Residential Zones Research Articles

Vanishing Green and the Loss of Iraq's Ecological Balance Due to Urban Expansion

This study examines the impact of rapid urbanization on the green spaces of Baghdad, highlighting the environmental, economic, and social challenges posed by unplanned urban sprawl in developing countries. Using historical and descriptive methodologies, along with comparative analysis of urban growth, the research reveals that increased migration and weak governmental oversight have significantly reduced green areas, transforming potential parks into residential and commercial zones. The findings underscore the need for stringent urban planning and policy reforms to preserve and expand green spaces, aligning with global sustainability standards to enhance urban quality of life and ecological balance in Baghdad. Highlights: Urban Expansion: Baghdad's rapid growth has significantly reduced its green spaces. Weak Oversight: Lack of strict regulations has led to the conversion of green areas into urban developments. Sustainability Strategies: Urges policy reforms and sustainable planning to enhance urban green spaces. Keywords: Urbanization, Basic Design, Green Spaces, Overpopulation, Land Use

Groundwater Dynamics in the Middle Brahmaputra River Basin: A Case Study of Shallow Aquifers in Inner Guwahati City, Assam, India

This study investigated the hydrogeological characteristics and groundwater dynamics in the shallow aquifer zones of inner Guwahati city, Assam, India. Sixteen dug wells spread across the city, specifically used for domestic purposes, were selected for this study. Additionally, ten wells were selected for trend analysis. The borehole lithology reveals predominant compositions of clay, sand, and granules, with thin clay cappings indicating significant groundwater potential. Depth-to-water level analysis revealed varying water levels across the study area, with shallow levels in the northern and western regions and gradual deepening toward the eastern and southern parts. The groundwater flow directions show nonuniform patterns and reflect the influence of topography and domestic pumping in urban residential zones. The general groundwater flow direction is toward the Brahmaputra River. Trends in groundwater level, assessed using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope, suggest both falling and rising trends across different locations, indicating complex groundwater dynamics influenced by factors such as recharge, extraction, and topography. However, the long-term rainfall data indicate no significant trend over the studied period, suggesting limited natural influence on groundwater level trends. These findings may contribute to a comprehensive understanding of groundwater dynamics in the study area and are essential for sustainable water resource management and mitigation of groundwater depletion risks.

Evaluating the long-run effects of zoning reform on urban development

This paper presents a framework for assessing the long-run effects of zoning reform on urban development, housing supply, and dwelling prices. We begin by developing a version of the monocentric model that features regulatory restrictions on the capital intensity of housing that vary between different residential zones. A key implication of the model is that differences in land price gradients between zones reflect differences in equilibrium floorspace. This facilitates empirical estimation of the anticipated supply response to zoning reform through the measurement of changes in land price differentials after policy announcement. We use the framework to evaluate a recently implemented reform in Auckland, New Zealand, finding that changes in land price gradients in upzoned areas compared to non-upzoned areas are consistent with an approximate 23.7% increase in floorspace. Using plausible estimates of long-run house price elasticities of demand from the extant literature, this supply increase implies that dwelling prices would be 15.1 to 26.9% higher under the counterfactual of no upzoning.

Smart noise pollution monitoring system

Increasing pollution poses serious health risks, necessitating urgent control measures for a healthier future for all. Among various pollution types, sound pollution significantly impacts quality of life and well-being, especially in densely populated urban areas. This proposal describes the creation and deployment of an Internet of Things (IoT)-based noise pollution monitoring system intended to track sound levels in certain regions in real time. The core of this system comprises advanced sensors strategically placed to measure sound intensity accurately. These sensors can detect even minor variations in noise levels, providing precise and reliable data. After being gathered, the data is sent to a microcontroller, which effectively processes it. This microcontroller ensures the data is accurately captured and sent over the internet to an online server. Once the data reaches the online server, it becomes accessible for analysis and monitoring by authorities. The system's real-time data capability is crucial for timely intervention. Authorities can continuously monitor noise levels and identify trends or spikes in sound pollution, allowing them to address issues promptly. This feature is particularly beneficial for sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals, and residential zones, areas with heavy traffic, library, Where excessive noise can have severe health effects, including stress, sleep disturbances, and hearing loss. The system includes an alert mechanism that notifies relevant authorities when noise levels exceed predefined thresholds. These alerts enable quick responses to mitigate noise pollution. For instance, in a school, reducing noise levels can enhance the learning atmosphere and improve students' concentration. In hospitals, maintaining a quiet environment is crucial for patient recovery. The integration of IoT technology in this noise pollution monitoring system not only enhances efficiency but also provides a scalable solution adaptable to various urban and rural settings. This scalability ensures the system can be expanded to cover larger areas or multiple locations as needed.

Hygienic assessment of heavy metal and organic compounds pollution in snow cover of a multi-industrial city

Introduction. One of the leading health risk factors is atmospheric air pollution, the state of which can be indirectly assessed by the content of a wide range of pollutants in snow and soil cover. Materials and methods. The study analyzed data on deposits of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs), heavy metals (HMs) and petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) in the snow of different functional zones of the agglomeration. Physicochemical research methods were used. Results. The content of ΣPAHs was found to range from 412.8 to 2843.7 ng/L. The highest concentrations of ∑PAHs were observed in the residential area in the square (point 10) – 2843.7 ng/L; and on the border of the sanitary protection and residential zones in the area of the Yuzhnaya station (point 3) – 1758.2 ng/L. The share of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) from ∑PAH ranged from 2.9 to 9.7%. PHs levels ranged from 51.0–117.0 μg/L. The difference in the range of fluctuations in values was most evident in the content of individual PAHs: B(a)P (16.13 times), Ant (12.05 times) and B(g,h,i)P (11.56 times ), mercury (17.53 times), zinc (9 times) and manganese (8.58 times); metals: cadmium (1.89 times), copper (1.75 times), and lead (1.47 times). Limitations. Sampling and features of snow cover contamination by atmospheric precipitation in the dynamics of the winter season. Conclusion. Concentrations of PAHs and HM varied in different ranges of values and had a non-uniform spatial distribution over the territory. Direct links were found between the content of B(a)P and other polyarenes in the snow cover.

Modulating local winds and turbulence around a single building obstacle with the obstruction of tall vegetation

Strategic vegetation placement can significantly alter airflow patterns and turbulence, fostering desired wind environments. By comparing scenarios where vegetation is placed upstream, downstream or absent (treeless) relative to a single building using large-eddy simulation, this study provides detailed insights into the sensitivity of flow dynamics to the positioning of the vegetation. Upstream vegetation more significantly disrupts the flow patterns around the building obstacle, altering vertical wind profiles and modifying wake circulations, compared to downstream vegetation. A small shear layer developed at the plant top for upstream vegetation markedly influences turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) on both the leeward and windward sides of the building, shifting the inflection point in vertical TKE profiles by up to 0.13H. By contrast, smaller tree-building separations lead to an effective merging of their aerodynamic profiles, whereas larger separations confine the streamwise breadth of turbulent fluxes, amplifying flux exchanges in the spanwise direction. Spectral analyses reveal that upstream vegetation consistently results in higher power spectral densities of the streamwise turbulence in the residential area than downstream vegetation. While small-scale spanwise velocity fluctuations are found to be comparably energetic at the building's windward side for upstream vegetation, the power becomes substantially concentrated on large-scale eddies in the building wake region, providing specific insights into modulating turbulent eddy motions within the residential zone.

Preventive Mechanisms via Environmental Structures (PMTES) in Military Cantonment Areas

**Preventive Mechanisms via Environmental Structures (PMTES)** in **Military Cantonment Areas** presents a detailed and structured analysis of how PMTES can be applied to prevent crime in these unique environments.It addresses a common issue in developing new residential societies, particularly within **military cantonment areas**. While these communities often have advanced safety systems like CCTVs, security personnel, and well-planned lighting, their peripheral areas are frequently neglected. Streets outside these zones are often poorly lit, cluttered with construction debris, or located near informal settlements, making them prone to criminal activity. This lack of attention compromises the safety of the surrounding areas, even though the central residential zones remain silent.

EVALUASI LAHAN UNTUK PENGEMBANGAN KAWASAN PERMUKIMAN DI DUSUN TELAGA KODOK NEGERI HITUMESSING KECAMATAN LEIHITU KABUPATEN MALUKU TENGAH

Research on Land Evaluation for Residential Development in the Telaga Kodok Hamlet area has been conducted with the aim of determining the suitability classes of residential land and identifying limiting factors. The land characteristics studied include slope, effective depth, flooding and ponding, drainage, rock, and soil texture. The weight of each characteristic was analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The analysis results indicate that there are 112.07 hectares (29.94%) of highly suitable residential zones, 166.67 hectares (44.53%) of moderately suitable zones with limiting factors such as moderate depth, poor drainage, and fine texture; 92.03 hectares (24.59%) of marginally suitable residential zones with limiting factors like steep slopes and fine texture; and 3.55 hectares (0.94%) of zones unsuitable for residential development.

Ambient volatile organic compounds in a typical industrial city in southern China: Impacts of aromatic hydrocarbons from new industry

New industrial parks, including fine chemical, medical manufacturers, etc., are emerging in modern cities in China, whereas their emissions and impacts have not been fully illuminated. In this study, ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Huizhou were measured in three functional zones, namely new industrial, roadside, and residential zones. The average mixing ratios of total VOCs were as follow: industrial (56.22 ± 15.06 ppbv) > roadside (39.30 ± 12.96 ppbv) > residential (26.03 ± 7.31 ppbv). The ozone formation potential (OFP) and secondary organic aerosol formation potential (SOAP) of VOCs in the industrial zone were 1.5–2.3 and 1.7–3.1 times those in the other zones, respectively. Aromatics contributed the most to OFP (39.8 % - 44.8 %) and SOAP (78.9 % - 91.0 %), with much less contributions to VOCs mixing ratios (18.3 % - 21.2 %). Naphthalene was the most abundant aromatic species across the three zones and ranked among the top contributors to OFP and SOAP among all VOCs species. Source apportionment identified that new industrial emissions and solvent use was the largest VOCs contributor in the industrial zone (53.9 %), traffic-related emissions dominated in the roadside zone (40.7 %), while new industrial and traffic-related emissions contributed similar in the residential zone (32.9 % and 34.7 %, respectively). The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of hazardous VOCs were above the acceptable threshold, primarily due to new industrial and traffic-related emissions. Our results suggested to strengthen the control of new industrial emissions and aromatics sources in Huizhou city to improve air quality and protect human health.

Perbandingan Komposisi dan Struktur Komunitas Makroalga antara Pulau Semak Daun dan Pulau Pramuka di Taman Nasional Kepulauan Seribu, DKI Jakarta

Kepulauan Seribu have diverse biodiversity, one of which is macroalgae located in the Tourism Utilization Zone and the residential zone. Environmental factors, such as substrate, water quality and the presence of human activities, are very different on each island. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in the composition and structure of macroalgae communities on islands in the Tourism Utilization Zone, Semak Daun Island and islands in the Settlement Zone, Pramuka Island. Settlement Zone, Pramuka Island. The method used is a quadrat transect. 16 types of macroalgae were found on Semak Daun Island and 26 types of macroalgae on Pramuka Island. The diversity value on Semak Daun Island is categorized as moderate with a value of 1.84 and on Pramuka Island is categorized as moderate with a value of 2.64. The highest INP value on Semak Daun Island is Sargassum binderi and the highest INP on Pramuka Island is Halimeda macroloba.

Ecological and Geochemical Assessment of the State of Soils in the City of Baikalsk According to the Content of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The pollution of the topsoils of the city of Baikalsk (Irkutsk region) under the influence of industrial emissions and wastes of the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill (BPPM) was studied. The content of 16 individual PAH structures in samples of urban and background soils taken during the soil geochemical survey in the summer of 2019 was analyzed. Relatively low levels of PAH content were found in the lignin sludge from the BPPM and СHP ash. The concentration of total PAHs in CHP ash reaches 46 mg/ kg with a predominance of low molecular weight compounds (the proportion of naphthalene and its homologues is 24% and 34% of the total PAHs, respectively), among high molecular weight PAHs, 5-nuclear benzo(b)fluoranthene dominates (16%). In lignin sludge, the amount of PAHs is 7.16 mg/kg with the predominance of benzo(b)fluoranthene (83%). In the soils of Baikalsk, the average total content of PAHs (38.4 mg/kg) is 5 times higher than the background content. In urban soils, 4–5-nuclear fluoranthene (61.1%) and benzo(b)fluoranthene (29.4%) prevail. This makes it possible to attribute soil pollution to the fluoranthene type. The soils of the motor transport (total PAH 105 mg/kg) and industrial (59.5 mg/ kg) zones are the most polluted, where the most contrasting PAH anomalies were formed. In descending order of the amount of PAHs, the land use zones of the city form a series: motor transport industrial residential one-storey railway transport residential multi-storey recreational zone. Several local anomalies in the amount of PAHs are distinguished, forming two large pollution halos in the western and eastern parts of the city. The leading factors in the accumulation of high molecular weight PAHs in soils are acid-alkaline conditions and soil organic matter, while the accumulation of low molecular weight polyarenes is mainly controlled by pH. The environmental hazard of pollution of Baikalsk soils with polyarenes is due to benzo(b)fluoranthene, its contribution is 83.5%.

Assessment and Modelling of Walk Trips in Akure, Nigeria

The study examined and modeled the walking behavior patterns of residents in Akure, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling approach was used to collect relevant data for assessing and modeling the walking trip patterns. The questionnaires were administered to 300 participants between May to November 2019 (6 months) across three primary residential neighborhoods in the city; high-density, medium-density, and low-density areas. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software and subsequently modeled using multi-variable regression techniques. The study found that 48.7% of the sampled population preferred to walk, and 49.7% perceived walking as an alternative to motorized trips. Significant differences were observed in the socioeconomic characteristics of residents, such as age and income, across the residential zones (F = 54.731, p<0.001; F = 68.278, p<0.001). The key factors that greatly influenced decision of respondents to walk included socioeconomic factors, such as income, personal car ownership, educational qualifications, and employment status, with age and sex being the least significant socioeconomic determinants. Generally, the factors that motivated respondents to choose walking as a travel mode included its relative affordability, the lack of personal vehicles, awareness of health benefits, safety and security concerns, avoidance of motorized traffic congestion, and favorable weather conditions. The findings of this study have important implications for transportation planning. The paper recommends the need to incorporate non-motorized spaces and walkways into various levels of urban planning and implementation to foster a more walkable environment and encourage active transportation in the city.

Geographic Patterns of Youth Suicide in San Diego County

ObjectiveOur objectives were to evaluate for any cluster patterns of youth suicide deaths and characterize the level of child opportunity in the communities where suicide deaths occurred. MethodsDecedents <18 years were identified from San Diego County Medical Examiner death reports from 2000 to 2020. We mapped decedents’ residential Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) codes and calculated suicide rates per 10,000 youths. ZIP codes identified in overlapping spatial statistical approaches — the spatial scan statistic and Local Moran with Empirical Bayes (EB) rates — were considered a cluster for the final analysis. We obtained Child Opportunity Index (COI) scores for each ZIP code to determine if there were differences in: 1) ZIP codes with suicide deaths compared to ZIPs with no deaths 2) differences in distribution of suicide death rates across quintiles of COI. ResultsScan statistic identified 25 ZIP codes within a cluster (RR 2.6, P = 0.00066). Local Moran with EB rates identified two ZIP codes as a high-high cluster (P < 0.05). The location identified as a cluster in both approaches was in Alpine. The median COI for ZIP codes with suicide deaths was higher at 63.5 (IQR 38–83) compared to 47 (IQR 22.5–75.5) for ZIP codes without suicide deaths. There was a significant difference in suicide rates between Very Low and Moderate levels of Overall opportunity (P = .013). ConclusionWe identified a cluster of youth suicides in one of the most populous counties in the country. These findings serve to inform policies and prevention programs that aim to mitigate youth suicide mortality.

The effect of anthropogenic activities on the behavior of novel brominated flame retardants in surface soil of Northern China urbanized zone

Novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) have emerged as an alternative to traditional brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and may pose risks to the environment and human health. However, the distribution pattern of NBFRs in urbanized zones and their association with multiple socioeconomic variables have not been adequately explored. Herein, seven NBFRs were investigated in surface soil samples from Tianjin, China, a typical urbanized area. The ∑7NBFRs ranged from n.d. to 101 ng/g, dry weight (dw) (mean: 12.6 ± 17.6 ng/g dw), which exhibited a relatively elevated level compared to NBFRs in soils from other regions worldwide. Decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE) was the main contaminant, and its concentration ranged from 0.378 to 99 ng/g, dry weight (dw) (mean: 11.4 ± 17.0 ng/g dw), accounting for 81 % of the ∑7NBFRs. Notably, NBFRs exhibited peak concentrations within residential zones, significantly surpassing those recorded in the remaining four regions (green, farmland, water environment and other) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the concentration of NBFRs in the soil of the Binhai New District within Tianjin was the highest, significantly exceeding that of other administrative areas, which was closely related to the intensive industrial activities in this region. The above results indicate that human activities are a key factor affecting the concentration of NBFRs in the soil. Moreover, a variety of statistical methods were employed to investigate the correlation between socioeconomic variables and the distribution of NBFRs. The concentration of NBFRs showed a significant correlation with population density and the gross domestic product (GDP) (p < 0.05), and the incorporation of administrative regional planning into structural equation models demonstrated an indirect influence on the spatial distribution of NBFRs concentration, mediated by its impact on population density. These results emphasize the association between NBFRs contamination and the degree of urbanization, thereby providing valuable insights for assessing the exposure risk of NBFRs among urban residents.

Rural heat island effect of centralized residences in China: Mitigation through localized measures

China has implemented a Centralized Rural Policy since 2004 to enhance energy efficiency. However, this has led to the potential creation of a Rural Heat Island (RHI) effect, which could diminish outdoor thermal comfort and increase building energy consumption during hot summers. While most studies on heat island effect focus on spatiotemporal variations and heat mitigation measures, there is limited research on rural areas, particularly the special layout of rural residences. Additionally, most studies only consider the outdoor environment, overlooking indoor thermal comfort and building energy consumption. Therefore, in order to investigate the RHI effect and assess the efficacy of localized heat mitigation measures, this study analyzed 22 types of courtyard layout patterns in a typical centralized village in northern China through detailed field measurements and performance simulations. The results show an obvious heat island effect in the rural centralized residences, where residential zones recorded average temperatures of 1.6 °C higher than those of rural boundaries. Courtyards featuring a south wing significantly alleviated outdoor thermal stress, reducing the discomfort time of extreme Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) by 1.5 h compared to those courtyards with a wall. Among the four localized heat mitigation measures examined, the featured black fabric shade performs best for its effectiveness in mitigating outdoor thermal stress, capable of reducing the courtyard's maximum Mean Radiant Temperature (Tmrt) by 21.5 °C and decreasing the duration of extreme PET by 2 h. Photovoltaic modules installed on the roof not only generate energy but also alleviate outdoor thermal stress, reducing the maximum Tmrt by 12.9 °C and lowering 23 % to 28 % daily energy demand, making them highly suitable for deployment in rural areas with high rates of energy poverty. The simulated results indicate that these localized heat mitigation measures mutually reinforce each other in reducing the RHI effect. The combination of four heat mitigation measures can reduce PET by up to 20 % and EUI by up to 44 % compared to the original courtyard. Incorporating these localized strategies into planning practice enables rural planners and policymakers to develop effective interventions against the RHI effect.

Multi-Faceted Analysis of Airborne Noise Impact in the Port of Split (III)

Marginal and neglected until recently, noise pollution is a significant topic of sustainable development today. Port noise has become an increasingly critical problem for the environment. The public and the scientific community have gradually become aware of the harmful impact of noise emissions on residents living near port facilities. It coincides with the increase in complaints from the population about excessive noise pollution in ports, especially in residential areas near the cargo terminals in Split. This paper seeks to empirically investigate overall port noise and assess the significance of the reported disturbances. The methodology includes the measurement of noise in zero state conditions, residual noise and noise during specific work processes, and consideration of conditions for possible adjustments of the selected work process during transport operations. The goal is to propose plans for noise reduction by evaluating the results of noise monitoring with the specified limit values, which determine the highest permissible noise levels for industrial and residential zones in the observed area. The values exceed the maximum permitted noise levels during the night. However, this problem can be reduced through operational and technical adjustments in cargo handling processes, acting as objective mitigation measures. The effectiveness of the defined procedure is demonstrated by its application in the Port of Split, contributing to the port’s sustainability located near the residential area.

Quantifying the main and interactive effects of the dominant factors on the diurnal cycles of land surface temperature in typical urban functional zones

The urban heat island (UHI) effect exists both during daytime and nighttime and varies with urban characteristics, such as 2D/3D urban morphology and socio-economics. However, there is a lack of quantitative understanding of the roles of these characteristics in influencing land surface temperature (LST) variations in different urban functional zones (UFZs) throughout the diurnal cycle. In this study, we examined the responses of diurnal LSTs in different UFZs to 2D/3D urban morphology and socio-economic variables. Results showed the following: (1) During daytime, the main drivers of LST varied with not only the UFZs but also the observation times; during nighttime, the LST variations across different UFZs were largely controlled by 3D urban morphology and socio-economic factors. (2) At 10:37, LST declined most rapidly when the percentage of tree cover (PER_Tree) exceeded a certain threshold. The threshold values of PER_Tree were 85%, 70%, 50%, and 60% for the residential, industrial, commercial, and public service zones, respectively. Irrespective of the UFZs, a nighttime cooling effect occurred only when sky view factor (SVF) exceeded 0.8. (3) For locations with high population density (Pop_Den) in the residential zone, whether urban trees induced a cooling effect depended on both the observation time and PER_Tree during daytime; however, a higher SVF tended to result in an increased LST during nighttime. In the public service zone, when Pop_Den exceeded 50, urban trees with high height contributed to nighttime LST cooling, whereas a warming effect occurred with trees with low height. The direct implications of this study suggest that 3D urban morphology and socio-economics are more efficient mitigation strategies for all UFZs at night, and the interactive effects between the dominant drivers of diurnal LSTs should be considered to cool the city most effectively.

Urban Landscape Management of Makassar City Based on Waterfront City Concept

Abstract Makassar City is one of the coastal cities in Indonesia with a 32 km long coastline. This extensive coastal stretch harbors numerous potential natural resources. Recognizing the coastal region’s potential, the government has been implementing the Waterfront City concept to develop and manage this area. Since 2003, the Makassar City government has actively undertaken revitalization and reclamation efforts in the coastal zone, aiming to establish various facilities including commercial areas, public parks, residential zones, and tourism infrastructure, all with the aim of achieving the status of a waterfront city. However, these ongoing development and reclamation activities are inevitably transforming the coastal landscape, bringing about both positive and negative changes. On the downside, there are adverse effects such as deteriorating water quality and diminishing mangrove areas. Conversely, there has been an increase in tourist arrivals, showcasing a positive aspect. This study aims to assess the suitability of land in the coastal areas and the visual appeal of Makassar City’s waterfront, providing recommendations for coastal landscape management. Based on the analysis of land suitability and the aesthetics of the coastal area of Makassar City, the urban areas generally possess land suitable for implementing the waterfront city concept, categorized into three zones: tourism, residential, and conservation, to optimize land functionality. Besides the quality of the beautiful coast has a fairly good value with a neat and clean conditions.

The cooling capacity of urban vegetation and its driving force under extreme hot weather: A comparative study between dry-hot and humid-hot cities

Extreme heat events in cities necessitate closer examination of urban vegetation’ capacity to mitigate extreme hot weather. However, the cooling capacity of vegetation (CCV) and its driving forces of 2D and 3D landscape metrics under extreme hot weather conditions in dry-hot and humid-hot cities, particularly within different functional zones is still not well understood. The results indicate that the CCV is more pronounced in humid-hot cities than in dry-hot cities, particularly during periods of extreme hot weather. This CCV varied significantly across different functional zones, being the lowest in commercial zones and the highest in green space zones. Moreover, residential zones in humid-hot cities have higher CCV when the weather is more extreme. In dry-hot and humid-hot cities, urban vegetation landscape configuration metrics (such as patch and edge densities) contribute significantly to the CCV, and landscape composition (vegetation coverage) also contributes, with a significant increase during periods of extreme hot weather, particularly in humid-hot cities. Additionally, the 3D building morphology plays a crucial role in moderating the CCV; however, its impact diminishes during extreme heat. We also found that the CCV does not increase further after vegetation coverage is greater than 30–40 % in dry-hot cities, compared to approximately 60–80 % in humid-hot cities. The CCV increased nonlinearly with increasing urban vegetation largest patch index and decreasing urban vegetation patch density in dry-hot and humid-hot cities, with different thresholds of vegetation coverage and largest patch index under normal and extreme hot weather. A higher building height increased the CCV in humid-hot cities and reduced the CCV in dry-hot cities, particularly under extreme hot weather, and sparse high-rise buildings were better suited to humid-hot cities for increasing urban CCV. These findings provide valuable insights for urban planners to enhance the urban CCV, contributing to long-term urban resilience and public health protection during extreme heat events.

A Sustainable Dynamic Capacity Estimation Method Based on Bike-Sharing E-Fences

Increasing urban traffic congestion and environmental pollution have led to the embrace of bike-sharing for its low-carbon convenience. This study enhances the operational efficiency and environmental benefits of bike-sharing systems by optimizing electronic fences (e-fences). Using bike-sharing order data from Shenzhen, China, a data-driven multi-objective optimization approach is proposed to design the sustainable dynamic capacity of e-fences. A dynamic planning model, solved with an improved Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), adjusts e-fence capacities to match fluctuating user demand, optimizing resource utilization. The results show that an initial placement of 20 bicycles per e-fence provided a balance between cost efficiency and user convenience, with the enterprise cost being approximately 76,000 CNY and an extra walking distance for users of 15.1 m. The optimal number of e-fence sites was determined to be 40 based on the solution algorithm constructed in the study. These sites are strategically located in high-demand areas, such as residential zones, commercial districts, educational institutions, subway stations, and parks. This strategic placement enhances urban mobility and reduces disorderly parking.