City Space Research Articles

ASSESSMENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE INTENSITY OF TRAFFIC FLOWS ON THE STATE OF THE STREET AND ROAD NETWORK OF THE CITY

The article is devoted to the assessment and forecasting of the level of atmospheric air pollution in street canyons in Kyiv by controlling the parameters of traffic flow. Today, road transport is the main anthropogenic source of environmental pollution. The specificity of air pollution by traffic flows lies in their ground location, close proximity to people's homes, which leads to the accumulation of pollutants near the ground surface - in the breathing zone of people. The article analyzes the main approaches to modeling the dispersion of pollutants in the atmosphere from motor vehicles. It is advisable to assess the level of urban air pollution in homogeneous elements of the urban area - street canyons. Based on the urban street canyons model (OSPM), the level of pollution in the street canyons of the Pechersk district of Kyiv by the main harmful substances contained in car exhaust gases is determined. The critical intensity of traffic flows for each of the street canyons at which the level of pollution by the corresponding harmful substance reaches the maximum permissible value was determined. Thus, the obtained results of the study allow us to quickly predict the level of air pollution in the roadside space of cities and prevent environmentally hazardous situations by controlling the parameters of the traffic flow.

On Pedestrian Accessibility: Spatial Justice and Progressive Planning in African Cities

Africa is predicted to be the fastest urbanizing continent over the next century, with its primary and secondary cities expected to experience rapid growth. On the continent, over 70 percent of daily trips are made by walking. Yet, pedestrian-friendly city spaces remain underexplored in research on Africa as city planning regimes continue a long-established trend of prioritizing vehicular mobility. In response to this knowledge gap, and with the recent increased scholarly focus on spatial justice in African cities, we argue that it is essential to prioritize pedestrian accessibility within them. In this paper, we highlight vulnerable urban populations who are impacted by exclusive urban planning design and policies by focusing on children, women working in informal economies, and older adults. We conduct a critical literature review of the history and patterns of urban (spatial) planning on the continent, as well as mobility and transport infrastructure in African cities. We then outline a forward-looking section that assesses effective urban planning proposals relating to mobility and African urban development, as we consider how urban interventions can be applied to address the needs of vulnerable urban populations. Finally, we link the theoretical and applied components of the paper to scholarly discussions of spatial justice and articulate the progressive possibilities of African urban futures as central to future city development. We conclude with research directions on pedestrian accessibility and spatial justice in African urban planning agenda.

Negar Yazdi: City Art and Urban Planning

In this article, Negar Yazdi – an urban planner recently honoured as the 2022 Australian Capital Territory Young Planner of the Year with over nine years of experience in shaping cities across various countries – provides insights into the close relationship between city art and the research field and practice of Urban Planning and Design. Through the lens of urban planning and design, she explores the role of public art in making better cities, fostering community engagement and creating unique urban experiences. In her view, public art contributes to the identity, liveability and lovability of cities and serves as a landmark that enhances the city landscape and facilitates navigation. This article highlights the importance of integrating art into urban design to create not only functional but also enjoyable, vibrant, inclusive and culturally rich city spaces.

Green cities and vector-borne diseases: emerging concerns and opportunities.

Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, nature-based solutions such as urban greening e.g. public gardens, urban forests, parks and street trees, which aim to protect, sustainably manage or restore an ecosystem, have emerged as a promising tool for improving the health and well-being of an ever-increasing urban population. While urban greening efforts have undeniable benefits for human health and the biological communities inhabiting these green zones, disease vector populations may also be affected, possibly promoting greater pathogen transmission and the emergence of infectious diseases such as dengue, West Nile fever, malaria, leishmaniosis and tick-borne diseases. Evidence for the impact of urban green areas on vector-borne disease (VBD) transmission is scarce. Furthermore, because of vast disparities between cities, variation in green landscapes and differing scales of observation, findings are often contradictory; this calls for careful assessment of how urban greening affects VBD risk. Improved understanding of the effect of urban greening on VBDs would support planning, monitoring and management of green spaces in cities to sustainably mitigate VBD risks for surrounding urban populations.

Improving freight parking needs in Brazilian cities with city logistics initiatives

The objective of this study is to analyze the demand for loading and unloading parking spaces in the Brazilian cities of São João Dei Rei and Itajubá, in the state of Minas Gerais, using freight trip generation models. The number of employees is used as an independent variable to generate the models. The results showed that the studied regions receive an average of 539 and 709 trips daily. This is problematic since currently available exclusive parking spaces for loading/unloading cover only 18% of the estimated demand in São João Del Rei and 34.5% in Itajubá. Based on these results, this study proposes new locations. It suggests City Logistics measures that could be used in conjunction with the allocation of new parking spots to reduce the demand for loading/unloading spaces.

The World Cup reshaped the urban green space pattern of Qatar

The World Cup stands as the most momentous global sporting event, and significantly impacts the urban green space (UGS) of host cities. However, the impacts, processes, and pattern characteristic of the World Cup on UGS have not yet been fully understood. To fill this gap, we employ time-series satellite imagery and compute the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) across detailed maps of UGS in Qatar from 2000 to 2022. In our quantitative assessment, we investigate UGS coverage, landscape patterns, and exposure both before and after the World Cup. Additionally, we compile seven instances of greening in Qatar, and compare them with greening processes in three cities located in neighboring countries. This contextual analysis aims to unravel the nuanced impact of the World Cup on UGS in Qatar. Our results demonstrate: (1) The World Cup emerges as a significant contributor to UGS growth, with UGS expansion accounting for 94.3% of the overall increase in the built-up area during the tournament. This surge in growth is equivalent to an additional area equivalent to 38 Manhattan Central Parks. (2) The World Cup induces a transformation in UGS landscapes, rendering them more complex and fragmented. The degree of change in the landscape index within the built-up area is 35 times greater than those changes observed in the pre-World Cup period. (3) The World Cup brings about a significant enhancement in the minimum level of green exposure for citizens, marking an 8.7-fold increase. This event has proven to be instrumental in propelling Qatar towards multifaceted urban greening, establishing the country as a leading model for regional greening processes. Our study thus confirms the World Cup's role in promoting and reshaping urban green space in Qatar, offering fresh insights into its contribution to urban greening and sustainable urban development.

CURRENT STATE AND PROBLEMS OF FORMING INCLUSIVE SPACES IN THE WORLD AND NATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

The article analyses the current state and problems of forming inclusive spaces in the world and national architecture. The International and Ukrainian regulatory documents that regulate the inclusiveness and barrier-free accessibility for all the population groups are analysed. The concedcpts of "inclusion", "disabled person", "disability", "people with limited mobility", "barrier-free space" are defined. The main organising elements of a quality inclusive environment in all the social spheres are identified. An urgent task is to provide the availability of residential and public buildings for all the citizens, regardless of their physical capabilities. Inclusive spaces of modern architectural development are not only about creating the appropriate infrastructure, but also about transforming the existing one. The purpose of this research is to identify the main elements of the organisation of a high-quality inclusive environment in all social spheres. The necessary analysis of the current trends in the architectural development of inclusive spaces in large cities, as well as the peculiarities of accessibility for people with disabilities and people with limited mobility, has been carried out. Main research methods are comparative and historical analysis; visual and analytical method; monitoring method; analysis of statistical data and qualitative indicators; collection, analysis, presentation, and interpretation of the information on theoretical and practical issues of organising an inclusive environment, which is reflected in the works of foreign and Ukrainian researchers. The findings of the study showed that the developments aimed at solving the problems of creating inclusive spaces are relevant and timely. An important aspect of a barrier-free environment is the development of inclusive spaces in modern cities. The different types of barrier-free environment, including physical barrier-free, digital, educational and economic, social and civic, as well as the information barrier-free, are very important for the development of inclusive spaces in the world and national architecture. Persons with disabilities and people with limited mobility have extremely limited opportunities to realise their rights.

Butterfly taxonomic and functional diversity in the urban green spaces of Hefei city

Butterfly taxonomic and functional diversity in the urban green spaces of Hefei city

Impact of the Natural Environment on Individuals’ Psychological Well-being

This article explores the intricate relationship between the natural environment and the human psyche. The article examines how exposure to nature can have a positive influence on mental health, increase life satisfaction, and promote the development of positive personality traits. By reviewing research on naturopathy, the outdoors, and personality development, the article emphasizes the profound impact of nature on human mental health and leads to the importance of integrating the natural environment into urban development. As a result, the article proposes the concept of Biophilic and discusses how Biophilic concepts can be integrated into future urban development from the perspective of landscape design to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of natural spaces in cities so that human beings can achieve psychological well-being through daily contact with natural environments. Natural environments are not only beneficial for human mental health but also for future urban sustainability as well as ecological diversity. Therefore, by prioritizing nature in future urban design and development, it is possible to create healthier, more resilient, and liveable cities that ultimately benefit human well-being and the environment.

Spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of green-blue space in High-Density Cities: Evidence from central Nanjing

Urban green–blue space (UGBS) plays a crucial role in Chinese cities, occupying more than half of the built-up areas. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of UGBS in central Nanjing during rapid urbanization is important for studying UGBS evolution in high-density urban-area environments, providing a fundamental basis for related research and policy formulation. This study utilized remote sensing images to estimate the extent of UGBS from 2000 to 2020 and analyzed the evolution using the intensity of area change, a land transfer matrix, the multi-order adjacency index, and a boosted regression tree model. This study revealed the spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of UGBSs in central Nanjing from 2000 to 2020: (1) between 2000 and 2020, there was a 4.0% net increase in the total area of UGBSs in central Nanjing. (2) UGBS primarily showed marginal-type expansion, accompanied by proximity-type expansion. Spatially, new green–blue patches tended to cluster around large pre-existing natural green–blue patches. Furthermore, the expansion of UGBS shifted from the urban periphery to the urban interior. (3) Natural factors exerted a greater influence (88.3%) than socioeconomic factors (11.7%) on the expansion of UGBS. Average annual radiation (43.4%), elevation (16.5%), slope (15%), aspect (13.4%), and population density (2.8%) were the primary driving factors. Our results contribute to understanding changes in UGBS and the driving factors behind these changes, thereby providing support for the future planning, protection, and sustainable development of UGBS.

Smart cities as spatial manifestations of 21st century capitalism

Globally, smart cities attract billions of dollars in investment annually, with related market opportunities forecast to grow year-on-year. The enormous resources poured into their development consist of financial capital, but also natural, human and social resources converted into infrastructure and real estate. The latter act as physical capital storage and sites for the creation of digital products and services expected to generate the highest value added. Smart cities serve as temporary spatial fixes until new and better investments opportunities emerge. Drawing from a comprehensive range of publications on capitalism, this article analyzes smart city developments as typifier of 21st century capital accumulation where the financialization of various capitals is the overarching driver and ecological overshoot and socio-economic undershoot are the main negative consequences. It closely examines six spatial manifestations of the smart city – science parks and smart campuses; innovation districts; smart neighborhoods; city-wide and city-regional smart initiatives; urban platforms; and alternative smart city spaces – as receptacles for the conversion of various capitals. It also considers the influence of different national regimes and institutional contexts on smart city developments. This is used, in the final part, to open a discussion about opportunities to temper the excesses of 21st century capitalism.

"A Convenient Hallway for Men to Pass Through": Chicana Adolescence and the San Diego City Space in Patricia Santana's Motorcycle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility

"A Convenient Hallway for Men to Pass Through": Chicana Adolescence and the San Diego City Space in Patricia Santana's Motorcycle Ride on the Sea of Tranquility

Peace and Conflict in Public Space: Gendered Murals Shaping Belfast

ABSTRACT In Belfast, murals have been widely used by armed groups and the community to make political statements. They spread specific representations of who and what peace, conflict and politics look like, transforming urban geographies. This article brings together research on visuality and geopolitical reflections on the everyday, the urban and peace, to understand the way place shapes peace and the way peace shapes place. By putting specific narratives on the wall, murals shape the city space as well as gendered understandings of peace and conflict. Despite some nuanced representations of women as political actors, women remain underrepresented on Belfast walls and often assigned to essentialised categories of apolitical motherhood. When muralists leave women out, or when they portray them in an essentialist way, it is political and shapes the city by excluding women from public space and leaving them to the home.

HOW INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES ARE CHANGING SOCIETY AND THE SPACE OF A BIG CITY

The study examines the evolution of the urban environment in the context of the third and, in the XXI century, the fourth industrial revolution. Special attention is paid to the changes taking place in big cities under the influence of digitalization, modern information technologies and social needs of society. The work describes the formation of communities and communities that arise in the virtual space and are transferred to the urban environment. Exhibitions, as part of the fundamental space of large cities, are a public metamodern filled with cultural and innovative capitalist forms. For the first time, the concept of the chronotope and its role as a driving force uniting time and space in the formation of culture, public life and the development of urban spaces is used. The study highlights changes in social connections, the emergence of new forms of communication and the impact of technological progress on urban dynamics. In general, the paper analyzes the evolution of the urban environment and exhibition activities under the influence of modern technologies, socio-cultural changes and identifies key trends and challenges facing modern cities.

Linguistic landscaping from above in China: scale-making and language ideologies

Abstract The sociolinguistics of mobility is one of Jan Blommaert’s significant theoretical legacies vis-à-vis language interactions in the age of globalization. This paper investigates the mobilization of English as a semiotic resource in the public space of Chinese cities to reveal how the process of linguistic landscaping rescales English in China’s layered language regime. In the three investigated cities in eastern China, the English language has been conceptualized as a symbol of internationalization, and the affective potentials of English signs turn the cities into spaces of friendliness. I argue that the visual bilingualism for internationalization purposes is loaded with state ideologies, and English semiotization in the urban space demonstrates the state’s keenness for international recognition and integration into the global world. Inherent in this linguistic landscaping process are Englishization as internationalization ideology, standard language ideology, and linguistic purism ideology. While the translocal status of English in the world language system serves to upscale the cities to a higher scale level, the valorization of English in the official domain also reinforces the hegemonic power of English in the indexicality order, marginalizing social groups with limited English literacy. Thus, a critical, dialectical lens is needed to analyze the role of English in top-down linguistic landscaping.

Avifaunal diversity in urban greenspaces within Cotabato city, Mindanao Island, Philippines

Information about the diversity of avifauna in urban green spaces in the Philippines needs to be more extensive. More so, data on birds in green spaces of the country’s Bangsamoro Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) remain largely unreported. This gap highlights the need to document the avifaunal diversity in the urban green spaces of Cotabato City. Bird species were accounted for using the point count method from September to December 2021 in three different urban green spaces within the commercial center of Cotabato City. Twenty-one avian species representing 17 families were documented. Among the surveyed three green spaces within Cotabato City, Notre Dame University (NDU) has the highest species richness (N = 20), followed by PC Hill (N = 14), and Mother Barangay Rosary Heights (N = 9). Of the 21 species of birds documented, 19% are Philippine endemic, and all of these were recorded only at Notre Dame University. Data from the present study suggest the capacity of green spaces in urban Cotabato City to cater to different bird species, including the endemic ones. Since the results present preliminary data, intensive surveys can be done on these sites by future researchers. Also, surveying more urban green spaces in Cotabato City may add information on the city’s urban birds. Substantial data from these future surveys may be helpful in the urban planning of Cotabato.

Of sensory infractions and anthropomorphism across Asian urban histories

ABSTRACT The paper explores how urban dwellers lived in Asian cities between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and what cultural and/or everyday practices and routines they engaged in. What happens when migrants and their sensory practices move across spatial boundaries? How do urban actors perceive and respond to different sensory practices? Drawing from a range of narrative examples contingent on archival research covering media reports printed in the 1800s and 1900s across Asian countries, I develop an argument on sensory clashes and transgressions by relationally considering mobility, anthropomorphism, and agency within the framework of actor-network theory. Focusing on sensory activities and encounters in a variety of city spaces lend further insights into urban histories and migrant mobilities in colonial periods. Specifically, paying attention to the everyday in the past unveils an interplay of sensory experience, ethnic essentialism, and varied experiences of and claims over space and place. In doing so, the emergence and consequence of sensory-urban diversity are addressed. My two-fold explanation is built upon the close-knitted connection between sensory anthropomorphism and essentialism which arise from perceived sensory infractions identified across Asian urban histories.

Ocena zielonych pul w budżetach obywatelskich w perspektywie wyzwań klimatycznych

The article presents results of the study of green quotas in participatory budgeting (PB), i.e. funds earmarked to finance environmentally beneficial projects. Those type of quotas were introduced in N = 17 or 6% of cities in Poland with more than 5,000 inhabitants, which organised PB between 2020 and 2022. On average, 10% of funds in participatory budgeting were allocated to projects within green quotas. In most cities “green” projects were defined most often as investments in green areas of cities or increasing the amount and quality of plants in city space. less frequently, the definition of “green” projects included small-scale retention and water management, organisation of events or care and protection of animals. The results of the analysis show the moderate effectiveness of green quotas. On average, 62% of their funds were allocated to investments concerning plants. however, the effectiveness of green quotas varied across cities. Some projects selected for implementation were “green” in name only. Rather than focus on improving the city environment, they entailed spending on new recreational infrastructure. Improving the functioning of green quotas requires tightening local regulations. it is also worth considering allowing a broader catalogue of tasks affecting the adaptation of cities to climate change, e.g. related to sustainable mobility or energy transformation.

Low Interest Rates and Uncreative Destruction in the Office Market

Abstract Low interest rates were introduced in the global economy to support the weak economic growth that followed the global financial crisis. In the real estate sector, low interest rates usually lead to a boom in investment and prices. This boom, however, is not spread throughout the economy, but rather concentrated in major cities. We demonstrate this phenomenon on the example of the office market in Warsaw (Poland). While it would be beneficial for the Polish economy to develop office space in smaller cities that have an insufficient supply of modern office space, investors have focused mainly on the capital. This has not only led to an increase in the cost of building land and construction, but has also pushed some relatively new existing office buildings off the market. We call such behaviour uncreative destruction and explain why it was possible.

The Design Posture: A Collaborative Learning-By-Doing Approach

In September 2021, Codesign Toscana1 organised a pop-up school animated by a concept implicitly present in many design-related debates and around which our practices as an interdisciplinary collective have developed over the last five years: the “Design Posture” (hereafter DP). By relying on a collaborative design framework, we experimented with a cooperative learning approach using the urban context as a non-formal education platform and, following the direct experience of the pop-up school, named “Response/Ability” we discuss the possibility of new horizons in the urban context to organize educational platforms that rely on reclaimed city spaces and that generate insights for young generations.