identified. The highway design does not provide reliable protection against negative impact on residential quarters. The route of the highway was designed as a bypass of the city center, but it became the shortest route to the center. It is noted that further development will offer opportunities for partial correction of the errors made. The new management team of the city architectural services considers the territory perspective for expansion of the Saint Petersburg center towards the water area of the Gulf of Finland.

Urban planning approaches to the development of social infrastructure, considering the behavioral preferences of the population (Moscow, Russia)

Sociological studies in urban planning are increasingly being used in planning the placement of facilities across the city, including facilities in the service sector. When conducting a sociological study, the following methods were used: population survey (using online questionnaire), field survey (collection of information about the territory, population, its movements with cultural and domestic purposes, prevailing development, condition of facilities), analysis and generalization of survey results, comparison with data of the official statistics. The results of the study are: the main areas for the development of the social infrastructure of the city and a model of integrated functional and spatial organization of facilities developed taking into account modern behavioral preferences of various socio-demographic groups of the population. On the territory of the city of Moscow (in residential quarters, groups of residential quarters, groups of districts, administrative districts), a new type of facilities is proposed for placement - a multifunctional public complex (MPC) of socio-cultural purpose. The proposed functional composition of MPCs is formed taking into account a survey of the main consumers of services - socio-demographic groups of the population and their behavioral preferences. The main peculiarity of MPCs is the combination of cultural, sports, and additional education facilities that are currently insufficiently present in the urban environment.

The Topography of Ritual Buildings in Villages of the Tobolsk Governorate (Late 19th to Early 20th Century)

This is the first case study of important places ofpublic worship in three villages of the Tobolsk Governorate in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with reference to architectural planning, hagiography, and religious attitudes. The churches in Obdorskoye and Romanovskoye are located either on an elevated, unoccupied territory in a natural environment or in the center of residential quarters, according to the Russian architectural traditions. The choice of saints was motivated by the ethnic, religious, and cultural situation. Dedications of altars to Archangel Michael, Sts. Peter and Paul, St. Basil the Great, and St. Nicholas were meant to protect while affirming religious values, canons, and dogmas of Russian Orthodoxy. At the Kobyatskieyurts, a mosque was built. Its architecture stood out from the residential quarters, following the Islamic tradition. Its construction, evidencing the religious identity of the residents of the yurts, testified to the recognition of their rights. The topography of religious buildings in villages differing in the ethnicity and religious beliefs of residents evidenced the strategy of ecclesiastical guidance, religious symbolism, and the villagers’ attitudes.