Rural Island Research Articles

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.

Birth defects in a rural province in Papua New Guinea

BackgroundGlobally, birth defects are the fourth most common cause of neonatal mortality. They cause substantial morbidity, and often long-term disability. Despite this, the impact of birth defects on public health...

A Comprehensive Resource Assessment for Wind Power Generation on the Rural Island of Sibuyan, Philippines

Amid rising energy demands in rural areas, thorough resource assessments for initiatives such as wind power are crucial. This study involves a land resource assessment for wind power generation on the rustic Sibuyan Island in the Philippines, which is currently experiencing an electricity shortage. A comprehensive overview of the island’s suitability for wind energy projects is performed via evaluation and analysis using geospatial data and multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). The research results indicate that 50.44% (220.68 km2) of the island’s land area is categorized as ‘poorly suitable’ since it considers protected areas where developments are not allowed. Only 0.08% (0.35 km2) of the island can be classified as ‘marginally suitable’, while 9.15% (40.73 km2), 36.64% (176.39 km2), and 0.69% (3.05 km2) are labeled as ‘moderately suitable’, ‘suitable’, and ‘highly suitable’, respectively. This confirms the potential for wind energy exploration on the island. Delineating the suitability levels provides a foundational framework for stakeholders that enables them to identify optimal sites for wind power, sustain the island’s resources, and contribute to the renewable energy landscape of this rural location. Overall, this study, underpinned by data analysis, offers invaluable insights for decision making in wind power development, with the presented framework adaptable to other areas of interest.

Working as a Healthcare Professional at Island Primary Care: An Exploratory Qualitative Study on the Cyclades Islands, Greece.

Improving the quality of and access to healthcare services in rural areas is fundamental to developing sustainable healthcare systems. This research aims to explore the motivations of healthcare professionals to work and settle in rural island areas of Greece with limited access to secondary and tertiary care. The study suggests practical ways to encourage self-motivation and attract more health workers in rural areas. An exploratory qualitative research approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 16 healthcare professionals working in primary-care units that lack direct hospital or hospital-health centre access. The research was conducted specifically in the rural islands of the Cyclades. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify common themes and unique insights from the participants. The analysis revealed three thematic categories. Τhe «attraction» thematic was influenced by personal factors, random selection, origin, accommodation factors, professional factors, and obligatoriness. The «recruitment» thematic was associated with understaffing, special care issues, an unstable working environment, educational and organisational aspects, and an insular lifestyle. The thematic of «retention» highlighted personal issues, accommodation difficulties, economic and work-related issues, and unique challenges posed by an insular lifestyle. This research provides valuable insights into the motivations that drive healthcare professionals to settle, work, and remain in remote island units, as well as the challenges they encounter in making this decision. The study proposes strategies to motivate and attract more healthcare professionals to rural areas. These findings should be considered when formulating or reviewing primary healthcare empowerment policies to ensure equitable healthcare access for all individuals.

What Is the Relationship between Remote Rural Island Place and Perspectives on Ageing of Mid-life Women?

This article makes an original contribution to social gerontology and nissology by addressing the knowledge gap on contemporary gendered ageing in remote, rural island places. Drawing on empirical data gathered through in-depth interviews with 12 mid-life (48-69 years old) women living in the Uist islands of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the relationship between ageing and remote rural island place is examined. Reflecting the participant narratives, this study discusses personal and place identities, while exploring place attachment and its relationship with gendered island ageing. This qualitative work adopts a lifecourse framework in order to acknowledge lived experience and cultural context from childhood to adulthood. Data were gathered and analysed through the prism of constructivist grounded theory, a methodology well placed for exploratory research of topics about which relatively little is known. Rich participant insight and analysis eschew island mono-culturalism, instead extending the discourse around remote rural island ageing as distinct from mainland rural ageing. Empirical data informs substantive theory, and fresh considerations on gendered mid-life ageing and remote island place are offered for academia. Findings from this study indicate diverse relationships between ageing and place amongst mid-life women living in the Outer Hebridean regions of North Uist, South Uist, Benbecula and Berneray. The connection between ageing and island place is experienced through place attachment, and is influenced by a range of socio-economic factors: primarily of relevance to this study is that of the natural environment. Perspectives on ageing reflect lived lifecourse experience and thus vary between those native and non-native to the Outer Hebrides; those who live with a partner or alone; those who have children and those child-free; and between those who enjoy socio-economic stability and those who do not.

An integrated fuzzy evaluation of photovoltaic systems adoption barriers in rural island communities of developing economies

Among the renewable energy technologies that address sustainability issues in energy consumption, photovoltaic (PV) systems are found most applicable in rural island communities. However, due to several interplay factors, the adoption of PV systems in such areas faces barriers. In this regard, this study presents a thorough analysis of these barriers using an integrated analytic modeling approach. The fuzzy Delphi method was used to reduce the 85 barriers initially sourced from the literature to 35 significant barriers. To draw a holistic understanding of the problem, the transitive relationships of the identified barriers were examined using the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method. Findings suggest that insufficient policies and regulatory frameworks, research and development, education, and training were among the most crucial barriers that impact other barriers. To address these barriers, five policy measures are outlined that may have synergistic effects in the increased adoption of solar PV systems, including the inclusion of local government units in energy planning and activities, incentivizing enhanced cooperation initiatives, supporting technology transfer programs, development of battery energy storage industry, and implementing community solar programs. The analysis of these barriers in the context of a developing country provides useful insights to policy- and decision-makers. Other developing economies with minor differences in socio-economic and political makeup may consider the policy measures to augment solar PV system adoption in their rural island communities.

Are there limits to growth of tourism on the Caribbean islands? Case-study Aruba

Mass tourism is a major driver of economic growth in the Caribbean. One major trade-off of this economic growth model is the loss of natural areas due to tourism activities and increasing urbanization. Aruba is one of the most tourist intense destinations within the region with a total of 1.1 million stay-over tourists in 2019. Moreover, this island has one of the largest population densities in the Caribbean and high-speed urbanization takes place in this formerly rural island state. Therefore, this study aims to assess the islands' carrying capacity in relation to its limited land resources by means of a geospatial methodological analysis coupled with a correlation analysis between socio-economic indicators and statistics. First, the past and present drivers and characteristics of urbanization are analyzed. Second, the correlation between socio-economic indicators and the number of tourists was assessed. Third, two future scenarios were developed to assess the maximum carrying capacity. From 1986 till 2020, Aruba's built environment increased from ~29–60 km2 and translates to one-third of the island. Expansion was characterized by sprawl in the earlier years and changed to infilling in the latter. Furthermore, the results indicate that all socio-economic indicators are strongly positive correlated to tourism. Lastly, the possible maximum physical carrying capacity for yearly visitors and number of inhabitants was calculated to be ~1.7 million and 150.000, respectively. We conclude that the proposed methodological framework is robust and adequate to serve as a low budget decision-making tool for sustainable tourism development on islands.

Diversity, Encounter Rate and Detection of Non-Volant Nocturnal Mammals on Two Malaysian Islands.

Nocturnal mammals constitute a crucial component of tropical faunal diversity, but not much is known about the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on the habitat use and detectability of these species. We investigated which habitat and environmental variables impact the detectability of non-volant nocturnal arboreal mammals across varying habitat types at two tropical islands with different levels of anthropogenic development in Malaysia. We conducted night transect line and point count surveys following pre-existing paths in Penang Island and Langkawi Island between 2019 and 2020. We used a head torch with red filter and a thermal imaging device (FLIR) to enhance animal detection success. We calculated the encounter rates (individual km-1) for each species as a proxy for abundance. Overall, we detected 17 species, but did not find higher species diversity in intact forested environments compared to disturbed areas. Encounter rates of the most observed species were influenced by 'time after sunset' on the highly developed island of Penang, whereas on the rural island of Langkawi, detection was higher in sites with better canopy connectivity. Different species of non-volant nocturnal arboreal mammals use their respective habitats differently and thus, are differently impacted by varying levels of anthropogenic activities. Our results provided baseline data on the diversity, encounter rate, and detectability of these highly elusive species, which can also help to further improve methodologies for the detection of nocturnal wildlife.

The Relationship between the Wash, Morbidity, and Childhood Undernutrition among the Wogo, an Island Community in Western Niger

In Niger, diseases linked to poor WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) practices are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five.
 This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between WASH and morbidity and the nutritional status of children aged 0 to 59 months in the rural island commune of Wogo de Sinder, located in the Tillabéry region in the West. of Niger.
 This cross-sectional descriptive study involved a representative and random sample of mothers of children aged 0 to 59 months. A questionnaire was completed through a structured interview. The data were collected with ODK software and then analysed with SPSS and Epi Info version 7.2.
 A total of 250 mothers were enrolled. The study shows that most mothers surveyed used surface water (90%) for drinking water, while 10% used groundwater. Around 49.2% of mothers said that their home is on the banks of the river, compared to 36.8% who lived less than 30 minutes away. Their main water storage containers are jars and buckets, with 42.4% and 36.6%, respectively. Among the respondents, 40.4% did not practice any water treatment, 53.2% filtered the water with a cloth, and 6.4% treated the water with bleach. Only 21.6% of mothers washed their hands with soap after using the toilet or feeding the infant. About 72% of households did not have a latrine. Wasting, underweight and stunted growth affected 31.2%, 41.6%, and 43.2% of children whose mothers did not wash their hands with soap. Morbidity affected 35.2% of children whose mothers used surface water for drinking water.
 WASH knowledge and practices remain inadequate in the rural commune of Sinder and negatively affect the nutritional and health status of children under 5.

A state within reach? An ethnographic case study on the relocation of a government workplace from Copenhagen to a small town in rural Denmark

Exploring the redistribution of state jobs from Copenhagen to provincial Denmark, this article draws upon an ethnographic case study involving the relocation of a government workplace, Nota, to the small town of Nakskov (12,500 inhabitants) on the rural island of Lolland. Taking up residence in the town's central square, the article examines the everyday social and economic expectations and norms Nota encounters in this new locale. Based on social scientific theories of practice communities and local economic circles, the analysis illustrates how the state institution must navigate two parallel and opposing economic circuits: that of the state, marked by inflexibility and uniformity, and that of the local town community, grounded in pragmatism and adaptability. The state's standardising central-economic line of procedure is shown to hinder the relocated workplace in becoming part of and contributing to the new host town's own local-economic systems of exchange. In conclusion, the article argues that in daily life a fundamental conflict of interests between state-economic rules and local-economic norms emerges on the ground, meaning that, despite being introduced as decentralisation, when seen from the perspective of the site of relocation, the redistribution of state jobs in Denmark remains bound by logic of centralisation.

Art tourism and paradigms of island revitalization in Japan

ABSTRACT Art tourism in rural destinations in Japan has received attention in both media and academia. Two major regional art festivals that are conducted in a regular cycle have triggered this boom in the 21st century. However, art and cultural tourism have formed an important part of regional revitalization strategies for 30 years. This paper focuses on four island destinations in the Seto Inland Sea that have incorporated art in their branding strategies to examine how shifts in national policies for regional development are reflected in the local context. We examine trends in island research in Japan, paradigm shifts in regional development policies and the role of art tourism in rural revitalization to establish a framework for comparison. Through this framework, we analyze how art tourism is integrated into general development concepts and examine the main actors and the roles of the private sector and residents. We identified two paradigm shifts in the framework of national development plans and laws. Two of our case studies fall into the first phase, where subsidies by the national government form the core of investment for art tourism under the leadership of local mayors but result in different outcomes in terms of success as tourist destinations. On the other hand, two case studies from the latter phase feature a stronger variety of integrated art tourism policies, depending on the engagement of private sector actors and residents. In conclusion, the expansion of art tourism on rural islands reflects a complex interplay of global trends and national development paradigms on the local level.

A 5G-based telerobotic ultrasound system provides qualified abdominal ultrasound services for patients on a rural island: a prospective and comparative study of 401 patients.

To explore the feasibility of a 5G-based telerobotic ultrasound (US) system for providing qualified abdominal US services on a rural island. This prospective study involved two medical centers (the tele-radiologist site's hospital and the patient site's hospital) separated by 72 km. Patients underwent 5G-based telerobotic US by tele-radiologists and conventional US by on-site radiologists from September 2020 to March 2021. The clinical feasibility and diagnostic performance of the 5G-based telerobotic abdominal US examination were assessed based on safety, duration, image quality, diagnostic findings, and questionnaires. A total of 401 patients (217 women and 184 men; mean age, 54.96 ± 15.43 years) were enrolled. A total of 90.1% of patients indicated no discomfort with the telerobotic US examination. For the examination duration, telerobotic US took longer than conventional US (12.54 ± 3.20 min vs. 7.23 ± 2.10 min, p = 0.001). For image quality scores, the results of the two methods were similar (4.54 ± 0.63 vs. 4.57 ± 0.61, p = 0.112). No significant differences were found between the two methods in measurements for the aorta, portal vein, gallbladder, kidney (longitudinal diameter), prostate, and uterus; however, telerobotic US underestimated the transverse diameter of the kidney (p < 0.05). A total of 504 positive results, including 31 different diseases, were detected. Among them, 455 cases were identified by the two methods; 17 cases were identified by telerobotic US only; and 32 cases were identified by conventional US only. There was good consistency in the diagnosis of 29 types of disease between the two methods (κ = 0.773-1.000). Furthermore, more than 90% of patients accepted the telerobotic US examination and agreed to pay additional fees in future. The 5G-based telerobotic US system can expand access to abdominal US services for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing health care disparities.

Wicked Problem of Regional Development Policy in Iceland

With increasing globalization, the influence of global drivers on local livelihood and prosperity is becoming more apparent at the local level. Global drivers are for the most part driven by economic incentives and often disregard sustainable rural development. This paper uses a political economy perspective to investigate how global impacts are affecting regional development policy. This is accomplished via content analysis and literary study of regional development policy documents post-2000 in Iceland, recognized as a predominately rural island nation. Contributing to the literature on public administration and policy in Iceland and elsewhere, the paper argues that regional development and sustainability in rural regions is a wicked problem and emphasises the importance of a holistic perspective in sustainable regional and rural development. Conclusions suggest that place-specific, nuanced approach needs to be taken to meet the demands of sustainable development. As influenced by the new regionalism, places, and the communities within them, differ in environmental, economic, social, and cultural ways. The uniqueness of places underpins the vital importance of inhabitants´ participation in decision making. Moreover, addressing wicked problems at the community level is an easier and a more transparent way to diagnose and manage issues of concern.

A multiperiod household waste collection system for a set of rural islands with dynamic transfer port selection

A multiperiod household waste collection system for a set of rural islands with dynamic transfer port selection

External vulnerability, local resilience, and urban-rural heterogeneity in the Marshall Islands

Popular media often positions the Marshall Islands as especially vulnerable to environmental shocks and shifts. This framing overlooks sources of vulnerability, local resilience, and within country differences. To better understand relationships between social, economic, and cultural shifts and vulnerability and resilience in the Marshall Islands, this study draws on interviews with internal migrants and members of government and civil society to investigate perceptions of vulnerability and resilience in outer islands and Majuro. Findings reveal sharp perceived differences. Participants largely tied vulnerability on outer islands to increasingly variable environmental conditions affecting natural resource-dependent livelihoods and vulnerability on Majuro to the cash economy. In both urban core and rural outer islands, participants linked vulnerability to interdependencies far beyond the Marshall Islands. By evaluating historical and external influences and spatial heterogeneity, this study supports a nuanced understanding of vulnerability and resilience within archipelagic countries critical to policy development.

A rural dermatology outreach service – a new model

PurposeThe dermatology service on the islands of Orkney, with a population of approximately 22,500, was taken over by National Health Service (NHS) Tayside in August 2018. This paper aims to provide an overview of the planning and review of a highly efficient and effective dermatology service for a rural island population.Design/methodology/approachThe service includes visiting dermatology consultants, enhanced electronic referral vetting, skin surgery services, a General Practice (GP) with extended role (GPwER) in dermatology, specialist virtual clinics, urgent advice for inpatients at the local district general hospital and remote systemic therapy monitoring. A new phototherapy service has been set up in an island GP practice.FindingsLocal GPs and consultant dermatologists find the enhanced vetting service useable, efficient and educational. Between August 2018 and November 2022, there have been 1,749 referrals. Of these referrals, 60% were seen in clinic or a GPwER surgery, with 40% managed remotely by providing advice back to the referring GP. The number of consultations performed by the GPwER has grown over the past 3 years, and in the last year, it accounted for more than 50% of patient appointments. The waiting time has been significantly reduced using this model.Originality/valueThis remote service uses an integrated approach of teledermatology (TD) whilst offering continual in-person services using local capabilities including a GPwER and island general surgeons. New treatment facilities are provided to the island population. Continual educational feedback to the primary care referrer is provided, and it enhances relationships that greatly aid the high-quality dermatology service provided.

Optimal Design and Analysis of a Hybrid Hydrogen Energy Storage System for an Island-Based Renewable Energy Community

Installations of decentralised renewable energy systems (RES) are becoming increasing popular as governments introduce ambitious energy policies to curb emissions and slow surging energy costs. This work presents a novel model for optimal sizing for a decentralised renewable generation and hybrid storage system to create a renewable energy community (REC), developed in Python. The model implements photovoltaic (PV) solar and wind turbines combined with a hybrid battery and regenerative hydrogen fuel cell (RHFC). The electrical service demand was derived using real usage data from a rural island case study location. Cost remuneration was managed with an REC virtual trading layer, ensuring fair distribution among actors in accordance with the European RED(III) policy. A multi-objective genetic algorithm (GA) stochastically determines the system capacities such that the inherent trade-off relationship between project cost and decarbonisation can be observed. The optimal design resulted in a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of 0.15 EUR/kWh, reducing costs by over 50% compared with typical EU grid power, with a project internal rate of return (IRR) of 10.8%, simple return of 9.6%/year, and return on investment (ROI) of 9 years. The emissions output from grid-only use was reduced by 72% to 69 gCO2e/kWh. Further research of lifetime economics and additional revenue streams in combination with this work could provide a useful tool for users to quickly design and prototype future decentralised REC systems.

Exploring the nature and role of student-to-student talk and questioning among young children in technology and design education

Classroom conversation between students is complex and used for multiple reasons every day. Student dialogue also allows teachers insight into student's learning. This article presents findings from a qualitative study that used dialogism, a branch of sociocultural theory, to investigate in depth student to student (inter-student) questioning learning in technology in junior primary classrooms in small town in rural South Island, New Zealand. Inter-student dialogue was investigated while students from Year 0–4 undertook a technology unit to design and make props and costumes for their class item in the up-coming school production.In this study insight was gained into aspects of development of student understanding in and of technology through the recording and analysis of inter-student talk, observation, analysis of work samples and focus group interviews with the students and their teachers. It also allowed insight into students’ views of the value of talking with their peers. This study aimed to contribute specifically to the fields of classroom dialogue, student learning, formative assessment and technology education. Three key findings are reported, the first related to teachers’ views of classroom talk. Both were aware of the value of talk in the classroom but struggled to implement in-depth student dialogue for a range of reasons. The second finding focused on students’ views on talk. Initially students recognised that they used questions to ask their teacher, peers, or parents for help, however after the study the data showed that a more sophisticated understanding of dialogue emerged. The third key findings focused on the nature of students’ questions while undertaking technology practice. Findings showed that social interaction played a key role in developing participants’ understanding of technology and that they used questioning to clarify, collaborate, support and defend themselves.

14 How can remote rural island place influence the ageing of mid-life women?

Abstract Background This contribution to social gerontology and nissology addresses a knowledge gap in contemporary gendered ageing within remote, rural island place. Reflecting participant narrative, this study explores personal and place identity, place attachment, and perspectives on gendered island ageing at mid-life and in older age. Methods: Drwing on empirical data gathered through in-depth interviews with 12 mid-life (48–69 years old) women living in remote islands of Scotland, the relationship between ageing and remote rural island living is examined. This qualitative work adopts a life-course framework in order to acknowledge lived experience and cultural context from childhood to adulthood. Data were analysed and informed by constructivist grounded theory, a methodology well placed for exploratory research about which little is known. Results Data found no island mono-culturalism. Remote rural island ageing appears distinct from mainland rural ageing. Findings indicate diverse relationships between ageing and place among mid-life women living in the islands of this study. The connection between ageing and island place is influenced by a range of socio-economic factors, the primary one of which is the natural environment. Other influencing factors include social relationships, employment, health, and demographic status. Perspectives on ageing vary between those native and non-native to the islands; those who live with partners or alone; those who have children and those child-free; and between those who enjoy socio-economic stability and those who do not. Conclusion Despite remote location, and limitations of employment, education, health and transport, participant data reveals an overall positive relationship between remote rural island living and ageing among this study’s indigenous and in-migrant women. The physical, mental and spiritual benefits derived from the natural landscape of island home place proved primarily to be the greatest positive influence reported towards perceived better ageing.

Who returns? Understanding experiences of graduate return to rural island communities

High levels of out-migration of young people from rural and island communities has provoked significant concern around experiences of “brain drain”. However, recent research has shown that many young people who leave rural communities hold intentions or aspirations to return to their communities in the future. Although research has identified intentions to return in young people leaving rural communities, and has identified patterns of return in older migrants, the experience of young returnees, and specifically young graduates has received very little attention. This paper seeks to address this gap by exploring the phenomenon of return migration to the Scottish islands of Orkney and Shetland by recent graduates (within a year of graduation). Where previous research has identified the importance of employment and relationships in return migration, the findings from this project identify that it is how the dynamics of career and relationships interweave over time that creates specific spatial horizons. Drawing out the findings into a typology of graduate returners, this paper indicates the variety of experiences of graduate return and identifies a potential need for greater support of some graduate returners.